The Shana-Plan: Washington Redskins Ready for Mike Shanahan

Now that Jim Zorn's firing is a foregone conclusion, Redskins fans can look forward to the positive changes of the near future. Dan Snyder has his finger on the trigger of the deal to bring Mike Shanahan to D.C.

What are some of the moves that can be expected from Shanahan?

1. First, and most obvious, the entire coaching staff will be replaced with his own people. Who is on that list? Kyle Shanahan, his son and for now the Houston Texans offensive coordinator, will be the new Redskins offensive coordinator. As for the rest of the staff, we can only speculate until the actual announcements.

2. Mike Shanahan will want to have his own hand-picked quarterback to develop. Consistent success on offense is dependent on having a franchise quarterback, and Shanahan knows this as well as anybody in the league.

Look for Jason Campbell to be gone before next season, and for the Redskins to pick either Sam Bradford or Jimmy Clausen in the draft. In addition, Shanahan will probably bring in a veteran to handle the offense until the rookie can learn the ropes.

3. A lot of veterans will be cut or traded. Shanahan and Bruce Allen will be making some extreme changes to the roster. They will actively concentrate on rebuilding with youth, and cleaning up the salary cap in a year when there will be no implications. Don't be surprised by some shocking moves such as trading Chris Cooley and LaRon Landry and cutting Clinton Portis.

Regardless of the exact nature of the changes Mike Shanahan is about to make, Redskins fans are eager for the beginning of a new era in Washington. It appears Dan Snyder has finally listened to the pleas of the fans, and the organization is now getting a complete overhaul from top to bottom.

And so, shortly after the conclusion of the Redskins-Chargers game on Sunday, the ink will already be drying on Shanahan's new contract with Washington. A new decade will be ushered in, and along with it, the hope that the Redskins organization is finally moving down the right path.

Will the '10s be like the '80s? Only time will tell, but judging by the impending changes, the Washington Redskins will be moving quickly back into respectability.