Can Mike Shanahan Save the Washington Redskins?

     Never has the adage been more poignant that "money can't buy you love" than with the Washington Redskins.  Though wealthy and well connected, the Redskins are neither respected nor powerful.  ESPN jokes that the owner thinks he is assembling a fantasy football team, and it's almost so true as not to be funny.

     Can Mike Shanahan save the Washington Redskins?  Short answer: "yes" with an if; long answer "no" with a but.  It won't be hard to improve on last season's dismal 4-12 record.  The formula seems so simple.  In a division with two teams who live and die by airing out the ball (Cowboys and Eagles) Mike Shanahan's coaching style seems a perfect countermeasure.  Running the ball will keep time of possession away from the big armed quarterbacks.  Shanahan has also been promoted to Vice President of Operations, which gives him control of personnel.  If he can assemble a good defense - not Albert Haynesworth, DeAngelo Hall, and nine guys who don't play as a unit- then he can force the turnovers necessary for clock domination to create wins.

    In the last five years Washington's best record has been a 10-6 finish in 2005.  The Redskins shouldn't hope to finish any higher.  They aren't Superbowl material because they can't build up the confidence to go on a "hot streak" and their wins seem coincidental at best.  They have serious issues at quarterback.  The best running teams in the league right now are going to a tandem back system and Clinton Portis simply isn't explosive enough to build a running team around.  The defense collapsed in game after game this year and the secondary fell apart in a big way.  These changes will take time to correct, and I'm talking years, not months.

     That said, Washington's best chance for a playoff berth is this year.  The newness of the superstar coach may elevate the players to play beyond themselves and create a little swagger.  Dallas, Philadelphia, and the Giants are not infallible teams and a few strong defensive plays early in the games could certainly allow Washington to walk away with several wins.

    I hope they capitalize on the opportunity to buoy themselves this year.  For in the end this is still Washington and the emperor is wearing no clothes.