[Ruhskins]

This was a good article, and I do get the sense that the front office will notice this. I can't believe that I'm doing this, but I'm going to come out and say something positive about the Redskins FO. I think that their mistakes in the past are being dragged around by the media and the fans, yet when you stop to look at what has happened, I think they are slowly improving.

Snyder learned to let go a bit under Gibbs, and I think he grew up a bit during this period. He wants to win badly, but unfortunately he believes this can be done right away if you throw a lot of money at the situation. Snyder wanted to bring Jim Fassel this past offseason, and the fan base exploded. The old Snyder would not have cared and hired Fassel, the new Snyder hired Jim Zorn. Zorn did OK, he still has a lot to learn, but did not fail as many first year coaches typically do.

The Front Office had a quiet offseason last year and did not go into their usual shopping spree. The only big acquisition was Jason Taylor, which unfortunately did not work out due to injuries...but this wasn't a Archuleta or Brandon Lloyd signing (players with questionable abilities) Taylor had come off a huge year (not a contract year) when his team sucked and went 1-15.

While some pundits and fans were calling for the Skins to bolster its d-line last offseson, another big concern that the Redskins had was getting another target for Campbell and someone that would take the heat from Santana Moss. While the Redskins flirted with the possibility of getting Chad Johnson or Anquan Boldin, they decided to "build through the draft". The jury is still out on the rookies, but they did not turn to their old ways of trading picks away.

In regards to the offensive line, I think this may have become a lesser priority next to getting a WR and a defensive lineman. Two seasons ago, many of us thought that the problem with our o-line was that they could never be in the field together as they got hurt a lot. I was one of the fans that called for a complimentary receiver/big possession receiver, and thought of this as the cure for our offensive problems. Now I believe that I, along with any fan/sports pundit, was wrong in thinking that a WR was a bigger need. I think many of us and the front office disregarded the fact that the o-line was getting older and of course that materialized in the problems the team had in the second half of the season.

Our front office has a lot to learn, but they have improved. Snyder has shown patience this year, and kept Zorn (the old Snyder would have booted him and Shanahan would have been hired). With only four picks, the need to inject youth into the team, improve the offense, and take our defense to the next level, this offseason will be a real test for the front office and the owner.