NFL.com's Redskins Season Preview

[Hail to the Redskins]

Here's what their "experts" say:

Vic Carucci
The Redskins seem destined to again bring up the rear in the NFL's best division, despite all of the money the Redskins spent to get DT Albert Haynesworth.
Prediction: 6-10, fourth in the NFC East.

Steve Wyche
QB Jason Campbell must make everyone better on offense. Defense was already good.
Prediction: 8-8, fourth in NFC East.

Pat Kirwan
Adding Albert Haynesworth to the No. 4 ranked defense makes them dominant. This season is all about QB Jason Campbell and his unproven receivers.
Prediction: 8-8, fourth in NFC East

Bucky Brooks
The Redskins continue to disappoint the D.C. faithful as their sputtering offense leads to a shocking season.
Prediction: 6-10, fourth in NFC East

Jason La Canfora
Could be great on defense, but will it be enough to overcome offensive limitations? Brutal second half schedule.
Prediction: 8-8, fourth in NFC East.

Here's the link: Redskins Preview

[GMScud]

What a shocker. No one thinks we'll be very good. It's basically an annual theme at this point.

I do however totally agree (especially if we win week 1) with this take on our first of "Three Pivotal Games:"

Oct. 26 vs. Philadelphia
The Redskins could have a full head of steam at this juncture, having already played St. Louis, Detroit, Tampa Bay and Kansas City. The defense should be among the league's best at this point. If they can bottle Philly's tailbacks in the run and short passing game, this could be a nice home victory.

[12thMan]

Tell me about it. Same song, different writers.

[saden1]

LOL...I predict the Skins will finish first in the Division with a 12-4 record. The world is once again in balance.

[GTripp0012]

I don't remember much about La Canfora's predictive ability in the past, but it's worth pointing out that this group is made up of JLC and four guys who don't know 1/3 as much about the Redskins as JLC does.

[mooby]

There used to be a point in time where I'd get upset about this, but this is par for the course as the season previews for the Skins go so it's no biggie. I'll be content to let our play on the field do the talking for better or worse.

[Lotus]

Under the radar works for me.

[redskin4n]

They probably gave Dallas the praise. Like always. They never liked the skins as a whole so i dont care about anything they say. If we gave Big Al like an average pay they wouldve still had something negative to say. Eli is getting like 5$ under that and they acting like 95 million isnt enough for him. 9 for 21 in preseason vs. The jets isnt worthy of that money!

[Beemnseven]

Well, let's be honest with ourselves -- we finished up as an 8-8 team. And we did basically nothing to upgrade the obvious weakness, which was offense.

They gave us props for our D, so there's that. But we're counting on the very same players who gave us an offense that got outscored by the Lions -- hoping that just some more time with the playbook will make all the difference.

I figure we're in for another 8-8 season, maybe 9-7 if things really fall into place. The "experts" probably aren't that far off with those predictions unless our offense wakes the hell up and gives us something we can't even imagine.

[MTK]

The experts take last year's standings and basically rinse and repeat. Does anyone go out on a limb anymore?

Skins 10-6

Mark it down

[roth74va]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

Well, let's be honest with ourselves -- we finished up as an 8-8 team. And we did basically nothing to upgrade the obvious weakness, which was offense.

Im seeing this differently, I do think we upgraded, actually in several ways.

Dockery is one upgrade, along with Jansen being gone, hopefully Heyer can continue to improve. But I think the biggest upgrade would be the 2nd year development of the young 2nd rounders, along with JC being in the 2nd year of a system for the first time in a long time. I think sometimes no turnover is a good thing, the weapons are there, hopefully everyone can jell and make this year something special.

Im gonna go with 10-6, hail to the Redskins!

[Hail to the Redskins]

Well let's break it down game-by-game (my predictions):

at NY Giants - Loss
St. Louis - Win
at Detroit - Win
Tampa Bay - Win
at Carolina - Win (flip a coin here w/ Delhomme vs our D)
Kansas City - Win
Philadelphia - Win
at Atlanta - Loss
Denver - Win
at Dallas - Loss
at Philadelphia - Loss
New Orleans - Loss
at Oakland - Win
NY Giants - Loss
Dallas - Win
at San Diego - Loss

That's put us at 9-7... starting 6-1, but finishing 3-6. Obviously, any of these games could go either way, but this is what my logic says in these games.

We lose the Carolina game, but win all of the other ones I said would put us at 8-8 just like the "experts" say.

Question is, if we finish 8-8, is Zorn our HC next year & is JC our QB next year?

[53Fan]

If they picked us to go 16-0 would it make any difference? I can see us going 11-5 / 12-4 just as easy as 8-8. A lot depends on how the o-line holds up and whether the receivers keep progressing.

[Beemnseven]

The offensive line is what really worries me. Looks like the stab in the dark that was Mike Williams isn't going to work out. And while Dockery is younger, does he really present an upgrade over what we had with Pete Kendall?

You just cannot dismiss the wear and tear these guys take going into November and December.

8-8 won't save Zorn's job, and unless JC has a Pro Bowl year, both of them are as good as done in Washington.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by roth74va

Im seeing this differently, I do think we upgraded, actually in several ways.

Dockery is one upgrade, along with Jansen being gone, hopefully Heyer can continue to improve. But I think the biggest upgrade would be the 2nd year development of the young 2nd rounders, along with JC being in the 2nd year of a system for the first time in a long time. I think sometimes no turnover is a good thing, the weapons are there, hopefully everyone can jell and make this year something special.

Im gonna go with 10-6, hail to the Redskins!

Well, we haven't exactly seen that yet.

Yes, they seem to be more involved this preseason. But if Kelly or Thomas can't supplant Randle Friggin' El, then we're back to square one.

So the point remains, we're counting on the same guys who couldn't produce last year to find another gear that nobody's seen.