Washington Redskins - NFL Season Information, Trivia and History

2011-12 NFL Season

There was a ton of movement from the Redskins in the offseason but the one player most thought would be gone is still in Redskins red. That would be QB Donovan McNabb. McNabb was benched towards the end of last season in favor of Rex Grossman. Said RB Clinton Portis, "I don't know the extent of Donovan's situation, but from what I could see and what I could tell, once you get into a position where you're clashing, it feels as if any mistake you make, you're gonna be pulled," Portis told SIRUS XM Radio. "It's kind of hard to play like that, and that's really how it was. I think with that Washington media being so critical of the team, it's hard to really have that team bond, because the media, shoot, they're picking it apart and tearing it apart and being so critical even when the good times come. I don't think Donovan was ready for that, even coming from Philly. I don't think he understood the position he was coming into. I think Donovan's got a lot left in the tank."

Draft picks was the other hot topic for the Redskins in the off season. With a total of twelve draft picks, the team selected six offensive players and six defensive players. In the first round, the team used their 16th overall draft selection on Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan whom teammates and coaches have nicknamed “Superman” because of his strength and all-out effort. Kerrigan led the FBS with 26 tackles for loss out of his 70 tackles, 12.5 sacks and five forced fumbles. Other draft picks included Miami WR Leonard Hankerson (3rd round, 79th overall), Nebraska RB Roy Helu (4th round, 105th overall), Nebraska S Dejon Gomes (5th round, 146th overall), Nebraska WR Niles Paul (5th round, 155th overall), Penn RB Evan Royster (6th round, 177th overall), SMU WR Aldrick Robinson (6th round, 13th overall selection), Boise DB Brandyn Thompson (7th round, 213th overall), Florida OT Maurice Hurt (7th round, 224th overall) and Florida State DE Markus White7th round, 253rd overall).

Outlook: Look for the Redskins to bounce back from a subpar season. While there are still questions at QB, the trading of Donovan McNabb and the signing of Rex Grossman are almost sure to happen. McNabb and Offensive Coordinator Kyle Shanahan have proven they can’t get along and we don’t see Head Coach and father Mike firing his son anytime soon. If the team can settle on a QB and have quality time in preparing then they should be stiff competition this season

Washington Archives

The Washington Redskins have enjoyed a great deal of success in their years in the National Football League. The team has won 5 Divisional championships, 5 NFC championships and 3 Super Bowls. The team also won two NFL championships before the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. The greatest Redskins coach of all time is hands down Joe Gibbs. Gibbs accumulated a 140-65 record over his 12 years with the Skins. In 1992 he retired due to health problems and no one would’ve ever thought he would return to the NFL to coach again. After the 2003 campaign the Redskins needed a change. Then head coach Steve Spurrier had run the franchise into the ground trying to incorporate his “Fun and Gun” offense into the NFL. Needless to say, it didn’t work over the two seasons he was leading the team, he only managed a 5-11 record, never won the NFC East or made the playoffs and gave a lot of people headaches in the Washington area. Owner Dan Snyder then fired the ol’ ball coach and brought back Joe Gibbs to breathe back the life into the franchise that was flowing while Gibbs his three Super Bowls back, in ’82, ’87 and ’91.

Since Dan Snyder first bought the team the Redskins have yet to have a boring off-season, and this past off-season would be no different. They traded for seasoned Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell to bring some stability and consistency under center for a third round pick. The team then turned around and pulled off the biggest trade in years and traded Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey and a second round pick for Denver running back Clinton Portis. The Redskins desperately needed a running back to inject some life into their running game and Portis will give them that and a great deal more. In free agency the ‘Skins picked up cornerback Shawn Springs, to fill Bailey’s spot, wide receiver James Thrash, and linebacker Marcus Washington to name a few.

In the draft, the Redskins new they would need to get a playmaker with the fifth pick in the draft. It came down to getting one of two Miami Hurricanes, safety Sean Taylor or tight end Kellen Winslow II. The team opted to go with hard-hitting free safety Sean Taylor. With the loss of Bailey the team felt it would need someone in the secondary that would strike fear into the heart of opponents like Bailey once did. The ‘Skins also strengthened their offensive line and picked up Utah State tight end Chris Cooley, and offensive tackles Mark Wilson and Jim Molinaro out of California and Notre Dame.

In 2003 the Redskins offense was just plain bad. They finished 22nd in rushing offense and 23rd in total offense. The team had very little balance and young quarterback Patrick Ramsey couldn’t stay on his feet because he wasn’t getting the play he should have out of his offensive line. Their lack of a premiere running back severely handicapped the Redskins running game that’s why coach Joe Gibbs went out and got a top five running back. He enjoys the running game and is not afraid to give it to a back 30 times in a game.
On the other side of the ball the Redskins proved to be just as inadequate last year. The team finished 23rd overall in team defense, although the defense did finish in a solid 13th against the pass. The defense is lead by multiple time Pro Bowl linebacker and ESPN Dream Job panelist LaVar Arrington who finished the 2003 season with 75 tackles six sacks and six forced fumbles.