2009 NFL Preview: Washington Redskins

By JFein:

If there is one thing consistent about the Washington Redskins it is that they are inconsistent. Oh wait, another consistency is that Dan Snyder does not know how to run an NFL team. Last year, the Redskins started out red hot winning game after game afer game, they were even 6-2 at one point but then it all fell apart. Jason Campbell turned human again, Clinton Portis was injured again, and once again, the best team that Dan Snyder's money can buy fell short of the playoffs. The Reskins always seem to get the right people in free agency, but they can never pull together as one unit on the field. Instead, they always seem like a bunch of overpaid players wearing the same jersey. Will they turn it around this year? Here's a look at some of the keys for the Skins this year.

Albert Haynesworth: The Washington Redskins signed Albert Haynesworth to a rather ridiculous contract over the off-season. I'm not going to get into the details, but will he be as effective as he was in Tennessee, where he arguably had a stronger supporting class on the defensive side of the ball. Haynesworth is good, there's no doubt about that, but will he be able to significantly help the Redskins defense? I think there is a chance that he could, but at the same time, how many times have we seen this story, "Big Star Signs With Redskins, Career Subsequently Goes Down Toilet"?

Jason Campbell Is Jason Campbell the right man to be quarterbacking this team? It seems odd for a team that lives and dies by free agency, that their QB is a home-grown draft pick from a few years ago. On the plus side for Campbell, he's only gotten better and better as the years have gone by, but on the down side, he has only been good for them and subsequently is not the great quarterback that the Redskins need. The Redskins receiving corps is also nothing to write home about, which does not aid the young Campbell. Santana Moss is well past his prime, and aside from Antwaan Randle-El, who also might be past his prime, the Redskins have a bunch of nobodies at wide receiver. There is no one big stand out. Perhaps they are hoping that Devin Thomas or another kid will break out, and if they want to make the playoffs, that is something that will have to happen for them.

Clinton Portis: The oft-injured Clinton Portis is back with the Redskins and is more eager than ever to go down with a season-ending Week 2 injury. His injuries, and the lack of a back-up capable of carrying a team, deeply jeopardizes the running game. While LaDell Betts and Rock Cartwright are good for a change up, they are not, nor ever will be an every down starting back. And when Portis constantly go down, they are the ones that always have to step up. If Portis can stay healthy and be productive, I think the Redskins may have a chance to do some damage, as that will take a whole lot of pressure off of Jason Campbell, something that Campbell may desparately need.

Jim Zorn's 2nd Year: When the Redskins hired Jim Zorn over a year ago, just about everyone in the football world was asking, "WHO????". And frankly, I'm not sure if we ever got that answer. Maybe I'm way off on this one, but I never felt like the Redskins had an identity last year under Zorn. He won some games, yes, but I never got a real feeling just what this team wanted to do. I mean, he was an offensive guy, yet the Redskins depended a lot on their defense last year. Another big key for the Skins can be if the Redskins can establish an identity. This team needs consistency, and if Zorn can't provide it, the "Fire Jim Zorn Now!" blogs may be popping up. And knowing Snyder, he may actually pull the trigger, and yes, it would only be a coincidence that Snyder does what the fans want.

Prediction: 8-8. 3rd place in NFC East. I don't think the Redskins will make the playoffs this year and I am yet to be under the impression that this version of Dan Snyder's Redskins will fare any better than any of the other ones. Suffice to say, this is not a team that is a threat to win the Super Bowl and I would be shocked if they made the playoffs.