When the Redskins hired Al Saunders last week, it was widely hailed as another excellent piece of work by Dan Snyder. Following on the retention of Assistant Head Coach (Defence) Greg Williams immediately after the playoffs, the general opinion was that Saunders, who had ran the most prolific offense in the NFL over the last three years in Kansas, would solve a Redskins offense that had struggled badly in the playoffs.
The only caveat, it seemed, came from Mike Shanahan who had mentioned to Sports Illustrated's Peter King that there were now an awful lot of coaches in Redskins Park and that it could be a case of too many chefs.
Well, that is a very valid opinion and one that I tend to agree with. For example, just what are Joe Bugel and Don Breaux going to do now that Saunders has come in and effectively taken their jobs? We've already seen Bill Musgrave resign from his position as Quarterbacks Coach to take a similar position with Atlanta. Was that a direct result of Saunders appointment?
I have another question though. One that does not seem to have been addressed in the various column inches that have followed Saunders' appointment. Is he really needed?
Yes, the Skins struggled terribly in the post-season, especially against Tampa. Yes, Clinton Portis has averaged only 4.1 yards per carry since he arrived in the capital after averaging 5.5 in Denver. Yes, time and time again the offense could not match the superb efforts of the defense. But, no, the problems did not stem from the offensive system in place. It had more to do with the personnel, or more specifically the lack thereof. And that is a problem that could be easily solved.
Let's look at the basic numbers this past year:
This season Portis ran for a franchise record 1,516yds and eleven touchdowns. He also had a franchise record eight games when he ran for 100yds or more. Wide receiver Santana Moss caught 84 balls for a record 1,483yds with ten catches worth forty yards or more. Chris Cooley, a second year tight end/H Back remember, had 71 catches for over 700 yards. Even Mark Brunell, almost run out of town last year, returned as starter and threw a career high twenty-three touchdowns against ten interceptions and probably shoud have gone to the Pro Bowl.
Not that bad for a team that apparently so struggled with the ball.
The problem for Washington, and what killed them in the post-season, was the lack of a second wide receiver, a battered running back, an injured quarterback, and a shattered offensive line. Not the run heavy offensive system.
David Patten, who was signed as a possesion wideout from New England, was put on Injured Reserve after nine games but up to then had not been a factor with only twenty-two catches for 217 yards. Come free agency in March it is widely expected that the 'Skins will go after either Pittsburgh's Antwaan Randle-El or Indy's Reggie Wayne. If they get either of these two, then you can expect that second receiver problem to be solved. Even Terrell Owens, for all his disruptive influence off the pitch, is a heck of a player and may come under consideration. With any of these three you can expect Joe Bugel's job would be a lot easier.
Clinton Portis hardly carried in Tampa or Seattle due to sore shoulders. This was wear and tear after a long season. Portis is a terrific player, a tough player. He loves nothing better than going up the middle where only the crazy or foolish dare go. He also blocks like a full back. His body though cannot take the battering it takes. There is just not enough of him. He's the same height as Jerome Bettis but some four stone lighter. You could have expected his workload to be lightened next year as Ladell Betts and Rock Cartwright get more action. The plays Coach Gibbs called weren't at fault in the playoffs, he just didn't have his star half back available to him.
Mark Brunell was excellent all season but his accuracy collapsed after straining his knee against the Giants in week sixteen. He was clearly unfit in the games that followed but Gibbs stuck him in there even after Patrick Ramsey had come in and finished off the Giants and generally played well. Once again, the system didn't cause Brunell's late season struggles; it was injury.
The offensive line was in trouble once Randy Thomas went down against Dallas with a broken leg and they struggled thereafter but once again it wasn't the system that wore down the O line.
All in all the Redskins had a fine season. After going 6-10 last year did anybody honestly think they would come within an ace of making it to the Championship game? Does anybody really feel the offense was that bad? So bad in fact, that Joe Bugel had to have his job essentially taken off him and for Joe Gibbs, one of the great offensive minds of all time, to cede control of an offense he cherishes?
One more question. What does Gregg Williams make of all this? He has been earmarked as the heir apparent to Gibbs since he joined two years ago. He could have had his choice of head coaching jobs this off season after helping create one of the most feared defensive units in the league. Only when Snyder broke the bank did he agree to stay. Now, a fortnight after he signed on the dotted line, he sees a possible contender walk through the door to great fanfare. Did he know Saunders was coming when he signed?
Depending on who you are Dan Snyder is a great owner and Joe Gibbs is undoubtedly a great coach. I just hope he knows exactly what he's doing here. Al Saunders, offensive guru that he is, may just be more trouble that he's worth.
