Redskins Just Not Good

The Washington Redskins are just not a good football team.  They are not a good football team right now or no time in the near future. 

First let me say this.  I am a glass half full type of person.  I'm very optimamistic about most things unless my gut feeling tell me differently.  Being a business owner I can understand the Washington Redskins from Daniel Snyder's point of view.  Having played the game of football for a long time I can understand it from a players point of view.  Also, being a fan of the Washington Redskins for over 35 years I understand as a fan.  Now with all that being said let us look at the state of the redskins and what I see as the problem and  a possible solution.

Now keep in mind that what I think really does not matter.  I am just looking at the games from my point of view.  Whether it is at the game or on television.  I do not have an up close and personal look.  My view is just like most fans and or critiques. 

The problem with the Washington Redskins go much farther than the owner, Daniel Snyder.  The problem with the Redskins go as far back as drafting Heath Shuler, Michael Westbrook and hiring Norv Turner.  Daniel Snyder was not the owner of the Redskins when this occurred.  Mr. Snyder was just like you and I during that time.  He was just a fan.  The problem is that the ownership did not know how to correct that situation and find continuity. 

If I had the financial capabilities to purchase the Washington Redskins during the time they were for sale, I would have bought them and probally made some of the same mistakes Daniel Snyder made.  The reason is because although I want to win bad I am still a fan. 

I was never sold from day one on Heath Shuler and I was on the fence with Michael Westbrook.  Michael Westbrook was drafted in the first round based on his potential and the game winning catch he had against Michigan.  I know all players are drafted on potential for the most part, but with Westbrook he never showed me that he was getting better or could be consistant.  Now you throw in Norv Turner, who is a good offensive coordinator but was never cut out to be a coach or a leader of men. 

The Redskins went through 5 years of mediocrity under Norv Turner before Snyder bought the team.  Most people do not remember Daniel Snyder was named executive of the year after the 1999 season after the Redskins won their first division title since 1991.  Now this is when the problems begin with the new regime.

The Redskins come within one game and one play of the NFC Championship and the following off season go on a spending spree that resembles a child given a hundred dollars and told that they have twenty minutes to shop in a toy store.  They go after older high priced free agents instead of getting young hungry guys to help build on what you have going. 

In defense of the ownership, they get it right when they hire Marty Shottenheimer.  Shottemheimer was the right coach, but not the right GM.  Shottenheimer was building something with the Redskins.  The ownership botched on this one.  Shottenheimer in my opioned would have worked out better than Gibbs part two.  Shottenheimer knew he needed a quarterback and he would have addressed that. 

Then there was the Steve Spurrier experience.  Need I say more.  This was a total disaster.  I think that Patrick Ramsey's football career was damaged by Steve Spurrier and his offensive scheme. 

The Joe Gibbs part two was not really a complete failure but it was not a great success.  The problem with Gibbs part two was that the Redskins could not seem to get any stability.  Mark Brunell should have been the back up to Patrick Ramsey.  The one thing people did not like about Patrick Ramsey was that he took chances.  Funny, the thing they do not like about Jason Campbell, is he do not take enough chances. 

I think that Joe Gibbs leaving a year early caught Daniel Snyder off guard.  I could be wrong, but that is what I think.  The ownership wanted a coach that could help them build off of what they thought they had going on after the 2007 season.  Jim Zorn was not the coach the team wanted.  He was the coach the team settled for.  I am not saying that it could not have worked with Jim Zorn.  But, the bottom line is that it is not working and is not going to work.

I would have to hold the management of the Redskins accountable for that.  Although, as I said earlier, this goes back to the Norv Turner hire and the drafting of Heath Shuler and Michael Westbrook. 

The current state of the Washington Redskins is that they do not have a bunch of young hungry players.  There are some guys that come to play everyday.  For the most part the Redksins have a bunch of rich wannabes.  Is there anything wrong with being a rich wannabe.  No, it is not, escpecially if you are that player.  At the end of the day, the name of the game is to get the money. 

The problem is that the average fan does not see it that way.  The media rips this every chance that they get.  I go back to an interview I saw with Fred Smoot once.  He said that there is life after football and he want's to own a chain of Waffle House's.  As a business owner I can understand that.  As a football fan I say see you later.  He can go and burn toast in his restaraunt intsead of being toast on the field.   Maybe he can cover hash browns better than he can cover receivers. 

It is now time for the Washington Redskins to find out who wants to be here.  It is time to play young players and demote older players.  You play the younger players to see if they are hungry and want to be here.  Do not get me wrong because some of the players I am talking about benching I actually like those players.  It is just time to play the young guys in the regular season and see what they can do. 

A veteran player should understand that.  The veteran players body of work should speak for that player.  This season is a wrap and you need to start planning for next year and beyond. 

The Washington Redskins need players that are young and hungry.  The only two young players on the team that look hungry to me are Brian Orakpo and Marko Mitchell.  Fred Davis is starting to show he can be a weapon, but other than that I do not see it.  Laron Landry is a great talented player, but makes just as many bad plays as good plays.  Chris Horton looks like he has regressed and is looking like a 7th round draft pick. 

From there the Redskins can then start looking at players that they can possibly trade for draft picks.  They can stock up on draft picks.  Right now in my opion the Redskins need to have two first round draft picks or two or more second round picks.  With seven rounds the Redskins need to try and have ten or more picks in the draft. 

You can not of course get rid of everybody, but the Redskins have a lot of players that they just need to part ways with.  This include players that I really like. 

In order to make this a success the Redskins would have to hire a good football guy and a good coach.  But by letting the young guys play now will make it a lot easier for the new coach and GM to evaluate. 

The Redskins can take two years to help address the needs of the team.  Not only do the Washington Redskins need more offensive linemen, they need some more skill position players.  The Redskins need another game changer on offense just as well as they need an offensive tackle or guard.  They also need a replacement for Sean Taylor, because although I like Reed Doughty and Chris Horton, they are just adequate.  Laron Landry is playing out of position.  That is why I feel like the Redskins need more than one first or second round pick. 

If the Redskins can get a good offensive linemen in the draft and have another high round pick that should be used on a skill position player.  I have been watching DeAndre McDaniel at Clemson and this kid is a ball hawking safety and a good tackler.

This team needs to only bring in free agents that are young and hungry as well.  They should stay away from the high priced free agents at this point.  Even if there is an un-capped year I would only go after young and hungry guys.   

Bottom line is that the Washington Redskins have to start now for next year and beyond.  This season is over.