It appears Snyder has learned his lesson and has turned the personnel decisions over to new head coach Marty Schottenheimer. And if their were any doubts about Schottenheimer's authority, they were quickly dispelled when he drafted wide receiver Rod Gardner over Snyder's favorite, Santana Moss. He also reworked the roster by cutting former starters Dana Stubblefield, Tre Johnson, Keith Sims, and Mark Carrier. He also released fullback Larry Centers, allowed quarterback Brad Johnson to head to Tampa Bay, and was more than happy to see Deion Sanders retire from the game.

The quarterback position is the biggest question mark going into the season, but may not be a problem if quarterback Jeff George keeps his head screwed on straight this year. George has had problems with his shoulder in the preseason, and if he gets injured or has some other sort of breakdown, the much-traveled Tony Banks will be called on. Not a very pleasant thought for Redskins' fans. Washington also has rookie Sage Rosenfels waiting in the wings, but he is far from being ready to start.

The Redskins are solid at running back with Stephen Davis, who has rushed for more than 2700 yards and scored 28 touchdowns over the last two seasons. The rookie Gardner will join veteran receiver Michael Westbrook, and should be a solid addition with his size and athleticism. Tight end Stephen Alexander is coming off a Pro-Bowl year, and should be even more effective in Schottenheimer's short passing attack.

The Redskin's defense should be above average this season, and rookie cornerback Fred Smoot may have been the steal of the draft. He had been projected as a first-round pick by many analysts, but slipped when questions were raised about his character. He will combine with Champ Bailey to give the Redskins one of the best pair of corners in the league.

About the only weakness on the defense is at safety. Strong safety Sam Shade has struggled against the pass at times, and free safety David Terrell is inexperienced and hasn't been particularly impressive in the preseason.

Overview

The Redskins are not a team without talent, and could contend for a playoff spot if things go well for them. The key will be for George to stay healthy and play well. He also must learn to play within the new short-passing system that Schottenheimer has installed.

With the pressure of high expectations off their backs, the Redskins may be in line for a good season, but I don't think they are ready to compete with the Eagles and Giants for the division title. Look for them to finish somewhere in the middle of the NFC East this year!