A Little Bang for the Buck

The 2010 Washington Redskins lacked explosion on the offensive side of the football.  There is no hiding this.  Our most explosive weapon on offense is a 5' 10" 209 lb soon-to-be 32 year old wide receiver.  Our most explosive running back, who became a starter by default, probably couldn't touch a 4.6 40 yard dash.  Our one-time explosive weapon at quarterback is soon to be displaced due to lack of production, inaccuracy, inability to run our offense, and a long list of past injuries that have left him a meer shadow of his former Pro Bowl self.  We are now left with a statue at quarterback, who shows an alarming propensity for turning the football over at key points of a football game. 

We have some young potential on this team, but none has really been able to contribute on a regular basis.  Fred Davis, who was know at USC to be a open field nightmare to tackle, and a mismatch for both linebackers and safities, is stuck behind the pedestrian Chris Cooley on the depth chart.  Brandon Banks, one of the most explosive and dangerous open field players in the game, is so vertically challenged, that the staff probably feels it is best to just let him return kicks and punts, instead of risking him getting his head taken off going over the middle of the field on an attempted pass route.  Anthony Armstrong surprised us all in 2010.  He has game breaking speed, but he sure as hell isn't going to break many tackles in the open field.   Malcolm Kelly, a kid with some potential, has yet to see the field with any consistancy due to injuries.

So this leaves us with.........................................................sorry, mind mind went blank for a moment there.  Where are we going to be in 2011?

Well, before we discuss our team, lets look at the other teams in our division.  These are teams we need to compete with.  These are teams who we face two times each season.  These are teams with which our future hangs in the ballance.

Dallas Cowboys - Their team is loaded with explosive play-making talent.  They have an athletic quarterback, who is capable of avoiding the rush, and using both his legs and arm to make plays down the field.  Romo has had his ups and downs, but we can all agree that he's much better than anything we have at the QB position.  Romo's favorite target, Jason Witten, is one of the best TE's in the NFL, and is a nightmare for opposing defenses.  The Cowboys also boast a trio of explosive running backs.  Any one of the three(Barber, Jones and Choice) would be an instant starter for the Redskins, and would represent a hugh upgrade.  Finally, the Cowboys wide receivers boast two great athletes, who are great in the open field.  Miles Austin is like having a running back in a wide receivers' body.  Dez Bryant is a phenomenal talent, who will only get better.  Roy Williams, the forgotten man on their offense, is a better weapon than any WR we currently have on our roster.

Philadelphia Eagles - This team may have the most explosive talent in the league at the skill positions.  Mike Vick is.............well, lets just say that he's the most exciting playmaker at the QB position in the NFL.  DeSean Jackson is one of, if not the most explosive WR's in the league.  And to think we could have drafted him in 08'.  Throw in another blazer in Macklin, and you have just produced a horror film for defensive coordinators.  Now as a defensive coordinator you think game planning can't get much worse right?  But Wait, There's More!  What is there that LeSean McCoy can't do.  He's fast, he's powerful, and he can catch the ball out of the backfield as well as any back in the NFL.  Oh, by the way, did I forget to mention Brent Celek?

New York Giants - The giants are the third best team in the division when it comes to explosive playmakers on offensive, but even in third place, they are well above the Redskins.  Their franchise QB, although not known to be the best athlete, is far better than any product we have put on the field in that respective position.  The Giants strength on offensive is at the wide receiver position.  Smith, Nix, Hixon and Manningham are all offensive weapons who are dangerous with the football in their hands.  Any one of these guys would be a #1 wide receiver on the Redskins.  Bradshaw and Jacobs, although not considered game-changers, would run circles around the trio we have. 

So lets focus on the Redskins.

We have an opportunity to significantly upgrade our talent in this years NFL Draft.  We need some offensive playmakers on this team, and the early rounds are full of them.

1st round options:

Cam Newton - unbelievable athlete, who possesses rare size, speed and arm strength for the quarterback position.  Would provide an immediate spark for an otherwise dormant offense.

Julio Jones - Did anyone see what this kid did to LSU's Patrick Peterson?  If not, go back and watch the 2010 LSU-Alabama game.  Jones is a mismatch for almost any corner or safety in the NFL. 

Mark Ingram - Emmit Smith was just heard singing the praises of the Alabama junior RB.  Emmit said he reminded him of himself, just with better speed.  I watched a lot of Alabama games in 2009 and 2010, and I can't remember Ingram getting caught from behind once he broke into the open field.  This kid is a dangerous weapon. 

2nd round options:

Jake Locker - Unbelievable athlete at the QB position.  Has the ability to make all the NFL throws.

Jon Baldwin - Physical freak at the WR position

Torrey Smith - A blazer with good size to boot.

Ryan Williams - When healthy as a freshmen at VTech, he was unstoppable

Now you can argue with me all you want on how none of these guys I listed will be able to make a difference unless our offensive line is improved.  You'll also argue that defense needs to be improved first and foremost. 

But there is one thing that you can't argue, and thats a glaring lack of talent at the skill positions. 

I'd like something to get excited about, and the meer thought of trotting out a starting lineup consisting of Grossman, Torain, Armstrong, Moss(if he re-signs) and Cooley does not trigger a catharsis.  Hell, thrown in a case of RedBull, two Viagra, and a shot of human-grade Test, and i'd still have a pulse in the low 60's. 

So please Redskin's Front Office, give us fans something to cheer about in 2011.  If not, you may see a lot of empty seats, and a few fans wearing paper bags with the words "Dead Skins", because that's in essence what we'll be; Fans Without a Pulse.