Long season ahead for Washington Redskins fans

For Washington Redskin fans everywhere the 2006 Season has been a monumental disappointment. Sure there have been a few bright spots like the amazing overtime win at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars and stellar Defensive play at the Houston Texans. Preseason expectations of a Playoff caliber team however, have been silenced by terrible play on both sides of the ball. In 2005 the Redskins had one of the top Defensive units in the league; today they rank 21st overall. The off-season release of Lavar Arrington and signing of Warrick Holdman in has proven to be fruitless as Holdman has yet to make an impact and the loss of a Lavar Arrington has impacted the team well beyond the field. Where do the Redskins stack up in the League this year?

Games played: 6
Yards allowed per game: 332
Yards allowed per play: 5.3
Third down conversions allowed: 39% 33 of 84
Fourth down conversions allowed: 100% 4 of 4
Forced Fumbles: 3
Interceptions: 2
Penalties/YDS: 42/369

Offensively the team has been no different. Veteran QB Mark Brunell is consistently horrible. When given the opportunity Brunell struggles to throw the ball more than 20 yards down the field and accuracy is nowhere to be found. The signing of Al Saunders during the off season provided hope to fans anemic offensive play in 2006 would be a thing of the past, through six games we have yet to see any of the Saunders magic. Play calling is much the same, tackle left then tackle right. Mix in a hitch, swing or dink and dunk and that’s all you get. Chris Cooley is nowhere to be found? Clinton Portis, back from injury and healthy had 15 touches in the game against the Tennessee Titans who entered ranked last against the run, giving up more than 170 yards per game. Santana Moss until the Jacksonville Jaguars game had been missing in action, Antwaan Randle El has not yet made his impact and many fans forgot about the Free Agent signing of Brandon Lloyd until the Tennessee Titans game. Take a look at the Redskins offensively this year.

Games played: 6
Yards per game: 326
Yards per play: 5.6
First downs per game: 17.7
Third down conversions: 30/77 39%
Fourth down conversions: 0/2 0%
Penalties/YDS: 45/419
Passing YDS/attempt: 6.9

It’s obvious there are major problems in Washington. Head Coach Joe Gibbs plays the supportive “father” better than anyone in the league. NFL players are paid to produce and there is not much production occurring with the Washington Redskins. The obvious lack of Veteran leadership is cause for concern. Chris Samuels, John Jansen, Randy Thomas and even Mark Brunell have not stepped up and shouldered the responsibility required. It seems as though the media exposes us only to the players “unaffected” by losses, we don’t see Rock Cartwright or James Thrash talking about holding players responsible. Now is a time for change in Washington. The future of the Redskins is not Mark Brunell and until the organization makes a change in leadership at the QB fans will continue to be done a horrible disservice. Every week 80,000 plus fans pack FedEx to support the Washington Redskins, paying astronomical ticket prices, unaffordable to many, purchased to support the team nonetheless. At what point does the organization, from the top, starting with Daniel Snyder make the decision to affect change for the team and fans benefit? Redskin fans are in for a long, emotional season of adulation and disappointment until change is made.