NFC East Preview: Washington Redskins

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Jul 9, 2008 7:00 AM EDT in New York Giants News

Today we take a look at the Washington Redskins as we finish up our NFC East Previews.

2007 record: 9-7 Lost to Seattle in the Wild Card Round

KEY ADDITIONS

• DE Erasmus James (trade Vikings).

• S Stuart Schweigert: FA Raiders; terms unknown.

KEY PLAYERS RE-SIGNED

• LS Ethan Albright: Potential UFA; terms unknown.

• DT Ryan Boschetti: UFA; terms unknown.

• RB Nehemiah Broughton: Not tendered as ERFA; terms unknown.

• RB/KR Rock Cartwright: UFA; $3.55M/3 yrs, $300,000 SB/$300,000 RB; $200,000 RB ‘09; 2008 cap: $705,000.

• QB Todd Collins: UFA; $9M/3 yrs, $3M SB.

• OT Jason Fabini: UFA; $870,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB; 2008 cap: $485,000.

• P Derrick Frost: UFA; $805,000/1 yr, $200,000 SB.

• K Shaun Suisham: ERFA; terms unknown.

KEY LOSSES

• QB Mark Brunell: UFA Saints; 2 yrs, $1M SB, other terms unknown.

• WR Reche Caldwell: UFA Rams; $645,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB.

• WR Brandon Lloyd (released; post-June 1 designation).

• CB David Macklin: UFA Rams; $770,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB.

• S Pierson Prioleau: UFA Jaguars; terms unknown.

• OT Kevin Sampson (released/failed physical).

• C Ross Tucker: UFA; retired.

Here are some of the questions the Redskins face going to camp in 2008:

Is Jim Zorn ready to be a head coach in the NFL?
How will Jason Campbell and the offense adapt to the new West Coast style Zorn has installed?
Follow up to Number 2: will Campbell even be the starter, or will Todd Collins unseat him?
Is Joe Jansen healthy after a debilitating injury in Week 1 of 2007?

Jim's Take:

The consensus seems to be that this is a down year for the Skins, and that Zorn is in over his head, but I'm going the other way. I have a feeling that Zorn is going to be a breath of fresh air for this team in the second Post-Gibbs Era. They have all 22 of their playoff starters returning, and that should help. Finishing third sounds about right for the 'Skins, but they are going to be a very tough out, especially the second half of the season.

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Comments

anybody else feel like the Skins

are being regarded exactly the same way the Giants were going into the 2007 season?

kinda makes you wonder if they could come out of nowhere and win the whole division. i think this team is impossible to gauge for ‘08.

by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on Jul 9, 2008 7:48 AM EDT reply actions

Probably right

They have talent. The Zorn question is the key. He’s either in way over his head, or he will wind up making Daniel Snyder look brilliant. Which way that turns out is the key to the whole thing for Washington.

by Ed Valentine on Jul 9, 2008 8:55 AM EDT up reply actions

history is on their side

Last 2 times we won the Super Bowl, they won it the next year…

by cjmulrain on Jul 9, 2008 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Histroy...

I like that stat

by S0UTHEASTjerome on Jul 10, 2008 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm a bit confused.

“Finishing third sounds about right for the ‘Skins”
So, with Dallas possibly finishing first, and I assume the Giants are then picked second, are you saying the Eagles will be fourth in the division? I would disagree with that. As was noted, they have a first year head coach and a training camp QB battle between Todd Collins and Jason Campbell (!?). I think finishing fourth sounds about right for the ‘Skins, and if this were the NBA they would be staring at a lottery pick at the end of this season.

by rzor on Jul 9, 2008 10:07 AM EDT reply actions

Why are you confused?

Sounds like you have me figured right

And feel free to disagree with me, thats why I call it “Jim’s Take” and not “The way I am telling you think”.

I just think this is down year for the Eagles, and the Skins will be tougher than most think. We’ll see in December

Remember, I am married, I am used to being disagreed with

Giants fan from the womb to the tomb

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Jul 9, 2008 11:42 AM EDT reply actions

Sbake

I was reading a Redskins blog when researching this, and there was a great line in there about how the Redskins will win 4 and lose 4, and how even Redskins fans don’t know what to expect the other 8 games

Giants fan from the womb to the tomb

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Jul 9, 2008 11:43 AM EDT reply actions

3rd

Its up in the air this year…Im a DC native…and I just cannot get over how the Eagles are always expected to be 1st or 2nd in the division. There are questions for the eagles too. McNabb…receivers…OL?. You really cannot predict these things. Is Pacman going to screw the Cowboys up? Is TO going to have his period again? Will Strahans loss of leadership effect New York? Every year I see the Redskins picked last in the division on ESPN, CBS, and FOX. I could be paranoid…but I feel we get the short end every year. We have been trying to quiet the haters by not tearing up the free agent market. We have not made any big moves. We got three second round draft picks. Our strong OL of veterns should be coming back as strong as ever this year. We have every position covered…besides a great pass rusher. Give us a chance guys. “Hail to the Redskins!!”

by S0UTHEASTjerome on Jul 9, 2008 12:17 PM EDT reply actions

I moved to DC 2 summers ago

and I have to say, Redskins fans are BY FAR my favorite fans in the NFC East, and possibly in the whole league (other than Giants fans, of course). They are every bit as passionate about their team as Eagles fans, but they are also much more respectful of fans of other teams, unlike the ‘Boys and Eagles fans. I also find they are the most willing to actually debate with facts and stats, rather than “TO will p8wn your a$$, because I said so!”

That said, I do think the reason they’ve been “disrespected” the last few years is because Snyder really hasn’t been a good owner, and they just haven’t been as talented as the other teams. I think that is starting to change though: I liked their draft strategy of getting a few big, physical receivers, which should really help Campbell out. I think the NFC East is once again going to be by far the best division in football, and I think it’s gonna be a total crapshoot as to who wins it and who comes in last, and I hope it once again sends 3 teams to the playoffs.

by cjmulrain on Jul 9, 2008 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Zorn...

Nearly every guy who steps up to the head coaching job is “over his head” when he takes the helm. Remember Parcell’s first year? Success will depend on decisions he makes…ie coaches, creating a team attitude, and his reactions to the things that will inevitably go wrong. I liked him as a player and have a gut feeling he’s got what it takes to win.

As for Philly, they have a lot of obstacles to overcome. Quarterback health issues. questionable wide receivers, and even coach burnout. They could easily end up last in the East.

by giant fan since 57 on Jul 10, 2008 6:31 AM EDT reply actions

I do have to say

living in DC, based on everything I’ve heard from and about Zorn, he DOES sound like he’s in over his head. Doesn’t mean he can’t figure it out, but that could be a crucial weak spot for the Skins this year.

by cjmulrain on Jul 10, 2008 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Sadly...

don’t forget that we have a new Defensive coordinater: Blache…he is not a rookie though… he was the Defensive coordinator for the Bears a couple years back

by S0UTHEASTjerome on Jul 10, 2008 3:28 PM EDT reply actions