ESPN's training camp preview: Washington Redskins

Washington Redskins
Key veteran additions: LB Brian Allen; TE Billy Baber; S Tony Dixon; WR Kevin Dyson; WR Jimmy Farris; RB Brock Forsey; CB Artrell Hawkins; LB Warrick Holdman; WR Santana Moss; WR David Patten; S Pierson Prioleau; C Casey Rabach.

Key veteran departures: WR Laveranues Coles; DT Jermaine Haley; QB Tim Hasselbeck; PK Ola Kimrin; RB-KR Chad Morton; OT Vaughn Parker; LB Antonio Pierce; RB John Simon; CB Fred Smoot.

Most significant changes: The losses of MLB Pierce and CB Smoot leave two positions in doubt one year after the team made tremendous strides on defense under the guidance of Gregg Williams. With injuries and question marks among players looking to fill the voids there, one has to wonder if the team can still be a top-10 defense. On offense, look for Joe Gibbs to alter his running game some to take advantage of Clinton Portis' strengths; that means more stretch plays and straight-ahead runs and fewer counters and traps. The shotgun, which Gibbs shunned for years, also could be featured.
Reasons for optimism: The offensive line appears much stronger at right tackle and center with Jon Jansen back from injury and Rabach on board. That will allow better run-blocking (Portis averaged a disappointing 3.8 yards per carry) and pass protection (38 sacks allowed). Williams has been an inventive and creative coach in the past, and he should be able to conjure up something to keep his unit competitive.

Cause for concern: QB Patrick Ramsey has a major-league fastball, but his control (read: accuracy) remains a question. The reports on him in mini-camp were good, but he always has been a good practice performer. Ramsey must harness his good skills and improve his decision making for this team to win. With first-round pick Jason Campbell breathing down his neck, can Ramsey handle the pressure? It also remains to be seen how several smallish receivers factor in together, which could be difficult if teams blitz Ramsey and force him to make tough, tight passes to his hot reads on short routes.

Battle to watch: Middle linebacker is a country-mile wide open. The candidates: Mike Barrow, Lemar Marshall, Brandon Barnes, Robert McCune and Clifton Smith. And don't rule out Holdman … or Jared Newberry. It's anyone's guess right now who will end up starting, and it's highly unlikely given the injury histories and relative inexperience of some of the group that there will be one starter for 16 games this season.
Don't be surprised if … LaVar Arrington and the Redskins -- still embroiled in a contract grievance over a $6.5 million bonus payment -- kiss and make up during camp. The two sides need each other, and the matter has gone on long enough to hurt the reputations of both.


Looks like the most interesting position battle is MLB. As always they're questioning our small receivers and the losses of Pierce and Smoot.

eh, we'll just have to see how it plays out.

I'll still never understand why the losses of Smoot and Pierce are supposedly so damaging when we played most of the season with so many key injuries (Arrington, Daniels, Bowen, Barrow) and still had a top defensive unit.

Oh well.

Me neither. AND we supposedly have high quality backups for Pierce and hopefully an even better starter for Smoot.

And I like Pierce but I don't get how he became Mike Singletary all of a sudden.

Outside of the Redskins community, Pierce was basically a no-name at this time last year. And he blew up, so why can't the same happen this time around with someone like LeMar Marshall or Clifton Smith.

What if, just what if, Smith gets the starting job and he's even better than Pierce? Then what will they all say?

I REALLY REALLY REALLY feel like Pierce won't have NEARLY the banner year he had here last year in the Giants D. I hate downplaying his accomplishments here last year, but I just don't feel like he has the system we have in place. I would say last year it was 60% him and 40% the system.

I think greg williams can plug in players at will, we'll be top ten. I think they were accurate about Ramsey though.

Yeah. The whole Smoot/Pierce thing has been so overplayed. Not only had no one heard of Pierce going into last year, the media was also questioning Smoot's ability to step it up b/c Champ was gone.

Both Smoot and Pierce were talented and it was a shame to lose them, but neither were gamebreakers last year.

The media could easily take the position that this year's defense could be even better than last year's despite the loss of Smoot and Peirce because:

- Although the defense has some question marks (just like last year - including CB and MLB), Williams demonstrated his ability to plug players into his system and get star quality team defense from less than star quality players.

- The defense has injured stars returning.

- No matter who starts, last year's injuries gave great experience to players who will be back ups this year - giving this year's defense incredible depth.

- The entire defense will be playing the same system for the second consecutive year for the first time in ages.

- Solid competition exists for the spots vacated by Pierce and Smoot.

But Noooooooooo.

Despite Williams' demonstrated ability to find players, the return of quality players from injuries, the increased depth, and the experience within the system - the loss of Smoot and Pierce cause the talking heads "to wonder if the team can still be a top-10 defense". At best, Williams' creativity "should be able to conjure up something to keep his unit competitive".

Apparently, it is impossible for the experts to consider the possibility that this defense could actually improve and be even MORE dominant.

Hog - f'ing - wash.

We had the same questions at mlb last year before Pierce stepped up, I have no doubt that GW will find a way to have the defense perform at a high level again this year. Plus the addition of a healthy Arrington will add some spice we didn't get to see last year.

I think Ramsey will hit his stride this year and have a big year for us.

Bla, bla, bla... Nothing new in this. Has no one seen what we have done for our coverage and return units? Almost to a man everybody we brought in has good ST history.

That is going to wins a game or two this year as opposed to losing two or three for us.