Washington Redskins: 10 Reasons Mike Shanahan's Team Will Exceed Expectations

I'll be the first to say it: The Washington Redskins will NOT have a losing record in 2011. Before you doubt me, remember this: The Redskins beat the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, and Philadelphia Eagles last season.

The Skins do best when expectations are low. Just look at 1999. And 2005. And 2007. A disappointing year for Washington is historically a sign that improvement is coming.

Let's face it, the Redskins could have been a playoff team in 2010. A second half collapse made them look worse than they really were. There are reasons to believe the Redskins could have a surprise season in 2011, most of which I will enumerate.

For those of you who disagree (AKA all non-Redskins fans,) feel free to engage me in friendly argument. I take great pleasure in defending bold predictions.

However, before you cast aspersions, know that I predicted a Kansas City Chiefs playoff appearance last season...

10. Mike Shanahan Will Have a Sophomore Surge...Again

After a mediocre 8-8 start to his tenure with the Denver Broncos, Mike Shanahan had a phenomenal second season, leading the Broncos to a surprise 13-3 finish and their first AFC West Title in four years. 

Not only was it a solid improvement, it was a sign of things to come, as we all know Shanahan's Broncos, led by John Elway and Terrell Davis, won two Super Bowls in the following two seasons.

Now I know many of you are saying, this Redskins team has no Elways or Davises. But I'm also not saying they will go 13-3. They will improve, as Shanahan gets in a groove with the Redskins just as he did with the Broncos.

9. The Albert Haynesworth Distraction Is Gone

This Washington season will be devoid of Haynesworth's whining, injuries (fake and otherwise), questioning of coaches, and other misbehavior. Redskins fans, can I get an Amen?

Haynesworth, despite his sporadic good play, was arguably the worst free agent move of the last decade in the NFL, and probably the worst pickup in Redskins history. They payed him enough to hire Julia Roberts to do three movies, and only got 20 games and 6.5 sacks out of him over the course of two seasons.

By cutting ties they remove the headache, and more importantly eliminate the distraction that wasn't at all worth the little production they were getting from the big baby (sorry Glen Davis, Haynesworth has earned it more).

Some may be wondering how a team can improve by eliminating a great player. Well, football is more a team sport than any other, and chemistry can be far more valuable than individual talent. Perhaps now the defense can find some rhythm without the whiny prima donna around.

8. John Beck Will Be Better Than Expected

Which shouldn't be hard, considering everyone is expecting him to be awful, and end up splitting time with Rex Grossman.

For months now, Shanahan has been talking up Beck (with help from his son). Whether this is just bluster or derived from a genuine belief is the important question. I, for one, am taking Shanahan at his word. Well, kind of.

While I certainly don't think Beck will be heading to any Pro Bowls soon, I think he could play adequately in 2011. I don't see why Shanahan would risk his reputation putting ardent support behind Beck if he didn't have any talent or show any signs of potential.

After bungling the Haynesworth and McNabb situations, Shanahan needs a win in Washington. It remains to be seen if Beck's actually got something, or Shanahan is throwing up a Hail Mary.

7. Matchups Against Alex Smith, Tarvaris Jackson, and the Inept NFC West

The NFC West was a combined 25-39 last year. When you remove the 12 wins and losses they garnered amongst themselves, you discover they were 13-27 against outside competition. That is woefully bad.

Though the Cardinals look to improve and the Rams and Seahawks are coming off surprisingly (good?) seasons, the division is still pathetic, and Washington could look to possibly pick up three wins in those games.

 As long as the Redskins don't overlook these games the way they did games against Detroit and St. Louis last season, they should be a welcome respite from an otherwise tough schedule.

6. Shayne Graham over Graham Gano

One of the worst disappointments from last season was second-year kicker Graham Gano. Gano had a league worst 68.6 field goal percentage in 2010, missing five kicks under 40 yards, two of those coming from less than 30 yards.

On the other hand, Shayne Graham converted all 12 field goals he attempted as a replacement to the injured Stephen Gostkowski with the New England Patriots. Graham, with a career field goal percentage of 86.0, is the third most accurate NFL kicker of all time.

If Graham supplants Gano, as most expect to happen, the Redskins will have a much more reliable kicker. Other than one playoff game against the Jets two years ago, the Pro Bowler Shayne Graham has been a phenomenal kicker throughout his career.

He doesn't have Gano's leg strength, but the reduction in touchbacks will be well worth the increased stability on field goals.

5. Look to the Green Bay Packers' Game...

A closer look at the 2010 Redskins results shows two things: Washington was better than their 6-10 record, and the Redskins played best against good competition. 

The Redskins won three of the five games they played against eventual playoff teams in 2010, one of the losses coming in a close 27-24 game against Peyton Manning's Indianapolis Colts.

They beat two of the top three seeds in the NFC (the Philadelphia Eagles and Jay Cutler's, I mean DeAngelo Hall's Chicago Bears). More importantly, they beat the eventual Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers.

This all bodes well as I get to my next point that...

4. Tom Brady, Mark Sanchez and Michael Vick May Overlook Them

While it looks bad that the Redskins have to play the rest of their loaded NFC East opponents, along with the powerhouse AFC East, it could play to their advantage. Even the best teams are prone to overlooking weaker opponents, possibly even more so.

If you want proof, look at last season: The Eagles lost to the Minnesota Vikings sans Brett Favre. The Cleveland Browns beat the defending Champion New Orleans Saints and the New England Patriots. And so on, and so forth.

In the NFL, any team can beat any team in a given week (unless you're the Carolina Panthers). With the Patriots focusing on games with the Jets and Steelers, and the Eagles, Giants, and Cowboys all worried about each other, games against Washington could be overlooked in 2011.

3. The Oshiomogho Atogwe and Josh Wilson Additions

With these two additions in the secondary, a group which had already had DeAngelo Hall and LaRon Landry looks to be set. For Redskins fans who saw more than enough of Carlos Rodger's drops over the years, the addition of Atogwe's 22 career interceptions is certainly a welcome sight.

Hopefully Hall, coming off a record setting season and Pro Bowl MVP Award, will find more consistency in a more stable unit, as his ball-hawking has been interspersed with poor play and getting beat by top-tier receivers the past few seasons.

Either way, a unit which was mostly solid a year ago should be improved in 2011, and avoid any embarrassments like the beating Michael Vick put on them a year ago.

2. Jabar Gaffney and Donte' Stallworth Bolster the Receiving Corps

The Redskins may have finally some production at wide receiver. Though Stallworth's production has been minute as of late, historically he has had been an asset, and I don't see him getting any more DUI's or breaking his foot again.

Jabar Gaffney, on the other hand, had his best season in 2010 in a crowded Broncos receiving corps. I think he could provide stability, as he has played in every game eight of the nine seasons he has been in the NFL.

At the least, they should provide some support to Santana Moss, who has seemed like the only solid target for Redskins quarterbacks over the last decade. Moreover, they will push Anthony Armstrong, who had a nice season in 2010 with 44 catches and 871 yards and will have to keep playing well to keep his starting spot.

Though some complain they still haven't picked up a marquee receiver, they have guys who can and have played at a high level, and for once they have a little depth. And who knows how good rookie Leonard Hankerson will be?

1. Barry Cofield, Jarvis Jenkins, and Ryan Kerrigan Added to the Defense

The defensive line, the weak point of the Redskins a year ago, should be vastly improved in 2011. The pickup of Barry Cofield was huge. Meanwhile rookie Jarvis Jenkins has been creating a buzz, and Anthony Bryant was a nice surprise in the latter half of 2010.

With the aforementioned additions to the secondary, and the already strong linebacking corps led by London Fletcher, Rocky McIntosh, Brian Orakpo and the newest draftee Ryan Kerrigan, the defense could be very good.

As long as the offense doesn't keep them on the field for forty minutes a game, as they did too often a season ago, the defense should be able to handle themselves.