REDSKINS TRAINING CAMP
End of a trend? With changes on both sides of the ball, Gibbs bids for winning season
BY PAUL WOODY
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Jul 31, 2005
As Joe Gibbs begins Year 2 of his second era as the coach of the Washington Redskins, the question of the day, week, month and season is, "How will things go?"
Will they be the same as last year's 6-10 disappointment?
Will the return of Jon Jansen at right tackle, the addition of Casey Rabach at center and the speed of Santana Moss and David Patten at wide receiver provide the boost the offense so desperately needs?
Will Gibbs resolutely stick to the offensive mind-set that served him so well from 1981 through 1992? Or is the addition of Bill Musgrave as quarterbacks coach, along with the implementation of the shotgun formation, signs that Gibbs is willing to change anything if it gives his team a greater chance of winning?
The search for answers to those and many other questions begins tomorrow when the Redskins hold their first preseason practice.
The offense will be under scrutiny this season. Last year, the Redskins averaged just 15 points per game. The defense finished third in the league, but it was not enough.
Patrick Ramsey will be at quarterback, and he should be far more comfortable in Gibbs' system. His play in the final seven games last year -- 62 percent completion rate, nine touchdown passes, eight interceptions and a 3-4 record -- should boost his confidence as well as Gibbs' confidence in the fourth-year veteran.
However, Gibbs selected Auburn quarterback Jason Campbell in the first round of this year's draft. The Redskins even traded next year's first-round pick to move into position to take Campbell.
That hardly can be considered a vote of confidence for Ramsey.
And while Ramsey clearly outplayed Mark Brunell (49.8 completion percentage) last season, Brunell's days are far from done in Washington.
"Mark Brunell is not through yet," Gibbs said at the end of last season. "We'll see. I'll stand on that one. I believe he'll fill a very important role here. I really do. We've got to wait on that one."
The Redskins have waited for quite some time for Sean Taylor to arrive. He skipped the team's "voluntary" workouts. Then, after he was charged with a felony for aggravated assault with a firearm and with a misdemeanor for simple battery in an incident in Miami, Gibbs excused him from the team's mandatory minicamp and all other offseason workouts.
Taylor, a free safety, is tremendously talented and makes the 10 players in front of him more effective.
But his behavior raises significant questions about his long-term value and contributions to the team.
"What we're trying to do is get Sean settled down and be a part of this team," Gibbs said. "Sometimes in life you have to deal with things when you don't want to."
The Redskins also have other attitude issues with which to be concerned.
LaVar Arrington missed most of last season with a knee injury. During the offseason, he expressed his frustration with his injury and the team.
The defense played well without Arrington last season, something he undoubtedly noticed. The coaches noticed it as well. Arrington has rare physical ability. He will need to use it to its maximum in order to please his coaches this season.
The offense could have as many as six new starters on opening day who were not on the field for the 2004 opener.
But history has shown the important thing is not who starts in the season opener, but who finishes in the season finale.
And the Redskins are hoping their ending is much happier this season than last.
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