Redskins needs: Money doesn't buy you everything

Nobody makes bigger plays than the Washington Redskins, except they do it in March when they outbid the competition for expensive free agents. This year was no different with the Redskins signing Albert Haynesworth and Derrick Dockery and re-signing DeAngelo Hall for mega-millions, and maybe those additions make them better.

Dan Snyder and Jim Zorn were happy for about half of '08. (Getty Images)

Jim Zorn better hope so. The Redskins head coach is in the line of fire after a last-place finish a year ago. So he didn't have a losing year in his debut; the team's 8-8 record wasn't enough to climb over the Giants, Philadelphia and Dallas, and an encore performance will only test owner Dan Snyder's trigger finger. First in war, first in peace and last in the NFC East won't cut it with Snyder.

So the heat is on Zorn and a club that limped to the finish after a 6-2 start. Washington should be better defensively, but it's not defense that is the problem; it's an offense that failed to score more than 13 points in six of its final eight starts and ranked 30th overall the last 10. If you're looking for explanations for the team's second-half swoon you start there.

And then you keep going to quarterback, where Jason Campbell better do something and fast. This is the season he must prove he belongs. Otherwise, he and Zorn can work on sideline patterns at another address.

Quarterback: Campbell is in his fifth season, and it's time he makes a leap forward. He looked good the first half of last season but positively ordinary down the stretch -- with five touchdowns and six interceptions his final eight games. Contrast that to the first half of the season when he had no interceptions. Todd Collins is solid as the backup.

Running back: Clinton Portis is another guy who fell apart the second half of the season. There wasn't a better back ... and maybe a better player ... the first half when Portis produced five 100-yard rushing performances and seven TDs. Then he hit the wall, with one 100-yard game and two TDs the last eight games. That can't happen again. With Ladell Betts and Rock Cartwright as backups, the Redskins are in good shape.

Receivers: Santana Moss fell apart down the stretch too, and do you see a trend here? Moss is productive, but he needs help. And he doesn't have enough here. Antwaan Randle-Eli is an adequate second choice, but then the bottom falls out. This is why the Redskins spent second-round picks a year ago on Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly. It's time they make something happen.

Tight end: Chris Cooley led the team in catches with a career-best 83 but scored only once. Nevertheless, he's still Campbell's most reliable receiver, and, with former Southern California star Fred Davis, comprises a dangerous set of receivers. Davis was a nonfactor last season, but that should change with another season of experience.

Offensive line: This group is older and not much better than a year ago. Hopes are high for Dockery at left guard, but talk to anyone from Buffalo: He was horrible there. Chris Samuels is rock solid, but Jon Jansen has just about run out of gas at right tackle. Look for him to compete with Stephon Heyer for the job. Heyer was the starter out of training camp but yielded to Jansen when sidelined by a shoulder injury.

Defensive line: Washington surprised everyone by releasing Jason Taylor when he wouldn't agree to a workout clause in his contract. Now the rush is on to find a replacement. Demetric Evans is gone, which might leave the position to Phillip Daniels ... except he not only is coming off a serious knee injury, he's an unrestricted free agent. The Redskins must improve a pass rush that produced just 19 sacks, but the inside pressure will improve with the addition of Haynesworth.

Linebackers: The team's two top tacklers were London Fletcher and Rocky McIntosh which means that, other than Fletcher's age (he's 34), there is not much concern there. But there should be at strong-side linebacker, where H.B. Blades wasn't much of a playmaker last season. There's a feeling he might be more of a natural fit inside. There isn't as much depth here as there should be, and, given Fletcher's age, that might be a factor.

Secondary: With Shawn Springs out of the picture, Carlos Rogers has been cleared for takeoff at one cornerback spot. The other belongs to Hall, who played so well after his midseason arrival the Redskins backed up the Brink's trucks to keep him. Fred Smoot is 30 and a decent third option. He didn't play all that well last season, but he gives the Redskins depth at a critical position. LaRon Landry and Chris Horton are strong at safety.