Up to Speed- Washington Redskins

LAST SEASON
The Redskins were one of the league's biggest disappointments in 2006. They won just 3 of their last 12 games en route to a miserable 5-11 record after reaching the playoffs in 2005.

An injury to running back Clinton Portis had something to do with it, as he was limited to only 9 games, and over 1000 fewer rushing yards than he had in 05.

Even though QB Mark Brunell took the fall for this team, surrendering his starting job at midseason to second year player Jason Campbell, the real culprit here was the defense. A unit that was top 10 in the league in both 04 and 05 ranked 31st overall in total defense, and in the bottom 3rd of the league against both the run and the pass, putting a serious crimp in Assistant Head Coach-Defense Gregg Williams' reputation as a master defensive tactician.

OFFSEASON
Even though the star running back was hurt, and the starting quarterback was benched, the Redskins offense wasn't all that bad last year. The running game, which was 4th best in the NFL last year, should again be a force. Ladell Betts stepped in for Portis and ran for 1154 yards on 4.7 yards per carry (which is more than Portis averaged in either 04 or 05). This year, the Skins will presumably have both of those backs healthy and ready to run behind a very effective O-line. This should take some pressure off the still-developing Campbell, and presumable should open up some downfield opportunities for Santana Moss, Antwaan Randle El, and Brandon Lloyd, who all had very disappointing 06 seasons.

A lot of painstaking effort is given to trying to mete out draft winners and losers. I, with confidence, can say the Redskins were a draft loser, and I can say that because the Redskins didn't have a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th round draft pick. It is not for nothing that they have become the Baltimore Orioles of football. They did, however, have the 6th overall pick and used it on safety LaRon Landry from LSU. Landry will start at free safety.

The other new addition on defense is MLB London Fletcher, who played well for Williams in Buffalo. Fletcher is not young by NFL standards (32), but he ranked 3rd in the league amongst linebackers in tackles last year, and 1st in passes defensed. He's effective against both the run and the pass and should be a nice addition to the defense.

The Redskins are very similar in makeup to their archrivals, the Cowboys. They have what could be an explosive offense, dependent on an inexperienced QB. They also have a weak defense that is generally relying on the same players who failed last year to not fail this year. The difference is, while they have the same strengths and weaknesses, the Cowboys strengths are stronger than the Redskins (I'd take Romo, TO, and Terry Glenn over Campbell, Moss, and Randle El any day of the week), while their weaknesses are not as weak (the Cowboys have some talent on their defense and a potential monster in DeMarcus Ware). The Redskins should do better than 5 wins this year, but they are no better than 3rd in their division. Now you're up to speed on the Redskins.