The future is now for 2-6 Redskins

GRANT PAULSEN:

Date published: 11/15/2009

THE WASHINGTON Redskins need a John Blutarsky (John Belushi's character in the 1978 film "Animal House") moment. A "nothing's over until we decide it is" moment.

Unfortunately for the Redskins, their season isn't a movie and it doesn't look as if this season's script is going to conclude with a happy ending.

Short of the type of turnaround that movies are made of, Washington won't be a playoff participant this season. But the team still can make the second half of its season a success.

I'm not talking about a win streak to get back to .500, or playing .500 football down the stretch.

The Redskins should use the next eight games to take an extended look at some of their younger players who will be counted upon to turn this franchise around.

At wide receiver, 2008 second-round picks Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly still haven't developed into reliable targets. They both say they need more opportunities and more footballs thrown their way. This would be the time to get them the football.

The same can be said for 2009 seventh-round pick Marko Mitchell, who caught the first two passes of his NFL career last weekend in Atlanta. The Redskins say he needs to improve his route-running. They should let him do it on the field, then. He's not going to learn standing on the sideline.

If that means that Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El, a pair of proven veterans who are the first and second receiving options on Washington's depth chart, see diminished playing time, so be it.

They're proven commodities. You don't know what the three youngsters behind them on the depth chart are capable of, and at some point you've got to find out.

Well-run franchises use the second half of a bad season to evaluate talent. The Redskins rarely do,

At free safety, LaRon Landry has done a nice job taking deep passes away from Washington's opponents. But he has struggled to make tackles, and has continually taken bad routes to help corral ball-carriers.

He was drafted to play strong safety, not free safety. Chris Horton, the Redskins' starting strong safety, had surgery this week and won't return until next September. The Redskins should use the next two months to let Landry play strong safety.

Backup free safety Kareem Moore had a stellar preseason but hasn't played much on defense this fall. He should get a chance to play free safety while Landry gets a look at strong safety.

The problem is that the Redskins haven't made decisions with the future in mind. They rarely think about tomorrow. That's why they're in the shape they're in today.

Grant Paulsen can be reached at The Free Lance-Star, 616 Amelia St., Fredericksburg, Va. 22401 or by fax at 540/373-8455.

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Date published: 11/15/2009