Redskins: An assessment of possible scenarios in 2018
By Ian Cummings
Of all the teams in the NFL in 2018, the Redskins might possess the widest range of possibilities.
On one end of the spectrum, the Washington Redskins offense has the potential to be electric. Alex Smith is coming off a year in which he was borderline elite at the quarterback position. At almost every other offensive position, there is undeniable upside, which the union of Smith and Jay Gruden can unlock. The defense is as strong as it’s ever been under Gruden. There are no gaping holes on the roster.
But on the other side of the coin, there is uncertainty. The Redskins have a lot of moving pieces this year. Pressure will be on younger, more unproven players to compete at important positions; players with natural talent, but no existing track records against NFL competition.
A rare stable constant for the 2018 Washington Redskins is Alex Smith, a quarterback who’s done one thing over the course of his career at a consistent rate: Win. Despite his perceived flaws, and against the cries of all his detractors, Alex Smith wins games. It’s strange; in a sport as complex as football, it’s as simple as that for Smith.
Now it just begs the question: Will Smith bring his winning ways to Washington? Or will the Redskins be the exception to the rule?
The Redskins are one of the NFL’s hardest teams to predict in 2018. They could be competent competitors for the NFC East title, or it could take the pieces another year to mesh. Announcing a prediction, at this point, is still a tall task. But we can address possible scenarios that the Redskins might fulfill in a crucial season.