Retreat, Refocus, Rearm: Redskins Will Return to Form

Now that the glass half full looks more like it's half empty, let's take a more realistic snapshot of what the Redskins are working with. It's easy to let the 0-2 record get us down, but last year's team, which was less talented (on paper at least) was 5-6 before making a run for the playoffs.

So what's going on this year? Are we really that bad? Is there any hope left for a run for the Lombardi Trophy?

For starters, Clinton Portis and Shawn Springs, no doubt the two leaders on both sides of the ball, are nursing injuries.

On offense Antwaan Randle El and Brandon Lloyd are still adjusting to a playbook that the new play-caller is still adjusting to the new toys. Chris Cooley is learning the role of a TE as opposed to H-back in a new system (while backups Christian Fauria and Todd Yoder both experienced injuries recently). Santana Moss is again the only real threat on offense and getting much attention from defenses. The line is learning a new blocking scheme without a marquee back making up for their mistakes. And then there's the QB which I'm going to leave alone.

On defense the line is running with three key linemen (Cornelius Griffin, Phillip Daniels and Renaldo Wynn) who suffered injuries of different degrees over the preseason. And Joe Salave'a suffered a calf injury during the Cowboys game. And the backups are led by rookies. And Andre Carter is still playing on west coast time. The LB crew has to play strong and compensate for both the d-line and the secondary. In the secondary, Carlos Rogers is still learning Shawn Springs' role, and we're missing key substitute Pierson Prioleau who is out for the season, relying on newcomers Kenny "Walt Harris" Wright, Mike Rumph (who San Francisco signed Walt Harris to replace), newbie Vernon Fox, practice squad material Curry Burns and rookie Reed Doughty. Oh yeah, and $30 million signee Adam Archuleta. Sean Taylor can do just about everything but play four positions simultaneously.

Moving on, John Hall scares me even when he's kicking a 25-yarder. Special teams minus a 100-yard kickoff return is shaky. I'm still wondering what Joe Gibbs does on the sidelines. Al Saunders and Gregg Williams' play-calling still needs to be refined. The penalties are reminiscent of the Steve Spurrier days. And if nothing else, the NFL is asking Jon Jansen about HGH.

So, where does that leave us? It all collectively sounds overwhelming, but really, it only takes one or two changes before everything falls into place. A domino effect. A momentum shifter.

Once Portis and Springs are back in the lineup, and Saunders' playbook becomes embedded in everyone's minds and maybe Brunell stops aiming for assistant coaches on the sidelines on half his passing plays, everything will be right where we all expect it to be.

The Redskins aren't out of anything, except maybe respect. With 14 games to go to figure it out, there isn't any reason to start looking at the draft prospects. Critics want to mock the Redskins for the high-priced coaching staff, but it's that coaching staff who will get it figured out and get us back on track for a trip to Miami in February.