2007 in Review/2008 Preview

Best on field moment: Moss's TD at the end of the second dallas game. I know the game was already in hand, but I was so proud of the team at that moment and I really thought we were a scary team going into the playoffs.

Worst on field moment: Missing the kick on Saturday and just sensing at all our momentum was gone in a flash.

Offensive MVP: Clinton Portis. I love the way he plays the game. I hope he keeps it up in '08.

Defensive MVP: Fletcher. For the most part, it was like we had an extra coach out on the field, which was great since we played a lot of young guys on D.

Offensive Player I'm looking forward to watching in '08: Ditto Jason Campbell.

Defensive Player I'm looking forward to watching in '08: Ditto LaRon Landry. Reminds me of someone back there...

Offensive Player who surprised you (good & bad)
Good: Todd Collins. I thought he was nothing more than an older Jim Sorgi at first. Glad I was wrong. Bad: Honestly, Sellers was bad enough at times that I'd have to give him the nod here. He had his good moments, like against the lions, but then he got routinely stuffed on 4th and short down the stretch.

Defensive Player who surprised you (good & bad)
Good: Reed Doughty. He's obviously no Sean Taylor but I think he did the best we could've hoped for after such a huge tragedy. Bad: I guess Macklin, because I was under the impression that he was going to be a really good nickle or dime for us and yet I don't think I ever heard his name.

Non Redskins player I'd like to see in a Redskins Uni next year: Chad Johnson might be fun.

Redskins player I'd like to see in another uni next year: If we could get something or someone good for Betts I'd love to take it because I'm not his biggest fan. He's not terrible, but I'd get rid of him to upgrade elsewhere if possible.

Best on field moment: Sellers steamrolling a safety after catching a pass. In a lackluster year for Mike, that stood out.

Worst on field moment: The second timeout.

Offensive MVP: Clinton Portis. Cooley was a close second, and I don't know why Rabach's getting grief, but Portis not only ran hard and caught well, but he helped pick the team up after the loss of Taylor with his leadership and performance.

Defensive MVP: Is it cheating to say Sean? He was clearly the best player we had for the 9 games he played.

Offensive Player I'm looking forward to watching in '08: I hope Jason learned what this offense can do by watching Todd this year. It'll be fun to watch if Campbell's athleticism is paired with Collins' decision-making.

Defensive Player I'm looking forward to watching in '08: Dirty Thirty.

Offensive Player who surprised you (good & bad)
Good: Lorenzo Alexander. Not only because he wasn't an offensive player, but he became an important part of our offense, making on the field when experienced O Linemen didn't.
Bad: Ladell Betts. I thought he could be productive in limited duty.

Defensive Player who surprised you (good & bad)
Good: Reed Doughty. Big shoes to fill, and did so well.
Bad: Tough call. Maybe Ked Golston, but I think his relegation to backup was more because Montgomery stepped up.

Non Redskins player I'd like to see in a Redskins Uni next year: Jared Allen

Redskins player I'd like to see in another uni next year: B Lloyd. Good luck to you, but this didn't work out well at all.

Don't know if you know this, but Clinton Portis cracked the Skins top five in rushing attempts and rushing yards for a career after this season

Rather than a longwinded post I'll just ask for some opinions on the season that was... Weigh in on your...

Best on field moment Portis's TD against Dallas. At that moment I knew we were going to the playoffs..

Worst on field moment The dreaded 2nd timeout against Buffalo.

Offensive MVP Cooley was everything he was supposed to be.. Portis is a close 2nd..

Defensive MVP London Fletcher, he brought it all together..

Offensive Player I'm looking forward to watching in '08Campbell's continued development

Defensive Player I'm looking forward to watching in '08 Landry becoming a Pro Bowler

Offensive Player who surprised you (good & bad)Good-Stephon Heyer.. I think we have a starter or at least a STRONG back up for years to come.. Bad-Ladell Betts.. He was largely invisible all year..

Defensive Player who surpised you (good & bad)Good-Anthony Montgomery seemed to come from nowhere to have a solid season.. Bad-Kedrick Golston-I was expecting a breakout season and for him to go to the next level but he was pedestrian or inactive too often.

Non Redskin player I'd like to see in a Redskins Uni next year1. Chad Johnson, 1A. Lance Briggs

Redskins player I'd like to see in another uni next yearB. Lloyd

great post. i pretty much agree with everything you said, but i rather see a DE instead of briggs... jared allen maybe? it's not a great FA class :/ we could always draft one though... the draft does have good DE talent this year.

best moment would have to be the entire run to the playoffs. I really was surprised how calm i was after the loss... i guess the team proved enough that I was really impressed with the season anyways. We had crazy injuries early and we weren't going to clinch a superbowl like that, but getting there meant a lot.

that 2nd timeout basically meant we got the seahawks instead of tampa, which means 1 and out.... poop.

Don't know if you know this, but Clinton Portis cracked the Skins top five in rushing attempts and rushing yards for a career after this season

Good to know. thanks

Best on field moment: Collins to Yoder against the bears. it was a classic, backup to backup connection. loved seeing it, and we needed it. (especially after what had happened the week before...see below).

Worst on field moment: Tie between the inability to score on the on the goal line against the giants at home, and the duel timeout fiasco.

Offensive MVP: Collins, without him, this season is a major disappointment, Gibbs gets lambasted all off season, perhaps we embark on an ambitious rebuilding regiment, basically his play bought us time and made the season exciting.

Defensive MVP: Fletcher. It is clear that Williams defense just doesn't work without a savvy middle linebacker.

Offensive Player I'm looking forward to watching in '08: Campbell and Randy Thomas.

Defensive Player I'm looking forward to watching in '08: Landry. (and the DE we draft).

Offensive Player who surprised you (good & bad):
Good: Heyer.
Bad: Betts and Lloyd

Defensive Player who surprised you (good & bad):
Good: Reed D.
Bad: Rogers (only because of his high draft status, plus i'm not a believer.)


Non Redskins player I'd like to see in a Redskins Uni next year: Some college stud DE.

Redskins player I'd like to see in another uni next year: Llyod.

Really? I didn't see Rabach struggling mightily. I actually think you're pretty far off the mark here. Not to saw JLC is the best football guy in the world, but he obviously watches this team pretty closely and here is what he said:

"So, with everything wrapped up, thought I would give out some MVPs:

Offense: Casey Rabach. Thought about Samuels and Collins here, but went with the center. Held a patchwork offensive line together for the most part and fought through a crazy painful groin tear in remarkably short order. Had he missed more time I don't think there's anyone they can even make this playoff run. The guard play was pretty suspect at times and I thought Casey was the glue guy on that side of the ball."

I don't know if I'd go so far as to make him the offensive MVP, but what JLC says jives much more with what I saw on the field than saying that Rabach "had his worst season as a pro."

Sunday Afternoon H-Back - Redskins Insider (http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/01/sunday_afternoon_hback_1.html#more)

agree, I think casey played well, kept a very inexperienced line in check. the only thing you can knock him on is his tendency to get pushed back on clear run plays..

Non Skin I want to see in their uniform in 08 How about Ed Reed, he'd do well in taylor's shoes and he is a free agent.

Best on field moment: Landry's jarring hit on Kevin Curtis to seal the eight point victory over Philadelphia. Either that or Campbell's TD to Cooley to close out the first half.

Worst on field moment: Brian Westbrook's 52 yard screen pass reception to beat us in the last game Sean ever played in.

Offensive MVP: Jason Campbell/Todd Collins. The Quarterback play on the whole this year was exceptional. Collins was better than Campbell, but let us not forget how well Jason played in only his 3rd season.

The Quarterback is usually going to get the offensive MVP because he has the most chances, and when the running game struggles as much as it did this year, it's really a simple choice.

Defensive MVP: Sean Taylor/London Fletcher. Taylor was the MVP for the the first half of the year, Fletcher was the 2nd.

Offensive Player I'm looking forward to watching in '08: Campbell.

Defensive Player I'm looking forward to watching in '08: Carlos Rogers/whoever we draft. Rogers, I though, was really having a great year before his injury. With the age on this defense, I expect our highest defensive draft pick to start from day one.

Offensive Player who surprised you (good & bad)
Good: Stephon Heyer
Bad: Casey Rabach. I know your role changes when you are playing next to Fabini instead of Thomas, but my god, I think 50/50 lives once more, and he's manifested himself in lineman form.

Defensive Player who surprised you (good & bad)
Good: Randall Godfrey. In the face of injury to both OLBs, Godfrey stepped right in and ate up runners every play. Andre Carter gets an honorable mention.
Bad: Cornelius Griffin. He was playing great at mid year, but from that point on, we lacked a competant 2nd force in our pass rush after Carter. Griffin was great early on, but he's not all that valuable if he loses his explosiveness by every November.

Non Redskins player I'd like to see in a Redskins Uni next year: Brian Kelly, CB, Tampa Bay

Redskins player I'd like to see in another uni next year: Brandon Lloyd. Oh god get this guy out of here. The 53 man roster card gently weeps at night.

Best on field moment: London Fletcher's pick-6 against Arizona. That was the loudest I cheered all year. Jumped off the couch for that one.

Worst on field moment: Getting stopped on the goal line against the Giants in Week 3. That also killed the throwbacks I liked.

Offensive MVP: Clinton Portis. Stat-wise, another huge year but even beyond that, his blocking, leadership on and off the field, especially after Sean's death. He SHOULD be the NFL MVP, he's truly the most valuable player. Without him on the field, the team can't succeed. Ask the QBs laying on the field if the team needs him for more than scoring TDs.

Defensive MVP: London Fletcher. He stepped right in and took over the defense as a vocal leader. Watching, you'd think he was a Redskin all his career.

Offensive Player I'm looking forward to watching in '08: Jason Campbell. He'll continue to improve.

Defensive Player I'm looking forward to watching in '08: Laron Landry. He's making big plays and also rookie mistakes. His rookie year looked so similar to Sean Taylor's. Hopefully he can step in and fill the void.

Offensive Player who surprised you (good & bad):
Good: Antwaan Randel El. He was our #1 WR most of the year.
Bad: Ladell Betts. Horrible on the goal line, in blocking and still fumbles. He went from being some other team's possible starter to someone I don't want to see on the field in any meaningful situation.

Defensive Player who surprised you (good & bad):
Good: Rocky McIntosh. I knew he would be good, but not THIS good THIS soon.
Bad: Sean Springs. He had his great plays, but got burned more often. He's declining.


Non-Redskins player I'd like to see in a Redskins Uni next year: A new kicker.

Redskins player I'd like to see in another uni next year: Brandon Lloyd.