Washington Redskins Information
The Redskins have been playing NFL football in Washington since the 1937 season. Over that time, the team has won five Super Bowls, most recently in 1991, and has won five conference championships. The Redskins have also won 12 division championships and have made 20 playoff appearances. The team hasn’t made a postseason since the 1999 campaign and they’ve usually hovered around the .500 mark during that time, but last year, they finished with a dismal 5-11 record and Coach Steve Spurrier was given his walking papers. Legendary coach Joe Gibbs is back for his second stint as leader in Washington and hopes this time will be similar to the first. Gibbs previously coached the team from 1981-1992, compiling a 140-65 record in the process. Under his guidance, the Redskins won three Super Bowls, four conference championships, four division championships, and made seven postseason appearances. The team has only made the playoffs once since he left, so the pressure will be on Coach Gibbs and his staff to turn this group into winners again.
The Washington Redskins were a part of the biggest deal in the off-season when running back Clinton Portis was traded from Denver to Washington for cornerback Champ Bailey. Portis will immediately step in and start at the RB position and should take a lot of pressure off the quarterback. That spot became something of a mystery when the team signed free agent QB Mark Brunell after Patrick Ramsey had posted good numbers in the Redskins system. Both are above average QBs in the NFL but it will be interesting to see how the backup handles the new role. Laveranues Coles was one of the top receivers in the league last season despite only scoring six touchdowns all year. Rod Gardner and Darnerian McCants will play as the #2 and #3 receivers along side Coles in 2004. The Redskins have plenty of people that can catch the ball as evidenced by the ten different receivers who caught at least nine passes last season. They also had seven different players catch passes for scores last year.
Jeremiah Trotter anchored the Redskins defense in 2003 by recording a team high 115 tackles while also contributing sacks, tackles for loss, forced fumbles, and an interception, but in the off-season, he signed with the division rival Philadelphia Eagles. Jesse Armstead had a team leading 6.5 sacks but was also lost in the free agency period when he signed with the Carolina Panthers. To fill the gap in the middle left by Armstead and Trotter, the Redskins signed linebacker Michael Barrow from the New York Giants. LaVar Arrington was an amazing defensive player last season when not playing the role of judge on ESPN’s “Dream Job”. Arrington finished with a team high six tackles for loss and six forced fumbles while also finishing second on the team in sacks and fourth overall in tackles. Fred Smoot had four interceptions to lead the Redskins defense in that department while Matt Bowen and Ifeanyi Ohalete each pitched in another three.
The Bailey for Portis trade seemingly will help both teams involved, but just to make sure the defense didn’t suffer when the top player left, the Redskins drafted Sean Taylor with the fifth overall pick in the 2004 draft. Taylor, a safety from the University of Miami, was arguably the top defensive player in all of college football in 2003. Taylor stands 6’6’’ and is aggressive on the line, so receivers will definitely have to work to get open. Taylor was also a punt returner in college and a running back in high school, so he has excellent vision on the field. The team also drafted two offensive linemen and a tight end with their three remaining picks.