Coaches
Barely a week after the botched resignation of Ol’ Ball Coach Steve Spurrier, Snyder shocked everyone by luring Hall of Fame coach and returning hero Joe Gibbs out of retirement. Together with the highest paid and most experienced coaching staff in the NFL, Gibbs is now responsible for sorting through the wreckage of the Fun N' Gun and breeding success out of yet another off-season of upheaval. Once again, he will have old friends Joe Bugel, Jack Burns, Don Breaux and Rennie Simmons at his side orchestrating an offense that will revolve around a big-time running game and protecting the QB. Former Redskin Earnest Byner also returns to coach the running backs.
Given the unenviable task of turning around last years twenty fifth-ranked defense is former Buffalo Bills head coach Gregg Williams and a pair of former defensive coordinators, Greg Blache and Dale Lindsey. They will have to work around an average defensive line by bringing pressure from the linebackers and safeties and disguising their formations. However, given Williams track record of superlative defenses, the 2004 incarnation is likely to be much improved. If everything works according to plan, Joe Gibbs will be the best thing that has happened to the Redskins since Joe Gibbs.
Quarterbacks
With the addition of Clinton Portis this off-season, the Skins’ QB's primary mission is going to be to hand him the ball. Vying for that responsibility are last year’s starter, Patrick Ramsey, and one of the many high-priced off-season acquisitions, Mark Brunell. While few people doubt Ramsey’s potential, Brunell figures to be the favorite, as the veteran has the experience that Gibbs covets.
Brunell is 34, coming off of an injury, and lost his job as a starter to rookie Byron Leftwich last year, but he still has the talent and smarts to lead an NFL offense when healthy. Ramsey is also coming off an injury, but possesses a rifle arm and has impressed people around the league with his toughness and leadership in the huddle. Given his youth and intelligence, a year on the sideline where he will be at Gibbs’ side during the play-calling could serve him well. If Brunell goes down with an injury during the season, he will be more than capable of stepping in without disrupting the offense. Another starter from last year, Tim Hasselbeck should be the third QB, with Gibran Hamdan likely being offered an opportunity on the practice squad.
Running Backs
Another off-season move that surprised everyone was the deal that sent Pro Bowl CB Champ Bailey, widely regarded as one of the premier defensive backs in the NFL, and a second-round draft pick to the Denver Broncos for Pro Bowl RB Clinton Portis. Just 22, he already has back-to-back 1500 yd seasons and possesses a 5.5 ypc career average. Only 5-11, 205 pounds, he's not the biggest back and that played a part in him missing all or parts of several games last year. What he lacks in size, he makes up for in field vision, speed, and the ability to cutback into lanes and accelerate. The offense is going to be tailor-made to exploit all of his strengths, and he will have every opportunity to succeed.
Behind Portis, Ladell Betts, Chad Morton and Rock Cartright should be the primary backups. Betts has decent size and enough speed to be effective, but has not shown much since being a second round draft pick two years ago. Morton will likely see some time on the field in passing situations in addition to his special teams’ duties, while fan favorite Rock Cartright will factor in as the primary FB and perhaps as a short-yardage/goal-line back.
Wide Receivers
Wide receiver is perhaps the deepest position on the 2004 roster. Laveranues Coles will be the top target and is coming off a season in which he had 82 catches for 1204 yards and 6 TDs and made the Pro Bowl as an injury replacement. He is a tireless worker in the Gibbs mold, and his efforts do not go unnoticed by his teammates. Coles is an excellent route runner, has good hands, and has the speed to get by a lot of CBs. He should be most effective catching quick slants and turning them into big gains, but defenses will also have to respect his ability to go deep. While he continues to feel the lingering effects of the foot injury that plagued him last season, Coles looks poised for another big year.
Rod Gardner goes into training camp as the No. 2 WR, but he has played inconsistently throughout his career.
