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Ten Reasons why the Redskins will win the NFC East - #10

[editor's note, by Skin Patrol] I'm bumping this from diaries in the hopes that it will hasten along mmford10's other 9 reasons why we'll win the NFC East, and also because it's the offseason and news is slow. My own thoughts will be posted in the comments section below. I made a few edits, but nothing substantive. Hey Hogs Haven-

For the next few days/weeks, I will be running a preview of exactly why our Redskins are the best candidates to win the NFC East this year. I'll leave you in suspense and start with #10 first and end with #1 in a few days.

#10 Team Health

This is the most straightforward and absolutely vital aspect to why the 2007 Redskins will be a completely different team than last year's. At this point, we're looking at a completely healthy team. Last year, the Redskins dealt with injuries to starting SS Pierson Prioleau (that's right, he was supposed to start over Archuleta from the beginning), starting Pro Bowl RB Clinton Portis (a year after setting the Redskins single-season rushing record), Pro Bowlers LB Marcus Washington, WR Santana Moss, CB Shawn Springs, RT Jon Jansen (remember, he had two broken thumbs!), and more.

That's 5 Pro Bowlers and 6 starters that were injured through the course of our season last year. To call that a setback is to put it mildly. Who knows what would have happened if Moss was perfectly healthy for Campbell? Or if Springs had been there to mentor Rogers all season? Or, most obviously, what if Portis had been fully healthy to start the season and take some pressure off of Brunell?

Those of you paying attention to the developments over the offseason have seen that the injuries are healing -- Portis should be full strength unless he decides to tackle Keiwan Ratliff again, Washington is as energetic as ever, Springs is training with some sprinting specialist this summer and Moss and Jansen are non-issues. A clean bill of health is the first step to becoming a champion. Right?

For years, analysts/cricis/haters in general have said the Redskins are an old team, which could explain our injury problem. That's now wrong.

22 projected starters-- 11 on offense, 11 on defense. Here are the breakdowns for the 30+ group and the >30 group (note: as of season start 9/9/07).

>30- Offense
4 - Todd Wade (31, but hasn't exactly been worn down by playing time these last few years, if you know what I mean), Jon Jansen (31), Randy Thomas (31), Mike Sellers (32)

<30- Offense
Jason Campbell, Clinton Portis, Santana Moss, Brandon Lloyd, Chris Cooley, Casey Rabach, Chris Samuels

That's every skill position on offense under 30.

>30- Defense
Shawn Springs (32), Cornelius Griffin (31), London Fletcher (32 but hasn't missed a game in over 5 years), Phillip Daniels (34)

<30- Defense
Sean Taylor, LaRon Landry, Carlos Rogers, Andre Carter, Kedric Golston, Rocky McIntosh, (Fred Smoot if he starts), Marcus Washington (turns 30 2nd week of season)

Out of those >30's, Springs may not start and Daniels and Griffin are rotated out. Springs will be spelled (at least) by Smoot or Rogers and Fletcher is Mr. Durable.

Still worried about injury? Our reserves on defense include starter-level backups: Prioleau, David Macklin, last year's starter at MLB Lemar Marshall, Renaldo Wynn.

On offense, with the exception of our ancient QBs, we have youth in Randle-El, Betts/Cartwright/Blaylock. And don't worry, if Todd Wade can fill in for Chris Samuels (see NO game last year), our OL can more than pull its (heavy)weight.

Everything taken from redskins.com...

Peace, love, and pigskin until #9...
Matt