The 2013 Redskins in Review, Part 2: Another 18 Million Reasons Next Year Ought To Be Better...I Hope

If we are going to go down the list of what went wrong with the Redskins this season, you have to follow-up a discussion of RG3 with one about the rest of the roster…this dreadful, no-talent roster. It’s still baffling to me that many people – knowledgeable intelligent people who cover sports for a living – thought this team would be better than the 2012 version. The reasons for this predicted improvement included Griffin being better and having a better grip of the offense in year 2 and having continuity after returning something like 21 of 22 starters off of a playoff roster. Well, we already talked about Griffin’s issues coming back from injury, so it goes without saying that those types of expectations for him were absurd.

While this is a quarterback’s league, and the Redskins hope that Griffin is their signal caller for the next 10 years, the bigger issue may have been that 2nd point though. This is a franchise that incurred salary cap penalties in back-to-back years of $18 million per year. They didn’t return 21 of 22 starters because they wanted to…they did because they couldn’t afford to sign anybody better than what they already had. Last season, they won 10 games because their quarterback had one of the great rookie seasons of all time, they played a creampuff last place schedule, and they got hot at the right time. This was the definition of lightning in a bottle, not a sustained formula for success.

During a late season loss to the Eagles, the Fox broadcast showed a graphic of the impact players on the Eagles’ roster whose 2013 salaries totaled $18 million…now, a bunch of those guys were still on their relatively cheap rookie contracts, but the list was between 6-8 players deep, and it was staggering. $18 million is a lot of money. That could be a couple superstar players or a handful of solid starting level players. It’s nothing to sneeze at. $18 million is the difference between a starting NFL defensive backfield and a group of backups. It’s the difference between a professional right tackle and left guard and a couple guys who might not be in the league next season. It’s the difference between a competent and reliable 2nd option at wide receiver and the hodge-podge group the Redskins trotted out there this past season. And it's the difference between a team that has good depth for when injuries occur and to play on special teams and having possibly the worst special teams units of all time.

Hopelessly flailing at opposing punt returners was a common move for Redskins' special teamers this season.

But the Redskins’ problem is going to be that even with that added cap space back, they may simply still have too many holes to fill. London Fletcher retired, and salary cap dead weight Josh’s (Morgan and Wilson) come off the books. But Washington will have important decisions to make on guys like Brian Orakpo and Santana Moss, who could both hit free agency. Moss had some great receiving years early on in his career in Washington, and he could still be useful as a slot receiver on 3rd downs, but he’s no longer $4 million a year useful. Orakpo has shown flashes as an edge rusher, but his production to this point in his career probably doesn’t match up with the type of payday he wants this offseason. You get the feeling that he’s probably going to command that type of money from someone…with all their other needs though, I’m just not sure it should be the Redskins.

Aside from that, there are always roster moves that are made when a new coach comes to town just to bring in people that will fit his system, so cuts and signings along those lines are to be expected. The Redskins also have decisions to make on cheaper free agents such as Reed Doughty, Perry Riley, and DeAngelo Hall. All are very, very expendable in my book, but letting them walk just means there will be more positions where replacements will be needed. After all that, that $18 million in salary cap room could go quickly. And with the lack of a 1st round pick this year, cheap starting level talent will be hard to come by.

If God (and Bruce Allen) have any sympathy for Redskins' fans at all, they will at least let one of the most hateable Skins of my memory walk this offseason.

If I were GM Bruce Allen, I would probably focus on a right tackle (to help keep RG3 off his back), a number 2 receiver (even though I think Pierre Garcon is more likely a number 2 receiver than a number 1 on a good offense), an inside linebacker to replace Fletcher, and at least 2 starting defensive backs…Brandon Meriweather has a player option for a couple more seasons, and they just used a 2nd round pick on David Amerson, but if you could somehow wave a magic wand, ax everybody, and get an entirely new starting defensive backfield, I would do it. Even after that, I wouldn’t mind an upgrade at guard and on the defensive line, but all of that might be too much to ask. After all, we’re taking $18 million, not $80 million.