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Why the Redskins Will Make the Playoffs this Season

A revamped roster with exciting young talent means a postseason run this year ... but only if the team stays healthy

Predicting success for the Washington Redskins could be considered a fool's errand. Since the 2000 season, the Redskins have had just two winning seasons and one lonely little playoff victory. The last two seasons were particularly lame, as the team went 10-22 and suffered through a series of what can best be described as personnel issues with malcontent defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth and former Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb, both of whom were unceremoniously sent packing this offseason.

Despite the recent history of futility and frustration, there is a buzz emanating from Redskin Park in Ashburn. With an overhauled roster filled with youth, talent and optimism, the Redskins will field their most capable team in years, a team that has the necessary building blocks to compete for the playoffs this season.

Don't believe me? Think I've lost my mind? Maybe I'm confusing the Redskins with Ashburn’s Broad Run or Stone Bridge high schools? Sure, these are valid reactions considering how bad the Redskins have been recently, but you've come this far so you may as well keep reading as I explain exactly why I think the Washington Redskins are playoff bound in 2011:

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REX GROSSMAN IS BETTER THAN DONOVAN McNABB
In the battle of "what have you done for me lately," Rex Grossman is proving that he is a vastly superior quarterback to Donovan McNabb ... at least in head coach Mike Shanahan's offense. Granted, McNabb's years in Philadelphia likely provided him with a Hall of Fame resume, while Grossman's record in Chicago and Houston provided him with a resume better suited for a waiter Pizzeria Uno. But for reasons we may never quite understand, McNabb failed miserably in Washington, while Grossman – the turnover king of Florida – seems to possess the ability to run this offensive system effectively.

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During preseason a year ago, McNabb completed just 47.1 percent of his passes and had a quarterback rating of 71.2. He went on to have the worst season of his career, throwing just 14 touchdowns to his 15 interceptions for a quarterback rating of 77.1. Grossman’s numbers have been better than McNabb’s in both preseason and regular season action the past two years. During limited action at the end of last year, Grossman threw seven touchdowns and four interceptions, and finished with a quarterback rating of 81.2. This preseason Grossman played very well, as he completed 64.2 percent of his passes with a very strong quarterback rating of 92.3.

Although Grossman will likely never match the career accomplishments of McNabb, he is well on his way to wiping away our sad memories of McNabb’s disastrous Redskins stint.

 

REDSKINS REPLACED AN '85 YUGO WITH A COUPLE OF FERRARIS
Clinton Portis was one of my favorite players in the NFL. He was perhaps the toughest running back in the league, with a highlight reel filled with linebacker crunching blocks and hard-charging runs. Yet off the field he was quirky, and displayed his offbeat sense of humor with funny quotes, strange costumes and unforgettable characters such as Coach Janky Spanky, Southeast Jerome and Sheriff Gonna Getcha. Yet none of these characters could overcome the evil villain known as Father Time. With a bulldozing workload over several seasons in Washington, Sheriff Gonna Getcha eventually got Portis, as injuries piled up and his legs wore out. After being cut by the Redskins this offseason, Portis has not been signed by any other team.

Portis’ injury-plagued 2010 season provided back up running back Ryan Torain an opportunity, which he seized. Despite battling some injuries of his own, Torain piled up 742 rushing yards and averaged 4.5 yards per carry, a number Portis never reached during his Redskins career.

Perhaps due to concerns about Torain’s durability, the Redskins recently acquired Tim Hightower via a trade with the Arizona Cardinals, and the move looks like one of the best made by the Redskins in years. This preseason Hightower was explosive, gashing opposing defenses with long runs as he averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Add to the mix rookie Roy Helu from Nebraska—who averaged 4.9 yards per carry this preseason—and the Redskins appear poised to have one of the better running games in the NFL this season.

 

THE DEFENSE WILL BE BETTER AND COULD BE REALLY GOOD IF HEALTHY
Even with their anemic offense and poor quarterback play from McNabb, the defense proved the biggest liability for the Redskins in 2010. The team transitioned to Jim Haslett’s 3-4 defensive scheme with players who were accustomed to playing a 4-3. The results were disastrous. The unit finished next to last in the NFL in total yards allowed per game, as opponents went up and down the field against Washington at the pace of nearly 400 yards per game. To add some perspective, the top three defensive teams in the league last year gave up less than 300 yards per game.

This off-season the Redskins overhauled nearly the entire defensive roster with younger players who better fit the 3-4. The key cog will be former New York Giant Barry Cofield. The 6-foot-4-inch, 300-plus-pound nose tackle showed in the preseason that he has the size, speed and skills to be a disruptive force in the middle of the Redskins defensive line. The team also signed free agent safety O.J. Atogwe before the NFL lock-out started, and hope his pass coverage skills and knack for creating turnovers bolster the secondary. Other additions such as top draft pick Ryan Kerrigan (linebacker), corner back Josh Wilson and defensive end Stephen Bowen give the defense an infusion of youth and talent not seen at Redskins Park in years, and the early results are promising. The first team defense played well throughout the preseason, and should continue to improve with more experience playing together.

 

INJURIES COULD RESULT IN MORE REDSKINS MEDIOCRITY
Even with these clear improvements, the Redskins still lack the quality depth of a true contender. The team has reason for optimism, but hangs perilously close to yet another mediocre season if just a few key players miss significant playing time.

The Redskins enter Sunday’s opening game against the Giants with several key players dealing with various ailments. Strong safety LaRon Landry – who was playing at an All-Pro level last season before suffering an Achilles tendon injury – will not play Sunday due to a hamstring injury. Rookie defensive end Jarvis Jenkins is out for the season with a torn ACL. Pro Bowl tight end Chris Cooley and return specialist Brandon Banks are dealing with lingering knee issues.

The Redskins can probably survive if Cooley or Banks miss some time, but injuries to key defensive players could quickly lead the unit back to the porous form they displayed last season. With Landry and Barry Cofield on the field, the defense could finish in the top ten in the NFL this season. Without them, the unit might be headed back to the bottom of the league standings.

 

SEASON PREDICTIONS
The Redskins will finish the season 10-6 and capture the NFC East crown over the second-place Philadelphia Eagles. The team will, however, lose in the first round of the playoffs. LaRon Landry, Barry Cofield and Brian Orakpo will make the Pro Bowl on defense, while Tim Hightower, Santana Moss and Rex Grossman represent the offense.

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