Tomorrow is Opening Night in the NFL, and your Super Bowl Champion New York Giants will host the Washington Redskins. Today, Big Blue View presents a look at the 2008 Redskins:
2007 Record: 9-7 (3rd NFC East)
Head Coach: Jim Zorn (1st season)
Last time they met: The Redskins beat the Giants at Giants Stadium, 22-10 in Week 15, earning a season split with the Giants, who won at Fedex Field in Week 3, 24-17.
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Sherman Smith
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Greg Blache
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).
Notes and Quotes:
- Punter Derrick Frost blasted the Redskins on Aug. 30 after being cut in favor of sixth-round draft choice Durant Brooks:
"They said the competition was even, but it definitely wasn't," said Frost, who averaged 45.5 yards gross and 32.3 net to Brooks' 42.8 and 34.5. "I started the last game and I definitely outplayed him after they said it was even going in. It was a sham. There was no competition. I think (special teams coach Danny Smith's) hands were tied."
Coach Jim Zorn said Frost had been too inconsistent over the years and that Brooks, the nation's top punter as a Georgia Tech senior in 2007, had more upside and better hang time.
"It was based on the last three years that Frost was here ... on Durant and (the) competition this year and ... what we've seen in Durant and his continued improvement," Zorn said. "Did you see any of his punts (on Aug. 31, the first Frost-less practice). Pretty awesome. I don't know if it made a difference knowing he was the guy. But he has to do it in a game, no question."
- The Redskins raised some eyebrows by cutting former Eagles and Vikings receiver Billy McMullen, whose 20 preseason catches led the NFL, and 2007 practice squad running back Marcus Mason, whose 317 preseason yards were also a league-high. Although rookie Malcolm Kelly will miss at least the opener with an ailing knee, Zorn chose to keep just the usual five receivers. And the coach couldn't find a way to subtract a body at another spot to keep Mason as a No. 4 back behind veterans Clinton Portis, Ladell Betts and Rock Cartwright.
BY THE NUMBERS: 10 -- Draft picks on the roster. That's one more than the total of players on the roster from the previous five drafts combined.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'm not in love with any of 'em. They're all fine young men. I think they'll all be good football players. The only thing, is I hope I don't have to count on any of 'em right away." -- Coordinator Greg Blache on the four draft picks who made his defense.