A good offseason for the Skins. No, really! They won't be the Colts, but they'll improve - they'll take their lumps, they'll grow as a team (and maybe they'll have all their picks next draft). Well done, Mr Snyder.

I'm cautiously optimistic that the Redskins have learned from their disastrous mistakes of past offseasons and the minor tweaking this offseason will give much better results. It's easy to state that a team that went 5-11 last year "has a long ways to go" but we've seen time and again teams make big jumps from one season to the next. The difference between 5-11 and 11-5 in many cases isn't that much. With a few breaks, who knows. A playoff season certainly isn't out of the realm of possibility. But another ugly year could bring about major changes.

In a half of boredom during the NBA Eastern Conference finals I picked every NFL game and had the Redskins at 9-7. What looks like an easy schedule to start out gets harder with a tough November. I think the Redskins step up in the East while Philadelphia and the New York take steps backwards. I especially like the additions in the defensive backfield. Can the offensive line hold it together? Good luck to them (except in week 8).

The Skins also were smart in addressing depth in the offensive line by including some veterans with playing experience.

The defense will return to form following last year's disaster and the offense will be more productive too. There's more depth all around this year, so even with a few injuries the team will fair well. It should be a tight race in the NFC East.

I predict this to be Gibbs last year in the NFL, and the circus that is the Redskins front office to back in full session next year. As to the team, it will be 8-8 winning a couple it shouldn't have, and losing a couple it should have won. We drop both to Dallas this year too.

I think the comment Mark made about the QB position is key. If Campbell proves to be yet another QB groomed brilliantly by Joe Gibbs then the Redskins will likely win more games they aren't supposed to than lose games they are supposed to win. The line is not weakened significantly by Dockery's loss. He wasn't even their best guard.

His comment about Joe Gibbs handing over the reigns to Saunders unnecessarily is also key. Except it was necessary. The results can be seen in the relatively quite and less controversial Snyder-esque off season. Gibbs is now the president full-time taking charge of keeping the owner reigned in, as well as his O-coach and D-coach moving forward and making progress. He will also be on top of player issues and problems.
As we have seen this off season.

The offense will be markedly improved if Campbell proves to be an up and coming McNabb. The defense will improve in the pass rush department because coverage schemes will be better hidden and QBs will hold the ball longer. Against the rush there should be improvement as the linebackers and 2 new tackles get better. But age at defensive end will likely create problems late in the season against the run. Unless Williams converts to a 3-4-4. They have a plethora of good linebackers now.

Expect the special teams to improve both in the kicking game and tackling. Tackling is where the upgrades at linebacker and safety will show. The Redskins are the only team in the NFL to have had a kicker with the MVP award. Joe Gibbs knows how important special teams play is.

In the east I expect 2 victories over Dallas. A split with Philadelphia. And possibly 2 over the Giants. That should be enough to make the playoffs.

two things to remember, this team is one year removed from a 10-6 season, with a healthy offseason and another year to learn the offense, we'll be just fine! two early keys i've noticed already, jason campbell is looking sharp and has really grasped the playbook, and shawn springs has come in, in the best shape since he
's been here (built like a house) if both are healthy and produce lookout!!! one sad note, rocky macintosh is struggling to pick up coach williams' schemes.

You all have been drinking the cool-aid. As a
life-long skins fans it pains me to believe that they will be no better than 6-10 this season.
I am not convinced that they will be able to stop the run or generate a pass rush without blitzing and dogging. Where is the pass rush going to be coming from? I forgot Andre Carter hehehe. They will be picked apart by a good QB when they do blitz. They are so predictable on offense 95% of the time on second down they run the ball regardless of distance. They will loose one game on punting and another two on missed field goals. This team will not be successful until the narcissistic twit hires a GM.
You have seen how fast the talent level drops off when the second and 3rd string players come in during pre-season and regular season. This is a clear sign that without a bona fide GM, a team can not compete.

Are you on the Redskins payroll Maske? As my good friend Feinstein said on TV a few weeks ago, the Redskins wanted to spend but had no cap room and were FORCED to sit Free Agency out. Now you want to give them credit?! Don't you understand the perameters and intricacies of free agency? The Redskins will be watching us in the playoffs again and will foolishly buy more scrubs next offseason

Gibbs is still a far better coach than Billick. And he has the record and rings to prove it. The Ravens have the defense but I wouldn't expect much offensively from them. On the other hand the Redskins could have a breakout year offensively. The big question is how much improvement will the defense see?

One issue / problem that I think Maske and other fail to address (yet is a constant topic in JLa's blog) is Gibb's status with the team. It has to affect the players a great deal more than most might contend. If I am Snyder the best way to help this team on his part would be to convince Gibbs to sign up for another 5 as president ... and wrangle another year or 2 at coach.

If Snyder really wants a superbowl this is key.

You don't pay attention do you periculum? After I fired Fassel we had the 10th best O in the league and went 9-1. That was with a washed up RB and an injured LT. Now that McNair is here for the entire offseason and we have a decent RB you will see a dynamic offense.And don't forget Spiderman Demetrius Williams who along with M Clayton is a star in the making at WR.

A dynamic offense?? Under McNair???? Hahhahahaahaahahahaha!!

The Skins need to sign Tank Johnson. Now.

"the brain" thinks he's getting a dynamic offense out of a 34 year old qb.

remind him how that worked with brunell

It's silly to say "the eagles and giants will take a step backwards". The Giants have one big strike against them, they lost Tiki, probably the best back in the NFC east.

The Eagles improve at QB with McNabb, and with Spikes at Linebacker they improve. They've got some places they're hurting, but who doesn't in this league? They've won the east last 5 of 6 years, and no reason they won't next year.

The Cowboys will be wash. Romo is overrated, and with a new head coach, that's got to cost them a year. Probably 2nd in the division.

The Redskins? They had a bad defense last year. I mean, just awful. And they did little to address that. The offense looks shaky, and is dependent on a QB with less than 1 year of NFL experience. I think Portis is over. This team will struggle to get to 7-9. Gibbs will be back racing cars in a few months.

the eagles have had there run and actually weakend the nfc east by not producing super bowl ring they are on the way down the giants are going nowhere with eli at the helm and couglin who cant when the big one the cowboys will be tough because they do have a good young team and will be awild card team will strugle against the redskins because first year coach and medleing jerry jones the redskins will rebound and win the nfc east because of the talent and also because we have a owner who is not afraid to spend abuck most importantly we have the smartest head coach and the best prepared coaching staff nfc east dont count the skins out we do have 3 sb rings and 5 appeartances

There is no way to tell, I am hyped, but every offseason I am, If Cambell is the real deal, and Somehow we can put pressure on the QB, we could be this years Bears, Thoses are big buts and I dont think any one can mess with the Pats or Colts Peace

As a longtime fan, now lost in the morass of NY media,I truly hope Redskins will do better than just okay this season. It's bad enough this market only shows a Redskin highlight as the team getting whooped, but its not much better on the NFL network.We need R-E-S-P-E-C-T. We need a great season.Outside of DC, I don't even see psa's featuring Redskins. Now while it looks like offensively we made be set, I'm deeply curious why we hav't moved to strengthen our D-line.I've real concern there because if they can't contain the run on 1st n 2nd downs we'll be forced to bring SS up to help.[A good stradegist will keep you guessing-so while Coach Gibbs wants to return to thr run format, I sure hopes he keeps def coordinators guessing by also passing on 1st n 2nd downs too]If I were the opposing coach, I'd then just keep throwing long.If the line can't stop 4-6yd runs, nor sack, not just pressure, the QB, then our season may not be much better than last. I'm hoping for better but I have serious reservations. I'd Love to be able to laugh in the faces of NY. Let's Hope.

how many wins you guys think the skins will win this year