As Daniel Snyder loves, the Redskins made a huge splash this past offseason. And for the first time, he actually made some solid moves. Hiring Mike Shanahan, one of my favorite coaches, is a huge boost to a team that lacked solid direction and consistency for the last decade. He passed over the higher ranked Russell Okung in the draft this year, opting for the more athletic Trent Williams. It is this Shanahan mentality that will bring the Redskins success. For too long, they have opted for the best-or-biggest-name players instead of "the right ones." Williams' athleticism lends itself towards Shanahan's zone-blocking scheme and should see success in his first season.
Trading for Donovan McNabb is Washington's greatest acheivment however, ensuring that the Redskins have a man under center who can WIN games for them. While Donovan will have less weapons to work with than he did in Philadelphia, he should carve himself a moderately successful season.
As far as I can tell, the offense has seen nothing but improvement. My issue however, is with the Redskins defense. Currently stashed with the personnel for a SUCCESSFUL 4-3 defense, Snyder opted to bring in Jim Haslett to implement a 3-4 scheme. Washington's defense finished 4th and 10th in 2008 and 2009 respectively (yardage allowed). Looking at the Green Bay Packers transition to a 3-4 defense in 2008, you can draw comparisons. Green Bay finished as the 11th ranked defense in 2007, dropping to 20th in 2008 with the switch of schemes. They rebounded however last season, with their defense finishing 2nd after enduring the growing pains and implementing the appropriate personnel for their scheme.
In short, look for the Redskins defensive production to see a huge dip this year while they are working out the kinks. Haynesworth's reluctance shouldn't make the transition much easer as well. But hope is on the horizon, and their shift may see stark dividends in 2011 onward. McNabb lends legitimacy to their offense but is on the wrong side of his career and should become ineffective by the time the defense whips into shape in the coming years.
-Prediction: 6-10 in a tough division.
Great call on the defensive side of the ball. I did not understand the switch for the life of my especially with Haynesworth on the D-Line. While he could be a great NT he does not want to do it because he knows his stats will suffer. A 4-3 defense could lead to a .500 record but 6-10 is right where I put the Skins.
ReplyDeleteA running back who wasn't over the perverbial "hill" wouldn't hurt either. I don't see much left in Portis even with Shanahan's zone blocking scheme.