Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
JOSEPH WHITE
Associated Press
ASHBURN, Va. - Jason Campbell has played well enough to begin next year's training camp as a starter. Brandon Lloyd has not. Those are two of the easy decisions. In between, the Washington Redskins have some difficult choices on the horizon. Who's indispensable? Who's expendable? Is it even possible to fix all that's wrong with the NFC's worst defense in one offseason?
Coach Joe Gibbs and his coaching staff will come up with some answers in the coming weeks as they examine every play from the entire season.
"I'm hoping things stay close to the same," linebacker Marcus Washington said Tuesday. "When you get used to guys, you don't want to see them go."
Too bad, Marcus. The Redskins (5-10) are perennially one of the NFL's most active offseason teams, and that's not likely to change following another disappointing season. Gibbs has fallen in love with free agency at the expense of the draft, an affair that's led to overpriced signings and left the team without much young, developing talent. But it would be hard to change now - the team is projected to have only four picks in the seven-round 2007 draft.
So, with one game to go, it's time to get a head start on possible changes before opening day in 2007.
QUARTERBACK: Campbell's numbers are very pedestrian through six starts. He has completed only 51 percent of his passes with eight touchdowns, five interceptions and a 73.0 rating. But he is learning, improving and taking his shots downfield instead of living off the dinks and dunks that made Mark Brunell so uninspiring to watch. Campbell needs to work on timing with his receivers, and the game plan needs to be tailored around his talents. Maybe he's not the answer, but there's a decent chance he could be as he gains experience. The lingering question is whether Brunell is willing to renegotiate his contract again and return as a 37-year-old backup.
RUNNING BACKS: Plenty of talent here. Gibbs has said there's room for both Clinton Portis (out for the season with injuries) and Ladell Betts (career-high 1,062 yards). FB Mike Sellers has become a fearsome blocking machine, and Rock Cartwright is invaluable on special teams. Expect T.J. Duckett (35 carries) to opt out of his contract, yet another example of the Redskins wasting a draft pick in a trade.
RECEIVERS: Santana Moss really needs some help. Of course, that was the case last offseason, when the Redskins spent tons of money on Lloyd and Antwaan Randle El. Lloyd has attitude issues and only 23 catches, and he lost his starting job three weeks ago - he could very well hit the road if the Redskins can find a way to afford the salary cap hit. Randle El is best suited as a No. 3 receiver-utility man-punt returner, which means the Redskins will again enter the offseason in need of a No. 2. "We're not getting the ball downfield like we want," Gibbs said. "That's a simple fact, and it's really hurt us."
OFFENSIVE LINE: The Dirtbags have quietly had a good year, anchoring a rushing attack that ranks fourth in the NFL while allowing only 18 sacks. But four of the five starters will be in their 30s next year, and the fifth, G Derrick Dockery, is an impending free agent. The team needs to develop some young linemen, but that's hard to do with so few draft picks.
DEFENSIVE LINE: DE Andre Carter appeared to be a free agent bust early in the season, but he's played well recently and leads the team with five sacks. DEs Phillip Daniels and Renaldo Wynn and DTs Cornelius Griffin and Joe Salave'a are all showing their age. DT Cedric Golston is a keeper, and maybe fellow rookie DT Anthony Montgomery is, too, but the Redskins desperately need a run-stopping playmaker on the front four.
LINEBACKER: MLB Lemar Marshall has regressed, leaving the middle of the defense vulnerable and in need of an upgrade. Rookie Rocky McIntosh, who made his first start Sunday, should take over for Warrick Holdman on the weakside next season, and Marcus Washington is expected to return on the strongside.
SECONDARY: It's been abysmal, allowing a league-high 55 passes of 20 yards or more. S Sean Taylor needs remedial lessons in tackling and coverage. Neither Adam Archuleta (huge free agent mistake), Troy Vincent nor Vernon Fox could replace departed S Ryan Clark. Oft-injured CB Shawn Springs played in only eight games, and CBs Carlos Rogers, Kenny Wright, Mike Rumph and Ade Jimoh were consistent liabilities. The Redskins would probably replace everyone but Taylor if they could. If they follow past form, they'll overpay for free agent CB Nate Clements (Buffalo). Gibbs said Tuesday that Springs, 31, could move to safety.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Better than the offense or defense this year, especially with the midseason addition of K Shaun Suisham (8-for-9 on FGs). P Derrick Frost has improved. "I haven't had special teams play any better than this," Gibbs said.
COACHES: Gibbs has said assistants Al Saunders (offense) and Gregg Williams (defense) will return. Saunders needs to do a better job of adjusting his play book to fit the talent he has. Williams' arrogance looks awfully meek when opposing QBs are posting a league-high 99.4 rating with 29 TDs and six interceptions - or when his defense is on the verge of setting an NFL record for fewest takeaways. Williams needs to adjust his schemes and make sure his players don't start to tune him out, as happened when he was head coach in Buffalo.
"We've got to try an analyze every single thing about where we are," Gibbs said. "I don't care if we've only won five games - I believe we've got a core group to build around. We're going to try to do everything we can to strengthen the team."