WASHINGTON REDSKINS Head Coach: Mike Shanahan
2012 Record: 10-6-0 (1st in NFC East)
New Players: OL Jeremy Trueblood; CB E.J. Biggers; LB Darryl Tapp.
Gone Elsewhere: LB Lorenzo Alexander.
Offense: What can quarterback Robert Griffin III do for an encore?
The second year QB put up numbers that earned him high praise as he threw for 3,200 yards with 20 touchdown passes and just five interceptions. In addition, RG3 ran for 815 yards and seven touchdowns. Backing him up (provided he is ready to start the season after off-season knee surgery) are Kirk Cousins, who had 466 yards passing (with four TD and three INT) and maybe Rex Grossman.
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| RG3 did it all for the Redskins in his rookie season. |
The receivers are Pierre Garcon (44 catches, 633 yards, four TD), Josh Morgan (48, 510, two TD), Santana Moss (41, 573, eight TD) and Leonard Hankerson (38, 543, three TD) and the tight end is Fred Davis, who had 24 receptions for 325 yards.
The line features center Will Montgomery, guards Kory Lichtensteiger and Chris Chester. The tackles are Trent Williams and Tyler Polumbus.
The Redskins led the NFL is rushing last season (169 yards per game) thanks in big part to RG3 and Morris' efforts. Overall, Washington ranked fifth in total offense, averaging 383 yards per game and also finished fourth in the league in scoring.
Defense: The Redskins play the 3-4 look and have Barry Cofield at nose tackle with Adam Carriker and Stephen Bowen at the ends.
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| LB Ryan Kerrigan |
The secondary has safties Reed Doughty and Brandon Meriweather along with corner men DeAngelo Hall (four interceptions) and Josh Wilson. Rookie draft picks David Amerson (NC State), Phillip Thomas (Fresno State) and Bacarri Rambo (Georgia) will get a look in training camp to help out a secondary that got lit up often last season.
The 'Skins allowed 282 yards passing per game (ranked 30th in NFL) while also picking off 21 passes, which was third best in the league.
OUTLOOK: After finishing the season with seven consecutive wins that earned them the NFC East division crown, the Redskins bowed out in the Wild Card playoff round as RG3 went down with a nasty knee injury.
Head Coach Mike Shanahan has this team believing and led by Griffin and Morris on offense, there is no reason to believe they can't have more success in 2013.
The defense has to stop enemy air attacks and a better pass rush would definitely help the cause. The Redskins totaled just 32 QB sacks last season.
If the team can get more consistency on defense and the ball hawking secondary can cut down on allowing so many big plays, the Redskins can be a force to be reckoned with throughout the league.
RG3 will not be catching anybody off guard this year, but it will be interesting to see where he is at health wise when the season opener rolls around.
If Griffin is healthy and produces like his rookie season and Morris continues to churn out the rushing yardage, the Redskins will have an excellent chance to repeat as NFC East champions. Beyond that it will be tough because of the two teams looming large out West (San Francisco and Seattle) and possibly the Green Bay Packers as well.
Look for another 10-6 finish and perhaps another playoff appearance for the Redskins this season.
2013 SCHEDULE
Sept. 9- vs. Philadelphia
Sept. 15- at Green Bay
Sept. 22- vs. Detroit
Sept. 29- at Oakland
Oct. 6- BYE WEEK
Oct. 13- at Dallas
Oct. 20- vs. Chicago
Oct. 27- at Denver
Nov. 3- vs. San Diego
Nov. 7- at Minnesota
Nov. 17- at Philadelphia
Nov. 25- vs. San Francisco
Dec. 1- vs. NY Giants
Dec. 8- vs. Kansas City
Dec. 15- at Atlanta
Dec. 22- vs. Dallas
Dec. 29- at NY Giants
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