FanHouse Marcus Washington

NFL Offseason Roadmap is a series focused on the needs of NFL teams as they begin the offseason.

The Washington Redskins just completed one of the most emotional seasons in their 75-year history. 2007 will always be remembered. Life, as they say, does go on ... so looking to 2008 is imperative.

1. Head Coach – Duh. Once Joe Gibbs retired, it has thrown up in the air what this team will look like in 2008. Gibbs wanted things one way -- his replacement may want them totally different. If Gregg Williams gets the gig, you'd expect the team to stay on the same track that Gibbs put them on. If they go outside the organization, who knows?

Also, if it is Williams then the Redskins need to find out a new defensive coordinator. Oh, and Al Saunders (if he sticks) won't have Gibbs to deal with when calling the game.

2. Salary Cap -- As we all know, the Redskins mess with the cap as much as any team. That being said, it is rumored that Washington is waaaay over the salary cap and will need to shave off the payroll. That means (a) cutting players and (b) reworking deals. Good thing Daniel Snyder is wealthy and likes to rework the deals. Guys like Clinton Portis, Chris Samuels, Jon Jansen and Marcus Washington may be willing to do this. Guys like Brandon Lloyd and Mark Brunell may be cut. Obviously, where these cuts come from will help determine what holes need to be addressed.

"Man, I'd love to be back here," Portis said. "I love my teammates and love the organization, but that's on them. I feel like I'll be here, but if it don't work out you can't hold your head down about it. I gave and left everything I had on the field, and it's up to them to make that decision. It's on them. I don't know what they're going to do, and right now I'm under contract with the Washington Redskins for the next four years. That's where I plan to be."

Rocky could not be doing much more than he is, and continues to make strides in coverage as well. He is progressing so well that had Marcus's injury been long-term, there is a good chance he would have switched to the strong side because he has the closest ability and skillset to Marcus. Very shrewd by the Skins not to deal him for Lance Briggs, 'cause he's already better than Briggs against the run and will probably be better against the pass, too, by the middle of the season.

Well, Clinton Portis is back, but Shawn Springs is going to miss another game this weekend after straining his groin when he tried practicing Wednesday afternoon. Springs had surgery Aug. 14 to repair an abdominal muscle that had torn from the pelvic bone. The injury Wednesday did not aggravate that injury, but how much better is it to have two injuries?

Through the first two games so far, the Redskins' defense allowed two aging QBs to shine, Mark Brunell not one of them. Brad Johnson consistently picked apart the secondary, specifically picking on Carlos Rogers, making sure no one in Minnesota is missing Daunte Culpepper (actually, Culpepper is doing that himself). Then just when Tony Romo was gearing up to be the next Cowboys QB, Drew Bledsoe had a consistent game, stayed off his back and threw his way to a victory at the expense of the Redskins' secondary. And that was without an effective T.O.

Without Springs, the corners will be manned by Carlos Rogers, Kenny Wright and Mike Rumph. Adam Archuleta is going to have to figure out how to play pass defense, Marcus Washington is going to have to keep pace covering TEs and the defensive line is going to have to put some heat on David Carr.

Springs may return week four, but there are no guarantees even that will happen. An MRI revealed an abductor sprain, ummm, whatever that means. All I know is they said something about a groin problem. That can't be good.

Two weeks into the season and already it feels like the playoffs. Starting the year off 0-2 with a division lose to the Cowboys would make a playoff berth an uphill battle the Redskins don't want to find themselves in.

After last week's performance, many experts believe the Cowboys will win. Las Vegas has the Cowboys favored by six points considering they're playing at home. Clinton Portis and Joe Gibbs see completely opposite at the severity of his ability to play. Carlos Rogers showed nothing last week to instill any confidence that he can handle T.O.

But anyone who thinks the Cowboys are the stronger team are seriously disillusioned. The amount of hatin' going on against the Redskins is just unbelievable sometimes. People say Redskins fans are in denial, but the anti-Redskins haters are even worse.