ESPN Power Rankings Have the Washington Redskins at 29, Really?

ESPN the world wide leader in sports entertainment (I think the WWE would beg to differ on that) just released their first power rankings for the 2011 season.

Our favorite franchise the Washington Redskins were ranked 29th, and to quote the Miz, "Really, really, really ESPN?"

It's not that I have some delusions that the Redskins are some great team or that the franchise has magically fixed it's self in just the two seasons that Mike Shannahan and Bruce Allen have been running the show.

However, the problem I have with their 29 ranking is that it boils down to the fact that everyone is focusing on John Beck being the starting quarterback.

I have two problems with that, first is that John Beck has not been named the starter, in fact with the unofficial depth chart being released today it has Rex Grossman as the first string starter. 

Granted, Rex doesn't instill a lot of confidence in the franchise but the fans and the media need to move on from the comments that Coach Shannahan made during the draft.

All he said was that he thought Beck was the best quarterback of the 2007 draft class.  Considering Jamarcus Russel, Kevin Kolb and Brady Quinn were taken ahead of him it doesn't say that much about Beck.

Yes the NFL is a quarterback focused league but it doesn't all come down to the QB position. It helps, sure, but teams like the 85 Bears and 2000 Ravens proved that a team with a great defense can make up for the lack of a quarterback.

Do the Redskins have a great defense?  

Honestly I'm not sure, what I do know is that there is no way that they can be as bad as last season.  

With the wise and conservative moves this offseason I think the Redskins improved their team, especially their defense.

My other problem with the ranking is some of the teams ranked above the Skins.  

The Cardinals, 49ers, Jaguars, Broncos, Dolphins, Vikings and Browns have no business being ranked above the Redskins.

In fact the only team listed above that has a quarterback better than what the Skins have are the Broncos.

I know you're saying, what about the Vikings Josh?  Here is the thing, McNabb showed all of us here in the DMV that he doesn't do well in new systems.

Kolb is only a little more proven than Beck and not as much as Grossman, but because Andy Reid is the NFL's best snake oil salesman the media fell in love with Kolb in spite of his 3-4 record as a starter.

So honestly the Redskins should probably be ranked somewhere between 21 and 23.