Redskins Journal

By Rich Campbell

BACK to BLOGS | Back to Rich Campbell's main blog page | Rich Campbell Archive | |

My Redskins mid-season report card, awards and more

Nov. 4, 2009 10:23 am

The Redskins badly needed their bye week because their season was free-falling. Players spoke highly of the opportunity to evaluate themselves and what the team needs to improve upon going forward. Well, I did the same thing.

Here is my detailed Redskins' mid-season report card. (Yes, I know we're technically one game shy of the halfway point). I've also named by mid-season MVPs on both sides of the ball, my pick for most improved Redskin and offered three questions that are of critical importance in the second half. 

I'd love to hear your grades and feedback in the comments section, or shoot me an email or tweet me @Rich_Campbell. Enjoy!

REPORT CARD

QUARTERBACKS: D+

Jason Campbell has failed to meet expectations in his make-or-break season. Despite his familiarity with head coach Jim Zorn's West Coast offense, he too frequently fails to recognize open receivers down the field. His indecisiveness, inconsistent timing and problematic footwork also have contributed to Washington's 20th-ranked passing attack. Pass protection failures have negatively affected Campbell, as well. He admittedly has been distracted by the pass rush. Campbell's ball security issues also have resurfaced: he leads the NFL with 10 fumbles. On the plus side, his completion percentage (66.0) and passer rating (85.8) are continuing their yearly upward trends. But overall, there's mounting evidence that the Redskins will have a new starting quarterback next season.

RUNNING BACKS: C-

Clinton Portis has not been the offensive catalyst he once was. If it weren't for his career-long 78-yard run in Week 6, he would be on pace for less than 1,000 rushing yards and averaging less than 4.0 yards per carry. How much blame should be attributed to Portis, though, is debatable. The blocking in front of him has been inadequate, and wide running lanes have been too scarce. But Portis isn't making defenders miss, and he hasn't displayed the explosiveness and big-play potential that top NFL rushers do. Case in point, he failed to reach the end zone on his 78-yarder. Portis' pass blocking has been invaluable, though. FB Mike Sellers seems to have regressed from his Pro Bowl form. His dropped touchdown pass against St. Louis and failed fourth-and-goal block against Detroit were turning points in the season. Third-down RB Ladell Betts has struggled in pass protection.

WIDE RECEIVERS: C-

Santana Moss has proven to be Washington's only explosive player on offense. His speed, sure hands and route-running ability make him the Redskins' best offensive weapon. He's on pace for 64 receptions and 1,035 yards-far from overwhelming totals. But if it weren't for him, the receivers' grade would be much lower. Second-year wideouts Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly have not yet validated their second-round draft status. Thomas started training camp as the starting No. 2 receiver but lost the job to Kelly. Coaches say Thomas has improved, so how he performs as a starter the rest of the season will help determine his future role. Kelly's unrefined route running cost him his starting job, and he has had a minimal impact. Antwaan Randle El has been a reliable short-yardage slot receiver, but he hasn't shown big play ability.

TIGHT ENDS: C

If it wasn't clear before, Chris Cooley proved that he is Jason Campbell's favorite target. His 29 catches and two touchdowns lead the team, but his decreased production from last season is a function of the Redskins' overall offensive problems. Cooley has produced despite being a primary focus of opposing defenses. He'll be sorely missed while he recovers from a broken ankle. Cooley's blocking has been inconsistent, but Fred Davis' is much worse. Davis will be judged going forward by how he performs in Cooley's absence. His blocking must improve.

OFFENSIVE LINE: F

Regardless of who deserves the blame--and there's plenty to go around--the results are damning: the offensive line has been a failure. Even before Pro Bowl LT Chris Samuels suffered a season-ending neck injury in Week 5, this group was not playing well enough for the offense to succeed. None of the Redskins' linemen has consistently dominated his opponent-not even Samuels. Pass protection has been a glaring deficiency from the first day of training camp. T Stephon Heyer without fail surrenders at least one sack, and often more, per game. He is overmatched. Free agent LG Derrick Dockery has showed why the Buffalo Bills gave up on him. His pass protection is spotty and he isn't an overpowering run blocker. C Casey Rabach gets pushed back too often, a stunning decline from a once-reliable lineman. The front office expected veteran RG Randy Thomas, 33, not to make it through the season, and he suffered a season-ending triceps injury in Week 2. That has helped expose a critical lack of quality depth.

DEFENSIVE LINE: B

The offseason additions of DT Albert Haynesworth and rookie DE/LB Brian Orakpo have significantly improved the Redskins' pass rush. They rank fourth in the NFL in sacks per pass attempt, up from 27th last season. Haynesworth has proven he is capable of collapsing the pocket with his brute strength. DE Andre Carter's intensified offseason conditioning has paid dividends: his 6.5 sacks are already greater than his total last season (4). He has appeared quicker, stronger and more agile. The Redskins are allowing 118 rushing yards per game, though, and two of their key run stoppers-DT Cornelius Griffin and DE Phillip Daniels-are at least 32 years old and already battling significant injuries. Better offenses loom on the schedule. Kedrick Golston, Lorenzo Alexander and Jeremy Jarmon have been capable reserves, for the most part.

LINEBACKERS: B

MLB London Fletcher is the NFL's second-leading tackler with 71, and he is as reliable as they get on this team. He'd be a shoo-in for his first Pro Bowl if he would produce some turnovers and game-changing plays to supplement his gaudy tackles total. But he hasn't forced or recovered a fumble, nor has he intercepted a pass. WLB Rocky McIntosh has been a bright spot in his second year removed from reconstructive knee surgery. He has taken good angles in the run game and has improved his pass coverage. Rookie SLB Brian Orakpo has endured some growing pains, but teams haven't targeted him in the passing game as much as expected. He is not yet a game-changing force against the run. Reserve SLB Chris Wilson has adjusted fairly well in his transition from a full-time defensive end role, but he still plays mostly defensive end.

SECONDARY: C+

CB DeAngelo Hall leads the Redskins with three interceptions. The rest of the team? Zero. CB Carlos Rogers continues to have difficulty holding onto passes. He has dropped at least two potential interceptions. Justin Tryon and Fred Smoot have rotated in and out of the slot cornerback role. Tryon is faster than Smoot, but he has been beaten too frequently. That isn't surprising for a second-year player that didn't play the slot in college. The corners continue to play a lot of off-man coverage, which provides space for opponents to catch quick, short passes. FS LaRon Landry has been decent against the run, while his impact in the passing game has been minimal. Preseason talk of a Pro Bowl nomination for him seems misguided in hindsight. SS Chris Horton and Reed Doughty have alternated in the starting lineup. Doughty has excelled around the line of scrimmage and has outshone Horton.

SPECIAL TEAMS: C

K Shaun Suisham is perfect on nine field goal attempts this season. He has put last year's uneven performance behind him. P Hunter Smith has been a helpful offseason addition considering the Redskins' offensive woes. He is tied for 20^th in the NFL in gross average (43.4 yards). The Redskins lead the NFL in defending kickoff returns and their punt coverage team ranks fifth, thanks to standouts such as RB/KR Rock Cartwright and LB H.B. Blades. But PR Antwaan Randle El is averaging only 5.2 yards per return and will have his role diminished. A special teams turnover on a punt led to Washington's Week 5 loss at Carolina. There is significant room for improvement.

COACHING: D

Jim Zorn doesn't have a roster with enough playmakers and talent, but he bears a significant amount of the responsibility for the Redskins' 2-5 record, a mark that seems likely to worsen as they face tougher opponents. He was charged with developing Jason Campbell into an elite quarterback, and Campbell has fallen well short so far. Zorn might not have the ideal personnel to run his West Coast offense, but ultimately his scheme is partly to blame for the NFL's fifth-worst scoring offense. His play-calling and some of his game-management decisions have provided some prime opportunities to second-guess. Offensive line prospects such as Chad Rinehart haven't developed into impact players under coach Joe Bugel. Linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti has helped Brian Orakpo's transition. The Redskins are still waiting for receivers Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly to take off.

AWARDS

MVP OFFENSE: LT Chris Samuels

The irony, of course, is that Samuels' value has been proven in his absence. The Redskins' offensive line has surrendered 14 sacks since Samuels suffered a season-ending neck injury on the second play of a loss in Week 5. He was the one player Washington couldn't afford to lose.

MVP DEFENSE: DT Albert Haynesworth

Haynesworth has been as disruptive as advertised. His strength and ability to penetrate require opponents to frequently double- or triple-team him. It's a big reason why the Redskins rank fourth in the NFL in sacks per pass play and 10^th in yards allowed per rush.

MOST IMPROVED: DE Andre Carter

Carter seems rejuvenated after an intensified offseason training regimen. He has 6.5 sacks through seven games, compared to four all of last season. Playing alongside Haynesworth has been a boon, too.

SECOND HALF QUESTIONS

1. Will owner Daniel Snyder change the way he runs the franchise?

This is by far the most meaningful question left this season. It likely won't be answered until the offseason, but how the final nine games transpire could have an impact. Finishing with only two to four wins would seemingly provide a greater impetus to overhaul the operation and cede control to a general manager hired from outside the organization. Fan reaction to more losing could be influential, as well. So far, there's no evidence that this will happen.

2. Which players will emerge as reliable components for the future?

The Redskins began this season with the oldest roster in the NFL. That, plus the possibilities of an uncapped season and a new head coach, could result in a major overhaul. Some players still must prove that they deserve to stay. Receiver Devin Thomas and Fred Davis will get their chances with increased roles during the final nine games. Wideout Malcolm Kelly, offensive linemen Chad Rinehart and Mike Williams and cornerback Justin Tryon are among those that must seize any opportunity.

3. Will the offense accomplish anything from here on?

Washington's offense has been downright painful to watch. There are problems at every position. Coach Jim Zorn insists that the Redskins are close to producing at an acceptable level, but he has been saying that for weeks now. If the patchwork offensive line can improve, perhaps with the inclusion of T Levi Jones, maybe the Redskins will score 20 in a game.

If you would like to post a comment about this blog, please log in. You can use your FredTalk user name and password here. If you don't have one yet, REGISTER Now...

Rich Campbell joined The Free Lance-Star as a sports writer in Sept. 2007 and covered the Washington Nationals until Jan. 2008. He is not related to Jason Campbell, but he does cover the Washington Redskins and local high school sports.

Contact
• Send an e-mail to Rich Campbell

This is a weblog with Redskins news, insight, discussion and Rich's random bad jokes. Welcome.