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With the season right around the corner it will be round two for Coach Joe Gibbs and Defensive head man Gregg Williams, in this Rocky Balboa underdog saga.
The picks of every expert are in and you guessed it…. The Washington Redskins are picked from anywhere between second and fourth to finish this season. At first glance I thought well, fourth is better then fifth only to be reminded that the Arizona Cardinals have not been in our division for at least two seasons now. Which after there (Cardinals) past two off-seasons may be a good thing.
We all know that the defense carried us last year, but don’t be surprised if an offensive outburst against the Chicago Bears carries us through this season. The passing game or should I say the lack of one was the difference in many games that wound up in losses last season. But this year the job is Patrick Ramsey’s and the focus is on speed. After finishing last in plays of 20 yards or more and in pass completions of 40 yards or more, newly addition wide out Santana Moss will be relied on heavily to get the ball downfield. But Moss won’t be able to head this offense in the right direction all by himself so let’s take a look at his counterparts.
Quarterbacks: Hopefully now that Ramsey starts the season with his name at the top of the depth chart he’ll be able to play with a level head. Ramsey has all the tools to become one of the better QB’s in Redskins history as seen that he surely has the heart to want it. Anyone who has taken as many shots as him in the last two years without giving up gives him the “Eye of the Tiger.” But the question is if Ramsey is unable to finish the job do they give way to Mark Brunell? No way, I’d rather see Heath Shuler then that guy. Last year Brunell hit more hash marks and beer men then he did Redskins receivers. Give the ball over to the second of two first round draft picks in Jason Campbell. But the job is Ramsey’s to control.
Running Backs: Clinton Portis is coming off a 1,300 yard rushing performance in his first year in the nations capital and experts are claiming that was an off year. I admit that 5 touchdowns in 343 carries are not that impressive, but this is on an offense that only managed to score 24 touchdowns all of last season. This year Portis knows the running scheme of Gibbs and will fit in that much better doubling his rushing scores to 10. Backup Ladell Betts when given the chance has looked like the kind of back that would start on most NFL teams. Betts rushed for 371 yards on 90 carries last year and has looked primed for some action over the preseason. Don’t be surprised if Betts becomes the third down back in a Brian Mitchell type roll. The third back is Rock Cartwright and if the name doesn’t say enough his presence on special teams will be solid as one.
Wide Receivers: Now that the overpaid and underachieved have left this unit it’s time for a couple new names to be called in the passing game. Moss has the speed to get open deep, which will have defensive backs holding their breaths. David Patten will be seen as the second wide out of the corps but big numbers should be expected from him especially in the red zone and on third down. Patten has clutch hands and brings the knowledge of winning which makes him a much-needed veteran to this squad. James Thrash and Taylor Jacobs will vie for receptions and for Jacobs if he does not stay healthy, return specialist Antonio Brown could outlast him. Brown has shown he has the speed but yet to show if he can run the routes.”
Offensive Line: The all guts and no glory guys. After the “Hogs” these guys will never get any respect. But this could be the best since them. After last seasons Hall of Fame game, right tackle Jon Jansen’s hall of fame career looked in jeopardy. Jansen ruptured his left Achilles tendon and missed the entire season. He starts the season with a minor fracture in one of his fingers but will anchor a line that is much improved from last year. Chris Samuels returns to the other tackle and that will give the Redskins two pro bowl tackles. The other key improvement is center Casey Rabach who you may even see snap to a quarterback in shotgun formation.
H-Back: Chris Cooley returns as the starter and he is the brightest of bright on the offense. Cooley not only became the go-to-man for Ramsey, he proved that when in need he can be clutch. This preseason against the Pittsburgh Steelers he pretty much saved Ramsey’s job on a jump ball catch in the end zone just before the half in their only preseason win. Should Cooley not return to form Mike Sellers will be called upon for duty, but Sellers will mainly be a special teams player where he excels most.
If Rocky Balboa could last 16 rounds against the dreaded Ivan Drago on his territory when nobody thought it was possible, then game 16 is going to be the determining factor. Washington beats the Eagles in Philly 24-17 on a jump ball catch in the end zone by Cooley, to win the division.
Make sure you look in the next couple of days to see why the defense will be responsible to help the offense finish the season 11-5.
