The 2011 season was a tough one for the Washington Redskins. As well as the lock-out – which lasted up until the 10th hour – the 2011 Redskins also saw the loss of some very important starters like up-and-coming offensive lineman Kory Lichtensteiger, tight ends Chris Cooley and Fred Davis, and left tackle Trent Williams. The quarterback position was not handled well by head coach Mike Shanahan in believing that Rex Grossman could overcome his turnover tendencies and in thinking that back-up John Beck was ready for the NFL. The win-loss record of 5-11 was worse than 2010’s 6-10 record and for awhile, the local media had Shanahan on the hot seat, saying he was not going to last beyond a third year. It’s still the off-season but, the 2012 season feels like a dream-come-true for Redskins Nation.
Washington already has some things going for it this off-season that it did not have in 2011.
- A new quarterback: Robert Griffin, III. I’m not sure there’s much to say here. It’s not often that organizations are urged to trade away as much as the Redskins did (they traded their sixth overall to the St. Louis Rams for their second as well as two additional first round picks – 2013 & 2014’s – and this year’s second round pick) to get a single player. But there wasn’t much objection to this move by fans, media or experts. “RG3” has the makings to become the franchise quarterback for years to come that this team has coveted since Joe Theismann (1974 – 1985).
- The Redskins – and obviously soon-to-be Redskins’ quarterback Robert Griffin, III (see above) – will have the benefit of OTAs and mini-camps. This is a pretty big deal. Though some teams were not as disorganized, undisciplined and out of shape as some experts thought they would be after no contact with their teams until training camp last season, a few teams that had new head coaches and/or quarterbacks did have some drop off in performance in some instances. It would be interesting to have seen how much better Carolina Panthers’ then-rookie-and-very-talented quarterback Cam Newton would have been had he had the entire off-season with the team and more access to his offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Griffin will have the benefit of all of the resources available from the Redskins organization by the time the 2012 season starts.
- It’s Mike Shanahan’s third year in Washington. While last season’s 5-11 record felt abysmal, the progress made by the team over the season was easy to see. They didn’t win the games they should have but the offense did produce (until Grossman gave the ball back to the opponent) and the defense made some outstanding plays. For instance, the offensive line appears comfortable with the zone blocking scheme. When Shanahan released guard Derrick Dockery a couple of years ago, it didn’t make sense to many fans at first. But athleticism more than power is required for the zone blocking scheme and that’s where guys like Lichtensteiger excelled. Last season, losing guys to injuries (right tackle Jamal Brown) or other things (left tackle Trent Williams suspended for four games), and seeing youngsters get plugged in right off the bench and play pretty decently was a testament to good coaching, depth, a scheme that works and good personnel choices. There is still a lot of work to be done. Rookie running backs Roy Helu, Jr. and Evan Royster need to continue to develop. Tim Hightower, if re-signed, needs to show he is healthy. Even so, the consistency of having the same coach(es) in the same system counts.
With Shanahan going into his third year, the players who make it from the 2011 to the 2012 roster should only get better.
- The defense has jelled under defensive coordinator Jim Haslett’s 3-4 system as players have been brought in that fit it. It’s a good defense. Veteran Pro Bowl London Fletcher was resigned for two years. Second year defensive lineman Jarvis Jenkins, hurt in the preseason last year after showing his impressive talent, will be back in the line-up. Young veteran defensive linemen Barry Cofield and Stephen Bowen will be in their second year and core character guys like Kedric Golston and Adam Carriker will be around. Converted linebacker Ryan Kerrigan, last year’s first-round draft choice, had a really good 2011 season and he will only get better as he continues in the system.
- The team is being built through the draft and there are “football people” doing it. In the 2011 draft, Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen began the first day with six picks. By the time the draft ended, the Redskins had drafted 12 guys (six offensive players and six defensive players) and a majority of them remained with the team to contribute. As examples, running backs Roy Helu, Jr. and Evan Royster who were fourth and sixth round respectively, contributed enormously, especially after free agent back Tim Hightower was hurt with Helu starting five games (he played in 15), gaining 640 yards and two touchdowns and averaging 4.2 yards per carry. Royster started two games (played in six) and ran 328 yards averaging 5.9 yards per carry.
- Owner Dan Snyder continues to behave himself. We haven’t seen nor heard from him other than a few shots of him at the owner’s meeting on the NFL Network and mentions of him because of the salary cap penalty levied on the team from last season. As long as he stays in his office writing checks when asked, life is good.
- While it’s not known how it will end, the fact that Bruce Allen and Snyder are fighting the NFL on the cap penalties is good. Not only would it be helpful to get that $18 million back this season, it’s rather unifying to see them fighting this.
I could add the signing of receivers Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan as part of the “dream-come-true” scenario. The majority of fans and media believe in this “upgrade” at the position. I submit, however, that Washington has always had talent at the wide out position and that the guys on the roster in 2011 – especially the young guys (Anthony Armstrong, Terrence Austin, Leonard Hankerson and Niles Paul [who recently has converted to tight end]) – simply did not have the opportunities to show what they could do like the guys will in 2012. Garcon and Morgan are talented but I am just not convinced the signings – and therefore the cap money used to get them – were absolutely necessary.
That said, it’s been a while since this much optimism has been so apparent in Redskins Nation. Even the local media – usually the hardest on and most critical of the organization, and some of which are Redskins fans – have written and said a lot of positive things about the team lately. And why not? What’s not to like about how things are going so far?
Hail.