Welcome Total Sports Blog’s NFL Training Camp Previews. For the next 13 days we will continue to preview each team, and predict their records. The chances that we predict any of these records to be right drastically decreases when Joe is writing the preview.
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Today’s Team: Washington Redskins (NFC East)
2013 Record: 3-13
Passing Leader: Robert Griffin III 3203 YDS 16 TD 12 INT
Rushing Leader(s): Alfred Morris 1275 YDS 7 TD
Receiving leader: Pierre Garcon 113 REC 1346 YDS 5 TD
Leading Tackler: Perry Riley 72 Tackles
Sacks Leader: Brian Orakpo 10 Sacks
Int Leader: DeAngelo Hall 4 INT
FA losses: WR Josh Morgan, TE Richard Quinn, C/G Will Montgomery, DE/DT Adam Carriker, DE/OLB Darryl Tapp, ILB London Fletcher, CB Josh Wilson, P Sav Rocca.
FA signings: QB Colt McCoy, WR DeSean Jackson, WR Andre Roberts, OT Bruce Campbell, G Shawn Lauvao, G Mike McGlynn, DE/DT Jason Hatcher, DE/DT Clifton Geathers, ILB Daryl Sharpton, ILB Akeem Jordan, CB Tracy Porter, S Ryan Clark, S Brandon Meriweather.
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Draft Results:
Round 2, Pick No. 47: Trent Murphy, OLB/DE, Stanford
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Round 3, Pick No. 66: Morgan Moses, OT, Virginia
Round 3, Pick No. 78: Spencer Long, G, Nebraska
Round 4, Pick No. 102: Bashaud Breeland, CB, Clemson
Round 5, Pick No. 142: Ryan Grant, WR, Tulane
Round 6, Pick No. 186: Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor
Round 7, Pick No. 217: Ted Bolser, TE, Indiana
Round 7, Pick No. 228: Zach Hocker, K, Arkansas
2014 Outlook
Outside of Pierre Garcon, not one Redskins receiver had over 500 receiving yards. The obvious addition of DeSean Jackson will be an obvious improvement, but do not overlook the addition of Andre Roberts. He will provide depth at the position and should help rejuvenate the passing game for Washington, which needs some help.
Robert Griffin III did play in 13 games last season but did not perform up to his expectations at all last season, though I am willing to give him somewhat of a pass. The Redskins have a solid running attack with Morris and Helu but Griffin had no one to throw the ball to last season; however, that excuse will not work this year.
The Redskins defense last season was laughable. They gave up 29.9 points per game and struggled in all aspects. They brought in former Dallas Cowboy Jason Hatcher to help put pressure on opposing quarterbacks, coupled with Orakpo and Barry Cofield, the Redskins pass-rush should be much improved.
Their secondary does not look to be much better. They signed long time Pittsburgh Steeler Ryan Clark, but now at the age 34 going on 35 in October, how much good football does he have left? It is much easier to hide a bad secondary if there is pressure put on the quarterback. If Hatcher and company can do just so, their current secondary will be adequate. If not, yikes.
Luckily for Washington their schedule is not too brutal. They have early match-ups against the Texans and Jaguars, which are games they should both win. The NFC East is also not as hard this season, so this team should no doubt improve on their 3 wins from last season.
I think the bottom line is, this team will go as far as RG3 takes them. There is no denying the talent that is there, but can he stay healthy for a full 16 game season? Will new coach Jay Gruden be the missing piece to this messy Redskins puzzle? The whole city of Washington is waiting in anticipation.
Prediction: 7-9
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