Skins and Texans poised to be next year's Cardinals?

[SkinsFanSince91]

Interesting read.

I think he might be on to something.

Texans, Redskins poised to be the next Cardinals - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

Discuss

[SkinsFanSince91]

Here is what he wrote about the Skins in case the link doesn't come up.

3. The Washington Redskins

Offense: The league’s fifth-worst scoring unit in 2008 could stand to see some major improvement from top to bottom. About the only area that isn’t of concern is the running-back spot, but even Clinton Portis could stand to see some of his carries given to a productive backup. By far, starting quarterback Jason Campbell is the lead concern. After a solid beginning, he languished as last season wore on and didn’t show the leap in development expected. The 38 sacks surrendered by the offensive line and the lack of a reliable No. 2 receiver didn’t help. But a lot of those woes can be solved by better – and quicker – decisions from Campbell. This will be his third year as a full-time starter and, as history has shown, should be the watershed moment in which he makes the step into maturity as a passer. Ultimately, this falls on head coach Jim Zorn. He works as closely with Campbell as anyone, and having a second offseason of tutelage has to yield more consistent and lasting results.

Defense: A boatload of cash was invested in two players in free agency: defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and cornerback DeAngelo Hall. Haynesworth has a lot to live up to, but if he can come even close to duplicating what he did the past two seasons in Tennessee, it will make Washington’s front seven exponentially better. Hall, on the other hand, has yet to show he can play well after getting big money. He certainly didn’t last season in Oakland, but Washington blessed him with a second chance anyway. If he can play like a No. 1 cornerback, the secondary should be amongst the league’s best. If he can’t, it will be an inconsistent unit. Losing the potential of a healthy Jason Taylor hurts, too, because there isn’t a lot of pop in the pass-rushing department without him. That means seasonlong double-teaming for Haynesworth.

Work to be done: A significant pass-rushing presence is likely going to have to come from the draft, since there just isn’t anyone left in free agency. And no, the talk of adding Renaldo Wynn or bringing back Phillip Daniels isn’t going to scare anyone. That means likely addressing the need with the No. 13 overall pick, which could produce Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo, Penn State’s Aaron Maybin or Florida State’s Everette Brown. Two of those three players will likely be available when Washington is on the clock. But don’t be shocked if the Redskins go for a young offensive tackle if one is still available. Bringing Pete Kendall back would help the depth on the offensive line. And finally, developing one (or better yet, both) of last season’s second-round wideouts – Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly – into a reliable No. 2 would be a big step forward.

Bottom line: Zorn must get some development out of two parts of his offense. Campbell’s growth is the top priority, and then getting one of the young guys to take the lead as a pass-catching complement to Santana Moss. Defensively, a pass rusher has to be found to balance out and protect the Haynesworth investment, and the coaching staff has to hope Hall stays hungry in spite of his new deal.

[Giantone]

I see no reason why not but I'm sure there are 30 other teams out there that feel the same.

[GTripp0012]

Chiefs are really, really far from contending (I know that's what we said about the Falcons last year, but the Chiefs are twice as bad as the Falcons were before their breakout year), so I wouldn't have them anywhere on my list, but that's a very solid first four he's got.

Robinson is a good writer. I could take issue with some of the thinks he put in the Skins write-up, but he's a national writer who understands the big picture. It's not so important that he understand why Campbell's stat line looks like a different player in the second half of the year.

[GusFrerotte]

Skins will not be the Cards of '09, just for the simple fact we will be retaining most of the same units that we fielded for '08. Haynesworth is a definite plus for the D, but how arre we going to be at the LB spot. Can Rogers step up his level of play to that of the old Springs consistently? What the hell about our O line? Also, how can you fail with Kurt Warner throwing to Boldin and Fitzgerald, two barn burners. WE don't have barn burners on our team. Moss can be, but not often enough as he is oft injured anymore. Also you need to remember what division the Cards played in, the weakest division in the NFL, while we play in the toughest. On top of that you have the JC drama. I think if he was going to be a great QB in the NFL, we would have seen some shades of it, no matter the system, etc. I am not talking about throwing mechanics either. He really doesn't show any leadership on the field, like he wants to make it his team.

[724Skinsfan]

What exactly does it mean to be next year's Cardinals? Have one of the game's best passing game, worst running game, and a mediocre defense in a bad/mediocre division go 9-7? Looking to the Cardinals of 2008 as a source of inspiration is like asking a lottery winner for financial advice. Yes, they made it to the Super Bowl and good for them, clearly the system ain't perfect.

Damn, what a hater!

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by 724Skinsfan

What exactly does it mean to be next year's Cardinals? Have one of the game's best passing game, worst running game, and a mediocre defense in a bad/mediocre division go 9-7? Looking to the Cardinals of 2008 as a source of inspiration is like asking a lottery winner for financial advice. Yes, they made it to the Super Bowl and good for them, clearly the system ain't perfect.

Damn, what a hater!

I kinda had the same thought

[warriorzpath]

Originally Posted by SkinsFanSince91

Bottom line: Zorn must get some development out of two parts of his offense. Campbell’s growth is the top priority, and then getting one of the young guys to take the lead as a pass-catching complement to Santana Moss. Defensively, a pass rusher has to be found to balance out and protect the Haynesworth investment, and the coaching staff has to hope Hall stays hungry in spite of his new deal.

This is a good point. The redskins personnel folks may need to think about this to (maybe even to save their own ass).

[mcludka]

Isn't this the beauty of the NFL? Ever team has things that need to fall into place. The Skins have solved some of last year's woes, but have found some new concerns. Last year's wideouts MUST produce...and Campbell too. Its that simple. The D will keep them in games. But occasionally, the O needs to win it.
Zorn has to be the play caler he was supposed to be. Was that a myth or was he held back by pass protection?

[Paintrain]

While I want to see it all come together on the field (I've been fooled by the off season championship trophy before) but in our division us and the Giants improved but I'd argue the Cowboys and Eagles not only got worse but SIGNIFICANTLY worse. One game separated us from them last season and our additions and their subtractions should be worth at least one game.

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by mcludka

Isn't this the beauty of the NFL? Ever team has things that need to fall into place. The Skins have solved some of last year's woes, but have found some new concerns. Last year's wideouts MUST produce...and Campbell too. Its that simple. The D will keep them in games. But occasionally, the O needs to win it.
Zorn has to be the play caler he was supposed to be. Was that a myth or was he held back by pass protection?

It's funny you mention about things falling into place. For the Cards the team was good enough to win a terrible NFC West, yet their defense stepped it up during the postseason and compliment their potent pass offense, which allowed them to go deep into the playoffs.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by 724Skinsfan

What exactly does it mean to be next year's Cardinals? Have one of the game's best passing game, worst running game, and a mediocre defense in a bad/mediocre division go 9-7? Looking to the Cardinals of 2008 as a source of inspiration is like asking a lottery winner for financial advice. Yes, they made it to the Super Bowl and good for them, clearly the system ain't perfect.

Damn, what a hater!

my thoughts really. The Cards are crap. They are the poster child for a weak conference where a team can put together a few half decent weeks and squeak by. They'll be worse than 9-7 this year and my money says they don't even get close to the playoffs. We're talking about the Cardinals here. The ARIZONA CARDINALS.

[Redskin Warrior]

I just want Paintrain's sig to become true & I'll be happy

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

my thoughts really. The Cards are crap. They are the poster child for a weak conference where a team can put together a few half decent weeks and squeak by. They'll be worse than 9-7 this year and my money says they don't even get close to the playoffs. We're talking about the Cardinals here. The ARIZONA CARDINALS.

Well, the Cards were the very best team in the NFL playoffs this year. The Steelers earned their easy road by having a complete and impressive regular season. But by January, the Cardinals were every bit as good as the 2007 Giants were in the playoffs.

And I guess the point is less a direct comparison, and more a general look at which non-playoff team can make the super bowl in 2009.

[tryfuhl]

Originally Posted by 724Skinsfan

What exactly does it mean to be next year's Cardinals? Have one of the game's best passing game, worst running game, and a mediocre defense in a bad/mediocre division go 9-7? Looking to the Cardinals of 2008 as a source of inspiration is like asking a lottery winner for financial advice. Yes, they made it to the Super Bowl and good for them, clearly the system ain't perfect.

Damn, what a hater!

I hear ya, but who cares how they got there, they made the most of it when they had to. We may say that we had some playoffs in the past 10 years, but they've pretty much been scraping by as well.

The Giants in the previous superbowl were a wild card team

It ain't where ya from, it's where ya at