The Redskin Report

Well, the 2007 season is over; our beloved Redskins were 1 and done in the playoffs this year.  2007 was never projected to be the Redskins season of glory, however; most astute observers (prior to this season’s horrendous, multi-year injuries and losses) project that 2008 would be the pivotal season.

 While some folks might fret, here, in black and white, I’m going to set some minds slightly at rest with a few serious predictions.

• Todd Collins isn’t going anywhere next season.  Yes, he’s a free agent, but he is a system player; in that system, he can be an incredibly valuable asset, but outside of that system, his shelf life as a quarterback is very short.  In his case, he’s going into next season knowing that he’s again going to be the established #2 QB.  Yes, he’s getting a raise; expect a three year, veteran minimum salary, but a ~$4-$5 Million signing bonus.    Todd doesn’t want to test the water; he knows that no other team will value him as much as the Redskins.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see this happen before the official end of the season (i.e., the Superbowl).
• Jason Campbell is the starter next season.  There isn’t much more to say about that, except the Al Saunders and Joe Gibbs have both already told Campbell to get healthy, he’s starting next year.
• Whereas last off-season, it was a matter of WHEN Shawn Springs was going to depart from the Redskins, that’s no longer true.  Springs will probably be pressured to lower his cap number, but if I had to guess, I’d say it’s 70-30 that he’ll be in Burgundy and Gold next year; with the loss or reduced effectiveness of Carlos for at least the beginning of the season, Shawn is very valuable right now to the Redskins.  In addition, the way the organisation stepped up for him this year has to have impacted his thinking, as well, and he’s seen what Dan Snyder is willing to do for those in the organisation, especially after Sean Taylor’s death, I would not be surprised to see Shawn Springs stay a Redskin until his eventual retirement.  In fact….
• There probably won’t be many FAs who do NOT return to the Redskins, at least if the Redskins want them.  The reason for that is that many players in the organisation feel that something is missing, that the Redskins haven’t finished what they started.  To them, 2008 is about finishing 2007, and atoning for the sins of this season.  Emotion is what motivates these players more than anything else; emotion will keep most of the players from pursuing contracts elsewhere.  Oh, a few will leave, but for the biggest part, this will NOT be an off-season where we lose a lot of the core players.
• The Redskins will try to recapture the lightening in a bottle.  I will admit that I was sceptical it was going to work, Taylor and Landry.  And we may never truly know.  However, the glimpses we saw suggest that that was the defense of the future, with only a few kinks left to work out.  Expect the Redskins to move Landry into Taylor’s role, and try to replace or supplement Landry through the draft.  This isn’t a knock on Reed Doughty; he maybe the answer, but you have to believe the Redskins are going to role the die again to try to get that magic back.
• The Redskins will make that Pass Rush DE a high priority as well.  Yep, the ‘Skins are going Defense again this year in the draft and UFA market.
• Brunnell MAY be back, but I don’t see it.  I see the Redskins drafting a 5th-6th rounder to try to be the third string QB, and develop a young backup talent.  Collins can’t play forever, after all.  Brunnell’s return would slow down the development of the young backup QB; the ‘Skins reached last year for Palmer (and that was a bad pick, regardless), but it shows that they’re thinking about depth a few years from now already.
• The Redskins will offer Caldwell and McCardell contracts for next season.  That would give the Redskins 6 main WRs entering camp (no, Llyod will not be among them).  I wouldn’t be surprised to see another FA picked up, but if the mix they have can be healthy by camp, the Redskins will feel comfortable with what they have there.
• The OL is going to get a lot more depth; I’d venture that at least one draft pick will be used on an OL, one key FA OL will be pursued, and a LOT of UDFAs will be invited, in the hopes of finding another Stephen Heyer.
• Even with McIntosh out for what looks like all of ‘08, I expect the Redskins to only work on depth at LB; I don’t see a significant change otherwise.
• Saunders and Gregg will be back next season; Saunders doesn’t seem to want to be a Head Coach, really, and his stock went down anyway.  Gregg is a candidate again, but he seems to have decided that the position of Defensive Coordinator (or Head Coach-Defense) has a lot less stress, a lot less heartache, and allows him to do what he likes.  He’s basically decided he may be a head coach again… someday.  But someday isn’t 2008, unless Coach Gibbs leaves.

Ok, those are my earliest thoughts.  Anyone else want to comment?