Washington Redskins 2010 NFL Preview, Schedule, Odds, and Predictions: Team owner Daniel Snyder wants to win badly and is willing to spend to do it. Unfortunately the past spending sprees have resembled the New York Mets; big money but now championships! In another big and expensive move the Redskins in January hired Mike Shanahan as Executive Vice President/Head Coach in another attempt to take the franchise to the big game. Many moves later, Vegas odds makers have the Washington Redskins as +2100 odds to win the 2011 Super Bowl.
New head football coach Shanahan brings and impressive 154-103 overall record along with two Super Bowl victories. Shanahan brings a respect that was lacking under the last regime. Shanahoan immediately hired his son, Kyle Shanahan, who was the offensive coordinator for the Houston Texans the last two NFL seasons. As offensive coordinator Kyle will do the play calling that will rely strongly on the run but also bring an aggressive passing attack. Shanahan hired experienced Jim Haslett as the coordinator on defense to run a 3-4 scheme as well as 11 of 14 new position coaches. The odds makers at BetUS have the Washington Redskins listed at +1100 odds to win the 2010 NFC Championship.
Offensively the biggest change is at quarterback where the Skins went out and traded division rival Philadelphia Eagles for six-time Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb who has spent 11 years in a similar west coast offense. Running back Clinton Portis played is first two seasons under Mike Shanahan in Denver rushing for over 3,000 yards and 29 touchdowns. He should be the most excited Redskin to start the season even though the team also brought in former Pro Bowl players Larry Johnson and Fast Willie Parker. Wide receivers Santana Moss, Devin Thomas or Malcolm Kelly all have potential to break out in the new offense as do tight ends Chris Cooley and Fred Davis. The Vegas odds makers have the Washington Redskins listed at +450 odds to win the 2010 NFC East.
Defensively the team will be switching from a 4-3 to a 3-4 under Haslett and now that over paid Albert Haynesworth has passed his conditioning test and agreed to play in the new system the defensive line should have a solid anchor. London Fletcher had his first Pro Bowl selection last season and Rocky McIntosh will add experience to the inside linebacker positions. Better production is needed from the secondary as top corner DeAngelo Hall had just four interceptions in 2009 and on the other side of the field, Carlos Rogers didn’t even have a pick. The odds makers at BetUS have the Washington Redskins middle number listed at over/under 7 1/2 wins for the 2010 NFL regular season.
Coach Shanahan brings a work ethic, a strong coaching staff, and a winning attitude to a team that badly needed it. The bad news is the NFC East is perennially one of the strongest and deepest in the NFL and the Cowboys are loaded at the top. My NFL Prediction is and 8-8 mediocre season and missing the playoffs again.
2010 Washington Redskins Preseason Schedule
1 Fri, Aug 13 vs Buffalo
2 Sat, Aug 21 vs Baltimore
3 Fri, Aug 27 @ New York
4 Thu, Sep 2 @ Arizona 10:00 PM
2010 Washington Redskins Regular Season Schedule
1 Sun, Sep 12 vs Dallas 8:20 PM NBC
2 Sun, Sep 19 vs Houston 4:15 PM CBS
3 Sun, Sep 26 @ St. Louis 4:05 PM FOX
4 Sun, Oct 3 @ Philadelphia 4:15 PM FOX
5 Sun, Oct 10 vs Green Bay 1:00 PM FOX
6 Sun, Oct 17 vs Indianapolis 8:20 PM NBC
7 Sun, Oct 24 @ Chicago 1:00 PM FOX
8 Sun, Oct 31 @ Detroit 1:00 PM FOX Ti
9 BYE WEEK
10 Mon, Nov 15 vs Philadelphia 8:30 PM ESPN
11 Sun, Nov 21 @ Tennessee 1:00 PM FOX
12 Sun, Nov 28 vs Minnesota 1:00 PM FOX
13 Sun, Dec 5 @ New York 1:00 PM FOX
14 Sun, Dec 12 vs Tampa Bay 1:00 PM FOX
15 Sun, Dec 19 @ Dallas 1:00 PM FOX
16 Sun, Dec 26 @ Jacksonville 1:00 PM FOX
17 Sun, Jan 2 vs New York 1:00 PM FOX