The stink of the Jim Zorn-Vinny Cerrato disaster is virtually gone. The Washington Redskins are now coach Mike Shanahan’s team. Shanahan and general manager Bruce Allen quickly remade the roster in 20 months. Entering their second season, Shanahan kept only nine playmakers from the previous regime. Whatever success or failure the Redskins have this season is now on Shanahan.
It took time to separate from the inherited 4-12 team with an unwanted quarterback, non-producing divas and organizational chaos. Frankly, Shanahan needs at least another year to squarely revamp the team, but at least Washington is looking like a football organization for the first time since Marty Schottenheimer’s 2001 tenure. And yes, that includes Joe Gibbs’ return when Cerrato remained to continue the dysfunction of the team.
A big reason why the Redskins prospects are better is because they got rid of their three biggest names — Donovan McNabb, Albert Haynesworth and Clinton Portis. McNabb and Portis were aging stars, and Haynesworth was simply disruptive. More importantly, they were major distractions, even if the sound bites from the locker room said otherwise. Nobody ever is truthful at the time, but players now admit the trio kept the background noise on full blast.
Shanahan now has everyone in sync. No more undermining by stars that are used to doing whatever they want. It’s called “buying in” and the clich? is truly accurate. This group is playing harder and could be a better team than personnel suggests.
The backfield is completely new since Quinton Ganther led Washington with 29 yards rushing in a 23-20 loss to San Diego on Jan. 3, 2010. All three quarterbacks have changed. So has the entire offensive line. Receiver Santana Moss and tight ends Chris Cooley and Fred Davis are the only offensive carry-overs.
Five defensive starters remain despite falling to 31st overall last year after switching to a 3-4. Linebackers London Fletcher, Brian Orakpo and Rocky McIntosh plus safety LaRon Landry and cornerback DeAngelo Hall are back. The line is new, though.
Graham Gano is still the kicker and Shanahan’s patience during last year’s uncertainty seems to have worked. Gano made all 10 preseason kicks. Still, he always seems a shank away from unemployment.
Overall, the Redskins are no longer bound to the losing mentalities of the past. Of a time when the franchise always seemed in chaos, the locker room was split between haves and have nots and no one seemed to lead.
Shanahan’s decision to use either a journeyman or unproven quarterback is questionable, but it also falls into the no stars system. For that alone it’s worth a try. The Redskins finally abandoned the marquee method for blue-collar players. Maybe that’s how winning is made.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or email [email protected].
