WASHINGTON REDSKINS

2012 Odds:
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Odds to Win NFC East: 7/1
Odds to Win NFC Championship: 40/1
Odds to Win Super Bowl XLVII: 80/1
Regular Season Wins Over/Under: 6

2012 Preview:
Offense:
The Redskins had to go away from the running game because they fell behind early and often last year, but their preference is to rely on their vaunted zone-blocking scheme. They generally settle on one feature back at the beginning of each game, but there’s no guarantee who it will be week-to-week. Roy Helu enters the year as the heavy favorite for carries, followed by Tim Hightower and Evan Royster. All three are capable of playing three downs. Royster might be an option in the red zone later in the year, but at this point Helu and Hightower are the backs who have goal line experience.

Robert Griffin III is an excellent fit in the passing game of head coach Mike and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. They want their quarterbacks to move around and throw on the run, and Griffin can do exactly that. Washington has shuffled its receiving corps. Santana Moss has a chance to be the No. 1 receiver by design, and he will move to the slot when they go three-wide. Pierre Garcon will stretch the field (Griffin threw a lot of deep balls at Baylor) with Leonard Hankerson a deep threat on the opposite side. Josh Morgan is likely the odd man out, especially since the Redskins will play a lot of two-TE sets. Because TE Fred Davis runs more WR routes, Helu could end up being Griffin’s safety valve. The Shanahans love to put their quarterback on the move near the goal line too, and Griffin will have the option of a short pass or trying to punch it in himself.

Defense:
This will be a new-look defense with safeties LaRon Landry and O.J. Atogwe replaced by free agents Madieu Williams and Tanard Jackson. Cedric Griffin also improves the DB unit. Ryan Kerrigan and Brian Orakpo are skilled pass rushers, but the Redskins face a tough schedule this season. Meanwhile, any thoughts last year that London Fletcher may be slowing down were erased by a big finish, in which he racked up 86 total tackles over the last seven games. Fletcher’s heir apparent, perhaps as early as 2013, appears to be Perry Riley, who was great last season after earning a starting spot (63 total tackles over eight starts). One of two significant returnees to the secondary is DeJon Gomes, who proved to be a capable tackler with 28 total tackles in his five starts. He has the ability to play strong safety as well as nickel corner. Cornerback DeAngelo Hall, meanwhile, is so overaggressive that opposing quarterbacks can’t resist throwing at him.

Key Offseason Moves:
ADDITIONS
WR Pierre Garcon (from Colts)
WR Josh Morgan (from 49ers)
WR Dezmon Briscoe (from Buccaneers)
T James Lee (from Buccaneers)
T Tony Moll (from Chargers)
T Jordan Black (did not play in 2011)
LB Bryan Kehl (from Rams)
CB Cedric Griffin (from Vikings)
S Brandon Meriweather (from Bears)
S Madieu Williams (from 49ers)
S Tanard Jackson (from Buccaneers)
PK Neil Rackers (from Texans)

SUBTRACTIONS
QB John Beck (Texans)
FB Mike Sellers (retired)
WR Jabar Gaffney (Patriots)
WR Donte’ Stallworth (Patriots)
T Sean Locklear (Giants)
LB Rocky McIntosh (Rams)
LB Keyaron Fox (Texans)
S LaRon Landry (Jets)
S O.J. Atogwe (Eagles)

2012 Schedule:
2012 Schedule Strength: 21.31 (3rd toughest in NFL)
Week 1 - at New Orleans
Week 2 - at St. Louis
Week 3 - Cincinnati
Week 4 - at Tampa Bay
Week 5 - Atlanta
Week 6 - Minnesota
Week 7 - at New York Giants
Week 8 - at Pittsburgh
Week 9 - Carolina
Week 10 - BYE WEEK
Week 11 - Philadelphia
Week 12 - at Dallas
Week 13 - New York Giants
Week 14 - Baltimore
Week 15 - at Cleveland
Week 16 - at Philadelphia
Week 17 - Dallas

StatFox Take: There doesn’t appear to be more than a handful of games on this schedule that the Redskins will be favored to win. They have three winnable road contests against the Rams, Buccaneers and Browns, but a Week 6 matchup with the Vikings should mark the only time that Washington will not be a home underdog. If this club can match its five-win average season since 2009, that will be a big achievement for rookie QB Robert Griffin III and this struggling franchise. But the more likely scenario playing within arguably the toughest division in football is another double-digit loss campaign.
Prediction: UNDER 6 wins (+130)

All NFL Previews

AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns
Pittsburgh Steelers

AFC South
Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars
Tennessee Titans

AFC West
Denver Broncos
Kansas City Chiefs
Oakland Raiders
San Diego Chargers

NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles
Washington Redskins

NFC North
Chicago Bears - Tuesday, August 21
Detroit Lions - Wednesday, August 22
Green Bay Packers - Thursday, August 23
Minnesota Vikings - Friday, August 24

NFC South
Atlanta Falcons - Saturday, August 25
Carolina Panthers - Sunday, August 26
New Orleans Saints - Monday, August 27
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Tuesday, August 28

NFC West
Arizona Cardinals - Wednesday, August 29
San Francisco 49ers - Thursday, August 30
Seattle Seahawks - Friday, August 31
St. Louis Rams - Saturday, September 1