In this day and age of fast food, one hour film processing and same day delivery, people want results on anything and everything sooner rather than later; winning sports franchises are no different.
Ever since the advent of free agency, the days of teams truly building through the draft have gotten further and further away. Few teams take the time to really develop talent anymore, opting instead to pay the price for the most talented free agents banking on the team winning one today rather than develop players and win three later.
Some teams have done well in enticing free agents and winning games; others have not been so successful. Dallas thought they were getting a deal when they signed Deion Sanders to a huge deal in the mid-90s with no success. Javon Walker was supposed to be helping the Raiders offense revive, yet he performed miserably.
For years, Redskins owner Daniel Snyder has tried to buy a championship worthy team with no real success. Getting Albert Haynesworth was suppose to be a boon for Washington’s defense, but has so far proven to be of little use (especially considering his $100 million price tag).
This coming season will be no different for the Redskins. A number of potentially key players have been brought into the team; if they play as well as they have throughout their respective careers the Redskins could be a force to be reckoned with in 2010. That is if and only if they are able to put the pieces together.
The puzzle master
Snyder is likely hoping that the problem has been not having the right person putting all the pieces together to craft a winning team. In Mike Shanahan he gets one of the most successful coaches in recent football history.
Shanahan’s best coaching job came in the late 1990s when he was able to lead the Denver Broncos to back to back Super Bowl wins (in 19976 and 1998). Over the course of both seasons (and the 1996 one) he led the team to an impressive 46-10 record including a 14-2 effort in 1998.
He took some cues from the way Bill Walsh did things such as scripting the first 15 plays of each game, but he tended to run a more run-oriented version of the West Coast Offense. For years he appeared to have a knack for picking out unknown running backs and turning them into household names. Using smaller offensive lines various rushers like Terrell Davis, Mike Anderson, Olandis Gary, Clinton Portis, Reuben Droughns, and Tatum Bell all had successful seasons before moving on to other teams.
Shanahan was faced with some criticism after both John Elway and Terrell Davis retired and the team failed to win in the playoffs. In the end, it resulted in him being fired after the 2008 season.
The 2010 Washington Redskins
With the collection of free agents in Washington it is clear that the Redskins are looking to Shanahan to work some of his magic with the backfield. This time he will not have to bank on uncovering a diamond in the rough because he has some of the most talented backs in the league (at least they have been at one time).
He will already be familiar with incumbent Clinton Portis. Former Kansas City Chief great Larry Johnson and former Pittsburgh Steeler Willie Parker will also look to contribute carrying the ball as well.
Much of the fate of the Redskins will end up falling on the capable hands of Donovan McNabb. No quarterback has as much big game experience as McNabb; he has spent more time in the playoffs than some quarterbacks do as professionals. He will have talented, fast receivers in the form of Santana Moss, Devin Thomas, Joey Galloway, and Malcolm Kelly to spread the ball around to as well as tight end Chris Cooley.
If these veterans can perform up to par, the Redskins may be the team to watch in the NFC East.
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