As the NFL playoffs get underway, the Washington Redskins are once again spending January working on their short game. 2010 was supposed to be a step forward for the team, but in many ways, it was a step back.
When general manager Bruce Allen was brought in last season, many saw the hiring as a change in the way the organization would make personnel decisions. For years the Redskins had been criticized for constantly trading high draft picks for veterans under team president Vinny Cerrato, who resigned last season. However, shortly after Mike Shanahan was hired as head coach, it was clear that nothing had changed. The first major move the Redskins made was a trade with the Eagles for pro-bowl QB Donovan McNabb in exchange for either a third or fourth round pick in the 2011 draft depending on how McNabb performed in 2010. They then agreed to trade the pick that the Eagles did not get to the Saints for offensive tackle Jammal Brown, a pro-bowler in 2008 who missed all of 2009 with various injuries.
McNabb threw for over 3,300 yards this season, but also threw more interceptions than touchdown passes and was benched for the last three games of the season. It would be shocking to see McNabb in Washington next season. For Brown, 2010 was utterly terrible. He and others on the line compiled one of the worst units in the league. His contract is up and he will probably never wear a Redskins uniform again.
To recap, that’s a third and fourth round pick given away for one disappointing year from a quarterback in his early 30s and one terrible year from an offensive tackle who was acquired to protect said quarterback. Are we sure Vinny Cerrato resigned?
What the Redskins have needed to do for years is rebuild. Time and time again they have tried bringing in free agents and trading for proven veterans. Time and time again it has failed.
That being the case, the problem in 2010 did not start with the trade for McNabb. It started with the hiring of Mike Shanahan. When rebuilding you need a coach that can come in and take his lumps for a year or two or three. Shanahan is not that guy. He is not a young Jim Schwartz type. He’s a coach who is closing in on 60 years old and does not want to spend the next few years coaching a team that is rebuilding. Of course he went out and got a proven quarterback. He did not want to have to coach through the growing pains of a young signal caller.
Whether he wants to or not, if Shanahan wants to be successful, he must accept a rebuilding period. This team is not ready to compete and will not be ready for years. The offensive line is in shambles. They don’t have a game changing receiver. They only have about half a strong season from running back Ryan Torain, who has struggled with injuries throughout his short career. And all of a sudden their defense, which has been one of the best in the NFL over the last few seasons, has become pedestrian. Needless to say, the Redskins have many holes to fill.
This season was supposed to be a changing of the guard in Washington.
There was supposed to be a change in attitude as to how to run a football team. It was supposed to be a season in which Dan Snyder and those who work for him stopped playing fantasy football with an actual NFL team. Yet, it was more of the same. Because of that, when football the Redskins will be worse off.
blasky@theeagleonline.com
