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Tuesday, June 18
Can Steve Spurrier get enough out of the offense to compete for a playoff spot? Not with the current group of offensive players. Spurrier's offensive
system works. It's not that far away from what Mike Martz does in St. Louis. But Martz is doing it with Kurt Warner, Isaac Bruce, Marshall Faulk,
Torry Holt and others. The only skilled offensive player in Washington
close to that class of player is halfback Stephen Davis.
What will happen is that the Redskins will struggle early with Shane Matthews or Danny Wuerffel
at quarterback and Jacquez Green, Rod Gardner and Reidel Anthony at receiver.
Green and Anthony have to be durable because they will be asked to take
short passes and turn them into big plays. With a limited ability to throw
deep, Redskins quarterbacks will leave their receivers in a position to be
beaten up.
What Spurrier has to do is use this current group of players as a
test model to see what type of athletes he eventually needs to get to
compete against the Rams and be a playoff contender.
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The obvious big news of the offseason was the hiring of head coach Steve Spurrier. After leading Florida to a 122-27-1 record in 12 years as head coach, Spurrier brings his inventive offensive mind to the NFL. The questions are whether it will work and if the Redskins have enough talent on offense to make it work.
Offensively, the motto of the offseason seemed to be that there is no such thing as too many Gators. With Spurrier on board, Washington seemingly became the landing spot for every former Gator who has had a disappointing NFL career. Wide receivers Jacquez Green (Bucs) and Reidel Anthony (Bucs) were signed as free agents, as was quarterback Shane Matthews (Bears). Former Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel was acquired from the Texans in a trade.
The question is if any of Spurrier's former players will help. While stars in college, all have been disappointments in the NFL. The reason Spurrier is bringing in former Gators is obvious. He's implementing a complicated offense, and having former players in the fold should make that easier to do. Of the four, Green could have the biggest impact. He is penciled in to start, and his familiarity with the offense Spurrier employs should allow him to succeed.
An interesting thing to watch will be how Spurrier uses running back Stephen Davis. Spurrier obviously runs a pass-oriented offense, but he'll still find a way to make Davis a central part of the attack. An improved passing game could actually open things up, giving Davis more room to run.
The Redskins were extremely active on defense over the offseason, building a unit that should be among the best in the NFL. Starting at the top, former Ravens defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis was brought in to lead the way. After taking the Ravens' defense to the top of the NFL, Lewis moved 40 miles south to join Spurrier.
He'll have plenty of talent to work with. The Redskins figure to have one of the NFL's best linebacking corps. With emerging superstar LaVar Arrington already in the fold, the team added middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter (Eagles) and outside linebacker Jessie Armstead (Giants). Trotter is a good run stopper and should give Arrington even more room to move around and make plays. Armstead is a bit riskier because of his age and injury questions. However, he's a good locker room guy and has always played hurt.
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REDSKINS AT A GLANCE
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Stephen Davis rushed for
1,432 yards last season. |
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2001 record: 8-8
Team rank: Defense (10th); offense (28th)
Redskins team news |
Along the defensive line, Washington lost end Marco Coleman, who was second on the team in sacks last season with 4½. Coleman was cut loose after June 1. Renaldo Wynn (Jaguars), who was signed over the offseason, will replace Coleman at in the starting lineup.
For a complete list of all the players Washington has signed and lost so far this offseason, click here.
How they drafted
Daniel Snyder wanted to make a splash on draft day, and he did ... sort of. The 'Skins were unable to move up in the draft to get either quarterback Joey Harrington or wide receiver Donte' Stallworth, so instead, they moved down to the last pick in the first round and selected former Tulane quarterback Patrick Ramsey. He is raw, but on a roster with the likes of Danny Wuerffel and Shane Matthews, Ramsey could see some action before the season is over. Ramsey has, by far, the best arm of any quarterback on the roster. Running back Ladell Betts was considered a bit of a reach in the second round. In the third round they picked cornerback Rashad Bauman, who is a bit small but was a good cover corner in college. Wide receiver Cliff Russell (third round) is a player to watch. Russell, who was hampered by injuries in college at Utah, has great speed and could contribute.
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Fantasy Focus
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Which Redskins wideout has the best chance to flourish in Steve Spurrier's Fun 'N Gun offense? Since the system favors quick-hitting, precise routes, Jacquez Green, who starred at Florida for Spurrier, seems to be the most ideal fit. However, second-year pro Rod Gardner is the most talented receiver on the roster and has the best chance to make a big play with his deceptive speed and strength. Gardner improved his route running in the offseason, increasing his value. If Spurrier's system creates havoc for defenses, Gardner will pay off as a mid-round choice.
-- Roger Rotter, Fantasy editor
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For a complete list of Washington's draft picks, click here.
Unfinished business
The battle for the top spot at quarterback will obviously be the main focus of the rest of the offseason. The betting odds seem to favor Matthews. While certainly not flashy, he is the most experienced of all the quarterbacks on the roster. Another quarterback to keep an eye on is Sage Rosenfels, who reportedly has been impressive this offseason. Of the four quarterbacks on the roster -- Rosenfels, Matthews, Wuerffel and Ramsey -- one likely won't make the team. Despite the Florida ties, Wuerffel could be the odd man out. One situation that is worth watching is the relationship between defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson and Spurrier. Wilkinson didn't show up at some recent workouts, and while the workouts were voluntary, it's a good bet Spurrier wasn't happy.
Outlook for 2002
The Redskins are a hard team to get a grip on. On the one hand, they have the making of one of the NFL's best defenses. With emerging superstars such as Arrington and Champ Bailey, the 'Skins should limit the amount of points their opponents score. But on the other hand, the offense could really struggle. But that's what Spurrier is there for, and if he can bring any of his college magic to the NFL, Washington will be a playoff contender. A 10-win season is certainly not out of the question, but eight might be a little more reasonable.
Peter Lawrence-Riddell is the NFL editor for ESPN.com.
