Countdown to Kickoff: A Preview of the 2009-10 Washington Redskins

The start of the NFL regular season is right around the corner which means season predictions are upon us. The Washington Redskins are coming off a disappointing 8-8 season where they started 6-2 and finished 2-6, missing the playoffs yet again.

The Redskins have a lot to prove going into the season and will have their work cut out for them. No one understands that better than quarterback Jason Campbell.

After beginning the season with eight touchdowns and no interceptions, Campbell was mentioned in several venues as a potential MVP candidate alongside teammate Clinton Portis. The final eight games saw Campbell throw six interceptions to just five touchdowns.

After the team pursued two other options at quarterback, Jay Cutler and Mark Sanchez, Campbell will have to light it up this season just to be in Washington next year.

Jason Campbell’s second half of the season was not without cause. The offensive line provided very little in terms of pass protection last season, which led to Campbell being sacked 38 times. Newly re-signed Derrick Dockery is an upgrade over the older, more fragile veterans that occupied the left guard position last season.

The right side of the line is the new question that has to be answered this season. For the first time in a decade, Jon Jansen will not be at right tackle. Instead, Stephon Heyer will try to fill his immense shoes.

The offensive line will need to improve their pass protection while refining their run blocking.

Clinton Portis ran for another 1,500 yards last season, but was used sparingly in the latter part of the season due to presumed “wear and tear.” The addition of Dockery brings the run threat back to the left side, where it was absent in the presence of aging Pete Kendall.

If the Redskins can establish the run on both sides of the line then they will already be a step ahead of where they were all of last season.

Portis himself is in for a change, with the announcement that Ladell Betts would be assuming third down duties in an effort to save Portis for the length of the game. If the theory proves out, then the running game will be set for the season with the potential for Portis to be fresh and healthy for the long haul.

The true test throughout the season will be the passing game.

Jason Campbell will have Santana Moss returning as his No. 1 target, but after him there is a bit of uncertainty. Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas entered training camp with the task of wrestling the No. 2 spot from incumbent Antwan Randle El, allowing Randle El to assume the slot position.

Over the course of the preseason, Kelly showed more than Thomas, but both were overshadowed by rookie seventh-round pick Marko Mitchell.

Both Kelly and Thomas are big, strong receivers capable of going over the middle and making an impact in the red zone, but neither have had enough time to show any of that ability. Their rookie seasons were marred by injuries that kept them out of practices and games.

Both players will have to prove their worth this season or the passing game will be in a tight spot with so few options.

The key to the passing offense, I think, is Chris Cooley. After a superb 2006-07 season, opponents defended him tightly. He saw his touchdown total fall from seven to one, though his catches and yardage totals were better.

The young receivers will go a long way to opening things back up for Cooley, who is an unlikely game breaker at tight end.

Despite the litany of questions facing the offense, the defense is looking to build on a season where they finished in the top five in total defense.

It should be said that their finish in the top five is deceiving. While the team excelled in holding opposing offenses' yardage totals down, they did not produce turnovers or sacks. One man was brought in to change both: Albert Haynesworth.

Everyone knows about the $100 million invested in Haynesworth and they know exactly why. He was a force in Tennessee and is still in the prime of his career. The Redskins have lacked a dominant presence in the middle of the defensive line since Dave Butz in the '80s.

That’s almost 30 years ago, folks, and it is about time someone was brought in to fill the constant void.

Albert Haynesworth’s presence strengthens every position on the defense. The defensive ends will see less double teams because opponents will have to double Haynesworth.

Linebackers will have more freedom to make plays at the point of attack instead of whenever the ball carrier reaches their level.

The secondary will have an easier time in coverage since the pocket will inevitably collapse with the likes of Haynesworth, Brian Orakpo, and Andre Carter converging on the ball carrier or quarterback quicker than ever before.

Everything about Haynesworth’s presence points to success for the Redskins defense that is coming of a top-five finish in terms of total yards. Haynesworth will bring up the deceptively-low sack and turnover numbers on reputation alone.

Overall, the Redskins still have a lot to overcome despite all the positives they have going for them. If the passing game doesn’t get going early, then the run game and the entire offense will suffer. The defense will then suffer because they will be on the field for extended periods of time, getting worn out.

A lot of things have to go right for this team to get into the upper echelon of the NFL, but it only takes one thing to go wrong to ruin the season.

I expect a 10-6 finish with the potential for 11-5. The schedule isn’t particularly threatening, but with the NFC East being the way it is, there is very little room for error. The Redskins can do no worse than 3-3 in the division to have a playoff shot, as has been the case in the past few seasons.

Look for Jim Zorn to get the Redskins rolling from the start against the always-tough New York Giants in week one of the regular season. If there is any sign of trouble in that game you can be sure fans will be calling for someone’s head.