Courtesy Washingtonpost.com

Analysing the Washington Redskins

If you're an astute NFL Football fan, but you don't root for the Washington Redskins, there's a good chance you didn't know, prior to reading this article, who Jason Campbell is.

Don't feel bad. Redskins fans don't know their starting quarterback all that well, either, which could prove to be a monumental problem in 2007.

Campbell enters the season with just seven NFL games on his professional playing resume. Campbell was very average in those games, completing just 53 percent of his passes, although he did throw 10 touchdowns.

Washington does still have veteran Mark Brunell, but the coaches are currently committed to the 25-year-old Campbell.

So, if Washington is to improve on its 5-11 2006 record, it will likely pin its hopes on the starting backfield of Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts.

Portis, who has over 6,400 yards and 50 TDs in only five NFL seasons played in just eight games in 2006. Betts filled in beautifully, toting the football 245 times for 1,154 yards. Betts also caught 53 passes for 445 yards.

This season, the Redskins have either one of the best backfields in the NFL or they have a running back controversy, if Portis doesn't want to share the limelight with Betts. Portis has always been the feature back. Either way, Washington figures to be a pound-the-football team.

Washington's true dilemma is on defense. The Redskins were 12th in the NFC in scoring defense and recorded only 18 quarterback sacks. Unfortunately, Washington was unable to get much help in the draft, as it possessed just one selection in the first four rounds.

First-round pick LeRon Landry, a hard-hitting safety from LSU should provide an instant impact, but one man does not a defense make.

The Redskins' best chance to improve at all in the very tough NFC East is to hold the football for 35 to 40 minutes per game, and keep the scores in the low 20s.

If Washington can't do this, another five-win season may be on the horizon.