What do the Redskins really need?

With the offseason Olympics ready to get underway, I decided the best place to start was at the beginning (I realize this is an earth-shattering concept) and determine what holes actually need to be filled.

While looking around the net I noticed a blog where the guy was completely off his rocker and in the same column he got on Dan Snyder for getting rid of the continuity put in place in the coaching staff right after he said the Skins should get rid of it seemed 2/3rds of the team's starters including Clinton Portis, Jon Jansen and Randy Thomas.

If it was this guy's intention to grab attention, well then he accomplished his job. If it was his intention to provide meaningful insight into what action the team will take then he fell well short of the mark.

"George" does make a solid point in stating that if there is a major injury on the offensive line next year there will be issues. However, we weathered a ton of injuries on that line last year (Jansen and Thomas included) and we were able to bring along some young, talented players. But, think of how much smoother next season would be if Jansen, Thomas and the rest of the guys can avoid injuries - you're talking about one of the best collective units in the game. Jansen and Thomas are not washed up and so talk of the O Line needing help is overly exaggerated although a late round flier, especially coached by Joe Bugel, never seems to be a bad idea.

But I am rambling and I want this to be more of a list so here are the needs of the team as I see them, in no particular order:

1. Defensive backs: We need both safties and CB's after the loss of Sean Taylor and the continuing struggles of Carlos Rogers. It was nice to have Shawn Springs healthy for a good chunk of time and Fred Smoot was a reliable asset too. Reed Doughty has proved himself worthy of a shot at a starting spot after taking over for Taylor but depth at both positions are crucial.

2. Defensive line: This group has been so sporadic the last few years that something needs to be added and if this were a car it would be a stabilizing bar. Many projections online have us taking a DT with our 1st round pick and that would definitely be a good move. Phillip Daniels isn't getting any younger either so it might be nice to find his eventual replacement this year too.

3. Offensive line: I already talked about this earlier but a late round pick to add depth seems like the smart play here. Stephon Heyer proved to be a valuable commodity despite not even being drafted so who's to say we won't need another Heyer this year?

4. Quarterback: Yes, Jason Campbell is the QB of the future but if he goes down again, how much longer can we rely on Todd Collins? This year could be the one to draft or sign a younger backup so he could get acclimated to the time and be ready if the situation ever arises. The rest of the offense seems to be in good enough shape (although it would be nice for the WR's to produce more this year) so drafting a future QB could be a luxury this year the Skins may not have next year.

In keeping with continuity, it seems many of these starters could already be the place and the emphasis then should be on selecting role players. I realize we were 9-7 but we were close and when we got on a roll we were one of the toughest teams to play at the end of the year. Adding missing pieces - and not making major renovations - could be just what this team needs to advance in the playoffs next year.

2007 Previews: Redskins defense

The second part of my two part series previewing the Redskins, here are 3 keys on the defensive side of the ball that will need to take place if Washington is going to head back the playoffs.

1. LaRon Landry needs to prove he was worth the pick. Washington set franchise lows in sacks and with fans clamoring for the addition of a(nother) pass rusher, the Skins used their first pick on Landry. Washington also had a tough time forcing turnovers and the thought process here has to be that adding Landry will help force more turnovers, which in turn will aid the pass rush. The normal thought process is usually the other way around but then again, when have the Skins gone with the traditional way of thinking? Gregg Williams always has a unique way to use his personnel and he should have a lot of fun adding Landry skills to a defensive backfield that already includes heavy-hitting Sean Taylor.

2. Speaking of a pass rush. With no major changes to the defensive line, Andre Carter and company have to prove that they can get to the QB this season. Carter was last year's high priced pickup and other than recording a sack in each of the last 3 games, he was mediocre at best. Aging vets Phillip Daniels and Renaldo Wynn probably don't have much left either and with the DT's used more as run stuffers, the DE's will need to give it everything they have left to help this defense get back to being one of the best in the league.

3. Please stay healthy. Losing pro bowlers Marcus Washington, Shawn Springs and Cornelius Griffin at different points last year obviously hurt the performance of this unit and Washington is hoping that the additions it made and the maturation of young players will compensate for the loss of any players to injury this year but the Skins cannot afford to lose its stars on defense again this year. Every team has certain losses it can overcome and certain losses it can't and obviously last year's losses were ones Washington couldn't absorb. If these guys go down again, it is quite possible the defense will stall again.

Has training camp started yet?

The one thing I hate most about the offseason - other than the fact that there are no football games - is the tendency of the media to turn things into bigger stories than they really are. For Redskins fans, this was evident last week when Sean Taylor and Shawn Springs failed to show up for the team's (in)voluntary OTA's.

Will a missed practice in May by two of our better secondary players really be that big of a hindrance come September? In fact, I don't want Springs participating because of his fragile state. If he gets injured now, the secondary is in trouble the entire rest of the 2007 season.

Granted, we do want to see and can use more unity from this squad, but there is still plenty of time to develop that. A season is not won or lost based on OTA's from May. And when something really newsworthy happens next week, the missing DB's will be forgotten, even if Taylor showed up this week.