Washington is going to be in a tough spot heading into the 2012 NFL season. \u00a0With the arrival of quarterback Robert Griffin optimism is higher than it has been in a while but this is still a last place team in the tough NFC East, and probably by a wide margin when you look at the competition. <\/p>\n
Washington Redskins
\n2011 Record: \u00a05-11
\n2011 ATS Record: \u00a06-9-1
\n2012 Futures:
\nSuper Bowl: \u00a0+6500
\nConference: \u00a0+3000
\nDivision: \u00a0+800
\nWin Total: \u00a06.5
\nWin Total: \u00a0Under<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\nWill RGIII be able to make some wow plays and perhaps steal a game or two, for sure, but in a division with three teams expected to challenge for the playoffs- including the defending Super Bowl Champs – \u00a0this team might actually take a step back record wise this year. \u00a0Can they really count on beating the Giants twice in a season again? \u00a0Unlikely.<\/p>\n
On offense Griffin should provide a spark but lets not forget he is still just a rookie quaterback, no matter how good he looked in the preseason. \u00a0Making matters more difficult \u00a0for his development is the fact that he may be surrounded by the worst collection of \u201cskill\u201d players in the league, due in part no doubt to the huge package of picks the Redskins gave up to get him. \u00a0Wide receiver Santana Moss has never really been an elite receiver to me and new addition Pierre Garcon is a nicer story than a player (harsh). \u00a0<\/p>\n
Tight end Fed Davis might be the best weapon Griffin has but as good as he is he is not in the elite class of TEs in the league right now. \u00a0Don\u2019t even get me started on the running back situation….Hightower, Helu, Royster etc. \u00a0Coach Shanahan is forgetting this team is not the Broncos of the late 90s.\u00a0[soliloquy id=”82219″]<\/p>\n
The only reason to be even a little bit concerned about Washington is because they are better on defense than most people think. \u00a0<\/p>\n
The combination of rush linebackers Ryan Kerrigan and Brian Orakpo spells danger for opposing QBs and they might not have even reached their full potential yet. \u00a0<\/p>\n
In the middle of the D is old reliable linebacker London Fletcher and safety Brandon Merriweather are as solid as can be and DeAngelo Hall hasn\u2019t met a pass he wouldn\u2019t try and pick, when he makes them they often go for huge plays. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0They might lack a little thunder at the back end with the departure of safety Laron Landry (crazy physique though) but his coverage inabilities were masked by his huge hits.<\/p>\n
You know the rookie QB is special and will probably steal a game some point this season but it is impossible to tell which one. \u00a0Just as likely he will take his lumps along with the rest of the team. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Truth is I don\u2019t see a lot of great situations where backing Washington will make sense but here is an interesting theory. \u00a0You might want to fade the Skins after games in which RGIII plays well. \u00a0<\/p>\n
I really think he is going to struggle with consistency and the step up in competition plus after Cam Newton\u2019s stellar performance as a rookie last year I think the league is more in tune with not letting these touted rookies beat them. \u00a0They should be ready for him…just a thought.<\/p>\n