1. The offensive line will need a major overhaul in the offseason » That’s not a surprise considering that was the feeling even after victories. But the Redskins need to find a couple good young interior linemen and possibly even a right tackle, especially if they don’t think Jammal Brown will fully recover from his hip issues. Though Kory Lichtensteiger has not played well, it’s not as if Derrick Dockery’s return to the lineup will solve the problems. Dockery is an average guard who struggled to pick up stunts this summer. But he would add power. Regardless, it wouldn’t be stunning if the Redskins ended up with four new linemen next season (as they have this year). Years of neglect up front in the past have caused problems for this regime.
2. The offense is no better than it was at season’s start » A lot of that stems from the offensive line issues, but that’s not the only problem. Washington only has two viable options at receiver, Santana Moss and Anthony Armstrong. The other two wideouts contribute very little. Joey Galloway has shown no signs that he has anything left, as many had predicted. Donovan McNabb’s play in the red zone and on third downs suggests he has a long ways to go, both in terms of grasping the offense and trusting his protection.
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3. Clinton Portis is missed — mostly in pass protection » The Redskins lack anyone who is consistent in this area and, with a shaky offensive line, it’s imperative to have someone experienced to pick up blitzers. Ask McNabb if he misses Portis. Rookie Keiland Williams is a willing blocker and isn’t bad, but the Lions took advantage of his inexperience. One time, Williams helped double team Ndamukong Suh and ignored a blitzer, leading to a hit on McNabb.
4. The defense is playing better as players have figured out their roles and have adapted to the new system » They’ve also been fairly solid when teams start drives in their territory. However, that wasn’t the case Sunday. Of the five drives the Lions began inside the 50-yard line, they scored 24 points. Another drive ended with a DeAngelo Hall interception. Before this game, opponents had started eight drives in Redskins territory, scoring 17 points. Of course, allowing a team to start so many times in your territory is a big issue.
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