(Best E Casino) - Once again, Daniel Snyder just couldn't resist making the big splash.
After an unusually quiet offseason, it took just one day of training camp for the circus-like atmosphere normally associated with the Washington Redskins since the star-craving Snyder purchased the prestigious franchise nine years ago to return. With two members of the defensive line, including longtime starting end Phillip Daniels, suffering season-ending injuries before the first two-a-day session was completed, player personnel guru and Snyder crony Vinny Cerrato struck quickly and liberated superstar pass-rusher and budding television star Jason Taylor from the rebuilding Miami Dolphins to fill a gaping hole.
Taylor's acquisition shouldn't be compared to some of the impetuous player moves the Snyder regime has made in the past (Bruce Smith, Deion Sanders, Jeff George, Jessie Armstead, etc.). Unlike those either over-the-hill or simply overrated big names, the recent "Dancing With the Stars" participant still has plenty left in the tank as he approaches his 12th NFL season. Taylor produced 11 sacks on a bad Miami team last year and should instantly solve one of Washington's greatest weaknesses in 2007, the lack of a consistent edge rusher to complement quality end Andre Carter.
While the spring months were an uncharacteristically tranquil time around Redskins Park, the preceding winter was anything but. A whirlwind six-week chain of events began with the shocking murder of All-Pro safety Sean Taylor in late November, and the bad luck continued when starting quarterback Jason Campbell injured his knee in a Week 13 tilt against Chicago. Saddled with a 5-7 record and a seemingly snowball's chance in hell of making the playoffs heading into the Chicago game, Washington made a stunning late-season rally behind journeyman signal-caller Todd Collins and won its last four regular- season contests to earn the NFC's final Wild Card spot.
The magic finally ran out for the Redskins with a 35-14 loss to Seattle in the opening round of the playoffs, but last season's furious finish had team personnel brimming with optimism about the prospects for 2008. However, the organization would have to withstand another surprising blow in early January, when iconic head coach Joe Gibbs abruptly announced his retirement just three days after the Seattle loss.
After a flirtation with former New York Giants sideline boss Jim Fassel, Snyder tabbed Seahawks assistant Jim Zorn as Gibbs' successor. The decision raised some eyebrows, since the ex-NFL quarterback had never been a head coach or a coordinator at the professional level, but Zorn has received high marks from around the league for both his knowledge of the game and his ability to relate to players.
The 55-year-old Zorn inherits a team with playoff-caliber talent, but also with questions of age in key areas and a challenging early schedule that features three road games against NFC East opponents in the first five weeks. It all should add up to another season with plenty of intrigue for a Washington squad that had more than its share of drama in 2007.
Below we take a capsule look at the 2008 edition of the Washington Redskins, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:
2007 RECORD: 9-7 (3rd, NFC East)
LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2007, lost to Seattle, 35-14, in NFC First-Round
COACH (RECORD): Jim Zorn (first season with Redskins, first overall)
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Sherman Smith
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Greg Blache
OFFENSIVE STAR: Clinton Portis, RB (1262 rushing yards, 11 TD, 47 receptions)
DEFENSIVE STAR: Jason Taylor, DE (56 tackles, 11 sacks with Miami)
OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 12th rushing, 14th passing, t18th scoring
DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 4th rushing, 16th passing, 11th scoring
KEY ADDITIONS: QB Colt Brennan (6th Round, Hawaii), WR Devin Thomas (2nd Round, Michigan State), WR Malcolm Kelly (2nd Round, Oklahoma), TE Fred Davis (2nd Round, USC), G Chad Rinehart (3rd Round, Northern Iowa), DE Jason Taylor (from Dolphins), DE Eramsus James (from Vikings), P Durant Brooks (6th Round, Georgia Tech)
KEY DEPARTURES: QB Mark Brunell (to Saints), WR Keenan McCardell (not tendered), WR Reche Caldwell (to Rams), WR Brandon Lloyd (to Bears), TE Brian Kozlowski (not tendered), C Ross Tucker (not tendered), G Rick DeMulling (not tendered), G Mike Pucillo (not tendered), T Kevin Sampson (released), S Pierson Prioleau (to Jaguars), DE Phillip Daniels (injured/out for season), LB Randall Godfrey (not tendered), CB David Macklin (to Rams), S Omar Stoutmire (not tendered)
QB: Collins' late-season savior act and re-signing over the winter had led to early speculation of a possible quarterback controversy, but it became clear early on in training camp that no such debate exists. Campbell (2700 passing yards, 12 TD, 11 INT in 07) has quickly taken to Zorn's West Coast offense, a system similar to the one in which he starred as a collegian at Auburn, while Collins (888 passing yards, 5 TD, 0 INT) has been slow to grasp the changing scheme. Campbell's backup in waiting appears to rookie Colt Brennan, the record-setting quarterback at the University of Hawaii whom the Redskins plucked in the sixth round of April's draft. He's noted for his accuracy and quick decision-making, attributes which make a Brennan a good fit in Zorn's offense.
RB: After missing half of the previous season with an assortment of ailments, Clinton Portis (1262 rushing yards, 11 TD) put together a healthy and productive 2007 campaign as Washington's workhorse in the backfield. The colorful running back established career bests for receptions (47) and receiving yards (389) last year, and could top those numbers in the new offense. Ladell Betts (335 rushing yards, 21 receptions) is a more-than- capable fill-in who proved his worth by racking up over 1,150 yards on the ground in place of an injured Portis in 2006. The duo will once again be running behind 280-pound fullback Mike Sellers (17 receptions, 1 TD), one of the best blockers in the league at the oft-overlooked position. The Redskins re-signed special-teams standout Rock Cartwright in March to serve as the No. 3 back and primary kick returner.
WR/TE: Wide receiver was not an area of strength for the Redskins in 2007, as the speedy but slight Santana Moss (61 receptions, 3 TD) battled through another injury-plagued season and Antwaan Randle El (51 receptions, 1 TD) hasn't been the impact player the team envisioned when it signed him to a lucrative free-agent contract two years ago. Therefore, Washington used two of its three second-round picks in this year's draft on wideouts Devin Thomas (Michigan State) and Malcolm Kelly (Oklahoma) with the intention of having the rookies compete for significant roles in the passing game. Both have missed ample time in the preseason with nagging injuries, however, and it's unclear how much of a contribution either will make early on. The trusty James Thrash (9 receptions) will likely enter the season as the No. 3 receiver. Campbell's favorite target is tight end Chris Cooley (66 receptions), who earned his first career Pro Bowl nod last year and led the 'Skins with eight touchdown grabs. Washington grabbed another potential weapon in the second round of April's draft in former USC tight end Fred Davis, although the 22-year-old figures to be brought along slowly. He'll battle eighth-year pro Todd Yoder (7 receptions, 1 TD) to be Cooley's primary understudy. Six-foot-five Anthony Mix made a mark on special teams last season and has a solid shot to make the roster as a reserve receiver.
OL: Injuries hit this seasoned unit hard last year as well, which helps provide an explanation for the noticeable dropoff of Washington's ground game from the previous season. The Redskins ranked fourth in the NFL with an average of 138.5 rushing yards per game in 2006, but slipped to 12th in that category (116.9) while averaging a meager 3.8 yards per attempt last year. Right tackle Jon Jansen suffered a season-ending fractured ankle in Week 1, while road-grading right guard Randy Thomas played in just three games due to a torn triceps. Both veterans are back at full strength and ready to reprise their regular spots alongside five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Chris Samuels, left guard Pete Kendall and center Casey Rabach. Thirty-four-year-old Jason Fabini performed ably subbing for Thomas last season and was brought back to supply experienced depth along with tackles Todd Wade, a former starter in Miami and Houston, and Stephon Heyer, who started five games as an undrafted rookie in 2007. The Redskins drafted Northern Iowa's Chad Rinehart in the third round in April to be Kendall's heir apparent.
DL: Daniels' torn ACL could turn out to be a blessing in disguise, as it's believed the Redskins had only lukewarm interest in obtaining Jason Taylor prior to the injury. The presence of the NFL's 2006 Defensive Player of the Year should be a boon to the underrated Carter (55 tackles), who still managed 10 1/2 sacks despite drawing constant double-teams a year ago. No other Washington player had more than five sacks last season. In a further attempt to bolster the pass rush, the Redskins acquired former first-round pick Erasmus James (7 tackles, 1 sack) from the Vikings in May, although the talented end has played in just eight games the last two years due to multiple knee surgeries. Cornelius Griffin (42 tackles, 2.5 sacks) and Anthony Montgomery (42 tackles, 0.5 sacks) are back to man the tackle positions. The tandem, along with solid reserve Kedric Golston (11 tackles, 1 sacks), were a big reason why the Redskins finished fourth overall in run defense (91.3 ypg) in 2007. The versatile Demetric Evans (25 tackles, 1 sack) should see plenty of time as an end on running downs as well. Promising second-year end Chris Wilson (13 tackles, 4 sacks) and tackle Lorenzo Alexander (4 tackles) round out the defensive line corps.
LB: Washington's quality three-man contingent of London Fletcher (128 tackles, 3 INT, 10 PD), Rocky McIntosh (87 tackles, 3 sacks) and Marcus Washington (48 tackles, 5 sacks) will return intact, provided McIntosh is able to fully recover from an ACL tear that occurred in December. Strongside starter Washington is also a bit injury-prone, having sat out four contests with a hamstring injury last year, but the Redskins have no such worries about Fletcher in the middle. The 33-year-old, an astute free-agent pickup by Cerrato prior to last season, hasn't missed a game in 10 NFL campaigns, and his skill and leadership were essential to the team's major defensive improvement from the previous year. Second-year man H.B. Blades (21 tackles) showed himself to be a solid alternative at any of the linebacker spots as a rookie, while special-teams maven Khary Campbell (34 tackles) is capable of filling in as well.
DB: The biggest question marks on a Redskins defense that ranked eighth overall (305.3 ypg) last year lie in the secondary. Cornerback Carlos Rogers (25 tackles, 1 INT, 7 PD) is working his way back from a serious knee injury that prematurely ended his 2007 season, although there's a good chance the third-year pro will be ready for the regular-season opener, while the veteran nickel back Fred Smoot (50 tackles, 1 INT, 10 PD) seems to leave games with a hamstring problem or cramp on a weekly basis. Left-side starter Shawn Springs (62 tackles, 4 INT, 15 PD) is coming off a very good season but turned 33 in March. There's some concern at safety as well, although 2007 first-round choice LaRon Landry (95 tackles, 1.5 sacks) flashed All-Pro potential while starting every game as a rookie. The Redskins are counting on the emerging young star to be a playmaker in the Sean Taylor mold. Reed Doughty (53 tackles, 0.5 tackles) was adequate upon being forced into a starting role after Taylor's tragic death, but needs to prove it over a whole season. Depth is an issue as well, with special teamer Vernon Fox (12 tackles) the only backup safety with any experience. The other two are a pair of rookie late- round picks, Kareem Moore (6th round) and Chris Horton (7th). The club also nabbed Arizona State corner Justin Tryon in the 4th round. He'll battle holdover Leigh Torrence (43 tackles, 1 sack) for time in nickel and dime situations.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Cartwright ranked second in the NFC with a healthy 25.8 yard average on kick returns, and the Redskins' coverage units were among the NFL's best last year. That, along with ultra-consistent long snapper Ethan Albright being named to the Pro Bowl, was the good news. On the other hand, Randle El, one of the league's most dangerous punt returners during his days with the Steelers, averaged a mediocre 6.1 yards per runback and both kicker Shaun Suisham and punter Derrick Frost had inconsistent years. Suisham, who made good on 29-of-35 field goal tries during his first full NFL season, appears to have some job security, but the Redskins spent a sixth-round draft choice on Georgia Tech punter Durant Brooks to compete with Frost. Randle El's track record -- he's returned five punts for touchdowns in six seasons -- suggests he'll be better this year.
PROGNOSIS: The Redskins are confident they've found the right man for the job in Zorn, and Campbell's strong preseason showing under center bodes well for the team's prospects for both the present and future. Washington's biggest problem may be the division it plays in. The NFC East boasts the defending Super Bowl champion (the New York Giants), the conference's top regular-season team last year (Dallas) and a talented Philadelphia squad that many have stamped as a power-player for the upcoming season. The fact that the 'Skins endured so many injuries during camp also isn't a positive sign for a team that's getting a little long in the tooth. If Campbell emerges into a top- flight quarterback and the defense plays at last year's level, there's no reason to think the Redskins won't challenge for NFC East supremacy. Those are big ifs, however, even with the addition of Jason Taylor. Expect Washington to be competitive in year one of the Zorn era but to fall short of matching last season's achievements.
