2008 Washington Redskins Season Preview

2008 Washington Redskins preview from MadduxSports.com. The NFC East once again houses 4 phenominal teams all capable at making a run through the playoffs. We will likely see teams over and undervalued off one good or bad performance. As NFL picks handicappers we can keep you on the undervalued and off the overvalued teams.

2008 Washington Redskins Predictions
By Adam Barone

Rundown
New head coach Jim Zorn inherits a team with virtually no off-season player losses. Both coordinators though, Gregg Williams and Al Saunders, were shown the door and an entirely new regime has taken over. Joe Gibbs decided that it was time to call it a career—again—as he seemed to be the only one who didn’t know he was passed his time.

Starting quarterback Jason Campbell will have to learn his third offense in four seasons. That won’t help his development, which seemed to be coming along alright in 2007. Wide receivers Brandon Lloyd and Reche Caldwell are gone, but Campbell still has Santana Moss, Antwaan Randle El tight end Chris Cooley, and some quality rookies to throw to. The backfield tandem of Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts is dependable, but the Skins won’t get over the top until that magical switch goes off inside Campbell’s dome.

The acquisition of former Vikings defensive end Erasmus James went relatively unnoticed, but James has a ton of talent. James, 25, is an injury concern, but has pro-bowl caliber talent.

Draft Analysis
The Redskins defense ranked fourth against the run last season, and the only player of note that it lost was safety Pierson Prioleau, who went to Jacksonville.

Washington used their first four draft picks—three second round picks and a third round pick—on offense. Adding the top receiver in the draft, Devin Thomas out of Michigan State, USC tight end Fred Davis, and Oklahoma wide receiver Malcolm Kelly to Moss, Randle El, and Cooley should help speed Jason Campbell’s uphill climb from mediocrity. Unfortunately there’s only one football allowed on the field at a time, and Campbell now has 174 different mid-level targets.

Defensive end Phillip Daniels is 35, and there’s little depth at the position aside from James and a collection of nobodies. The position wasn’t addressed in the draft until the seventh round. The selection, Rob Jackson, is a decent pass rusher, but clearly won’t fill the void. There’s a good chance he won’t even make the team.

The Redskins perception of the value of talent at the receiver position is considerably skewed. Their decision to add depth there rather than on either front line will likely be their downfall in 2008.

Now that you know about the 2008 Washington Redskins football team see how they stack up against the rest of the NFC East division rivals Cowboys, Eagles, and Giants.

Related Pages:
Redskins Official Site
Live NFL Lines