Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-US PRESSWIRE

In the last two weeks, we took a look at the off season moves of both the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles.  Now we turn to the traditional division doormat, the Washington Redskins.  First of all, thank God for Dan Snyder!  He is probably the only owner in the NFL that can make Jerry Jones look like a good GM.  The Redskins have spent boatloads of money on expensive free agents and have pretty much zip to show for it over and over and over again.  As hard as it has been to be a Cowboys fan at times of late, there is no doubt it would be even more depressing and frustrating to be a ‘Skins fan.  Nobody loves dancing on their NFL graves more than me!  Maybe it is because I remember when the Redskins-Cowboys games were perrenial playoff previews and meant something.  I was in Texas Stadium on December 16, 1979 when Roger Staubach hit Drew Pearson for a short touchdown pass completing a comeback from a 34-20 deficit with 4 minutes remaining, winning 35-34, and thereby winning the NFC East and eliminating the Redskins from the playoffs - perhaps the greatest football experience of my life!  I hate the Redskins, the cross dressing “Hogs”, the annoying “Hail To The Redskins” theme song, little Dan Snyder, FedEx Field, everything that is the Washington Redskins.  If they never won another game, that would be fine with me.   I don’t like the Giants or the Eagles very much either as division opponents, but the hate burns brightest for the Redskins.  So, please understand it is hard for me to show any objectivity and say something nice about their off season.  But, I’ll try.

No one was more disappointed than me to hear that the Redskins had pulled the trigger on a blockbuster trade before the draft designed to get them what they had long sought – a franchise quarterback.  Unsuccessful in free agency and clearly losing out on Peyton Manning from the start, Snyder decided instead to try going big in the draft.  Washington moved up 4 spots to the #2 pick in this year’s draft by giving the St. Louis Ram’s their first round pick in 2012 (#6 overall), a 2nd round pick in 2012 and their first round picks in 2013 and 2014.  Expensive!  But, designed to get the rights to Baylor QB Robert Griffin III.

We’ll go through the rest of the details but this offseason for the Redskins starts and ends with RGIII.  For the record, I think he is going to be a special player.  He’s got all the right skills but even more importantly he seems to have his head on straight.  It’s hard not to root for him to be successful.  That is until he was drafted by the ‘Skins.  I now get to hate him as much as any Redskin player and yearn for his complete failure while he gets to put a dismal franchise on his shoulders and hope to turn years of mediocrity into magic overnight.  If anyone can do it, he probably can but the pressure will be immense and the results aren’t likely to be immediate (at least not as fast as most Redskin fans will want).  It’s another boom or bust move by General Snyder and Coach Shanahan.   RGIII becomes the savior of the franchise and they look like geniuses.  Another bust, and the future of the franchise has been mortgaged to the hilt.

So, let’s take a look at what else the Redskins have done to improve their team so far this offseason.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

Key Losses:

Jabar Gaffney, WR – Released by the Redskins after one season, signed with New England; a 10th year, journeyman receiver wouldn’t seem at first blush to be a big loss but he led the Redskins in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving TDs in 2010.  They feel they have ample replacements but until they perform on the field the impact of this move may come back to haunt them.  In the meantime, Gaffney now gets to catch balls from Tom Brady but will have to fight for receptions among a crowded and talented Patriots receiving corps.

Key Additions:

Pierre Garcon, WR – from Indianapolis; the Redskins feel like this gives them the consistent threat opposite Santana Moss that they’ve been missing.  Whether Garcon is still capable of contributing with the Redskins like he did when Peyton Manning was his quarterback remains to be seen.

Mandatory credit: Michael Hickey-US PRESSWIRE

Josh Morgan, WR - from San Francisco; coming off IR after a promising start in 2011, it is totally unknown at this point if Morgan will be able to get back to 100% and find ways to contribute as a third option at receiver.  Combined with Garcon and Moss, the trio may be a viable replacement for Gaffney’s numbers.

Brandon Meriweather, FS – from Chicago; released by the Patriots during final cuts in the 2011 preseason, Meriweather signed a one-year deal with Chicago.  He had an inconsistent year with the bears playing in 11 games but only starting 4.  The Redskins needed a replacement for the injured LaRon Landry and Oshiomogho Atogwe, signed Meriweather to a 2-year deal.  It remains to be seen if he is able to become the starter in Washington.

London Fletcher, LB – not an addition, but re-signed by Washington; easily their most productive defensive player.  Only question I have is what took so long?  This guy is getting long in the tooth but is a monster.  I would have loved to see him go to another team outside the division.

Tim Hightower, RB – also not an addition, but a re-signing by Washington;  Roy Helu emerged as the likely starter after last season, but the Redskins need Hightower in their running back by committee approach.  RGIII can’t hand himself the ball on every play (or can he?).

2012 NFL Draft

Round 1 – #2 overall: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor – franchise caliber quarterback – only question really is if the Redskins will be able to put the right kind of talent around him and if his skills translate effectively to the NFL game.   Baylor certainly did not run an NFL-type offense and the history of the NFL is littered with great college quarterbacks who flamed out in the NFL.

Round 3 – #71 overall: Josh LeRibeus, G, SMU - largely viewed as a player with 5th round value, feels like a bit of a stretch here in the 3rd round (pre-draft grade of 64.7). 

Round 4 – #102 overall: Kirk Cousins, QB, Michigan State – after taking RGIII with their first pick, taking another QB in the 4th round who many believed has starter potential left a lot of people scratching their heads.  If nothing else, it may be “insurance” against a complete failure by RGIII but you have to feel sorry for this kid – #1 being drafted by Washington, a QB graveyard of late, and #2 drafted in the same draft by the team that took RGIII.  Cousins better get used to practicing and holding a clip board for the next few years.  Shanahan explained that he drafted the best player available in that slot but with all the holes this team has, not sure they could afford the “roster depth”.

Round 4 – #119 overall:  Keenan Robinson, OLB, Texas - an edge player with good instincts (pre-draft grade 68.2) but he will be a special teamer and back up Kerrigan and Orakpo this year – more roster depth.

Round 5 – #141 overall: Adam Gettis, G, Iowa - probably a decent 5th round pick (pre-draft grade of 52.2) but will most likley remain a back up for his first few years.

Round 6 – #173 overall: Alfred Morris, RB, Florida Atlantic - a fairly low pre-draft grade of 47.5 but Morris is good at finding daylight in a zone running scheme which will make him productive in Shanahan’s system if he can make the team.

Round 6 – #193 overall: Tom Compton, T, South Dakota - pre-draft grade of 68.2, he’s huge at 6’5″, 314 pounds.  But, he’s from a small school and remains to be seen if he can make the transition to the NFL.  Some quality tackles have come out of the later rounds however, so it’s not unprecedented.

Round 7 – #213 overall: Richard Crawford, DB, SMU 

Round 7 – #217 overall: Jordan Bernstine, CB, Iowa – more roster depth here in both Crawford and Bernstine but it is an area of need.  The Redskins have a bunch of defensive backs coming into camp this year between free agents coming off injury years and draft picks - feels like rummaging through the bargain bin looking for a value.  Feels a lot like Dez Bryant, Miles Austin, and company could have some big days against the Redskins secondary if they can keep Fletcher, Orakpo, and Kerrigan off of Romo.

The Redskins will be better on the offensive side of the ball with RGIII in the mix and the defense will again be solid.  But, I don’t see anything at this stage that suggests that this team will finish 2012 anywhere other than 4th place in the NFC East.   If 5th place were possible, they’d finish there – which is just fine with me!

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Dec 3, 2011; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) rolls out against the Texas Longhorns during the game at Floyd Casey Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-US PRESSWIRE

The Redskins have been desperate for a franchise quarterback, and this move proves that. Many believe that player will be Heisman Trophy winner and Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III. Griffin shined at the scouting combine this month, narrowing the perceived gap between himself and frontrunner Standford’s Andrew Luck. Luck is still expected to be the top draft pick for the Indianapolis Colts this year. If the Colts shockingly decide to go with RG3 instead, the Redskins would really be “lucky”. Regardless, the Skins have put themselves in a position to get a quality franchise quarterback. But the price may have  been too high.

The Rams made out like bandits here. They move down just four spots in this year’s draft. They also get another second round pick this year and one extra first round pick in the next two drafts. As his first official move as the new Head Coach for the St. Louis Rams, Jeff Fisher pulled off a “Hershel Walker” type trade for this new organization. Looks for the Rams to become very competitive, very quickly. This also means the Redskins will not have a scheduled first round pick until 2015.

Obviously, there will be some growing pains no matter which quarterback the Redskins select. But you do have to admit that the Skins immediate future does look brighter. Their defense improved vastly last season while it was their quarterback play that hurt them down the stretch. And in a Mike Shanahan offense, running the ball is never a problem. So with the addition of Griffin, the Skins are more dangerous than ever. Combine that with last year’s Superbowl champions New York Giants and the resurgent dream team Philadelphia Eagles, and you have the most competitive division in the NFL, the NFC East.

Despite that, many still believe that the Dallas Cowboys are the most “talented” team within the division, and maybe within the NFL itself. With another year underneath the  leadership of Jason Garrett and the defensive schemes of Rob Ryan, many fans hope this could be the year it “all comes together”. One thing is for sure: Dallas needs to get better. Why? Because every other team in the division has.

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In an interview this weekend, Coach Ryan mention the fact that he believed Coach Shanahan purposely ran the score up on him when he first came into the league:

 ”Obviously, it’s well documented how great of a coach (Shanahan) is, and his son there. But you know, I mean shoot, we’re ready to go. We’ve faced him a lot. I think he used to run the score up on me when I was young. But we’re looking forward for the challenge. He’s an outstanding coach. And we got outstanding coaches here. And we’re going to get after it.”

After some research, I believe I found the game Coach Ryan is referring to. Find out more, after the break: (more…)