McNabb this week is working as a guest Super Bowl analyst for ESPN, and while doing so yesterday evening, he was asked by ESPN’s Mike Tirico where he and the Redskins stood. McNabb, in his typical tight-lipped manner, said he is approaching things as if he is a Redskin -- for now.

“As of right now, I’m definitely a Washington Redskin,” said McNabb, who struggled in his first season with the Redskins and was benched for the final games of the season and isn't expected to return next year. “I signed a contract to be with them the next couple of years and that’s the way I’m treating it as such, and I think the way of approaching it myself is to make sure that this offseason, I focus on being a better quarterback and being ready for the 2011 season.”

When asked if he had had any discussions with Redskins management, McNabb said, "I haven't talked to them. On business aspects, that's when Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen and Fletcher Smith -- my agent -- get a chance to sit down and talk that aspect. But for the physical standpoint, I'll just make sure that I'm ready when the time comes if we are playing this year to be ready to step in and have fun."

McNabb also said, “For Fletcher Smith, as well as Bruce and Mike, they'll get a chance to sit down and iron some things out, and after the evaluation -- they've been evaluating the last several weeks -- hear their answer as to what we're doing next. And we'll go from there."

When asked if he could return to the Redskins, McNabb danced.

"Well, you know, there's a lot of things that has to be answered for all parties," he said. "At this particular time, I think it's important for all parties to keep everything low right now. What's less said is better and then from now on when the time comes to sit down, kind of iron it out and be able to move forward."

McNabb on Nov. 15 signed a contract extension worth up to $78 million over a five-year period, but beyond the $3.5 million increase that McNabb received in the 2010 season, little else was guaranteed. The Redskins have a $10 million option bonus that they can pick up for the 2011 season and trigger additional portions of the contract. Or, they could cut him by Sept. 1 and suffer little to no financial hit.

It's expected, however, that Washington will first try to trade the quarterback. But teams can't conduct any trades until a new collective bargaining agreement is reached between the NFL owners and the NFL Players Association.

The Heisman Trophy winning quarterback is expected to be one of the players taken in the early to mid first round of April’s NFL draft. And despite his accomplishments this past season at Auburn, there still are plenty of questions about his skills. There's no denying that Newton -- who some expect the Redskins to take if he is available with the 10th pick -- is a supremely gifted athlete, but only one full season of Division I football raise questions about his readiness for the NFL.

To improve his skills and better tailor them to the NFL game, Newton has been working with personal coach George Whitfield, who worked with Ben Roethlisberger last year. Newton spent his time at Auburn operating primarily out of the shotgun, and Whitfield is working to get Newton used to taking snaps under center as well as improving his footwork, rhythm and timing.

Newton’s highly-scrutinized father, Cecil, actually is the one that has set up the workout session, and both Newtons have come under fire for holding it at all.

Rules prohibit NFL scouts from attending a player workout other than at the NFL Scouting Combine late this month, or at his university’s pro workout day. Newton’s camp can send tape of the 60 to 90 minutes workout to NFL teams. But some believe Newton is wasting his time, and he and his father are being accused of simply pulling a publicity stunt.

A high-level scout told Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout.com, “The Newtons would be best to realize they aren't in college anymore. Regardless of how good he looks for [the media], there isn't going to be a bidding war for him. We're not recruiting him. They could wind up turning more people against them than for them with this [workout]."

Meanwhile, Whitfield told USA Today’s Jim Corbett that the purpose of the workout is to "differentiate [Newton] from Vince Young and JaMarcus Russell " and to help the quarterback and his camp decide if he should workout at the NFL Scouting Combine, or if he should wait until Auburn’s pro workout day in March.

How exactly will the media workout session help gauge that? I guess if he struggles mightily and reporters kill him for his performance, Newton and Whitfield would decide to get more work under his belt and wait until March.

The scout is right that it’s not the media’s decision to make, but a strong workout possibly could help Newton a little bit. Perhaps the quarterback’s coach wants him to get used to throwing in front of scrutinizing eyes to help prepare him for the pressure he will be under at the combine or Auburn pro day. Or, maybe the Newtons believe this will show NFL teams how seriously he is taking their pre-draft evaluation process and that he wants them to know he’s working hard to improve.

A strong workout on Feb. 10 isn’t going to sway an NFL front office over whether or not they need to draft Newton or move up into the draft to get him. Some probably have their minds already made up about Newton, other’s will come to their on conclusions with what they see with their own eyes at the combine or Auburn pro day.

What say you? Is Newton wise to hold the media workout session? Or is he setting himself up for the risk of turning NFL officials off?

The seventh-year pro, who was making his third Pro Bowl appearance, earned the honor after recording an game-high six tackles, an interception, a forced fumble and fumble return for a touchdown while helping the NFC to a 55-41 victory over the AFC.

Hall became only the second Redskins player to earn MVP honors at the Pro Bowl.

In 1984, Joe Theismann was named Pro Bowl MVP.

In 1958, defensive end Gene Brito received the award for top defensive lineman at the Pro Bowl. (Back then, there were two awards presented at the Pro Bowl: one for an offensive back, and one to a defensive lineman. Then in 1972 the award was switched for an offensive and defensive player. The following year, and every year since, only one player has been recognized as MVP).

Hall wasn't the only Redskin active on Sunday night. Middle linebacker London Fletcher actually got things started when he intercepted Philip Rivers in the first quarter and returned it 14 yards.

Less than three minutes later, Hall recorded his interception -- also thrown by Rivers -- and he returned it 29 yards.

Early in the second quarter, Hall stripped AFC receiver Wes Welker, scooped up the loose ball and returned it 34 yards for his touchdown.

The third Redskin at the Pro Bowl, outside linebacker Brian Orakpo, recorded six tackles to tie Hall for the game-high. Fletcher had the next highest total of the NFC defense, recording four tackles.

Hall this past season tied a career high with six interceptions (four of them coming in Week 7 against Chicago), and he also recorded a career high 95 tackles. His two forced fumbles also were a career high. Hall had an interception returned for a touchdown and also returned a fumble for a touchdown. The two touchdowns also were a career high.

Saturday features the Under Armour Senior Bowl down in Mobile, Ala. It will air at 4 p.m. on the NFL Network. If you don’t get the NFL Network, find a friend that does, or roll on down to your favorite sports themed watering hole.

The Pro Bowl will air at 7 p.m. Sunday on Fox, and while it does little for some football fans, hey, at least it’s football. After that, it’s the Super Bowl, and given the uncertainty involving the status of the still unresolved CBA for the coming year, who knows when you’ll get to watch football after that?

Here are five things to watch in this weekend.

1.) Jake Locker
The highly scrutinized University of Washington quarterback is looking to put on a show as he auditions for his future and hopes to convince NFL officials that he is worth a high draft pick. Like a lot of NFL coaches and executives, Mike Shanahan reportedly had been high on Locker following his junior season, but his stock took a hit after a down senior year. Can the passer come out and dispel some of the concerns about his skills?

2.) Von Miller
The Texas A&M DE/OLB sounds as if he is going to be a stud, and the Redskins could definitely use his skills as they try to give Brian Orakpo some pass-rushing help. Big, fast, strong and physical, Miller appears to have what it takes to make the switch to full-time linebacker whether it’s in the 3-4 or the 4-3. He could fall into the Redskins’ laps at No. 10 overall. You've been reading about his progress all week, now's your chance to see for yourself.

3.) Phil Taylor
The Baylor nose tackle has really helped his stock this week at Senior Bowl practices, and while there’s a chance that he could be there for the Redskins to take at the 41st spot, it’s now starting to sound as if he could go late first round to early second round. A dominant performance by him on Saturday will go a long way toward showing officials and fans how much of an impact player he could be. Of course there are plenty of other prospects to keep an eye on as well, such as Georgia guard Clint Boling, Baylor guard Danny Watkins, who is an under-the-radar player that has done well this week, and for a local prospect, keep an eye on Virginia Tech cornerback Rashad Carmichael.

4.) Pro Bowl Redskins
DeAngelo Hall will start at cornerback for the NFC squad, meanwhile Brian Orakpo and London Fletcher will get into the game as reserves at outside linebacker and middle linebacker, respectively. It’s the third Pro Bowl appearance for Hall, and the second consecutive trips to the Pro Bowl for both Orakpo and Fletcher.

5.) Other sports
So the Senior Bowl’s not an option, and you don’t care about the Pro Bowl? ESPN will air the Winter X Games almost all day long on Sunday with skiing, snowmobiling and snowboarding being the feature events. And for some NBA action, Kevin Durant and the Thunder take on LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat at 1 p.m., and the Celtics and Lakers clash at 3:30 pm.

Locker is working to show that he possesses good upside despite accuracy issues, and the views on his body of work this week are rather conflicting.

ESPN’s Todd McShay acknowledges that Locker is far from a finished product and would benefit from a year or two as backup so he can further develop. He believes that Locker’s outlook and willingness to work will convince an NFL team that he can be a franchise quarterback and is worth spending a high pick on him.

McShay writes: “We've known all along that Locker has the size (6-3, 230 pounds), arm strength and athletic ability, but the positive that came out of this week is by playing with better players around him, he is better than what you see on film when he was playing behind the line and using only the weapons he had at Washington. I think it also has been helpful for Locker to go through the process. He's showing NFL personnel and coaches that he's committed to get better and has good football character. He understands he's flawed and has areas he needs to improve on. … A lot of people around Locker might have hit the panic button, especially during the season when he and the Huskies were struggling, but he hasn't. He is still learning, still growing and what is natural to others isn't natural to Locker yet. He knows he needs reps and he knows he needs to improve.”

Meanwhile, The New York Times' Cecil Lammey and Matt Waldman have Locker among the "fallers" in their risers and fallers report from Day 3 practices. Talking to former NFL scout and "GM Jr." author Russ Lande, they conclude that Locker will likely never be a big-time franchise quarterback.

They report: “He’s a tough football player with strong fundamental techniques as a quarterback. But he has not been accurate. According to Lande, who learned his craft under the likes of Dick Vermeil and is known for strong pre-draft grades for Tom Brady and Marc Bulger, if a quarterback does everything well technically but still isn’t accurate, there isn’t much you can do with him. Locker is beginning to look like that player on passes in the intermediate range of the field, which is were N.F.L. starters earn their salary.”

McShay’s ESPN draft guru counterpart Mel Kiper’s view of Locker is more along those lines. Yesterday while speaking with reporters during a teleconference, Kiper said, “When you look at Locker, if you can’t get it done against college defenses, are you going to get it done against the NFL? He even had a second chance against Nebraska and struggled in that game. “Locker, to me, Kyle Boller was the same way. I said if Kyle Boller can’t get it done and complete a high percentage of his passes at Cal, how can he come into the NFL as a first-round pick?”

And as we know, Boller’s career has been nothing but disappointing.

Yesterday, I was asked what offensive guards seem to be standing out. Not being there to witness for myself, it’s hard to tell, McShay points out Georgia guard Clint Boling as a prospect that has done well this week. Boling has experience at both guard and tackle, but it’s believed he would do better as a guard.

McShay reports: “Having watched Boling on tape and during Senior Bowl week, I think there might be an outside shot he could get by at right tackle in the NFL. But I think he could be a really, really good guard so I would draft him at guard with every intention of playing him inside. The reason is his only real weakness seems to be the lack of elite agility or lateral quickness. The only time I saw him get beat in any drill or during team period was when a quicker DE, Miami's Allen Bailey, moved inside. Otherwise, he was efficient when he wasn't overpowering. He has good balance as a blocker, is aggressive and physical, and just knows where he wants to go. He attacks pass-rushers, does a good job with hand placement, and for a guy who's not a great athlete, he's capable of sinking his hips and getting good leverage. The best part of his game is his strength. He's underrated in terms of his overall strength and power at the point of attack. I think out of all the offensive linemen, Boling had the best day today and has the looks of a guy would could be drafted on Day 2.”

The Redskins certainly need to upgrade the left guard position, but they currently have only one Day 2 draft pick, and 41st overall might be too high of a pick to spend on a guard, especially if Washington has a more pressing need like a nose tackle where Baylor’s Phil Taylor is expected to be available, or a quarterback (if they don’t take on in the first round).

Another problem with Boling is, he isn't very agile and good at moving laterally, which means he wouldn't likely be a good fit in Mike Shanahan's zone blocking scheme.

Another player McShay pointed out was Alabama's James Carpenter, who is expected to go later than would Boling. Carpenter is more agile than Boling, and has a good quick first step. He doesn't always stick with his blocks, however, and needs to be more patient.

Update 12:25 p.m. The 6-foot-4 Carpenter's college weight last summer was 288 pounds, but at Senior Bowl weigh-in, he tipped the scales at 313 pounds.

Keep in mind as well, the Redskins have 2010 seventh-round pick guard/center Erik Cook, who spent most of the year on the practice squad, but with another offseason of development under his belt possibly could compete for playing time this year.

In yesterday’s TBDSkins post highlighted three players that could be under the Redskin microscope this week, and based on reports from Day 2 of practices two of those players are on the right track.

The first player mentioned yesterday was University of Washington quarterback Jake Locker. The senior is probably under more scrutiny than any other player at this week of practice because he had such a high stock as a junior, but decided to remain in school and ended up having a disappointing senior season. He still is probably the most talented quarterback in the draft, but accuracy problems have caused red flags regarding Locker.

Based on multiple reports yesterday, however, Locker made big improvements from Day 1 to Day 2. He was more decisive and more accurate, and showed good command having spent another day in the offense he will is running this week.

NFL Network's Mike Mayock and Paul Burmeister sat down with Locker as well as fellow quarterback's Colin Kaepernick (Nevada) and Ricky Stanzi (Iowa) -- both of whom are expected to be available in mid-rounds. About halfway through the clip, Locker discusses his struggles with accuracy and what he is doing to improve.

Another player I highlighted yesterday was Texas A&M’s Von Miller, who is projected to be on the board when the Redskins pick at No. 10 overall, and could meet a real need for a pass-rusher to complement Brian Orakpo.

According to ESPN’s Todd McShay, Miller was the star of Day 2. Here’s some of McShay’s report on the linebacker/defensive end:

“Miller has been spending most of his time at linebacker; at 6-foot-3, 237 pounds, that is where he'll need to play in the NFL. He was allowed to leave the LBs and join the D-linemen for one-on-one pass rush drills Tuesday, and it was impressive. He was unstoppable against players who are expected to go in the first two days of the draft. On the first play, he did an outside-in double move to beat Mississippi State's Derek Sherrod, and it wasn't even close. The move was so quick and so natural, Sherrod had no chance. The next play, Miller did a quick stutter fake inside, and then showed great torso flexibility by dipping his shoulder and following with a rip move that allowed him to tightly bend the edge and get to the QB (or in this case, a bag that was representing the QB). There were no wasted steps with him as a pass-rusher. … Miller is proving he's receptive to coaching, specifically on improving his technique in drops and overall awareness in zone coverage. It's very clear Miller has the athleticism, speed and raw, natural football instincts to not only become adequate in coverage, but to make it a strength of his game, which already includes man-to-man coverage ability.”

If Miller continues to impress and is sitting there at No. 10, Mike Shanahan & Co. could have a real predicament on their hands. Quarterback definitely is a need, but that 3-4 defense will not take steps forward without the addition of playmakers. And because of the impending lockout, Washington won’t have met needs through free agency because that signing period won‘t begin until after the new CBA is agreed upon, and signing a stud pass-rusher is no sure thing even when free agency is finally commenced.

Do they take a running mate for Orakpo and then try to find the quarterback they need either by trading back into the first round, or use the 42nd pick on one? Or, do they take that franchise quarterback, who is likely to be a project, at No. 10, and hope to address the defensive upgrades later?

This week leading up to the game features practices for the North and South teams, and are equally as important for the players as is the game. Their performances in drills and scrimmages will be evaluated as well, and yesterday, their physical makeup was recorded during national scouting weigh-in.

There are a little more than a hundred players on the two rosters combined, but here are the names of three possible early-round prospects that could draw some interest from the Redskins' officials.

1.) Jake Locker
With Cam Newton, Blaine Gabbert and Ryan Mallett all not at the Senior Bowl, this is Locker’s time to shine. He is the only quarterback with believed first-round grade at Senior Bowl week, and this is his opportunity to show scouts that he has good command and that the inaccuracies that plagued him his senior season shouldn't be causes for concern. Mike Shanahan reportedly liked Locker as a junior a good deal, but the quarterback returned to the University of Washington for a senior season, and it ended up being a down year. Could a strong performance this week renew Shanahan's interest?

2.) Phil Taylor
The Baylor nose tackle could be available at the No. 42 spot for Washington, who is in need of a dominant nose tackle to anchor the line. ESPN’s Todd McShay reported that yesterday at the weigh-in, Taylor tipped the scales at 337, carried the weight “very well” and that he has “thick calves, broad shoulders and was not a sloppy 337 pounds.” You can bet the Redskins’ scouts are eyeing Taylor.

3.) Von Miller
The Texas A&M product split time between end and linebacker this past season, but he is expected to be a full-time linebacker in the NFL. He is projected to go in the 8 to 12 range, which would mean Washington could have a shot at him if they chose not to go the quarterback route in the first round. A strong pass-rushing threat to complement Brian Orakpo definitely is a need for the Redskins.

This will be the Steelers' third trip to the Super Bowl in the last six years, and the Packers’ third trip since 1996. The Redskins, meanwhile, haven’t reached the Super Bowl since 1991 and have made the playoffs only four times since then.

No doubt Mike Shanahan & Co. have been and will be watching these two teams very closely two weeks from now. They're likely taking a fair amount of notes as well.

Here are five lessons the rebuilding Redskins can learn from the Packers and Steelers:

1.) Run the 3-4 defense
As far as this first lesson, the Redskins are already on their way. Shanahan and defensive coordinator Jim Haslett installed the 3-4 defense last season despite the fact that Washington didn’t have all of the pieces needed to execute it effectively. They envision a finished product that very closely resembles the systems that the Packers and Steelers run, and basically have patterned the Redskins’ schemes after them. As you can see by watching the Steelers and Packers, the 3-4 lends itself to more unpredictability and flexibility. It’s harder for an offense to tell where the pressure is coming from when they’re facing a good, aggressive 3-4. And that brings us to the next lesson . . .

2.) Add playmakers
Watching the Packers and Steelers yesterday, Redskins fans probably saw some familiar formations and schemes on defense. The difference was, the Packers and Steelers both have the dominant nose tackles and the speed and versatility on the edges that it takes to make the 3-4 work. The Redskins obviously need more playmakers. Without significant upgrades this offseason, Washington can’t expect to take many steps forward in the 3-4 in 2011.

3.) Emphasize the draft
For years the Redskins have shipped out draft picks in exchange for veterans that many times have been past their prime, and because of that, they have had fewer draft picks at their disposal, and that means limited building blocks for the long-term. You probably noticed key contributions by young players on both sides of the ball for Green Bay and Pittsburgh. Both teams have had at least seven picks in each of the last three drafts. In 2009, the Steelers had nine draft picks and 2010 featured 10 draft picks. The Packers built their foundation with nine picks in 2008, eight in ’09 and seven in ’10.

4.) Get a franchise QB
A team can experience some success with a game-managing quarterback (see Ravens/Trent Dilfer, 2001) but the teams that are legitimate contenders on an annual basis are teams that have elite quarterbacks. The Steelers and Packers drafted their passers, groomed them in two different ways (Pittsburgh gave Roethlisberger the reins from Day 1, Green Bay sat Rodgers for three seasons then scrapped Favre) but the results are the same. There’s no question what’s going to happen with the game on the line. Those quarterbacks are going to put their team on their shoulders. The Redskins don’t have that guy yet.

5.) Get a mobile QB
When the Redskins are looking for their franchise quarterback, they should make sure he has good mobility. He doesn’t have to be Michael Vick. But he can’t be a statue. Not in today’s NFL where defensive ends and linebackers run 4.4 40’s and are so athletic. As you saw, the Jets were able to disarm statuesque quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Roethlisberger, meanwhile, was able to extend plays with his feet and then find the open receiver. Or if he was flushed from the pocket with open field in front of him, he is able to take off. The same goes for Rodgers. His mobility isn’t something that often comes to mind, but he too is able to avoid blitzers, buy his receivers some time or run for key gains. He averages 5.4 yards a carry when he has to tuck the ball and run. Big Ben averages 5.2 yards a carry. Mobility to go with that franchise arm is a must.

Hall was an original member of the NFC Pro Bowl roster, but Orakpo and Fletcher were both named first alternates.

Fletcher now makes the squad at middle linebacker because Chicago's Brian Urlacher suffered a mild injury in the NFC title game and will not be able to participate in the Pro Bowl this Sunday in Hawaii.

Orakpo gets the nod because Green Bay's Clay Matthews is headed for the Super Bowl. With the Pro Bowl now being played the week before the championship game, Super Bowl participants no longer take part in the league's all-star game. So that created the spot for Orakpo.

It is the second straight trip to the Pro Bowl for both Fletcher and Orakpo.

Fletcher this past season led the Redskins with 188 tackles and also had 2.5 sacks, an interception, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries (a career high). He is currently tied for the longest active consecutive games streak (208) in the NFL. Tampa Bay's Ronde Barber and Indianapolis' Peyton Manning also have played in 208 straight games.

“I am extremely honored to play in the Pro Bowl,” Fletcher said in a press release issued by the Redskins. “I am very excited to make the trip to Hawaii. I would like to thank all of my teammates, coaches, fans and everyone else who played a part in getting me here.”

Orakpo this past season led the Redskins with 8.5 sacks. He also recorded 78 tackles, one forced fumble and 47 quarterback hurries. Orakpo made the Pro Bowl as a rookie, but last year the game was played in Miami. He said the chance to go to Hawaii makes the honor even more special.

“It’s great to get to go to the Pro Bowl again in just my second season in the league,” Orakpo said. “I am excited about going to Hawaii, where the Pro Bowl has been for so many years. Last year was fun, but it will be special getting to play in Hawaii. I want to thank all my teammates and coaches for helping me get here, and I also want to thank all of the fans who voted for me.”

As TBD’s Dan Daly points out, in the last 19 years, only two NFC teams have not reached the conference championship. And of course, the Redskins are one of them. The Lions are the other. Thanks for the painful reminder of how bad this franchise is, Dan.

Wait, at least there are some familiar faces still vying for playoff spots. But is that comforting, or more torturous. Are the Redskins a farm team for NFL contenders?

So what Redskins are still standing?

With each sure tackle or pass deflection, Pittsburgh free safety Ryan Clark reminds Redskins fans of yet another foolish move on the part of management it was to let him leave as a free agent in the offseason of 2006. The Redskins have been looking for a reliable free safety ever since.

And with Clark in Pittsburgh are fellow Redskins alumni members, kicker Shaun Suisham and receiver Antwaan Randle El. OK, maybe Suisham and Randle El aren’t missed nearly as bad as Clark, but Suisham was more accurate than Gano this past season. And Randle El's 22 catches for 253 yards more than doubled Roydell Williams’ numbers.

On the opposite sideline, you'll see Jason Taylor shuttling in and out at backup outside linebacker. Taylor was yet another big-name-acquisition-bust for the Redskins, but even as a backup this year he had five sacks -- more than any Redskin not named Brian Orakpo. Mark Brunell is a backup QB for the Jets and Todd Collins is holding a clipboard in Chicago. The Redskins aren’t missing much -- if anything -- by not having Brunell or Collins as a backup quarterback.

Elsewhere in the NFL, familiar names are in the news this week. Former Redskins’ offensive coordinator Hue Jackson (2003) was promoted from the Raiders’ offensive coordinator to Raiders head coach, which was welcome news to Oakland’s starting quarterback Jason Campbell -- yet another former Redskin. And today, it has been reported that Jackson will be hiring another ex-Redskins assistant Al Saunders, to be his offensive coordinator.

Running back Rock Cartwright, like Campbell, just completed his first season as a Redskin-turned-Raider and played under both Jackson and Saunders during his eight years in Washington. Just call them Redskins-West, only even they won more games than Washington, going 8-8 this past season.

Kiper released his first mock draft of the season yesterday afternoon. His adversary/fellow ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay did as well.

McShay usually strongly disagrees on most Kiper takes, but this year they are at least on the same page when it comes to the Redskins. McShay also has Newton also headed to Washington.

Yesterday we went over the Redskins' options at quarterback, and discussed the differing opinions on the quarterback prospects in the draft. Kiper and McShay demonstrate this. Both agree that Missouri's Blaine Gabbert is the top quarterback in the draft, but Kiper has him going fifth overall to Arizona and Newton being the next QB taken.

McShay, meanwhile, has Gabbert going third overall to Buffalo and then has Washington University's Jake Locker going eighth to Tennessee and two picks later Newton is selected. Kiper doesn't even have locker in the first round projections.

Kiper has Arkansas' Ryan Mallett going to Seattle at No. 25, while McShay has him going 16th to Jacksonville.

On a local note, Kiper has Maryland wide receiver Torrey Smith going 27th to Atlanta. McShay doesn't have him going in the first round.

You can get each analysts' thoughts at espn.com, Kiper's is here, and McShay's is here. But you have to have an ESPN Insider subscription to see them. Here's the rundown of their picks:

Mel Kiper's Mock Draft:

1. Carolina: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
2. Denver: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
3. Buffalo: Marcell Dareus, DE, Alabama
4. Cincinnati: Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
5. Arizona: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
6. Cleveland: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
7. San Francisco: Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina
8. Tennessee: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M
9. Dallas: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
10. Washington: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
11. Houston: Aldon Smith, OLB, Missouri
12. Minnesota: Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
13. Detroit: Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA
14. St. Louis: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
15. Miami: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
16. Jacksonville: Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
17. New England: J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin
18. San Diego: Cameron Jordan, DE, California
19. N.Y. Giants: Mike Pouncey, G/C, Florida
20. Tampa Bay: Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
21. Kansas City: Stephen Paea, DT. Oregon State
22. Indianapolis: Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
23. Philadelphia: Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
24. New Orleans: Justin Houston, DE, Georgia
25. Seattle: Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
26. Baltimore: Brandon Harris, CB, Miami
27. Falcons: Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland
28. New England: Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois
29. Green Bay: Christian Ballard, DE, Iowa
30. N.Y. Jets: Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, Temple
31. Chicago: Aaron Williams, CB, Texas
32. Pittsburgh: Tyron Smith, OT, USC
_______________________________________

Todd McShay’s Mock Draft:
1. Carolina: Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
2. Denver: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
3. Buffalo: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
4. Cincinnati: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
5. Arizona: Patrick Patterson, CB, LSU
6. Cleveland: Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina
7. San Francisco: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
8. Tennessee: Jake Locker, QB, Washington
9. Dallas: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
10. Washington: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
11. Houston: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M
12. Minnesota: Tyron Smith, OT, USC
13. Detroit: Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
14. St. Louis: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
15. Miami: Mike Pouncey, C, Florida
16. Jacksonville: Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
17. New England: Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
18. San Diego: Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA
19. N.Y. Giants: Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois
20. Tampa Bay: Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
21. Kansas City: Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri
22. Indianapolis: Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
23. Philadelphia: Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
24. New Orleans: Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State
25. Seattle: J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin
26. Baltimore: Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State
27. Falcons: Justin Houston, OLB, Georgia
28. New England: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
29. Green Bay: Cameron Jordan, DE, California
30. N.Y. Jets: Drake Nevis, DT, LSU
31. Chicago: Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor
32. Pittsburgh: Benjamin Ijalana, OT, Villanova

No one expects Mike Shanahan to give the Donovan McNabb experiment a second chance. And although Kyle Shanahan likes Rex Grossman, he doesn’t appear to be the long-term solution. John Beck believes he can be the answer, but is he? And will he get a legitimate shot to prove that’s the case?

The Redskins are expected to try to find their franchise quarterback in the NFL draft this April. They own the 10th overall pick, and then pick again with the 10th pick of the second round. It’d be a pretty big surprise if Washington didn’t use one of those picks on a quarterback.

Here’s a look at their options:

A lot of scouts have Missouri's Blain Gabbert as the highest-rated quarterback in the draft. At 6-foot-5, 240 pounds, he has the size, and he also has a great stat line: 262 completions on 445 attempts, 3,593 yards, 24 touchdowns and only nine interceptions. But there also should be some concerns about Gabbert. Running the spread offense at Missouri, he rarely took a snap under center and isn’t experienced at scanning a field while dropping back. Instead, he was almost always in the shotgun, and in his team’s system he had one destination for the ball and didn’t have to work through progressions. Despite all that, some projections have him going as high as third in the draft, others have him going in the seven to 10 range.

There’s debate over the next best quarterback prospect in the draft. Washington's Jake Locker is physically one of the most gifted passers in the draft, possessing good size (6-2-½, 229 pounds) and running a consistent 4.4-second 40-yard dash. He might have been the top pick in the draft had he come out after his junior year, when he completed 58 percent of his passes for 2,800 yards and 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. But opinions have cooled on him following his senior season, which saw him complete 55.4 percent of his passes for 2,265 yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Some believe he would fit well in the Shanahan’s system, but he has trouble with accuracy and reading the field. There’s a good chance that he could be around at No. 10, but like Gabbert, Locker looks like he would be a project.

Auburn’s Cam Newton is the hottest name after winning the Heisman and leading his school to the national championship. He's a stud of an athlete and has great size at 6-5, 248 pounds and this past year completed 66.1 percent of his passes for 2,854 yards, 30 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. The problem is, this was his only significant playing time on the Division I level. Can he make a successful jump to the NFL without more seasoning? There’s no denying Newton’s physical tools. But the question is, is he more JaMarcus Russell/Vince Young or is he more Josh Freeman -- the Tampa Bay’s young, big, physically-talented, fast-rising quarterback?

Arkansas' Ryan Mallet is another big quarterback (6-foot-7, 238 pounds), and he has a cannon for an arm. He has put up big numbers in each of the last two seasons, passing for more than 3,600 yards and 30 touchdowns in each. This past year, he completed 64.7 percent of his passes for 3,869 yards, 32 TDs and 12 INTs. He's not very good under pressure, however, and he has taken most of his snaps out of the shotgun, so needs some refining in that area similarly to how Gabbert does.

After that, there are a handful of options like Delaware's Pat Devlin, Alabama's Greg McElroy, TCU's Andy Dalton and Nevada's Colin Kaepernick, but all of those guys are expected to go in the third and fourth rounds, and Washington doesn't have a third or fourth-round pick.

All of the top quarterback prospects have some flash to them, but none of them appear to be capable of stepping in from Day 1 like Sam Bradford and directing the offense. The Redskins likely would have to groom them behind a veteran early on, and then turn the reins over to them at some point.

But who is the veteran for that young quarterback to study under? Is it Grossman, who is due to become a free agent but wants to return? Or would the Redskins look to bring in a free agent with a more solid body of work, someone like Marc Bulger -- who reportedly received some consideration by Shanahan & Co. last offseason before they opted to go after McNabb -- Matt Hasselbeck or Kerry Collins? Otherwise, the quarterback free agent class is pretty slim. Michael Vick and Peyton Manning will receive big pay days from their current teams, and after that, it’s the Charlie Frye, Kyle Boller and J.P. Losman types.

Orakpo was one of the few players that didn’t struggle in the switch from the 4-3 to the 3-4. The Redskins converted Andre Carter and Lorenzo Alexander from defensive end to linebacker, and it was a learning experience for both and neither provided the production that was needed to give Washington balance on the edges. Carter doesn’t expect to be back this coming year, but Alexander -- who had a slightly smoother transition -- is already back to training so he can further program his body to be able to more effectively play the outside linebacker position.

Still, the Redskins could look to address that left outside linebacker spot this offseason. They have options that include in-house talent, draft prospects and free agency.

If it’s players that are already on the roster, Washington could bank on a second year at the position benefiting Alexander, or they could give Rob Jackson a shot. Alexander told me this week that he is leaning up even more (in the last years, he went from being a defensive lineman that tipped the scales at around 300 pounds, to being a linebacker that weighs around 275 pounds. He’ll likely be even lighter this year. The training program he is on also is helping him become faster and more explosive while also sharpening his reflexes. Alexander says he is confident he can be a force next season.

If the Redskins reduce Alexander to a backup role, however, they could look at Jackson, who showed promise in the final two games of the season after spending the first 14 on the practice squad. In the Jacksonville game, he was as disruptive as Orakpo had been while playing at the right outside linebacker spot. He registered a sack and a forced fumble and was held frequently. In the final game of the year, he and Orakpo lined up opposite each other on third downs times. A sign of things to come?

Despite those in-house options, it still wouldn’t be shocking at all to see the Redskins bring in more talent at the linebacker position.

The top outside linebackers in the draft are Texas A&M's Von Miller, UCLA's Akeem Ayers and Georgia's Justin Houston.

Miller has been a sack machine for the Aggies the last two years. He had 17 in 2009 and 11 this past season. The 6-foot-3, 243-pound senior also recorded 68 tackles and an interception this past year. Miller played in the 3-4 in college, which would help ease his transition to the NFL. He has great quickness, and that served him well in college, but in the NFL, he will have to develop more tools other than just speed to beat blockers.

Ayers is a 6-4, 255-pound junior that is believed to have a first-round grade. He recorded 68 tackles this past year, but only four sacks. He needs to get stronger and improve his tackling skills and become more disciplined, but has good aggression and versatility, which also includes being solid in pass coverage.

Houston is a 6-foot-3, 258-pound junior that recorded 56 tackles and 10 sacks for Georgia this past year. He isn’t projected to be a top 10 grade, however, so Washington wouldn’t likely spend that No. 10 pick on him. The only likely way he would be an option would be if they were to trade down and he was still available. Houston has played both outside linebacker and defensive end. He's strong, quick and athletic and is a strong pass-rusher. He often bites on the first thing he sees and ends up getting burned on screens, however, and isn't the greatest in pass coverage.

If the Redskins opt not to take an outside linebacker in the first round, it could be because they believe they can address the position in free agency -- whenever the CBA is agreed to and they are allowed to sign free agents.

The top OLB expected to be on the market is Kansas City's Tamba Hali, who already is used to playing in the 3-4 and this past year recorded 52 tackles and 14.5 sacks. The 27-year-old, the fifth-year veteran does play the same position as Orakpo, however, so someone would have to switch from the right to left side.

Another free agent to be that could be a fit is Pittsburgh's LaMarr Woodley. Obviously, he is another prospect that would be able to come right in with a good feel for the 3-4, if he even wants to leave Pittsburgh. The fourth-year veteran this past season had 50 tackles and 10 sacks as well as two interceptions. He has recorded double-digit sacks in each of the last three seasons. Woodley already plays on the left side, which would mean he naturally would line up opposite the spot that Orakpo already mans.

Obviously, the in-house or draft options would come at a cheaper price than would free agency. Which will the Redskins choose?

Neither ended up working out, however. Kemoeatu’s return from a 2009 Achilles’ tendon injury (which required surgery) was rocky, and he wound up on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. Bruce Allen said last week that the door isn’t close to Haynesworth returning, it would be a shock of Haynesworth finally consented to play nose tackle in the 3-4 defense that he hates so much.

Now the team must address the position either through the draft or free agency. So what are the Redskins’ options?

The Redskins hold a first- and second-round pick in this April’s draft, and they also have two fifths, a sixth and two sevenths. Things could change if they are able to pull off deals that would involve trading Donovan McNabb and/or Albert Haynesworth for a draft pick each. But that remains to be seen.

In the first two rounds, Washington will pick 10th overall and 42nd overall. Both of those picks are high enough to obtain a strong prospect that could contribute this coming season and for years to come, but should they use it on a nose tackle? It depends on who’s there.

There are some talented defensive tackles that are expected to go in the first round. Some consider Auburn' defensive tackle Nick Fairley to be one of the top players in the entire draft. After that, there’s Alabama's Marcell Dareus, Oregon State's Stephen Paea, Illinois' Corey Liuget and LSU's Drake Nevis. But the question is whether or not they would fit in the 3-4.

Fairley is a 6-foot-5, 298-pound junior that recorded 56 tackles, 12 sacks and an interception this past year. He has great size and speed as well as athleticism and strength. Two problems, however. 1.) He isn't expected to be on the board by the time the Redskins pick. Secondly, He played in the 4-3 in college and scouts believe that if he is to play in the 3-4, the best bet is to switch him to a defensive end, not a nose tackle.

Alabama’s Dareus is 6-3 and 306 pounds, and also a junior. This past year, he recorded 33 tackles and five sacks. He, like Fairley, is expected to go high and could be gone before Washington gets to him. Also like Fairley, Dareus is expected to be better as a traditional 4-3 DT or as a 3-4 DE.

Paea is 6-1, 311 pounds and is projected to go either first or second round. This past year he had 45 tackles and six sacks, and Scouts Inc. gives him a top-10 grade, but the opinion on him is that he is a better 4-3 defensive tackle and isn’t the space-eater nose tackle type.

At 6-3, 300 pounds, Liuget has great size and this past year made 63 tackles and five sacks. He played in the 4-3 in college, however, and like many of his other defensive tackle prospects, scouts believe that he would best benefit from a move to defensive end if he is to play in the 3-4.

LSU's Nevis is explosive and makes plays, but at 6-foot-even and 289 pounds, he lacks the size of a nose tackle. He made 56 tackles and six sacks, and isn’t expect to go until late in the first round, but he probably isn’t the best option for Washington either.

A guy that could be interesting, however, is Baylor's Phil Taylor. At 6-3, 350 pounds, he is a monster. He isn't expected to go until the second round, so maybe he could be an option with the 42nd pick. He has good athleticism, gets off the ball quickly and is a strong bull-rusher. He doesn't always get the best leverage and there are questions about his conditioning and ability to maintain his weight. He had 62 tackles and two sacks this year, and although he played in the 4-3 in college, he probably could make the switch to the 3-4.

So basically, the talent pool for nose tackles isn’t exactly bubbling over. It wouldn’t seem to make much sense to draft a guy with the No. 10 pick and hope he can make the switch to 3-4 NT when his skills are better suited for DT or DE. Would 42 be too high to take Taylor?

What about free agency?

No one knows exactly how free agency will work this year with the CBA for 2011 still up in the air. But if teams are able to go after free agents as usual once the CBA is agreed to, the best nose tackle prospect appears to be a guy that is right up the road -- Baltimore's Haloti Ngata.

The 6-foot-4, 350-pound Ngata just completed his fifth season in Baltimore, meaning he already has learned the 3-4 defense. This past year, he had a career-high 63 tackles and 5.5 sacks. It’s hard to say what kind of money he would command, but it definitely isn’t expected to be Haynesworth type money. And, spending money has never been a problem in D.C. Maybe this would actually be a free agent signing that makes sense.

Smith's contract with Washington would have expired after the Super Bowl, but he and the team are working on an agreement that will bring him back for his eighth season in Washington. Smith had been pursued by new Broncos coach John Fox to join him in Denver and coach the special teams units there.

It was the second straight year that Fox had gone after Smith. Fox had asked the Redskins for permission to interview Smith last offseason, but the team blocked the move. Smith reportedly had no interest in leaving Washington this year, either.

Smith has been on staff in Washington since 2004 when Joe Gibbs hired him during the Hall of Fame coach's comeback. Smith remained on staff even after Gibbs retired, and coached two years under Danny Smith before being retained by Mike Shanahan last offseason.

Shanahan at the completion of his first season in Washington said that he planned on bringing back all of his assistants for this coming year.

Redskins players are glad to hear of Smith's decision to return to Washington. He is one of the most well-respected members of the coaching staff, and several players said last week that they hoped he wouldn't leave for Denver.

Special teams captain Lorenzo Alexander said this morning that he spoke with Smith, and that he is relieved that his coach won't be leaving.

"It would've been a devastating loss," said Alexander, who credits Smith for the success that he has achieved while going from an undrafted practice squad player to special teams ace and starting outside linebacker.

The Redskins this season ranked third in the league in kick returns yardage and had the 14th-best average of 23.0 yards a runback. They ranked 10th in punt returns with a 10.8-yard average. Meanwhile, the Redskins held opponents to the fifth-lowest average on kick returns (19.0 yards a return), but they were 29th against punt returns with a 12.6-yard-per-return average.

Kicking it all off are the Ravens versus the Steelers at 4:30 p.m. on CBS and the Packers at the Falcons at 8 p.m. Tomorrow it's the Seahawks at the Bears at 1 p.m. on Fox and the Jets at the Patriots at 4:30 p.m. on CBS

Of course your Redskins are off golfing or fishing, but there’s always some connection that can be made in reference to the Burgundy and Gold. Here are five things to watch

1.) 3-4 defenses
The Ravens, Steelers, Packers, Patriots and Jets all run the 3-4, and run it quite well. The Steelers boast the version of the 3-4 that most closely resembles the system that Mike Shanahan and Jim Haslett are trying to install. And the Packers are the team that example of a team that made a quick transition to the 3-4, something the Redskins are hoping a second year in the system brings them. Perhaps by watching these five teams, a thing or two can be learned regarding the needs Washington will try to address to shore up the defense this season.

2.) Young quarterbacks
The Ravens, Jets and Falcons all were very recently in the position that the Redskins find themselves regarding the quarterback position. They all lacked a franchise quarterback, could have opted to sign a free agent, but instead drafted passers in the first round, turned the reins over to them from Day 1, provided them strong support and have let them grow into their roles by learning on the fly. It has worked out pretty well for them. Could or should the Redskins follow that example?

3.) Big receivers
Baltimore, Atlanta, Seattle and New York all have bigger wide receivers in Boldin, White, Williams and Edwards. The Redskins have talented receivers in Moss and Armstrong, but are lacking that big target that can really help a team in goal-line situations. Sit back and watch what size can do for a team.

4.) Draft picks
No team does it better than the New England Patriots, but all of the remaining teams have strong structures built through the draft rather than through the typical Redskins way of big-name free agency or stars acquired by shipping out high draft picks.

5.) Coaching styles
There’s a full spectrum of coaching styles featured this weekend. The Patriots’ Bill Belichick is more of the old-school, tight-lipped, dictator coach like Mike Shanahan, on the opposite end you have Rex Ryan, who is a loud-mouth and Pete Carroll is more of a rah-rah cheerleader type coach. Mike Tomlin, Mike McCarthy and Mike Smith are more middle of the road. All have gotten their teams this far, which style is ultimately the best?

The Redskins this year had bright spots in the form of Brandon Banks on returns, Lorenzo Alexander & Co. on coverage units and Graham Gano on kickoffs. But then there were glaring weaknesses in the form of Gano’s field goal struggles and poor punter play.

Let’s break it down.

Kickoffs -- Redskins this season held opponents to the fifth-lowest average on kick returns (19.0 yards a runback). Graham Gano had a pretty strong leg, and Lorenzo Alexander, Mike Sellers, Chris Wilson, Kedric Golston and H.B. Blades led the kickoff coverage units with some big hits, and Washington didn’t give up a return for a touchdown all year.

Kick returns -- Washington had the 14th-best kick return average (23.0 yards a return). Individually, Brandon Banks had a strong rookie season, averaging 25.1 yards a kick return, and he had a 96-yard return for a touchdown. He had two other returns for a touchdown called back because of penalties away from the ball.

Punts -- The Redskins had three punters this year and didn't get great results from any of them. Josh Bidwell was hampered by a hip injury and wound up on injured reserve. Hunter Smith returned and also had a lower average, and two days after his botched hold at the end of the Tampa Bay game, he was released. Smith was told it was because he didn't have good hang time on his punts. But Sam Paulescu also was brought back, but he actually was worse. The three punters posted a combined 40.6-yard average, which ranked 30th in the league. With punters failing to boom the ball deep and unable to get good hang time, the Redskins’ punt coverage unit struggled as well and gave up 12.6 yards a return, which ranked 29th in the NFL.

Punt returns -- Fueled by Banks, the Redskins ranked 10th in the NFL with an average of 10.8 yards a return. Banks' longest punt return this season was 53 yards.

Field goals -- Gano struggled in his first full season in the NFL, making only 24 of 35 attempts, and his .690 clip was the lowest in the league kickers that kicked on a regular basis. Mike Shanahan believes that Gano’s problems were mentally-related. The young kicker could routinely make field goals from 60 yards out in practice, but then he’d miss a 25-yarder wide left in games. Another shaky aspect of the field goal team were the snaps, as long-snapper Nick Sundberg was good for a couple of high or low snaps here and there.

Overall grade -- C-
The struggles of Gano and the punters overshadowed solid efforts by the kick and punt return units. The Redskins need to find a more consistent punter this offseason, and it wouldn’t be surprised if they brought in a kicker to compete with Gano. The young kicker plans on changing his technique and expects that to bring more consistency. Banks got off to a hot start, but was limited in the second half of the season by a bad knee. He never was quite right following his surgery to repair a partial meniscus tear. He probably rushed back a little prematurely.

Fox reportedly asked the Redskins for permission to interview Smith last year for the same position in Carolina, but Washington blocked the move. La Canfora also reported that Smith declined to sign an extension beyond the 2010 season, so he would be a free agent this offseason.

Upon hearing the news of Smith’s possible departure, Redskins’ players took to Twitter to express their hopes that the coach chooses to return to Washington.

“To lose Danny Smith would suck. One of the best special team coaches I have been involved with,” tweeted defensive end/special teams contributor Phillip Daniels.

“If I lose Danny smith as my special coach I'm gonna go crazy and that's a fact!!!!!” punt/kick returner Brandon Banks tweeted. “Danny smith gave me my opportunity!!!! He went to battle for me when it came to a decision!”

Backup defensive end/special teams contributor Jeremy Jarmon tweeted: “No way Danny leaves us. He's too well liked and an excellent coach.”

Indeed, Smith has been not only the most well-respected coach in the Redskins’ ranks, but also the longest-tenured. He came to Washington when Joe Gibbs made his comeback in 2004, and he served as special teams coach for four seasons under the Hall of Fame coach. He then remained in that capacity for two seasons under Jim Zorn, and this year retained his job despite Mike Shanahan’s takeover.

The Redskins this season ranked third in the league in kick returns yardage and had the 14th-best average of 23.0 yards a runback. They ranked 10th in punt returns with a 10.8-yard average. Meanwhile, the Redskins held opponents to the fifth-lowest average on kick returns (19.0 yards a return), but they were 29th against punt returns with a 12.6-yard-per-return average.

Lorenzo Alexander, who broke in with the Redskins as a special teams player in 2006 and now is special teams captain in addition to Washington’s starting left outside linebacker, shared his teammates sentiments on Smith.

“Danny Smith is one of the best coaches we have,” Alexander said via text message this morning. “He is passionate about the game and the daily grind, possesses great attention to detail and his ability to communicate what he needs from you is great. But his greatest quality is that he genuinely cares about his players and fights for them. I wouldn’t be who I am without Danny Smith. Gave me a chance to play.”

Like Jarmon, Alexander said he’s he surprised if Smith wanted to move on, or if the Redskins didn’t work something out to ensure he remained in Washington. He added, however, that in the NFL, nothing is out of the question, though.

“I would say yes [it would be a surprise] because he has a great core group in place, but if the offer from Denver is awesome, you have to take it,” Alexander said. “Family comes first in this league. The longer I’m around, I realize the NFL is truly a business.”

“Those decisions will come, in time,” Allen said when asked about McNabb. “I’ve had conversations with [McNabb’s agent] Fletcher [Smith], and basically those conversations I’m going to keep between us, and basically we’re going to evaluate the team, evaluate the quarterbacks, the running backs, and all of those decisions will come.”

Allen and executive vice president/head coach Mike Shanahan last April acquired McNabb from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a second-round pick in last year’s draft and the fourth-round pick in this year’s draft. But McNabb endured a rocky first season in Washington, was benched with less than two minutes left in the Week 8 game against Detroit, and then got the hook again for the final three games of the season and was demoted to third-string quarterback for the final two outings.

Smith, has criticized both Shanahan and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan for his client’s lack of success and has said that the quarterback cannot remain in Washington the way things stand. It is believed that the Redskins will either trade or release McNabb despite paying a hefty price against their future.

But Allen isn’t ready to admit that the Redskins made a mistake in acquiring the quarterback.

“When we made the decision to trade for Donovan, I think based on what we knew and what we were looking at, I think it was the right decision,” Allen said. “I think how we perform in the future will determine that.”

Mike Shanahan said at the conclusion of the season that he expected to meet with Smith at some point in regards to McNabb’s future. The quarterback and his agent have both said they want a quick resolution to the matter. But Allen didn’t indicate whether or not the team is operating under a self-imposed deadline.

Haynesworth also wants out of Washington after his season also ended poorly. After roughly a nine-month long battle with Shanahan regarding the two-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman’s unwillingness to play in the 3-4 scheme, Haynesworth was suspended for the final four games of the season, and the dispute that he filed with the players union against the Redskins in an attempt to recoup the roughly $847,000 of garnished wages remains unsettled.

Haynesworth’s relationship with Shanahan deteriorated to the point that the player told Allen on Dec. 6 that he would no longer be speaking with the head coach. That was the tipping point and prompted the suspension.

On Jan. 3 at the completion of his suspension, Haynesworth reported to Redskins Park for a mandatory end of the year physical, but didn’t speak with Shanahan.

Despite the terrible relationship, however, Allen refused to declare Haynesworth’s days in Washington over. It’s expected that the team will look to part ways with him, but Allen said both sides need more time before any sort of determination can be made.

Allen acknowledged that the Redskins could have parted ways with Haynesworth last offseason as soon as it was made known that he didn’t want to be with the team, but he said no move was made because management was hopeful that they could find a way to take advantage of Haynesworth’s talents despite the conflict.

Allen said that thinking has not changed.

“We were hopeful that he was going to help the team win, and we remain helpful that he can help the team win,” Allen said. “Obviously, we went through a difficult time with the suspension, but when we make those decisions, we understand that there’s a human being involved besides just the player, and hopefully if we give it some time to breathe, we can come back with a fresh outlook on the situation. … He’s extremely talented, and let’s take a look at it at a later time. The emotions are still fresh.”

Allen was asked about a number of issues, and he touched briefly on them.

> On the lack of a CBA for the coming year and a potential lockout, Allen said that the Redskins are operating business as usual, evaluating their own talent, evaluating players schedule to be free agents and preparing for the East-West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl to scout draft prospects so that way they’ll be ready to make moves in the draft as well as free agency, whenever the new CBA is agreed to. The draft will proceed regardless of whether there is a new CBA, and then free agency will follow whenever one is reached, but Allen said it won’t make things

> Whenever a CBA is agreed to and teams have the green light to sign free agents, Allen said he does expect the Redskins to be aggressive players. “We’ve always been aggressive,” Allen said. “Talking about history, the Redskins have been aggressive in free agency, starting with John Riggins.”

> On progress that he noticed this year, Allen said, “We worked on the infrastructure a lot of what this Redskins team can be and I can’t tell you how happy I am about the attitude of the football team..” He also cited the amount of young players that emerged and earned playing time this past season as reasons for optimism.

> Allen dismissed the notion that the Redskins had a higher amount of drama than most teams, and said that instead, they just experienced growing pains that he believed were to be expected because of the hiring of a new coaching staff and a high amount of roster turnover. “It was much like a family, or new roommates getting used to living with one another,” Allen said.

> On instability at the quarterback position, Allen said that was nothing new. “To say that we never had a quarterback controversy before, excuse me, we had Sonny vs. Billy and that was a pretty dramatic one with beeping horns. That occurs anywhere that you have a passionate fan base. We’ve made some progress. We’re not where the Redskins have been in the past, but we made progress.” It was pointed out to Allen that McNabb’s benching, his agent blasting the team and Rex Grossman’s audition were entirely different from Jurgensen vs. Kilmer, but the GM said “technology has changed.”

> On the impending free agencies of cornerback Carlos Rogers and wide receiver Santana Moss, Allen was non-committal, and said that evaluations are ongoing.

> Defensive end/linebacker Andre Carter said he doesn’t expect the team to pick up the $4.75 million option on his contract because of his struggles to fit in the 3-4 defense. That would make him a free agent. But Allen declined to comment one way or the other on Carter’s future.

> Allen was asked about Clinton Portis’ future with the team but he declined to weigh in on that matter as well. He did say, “He’s going to get healthy. I really enjoyed meeting him this year. He’s a tough competitor and I really enjoyed meeting him this year.”

> Allen praised Mike Shanahan for having “a good vision for 2010,” but at the same time, he “never lost sight of down the road,” and that every move Shanahan made had the current season and future in mind.

> Allen said the Redskins are reviewing options that would enable them to have an indoor practice facility. He wouldn’t put a timetable on the beginning or completion of the facility’s construction, but he did say that they are looking to build a long-term facility rather than a temporary bubble. Asked if it mean the Redskins are considering moving team headquarters, Allen said, “We’re reviewing our options.”

The secondary was expected to be one of the strengths of the Redskins’ defense. Back when the team reported for training camp, defensive coordinator Jim Haslett spoke enthusiastically about cornerback’s DeAngelo Hall and Carlos Rogers, and believed that the team had a strong third corner in new addition Phillip Buchanon. He couldn’t say enough about strong safety LaRon Landry, and free safety Kareem Moore held promise as well.

Like most every other unit on the team, the defensive backs produced mixed results. There were definitely were some highlights, but there were equally as many lowlights and injury-related disappointments.

Creating turnovers was an emphasis of Haslett’s, and a year after producing just eight interceptions and two forced fumbles, Washington’s DBs combined for 13 interceptions and eight forced fumbles, which was definitely an improvement.

But, a year after ranking eighth against the pass with 3,316 yards and 19 touchdowns allowed, the Redskins plunged to 31st in passing defense with 4,187 yards and 23 touchdowns surrendered.

Here’s a look at the individual play of the defensive backs followed by an overall grade:

CB DeAngelo Hall -- Hall this season earned his third career Pro Bowl selection after posting a team-high six interceptions. He also recorded 16 pass deflections and a career-high 95 tackles. Hall this season ensured he will have a place in the Hall of Fame by notching four interceptions and a touchdown in Washington’s win against the Chicago Bears. Canton came calling, asking for his game jersey. Hall was more aggressive in trying to cause fumbles, and the two that he forced were a career high. Hall is an aggressive defensive back that likes to gamble and those gambles pay off for him at times, but they can -- and did -- hurt him. There were plenty of times that Hall tried to jump around, mistimed it by a split second and ended up giving up a big-gain catch. Then there were other times where he bit on the initial move and ended up getting dusted.

CB Carlos Rogers -- The sixth-year pro reported for offseason workouts disappointed that the lack of a CBA killed his chances of being a free agent, but he quickly got over that and set out to improve himself as he learned Jim Haslett’s new scheme. Haslett used Rogers in a variety of ways, including matching up with receivers in the slot, and Rogers did a solid job. He gets grief for his terrible hands, and even Haslett said that Rogers could have had at least half a dozen interceptions if he could hold onto the ball more often. But despite that, Rogers was the Redskins’ most consistent cover corner. He gave up few big plays, and quarterbacks actually tended to throw more Hall’s way than Rogers. A year after not recording an interception at all, Rogers did tie a career-high with two this season. His numbers this year could have been better, but he battled injury, missing four games with hamstring and calf strains.

Backup CBs Phillip Buchanon/Kevin Barnes/Byron Westbrook -- Buchanon was a nice offseason pickup for the Redskins last spring, and he ended up posting a team-high 18 pass deflections. In nickel packages, he took the other outside corner spot opposite Hall while Rogers lined up in the slot, and because of that Buchanon often drew some tough assignments. He recorded two interceptions. Buchanon’s biggest weakness was tackling. There were far too many times where he gave up unnecessary yardage because he didn’t wrap up. Buchanon actually got benched for poor tackling in Washington’s first meeting with the Giants. … Barnes didn’t begin to see much action until the second half of the season when fellow defensive backs got hurt. He played mostly at safety down the stretch of the season, but he showed some signs of potential as a cornerback. His interception in overtime against Jacksonville set Washington up for the game-winning field goal. The former Terp definitely needs more seasoning, but his versatility is a plus, and he could compete for a starting job next year. … Westbrook played very sparingly at cornerback and instead got his minutes on special teams.

FS Kareem Moore/Macho Harris -- Moore struggled mightily this season. He often had poor angles on receivers or running backs and whiffed on tackles, or he would hit them, but not wrap up and bring them down. He got beat on deep passes as well. Part of the third-year player’s problem was injury. He tore a meniscus in his knee in the preseason and missed the first two regular season games. It was suspected that Moore never was quite right, and that would explain some of his struggles. He ended the year on injured reserve and missed the final two games of the year. … Washington added the second-year pro and former Virginia Tech standout Macho Harris in Week 12 and he had some significant catching up to do, having not played since the preseason for Philadelphia. Harris started in Week 16 against Jacksonville and had a decent game. After showing his inexperience in the first half, he demonstrated an ability to adjust in the second half and took away passing options for the Jaguars. He showed some big-hit ability, but you could tell his timing was still off slightly, and Harris admitted that was the case. He still hasn’t totally mastered the safety position, having played cornerback in college before transitioning to safety in the pros. It should be interesting to see if he figures into the Redskins’ plans going forward.

SS LaRon Landry/Reed Doughty -- Landry was well on his way to his first Pro Bowl, and Haslett believed that he was a candidate for defensive MVP. He opened the season with 17 tackles and needed just eight more games to record 85 stops (10 fewer than his career high, posted in a 16-game season). Landry also recorded eight pass deflections, one interception and a forced fumble. Unfortunately for Landry, what would’ve been a career year was derailed by a bad Achilles’ tendon strain. Landry played with the injury for four weeks, and then it got to the point that it was too painful to manage. This season he was showing himself to be a more sure tackler. He also was slightly better in pass coverage, but he still has work to do in that area. … Doughty started a career-high nine games and also had a personal best 93 tackles. He isn’t a natural strong safety, but did a solid job. Obviously it wasn’t the impact that the Redskins would’ve had with Landry on the field, but Doughty held his own. … Fellow backups Chris Horton and Anderson Russell both saw limited action but had their seasons cut short by injury.

Overall grade -- C
As mentioned before, there were definite positives that the Redskins’ defensive backs could take away from this season. There also were areas of concern. There are some obvious needs in Washington’s secondary. They have to address the cornerback position opposite Hall. Rogers would like to re-sign with the team, but it is starting to look as if Haslett wants a better option. After starting the season with raves about Rogers’ size and versatility, the defensive coordinator wasn’t exactly brimming with praise toward the end of the year, and was non-committal to Rogers’ future. Buchanon will be a free agent, but he likes it in D.C. and could still be a good option as the third cornerback. There will be defensive backs on the free agent market, but Barnes also could be an option. Another glaring need is at free safety. Yes, Moore was hobbled, but he is far too inconsistent and isn’t the sure tackler that he needs to be. Harris could have potential, but the Redskins likely would want to sign a more seasoned player to pair with Landry.

Defensive ends Andre Carter, Lorenzo Alexander, Chris Wilson and Rob Jackson all had to scrap blitzing out of a three-point stance and learn to rush the passer out of a two-point stance, and they had to learn how to drop back into pass coverage while matching up with tight ends, running backs and slot receivers. Rocky McIntosh, previously an outside linebacker, had to move inside to man the middle with London Fletcher.

Another change was that in the 4-3, linebackers didn’t have to take on as many blockers. The plan in the 3-4 was for the down linemen to move laterally to shove blockers aside and open gaps for the linebackers, but it didn’t always happen that way and Fletcher and McIntosh’s paths to the backfield weren’t free and clear all that often.

Some of the Redskins’ linebackers still produced at a high level statistically. Meanwhile, others struggled and it was clear that they weren’t right for the position.

Here’s a look at how Washington’s linebackers did this season.

OLB Brian Orakpo/Rob Jackson/Chris Wilson -- As a rookie, Orakpo split time between linebacker and defensive end, produced 11 sacks and made the Pro Bowl. This year he had the bulls eye on him, and teams knew to double up on him. This year he played exclusively as a linebacker, but he felt like he made a good transition and was comfortable rushing the quarterback while standing up. Orakpo got off to a strong start, posting seven sacks in the first eight games. He would’ve had more had he not been held often. Despite that strong showing, defensive coordinator Jim Haslett believed that Orakpo could have had even more and wanted to see more multiple sack games. Orakpo tailed off in the second half of the season and had only 1.5 sacks in the last eight games. Part of the problem was he was banged up, but another thing was also revealed about Orakpo: he needs to develop more moves so offensive linemen can’t predict what he is going to do and read him as easily. Orakpo continued to get held -- some times it was called, many times it wasn’t -- but teams also found ways to fend him off after studying him on film. Next year he needs to take the next step and expand his bag of tricks and be a force throughout the season. … Jackson spent the first 14 games on the practice squad, but had a strong season debut in place of Orakpo against Jacksonville. He had a sack and a forced fumble and a couple of quarterback hurries. The Redskins had been searching for someone to bring pressure opposite Orakpo all season long, and it took Orakpo getting hurt to see that maybe Jackson was their man. The second-year Kansas State product had struggled in the transition from end to linebacker early on, but based on that showing, as well as some of the pressures he brought the following week, it looks as if the Redskins may have a prospect with real potential in Jackson. … Wilson was a solid special teams player but saw limited action as a linebacker. At times, the Redskins blitzed in from the middle in nickel packages, and he was able to generate some pressure. The problem for he and Jackson was the fact that they played the same position as Orakpo, so opportunities were hard to come by.

ILB Rocky McIntosh/Perry Riley -- McIntosh quietly had a pretty strong year against the run, recording a career-high 110 tackles. He had two sacks and three pass deflections. McIntosh struggled in pass coverage at times. He was good at tracking his man but had trouble judging the ball when it was in the air and would get turned around the wrong way and the tight end or running back he was covering would make the catch. Whether or not McIntosh, who is a free agent this year, remains in the Redskins’ plans is debatable. Coaches are high on rookie Perry Riley, and they might be able to find a stronger inside linebacker option through free agency. … Riley, a rookie out of LSU, appeared in just eight games this past season, but he showed some flashes that he could be a playmaker. His most extensive playing time came in the preseason against the Jets when he recorded seven tackles. He came up with a couple of key stops against Dallas in Week 15, but needs another round of OTAs and training camp in the defense to help his growth.

ILB London Fletcher/H.B. Blades -- Fletcher had yet another strong season for the Redskins, recording a team-high 136 tackles to go with three forced fumbles and 2.5 sacks. Early in the season, it appeared that Fletcher was suffering from not having as many defensive linemen in front of him to take on the blockers, but he soon turned the corner and once again performed at a high level despite being 35 years of age. He also was the Redskins’ best cover linebacker, notching a career-high 11 pass deflections and an interception. … Blades is a strong special teams contributor and a solid backup. He made one start, but wasn’t a better option at the inside linebacker spot next to Fletcher than was McIntosh.

OLB Lorenzo Alexander/Andre Carter -- This pair of converted linebackers experienced mixed results this season. Carter had played outside linebacker once in his previous nine seasons, but wasn’t fond of it because dropping into pass coverage was so unnatural for him and because he wasn’t quick enough to stick with many receivers and tight ends. He was hopeful that his duties in this system would be different and that he wouldn’t be asked to drop into coverage as much. He admittedly felt lost out there, unaccustomed to playing in space and rushing standing up rather than using the leverage of a three-point stance. Carter was replaced in the starting lineup by Alexander on the fourth game of the season and after that was used primarily on passing downs. He was permitted to rush from a three-point stance, but still struggled to generate the pressure the Redskins needed from the side opposite Orakpo. Carter said that previously in his career, as an end he was able to wear an offensive tackle down on first and second downs, and then put a move on him to get to the quarterback on third downs. This year, however, because he was at linebacker that took the field only in the nickel, he didn’t have the advantage of doing that. Further expounding Carter’s frustrations were the fact that he was coming off of an 11-sack season as a defensive end and because of the switch and the bad fit at linebacker, he mustered only 2.5. … Alexander had a solid season for a guy that previously was a defensive tackle that switched to end and then moved to linebacker. Having played on special teams for years, he was more used to playing in space than was Carter, and thus replaced him in the starting lineup. Alexander posted a career-high 57 tackles and two forced fumbles. But like Carter, he struggled to bring pressure from a two-point stance and mustered only 1.5 sacks. And he too struggled in pass coverage. He was better at it than Carter, but definitely wasn’t great.

Overall grade -- C
Fletcher and Orakpo showed that they can thrive in any system, Orakpo just needs to expand his repertoire in the coming year so he develops into more of a force. Otherwise, the Redskins have some real needs on the linebacking corps. McIntosh could probably make some strides in his second year as an inside linebacker, but that’s if he wants to remain here rather than return to an outside linebacker role a 4-3 scheme, and if the team wants him back. Carter and Alexander both had great attitudes and are hard workers. Rather than make a stink like Albert Haynesworth, they played to the best of their ability. The biggest needs on the Redskins’ defense this offseason is a dominant nose tackle and another strong pass-rushing linebacker to line up across from Orakpo. Jackson will try to make the case that he is that option, but it wouldn’t be a surprise at all to see Washington draft or sign a free agent OLB.

Perhaps no position was affected as greatly by Mike Shanahan’s arrival as was the defensive line because of the switch to the 3-4.

The transition was anything but smooth as the switch to the 3-4 was what kicked off all the Albert Haynesworth drama. And even for the players that complied and worked to learn the new defense from Day 1, things developed slowly.

Tackles switched to ends, some ends switched to linebackers. Players that were used to working their way upfield and to the quarterback were asked to switch their mindset and move laterally, take on blockers and open holes for the linebackers to blitz, or read where the run was coming and move offensive linemen into those running lanes. When they weren’t in the base 3-4, the players had to learn unconventional formations such as the two-down-lineman nickel front. The job in those packages were to get to the quarterback, but it didn’t happen very often.

Here’s a look at how the Redskins’ defensive linemen did this season.

Left DE Adam Carriker/Phillip Daniels -- The Redskins got Carriker for virtually nothing, swapping their own fifth- and seventh-round picks for the St. Louis Rams’ fifth- and seventh-round picks in exchange for the fourth-year pro, who missed all of last season after tearing a muscle in his shoulder. Carriker was drafted by the Rams to play tackle, but played end in the 3-4 in college. He probably was the Redskins’ most solid starting lineman this season. He led the line with 37 tackles (22 solo). He wasn’t on the field for pass-rushing situations much, but when he was, like many of his fellow linemen, generating much pressure was a problem. Carriker had only 1.5 sacks this season. … Daniels this season saw his playing time decrease as his role was reduced to that of a backup. But the 15-year vet still had a strong season in limited action, recording 21 tackles and two sacks. Daniels was used at right end at times, and got his first start in Week 15 against Dallas, but in that game he re-aggravated an abdomen injury and would up on injured reserve.

NT Ma’ake Kemoeatu/Anthony Bryant -- It was a rough first year as a Redskin for Kemoeatu, who was out of football for all of last season after rupturing his Achilles’ tendon during the preseason of 2009. At 6-foot-5, 350 pounds, Kemoeatu was expected to be a strong run-stopper for the Redskins, but he routinely got blasted off the line by quicker opponents. In addition to trying to get back into football shape, Kemoeatu was slowed by a bad shoulder and ultimately was placed on injured reserve with three games left in the season. … Bryant spent much of the season on the inactive list, but showed potential while starting the final three games of the season. The 6-foot-3, 376-pounder overtook Kemoeatu as starter the week before Kemoeatu went on IR. Bryant did better against the run, but his lack of experience (nine games in three pervious seasons) showed.

Right DE Kedric Golston/Albert Haynesworth/Vonnie Holliday/Jeremy Jarmon -- Previously a defensive tackle, Golston made the move to end because of the 3-4 switch. He said he felt comfortable in the system. But he had his share of ups and downs. Golston had the second-highest tackle total among linemen (35), but didn't record a sack all year. … Haynesworth should have been the Redskins’ most dominant lineman 3-4 or no 3-4, but instead, he was just one big disappointment, as has been well-documented. After boycotting the OTAs because he didn’t want to play nose tackle, he reported for training camp but had to play catchup. Jim Haslett came up with creative ways to use the Big Fella, but he never consistently put for the effort needed. Haynesworth briefly showed signs that he was starting to come around as he had strong outings in Weeks 7 and 8. But from there he fizzled and eventually got suspended with four games left in the season. … Holliday tied with Haynesworth for the defensive line’s lead in sacks (2.5), and in addition to Carriker was solid, but not dominant. His familiarity with the 3-4 helped, but he was used primarily in pass-rushing situations but didn’t generate consistent pressure. … Jarmon had a trying sophomore season. While working his way back from knee surgery, he was at first asked to lose weight to play linebacker, then coaches changed their mind and told him to bulk up to play end. Coming into the season, Jarmon was behind because he was still working to strengthen his knee, and he appeared in only five games and recorded just three tackles and half a sack.

Overall grade -- D
Growing pains were partly to blame for the struggles of the defensive line, but despite the adjustments that were made, the Redskins needed better output than they got. Haynesworth obviously was the most disappointing of the bunch, and could’ve elevated the play of his teammates had he been committed to making a difference. The Redskins have so many needs to address this offseason, but an upgrade to the defensive line is a must. The key to a dominant line in the 3-4 is having an imposing nose tackle. The Redskins also need the rest of their defensive linemen to be physical and clog running lanes. Washington’s defense this season gave up 127.6 rushing yards a game (26th) and 261.7 passing yards (31st). It all starts up front. And if they want to go anywhere next year, they have to upgrade.

We’ve gone over the quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers and tight ends. Today we’ll wrap up that side of the ball by taking a look at the offensive line before shifting our attention to the defense.

Before this season, if you mentioned Mike Shanahan, thoughts of zone blocking schemes and offensive lines effectively paving the way for dominant running games probably would have come to mind.

Continuing with the theme that plagued just about every other Redskins unit, inconsistency was the biggest problem for the line. This season, the O-line gave up 46 sacks, which was the fifth-highest total in the league, and the frequent blown assignments were also a big reason for Washington’s passing and rushing attacks ranking among the league’s worst.

There were some bright spots along the line, and a few strong games out of the unit. But once again, they couldn’t bring it week in and week out. Here’s a look at the line position by position followed by an overall grade:

LT Trent Williams -- The Redskins did accomplish at least one thing this past year and that was finding the cornerstone to their line for years to come. The rookie out of Oklahoma wasn’t perfect by any means, but he worked hard from Day 1, studied his opponents well, and most of the time was able to perform at a high level. In Week 1, Williams quickly proved his worth, doing a commendable job against Dallas’ DeMarcus Ware. He was having another solid outing in Week 2 against Houston before spraining his knee with roughly 90 seconds left in regulation. Without Williams, the Redskins couldn’t hold off the pass-rush in overtime and lost. Good footwork and athleticism were Williams’ top weapons this past season. During the offseason he needs to improve his overall strength and physicality. Mike Shanahan and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan were both pleased with Williams’ overall play this past season, but they both remarked that with about four or five games left in the season, he hit the rookie wall and wasn’t as effective. Kyle Shanahan said Williams also needed to learn to be a true professional, noting that the rookie struggled in meetings at times. Williams himself said consistency is the biggest area he can improve in. “I won’t be satisfied until I can feel like I left it all on the field every play of every game,” he said. “Obviously that wasn’t the case this year.

LG Kory Lichtensteiger/Derrick Dockery -- Dockery opened the year as the Redskins’ starting left guard, but by Week 3 at St. Louis, he had been replaced by Lichtensteiger and appeared in only two more games the rest of the season. Shanahan at the time said that Dockery needed to improved the way he practiced, but the guard himself believed he was working hard. The problem was Dockery is better as a straight ahead mauler and didn’t possess the quickness and solid enough footwork needed to hit his assignments in the zone blocking scheme. He likely will be gone next season. … Lichtensteiger had the quickness and footwork for the scheme‘s run-blocking, but his problem he wasn’t strong enough or big enough to hold off opponents. Lichtensteiger struggled mightily in pass protection early on but got slightly better as the season progressed. However, he still had some breakdowns here and there and probably would be better suited at his natural position of center.

C Casey Rabach -- Redskins coaches value Rabach’s knowledge and leadership skills, and he does a good job of identifying assignments at the line and calling out to his fellow linemen which blitzers are coming and from which direction. But this season Rabach got knocked back by defenders and into the path of his quarterback. That would collapse the pocket and give up a hurry or a blitz. Will Montgomery, like Lichtensteiger, was a center playing guard. Montgomery did a good job at center when Rabach went down against Tennessee, and Rabach could have some competition for his job next season.

RG Artis Hicks/Will Montgomery -- Hicks was signed in the offseason to play right tackle, but then guard Mike Williams was lost for the season to blood clots near his heart. Hicks had played guard before in his career, so moving him over one spot was the logical decision, and Jammal Brown was acquired to play right tackle. Hicks had his ups and downs at guard and also dealt with injury, missing the Tennessee game, returned against Minnesota but was replaced in-game by Montgomery. Hicks said at the end of the season that his problem was that he allowed himself to get derailed mentally and never was able to break out of the funk. … Montgomery started the final six games of the season and did a solid job at right guard. Despite being slightly undersized at 6-foot-3, 307 pounds, the Virginia Tech product possesses good strength and mobility, so all of the lateral movement of the zone blocking scheme’s running plays weren’t a problem for him. There were times in pass protection, however, that Montgomery got shoved back into the pocket by pass-rushers.

RT Jammal Brown/Stephon Heyer -- The Redskins last summer gave up what will be a third-round pick in this year’s draft to acquire the two-time Pro Bowl selection and former first-round pick from the New Orleans Saints. Brown was out of football in 2009 while recovering from surgery to repair a torn labrum in left his hip. Brown was a left tackle in New Orleans, and the Redskins thought he could make the transition to right tackle. But his hip recovery went slower than expected, and he struggled, especially because at right tackle, he had to push off of his bad hip. With Brown hobbled early in the season, coaches began rotating him with Stephon Heyer. Brown finally had a break through midway through the season and was told by doctors that he must’ve broken through the scar tissue that was limiting his movements. Brown made improvements as the season drew to an end and he said he wished he had another eight games to play on a much-improved hip so he could prove his worth to the Redskins and other teams that might be interested in his services as a free agent this spring. … Heyer also struggled, but not because of injury. He filled in at left tackle as well this season and was always pretty solid in run blocking, but struggled in pass protection. He actually had his most solid outing while pressed into duty at right guard.

Overall grade -- D
The Redskins simply had too many bad fits or injuries to perform at a high level on a consistent basis. They routinely struggled to provide both Donovan McNabb and Rex Grossman with enough time to throw and gave up nearly three sacks a game. And because they struggled to open up holes, Washington couldn’t always establish a run game, which would’ve in turn helped make the passing game more effective. The main bright spots were Williams and Montgomery.

An upgrade is certainly coming to this unit. The Redskins this offseason need to add a more solid option at left guard, and make a decision at center. Do they keep Rabach, who wasn’t as effective this year as in seasons past? Do they move Lichtensteiger or Montgomery to center instead? Hicks is under contract for next season as well, but will have to show in offseason workouts that he is capable of rebounding this year. Brown has said he would like to re-sign with Washington, and given that they gave up a high draft pick for him, it would be a big loss for Washington not to retain him. The one aspect that could complicate things there is the fact that Brown sees himself as a more natural left tackle, and when asked if an offer to start at left tackle from another team would be more attractive than returning to the Redskins to play right tackle, he admitted it might be nice to return to his old position, but that he’d have to talk to his agent. The Redskins also have seventh-rounders Erik Cook (a guard/center) and Selvish Capers (tackle) as well as Xavier Fulton, who finished the year on the practice squad, to evaluate for the 2011 season.

And then, in Game 2, the New York Jets look like they had blown it, giving Peyton Manning 2:36 to drive into field goal range and set up Adam Vinatieri for more game-winning heroics with a 50-yard field goal with less than 60 seconds left. But wait, Mark Sanchez and the Jets drive downfield with ease and Nick Folk is the kicker that lifted his team to a 17-16 victory? Wow.

One can only hope that Day 2 of Wildcard Weekend is even half as dramatic.

If you were a Redskins fan watching the first two games, you had to have had some thoughts along these lines throughout the day . . . .

SAINTS vs. SEAHAWKS
> Wildcard Weekend . . . Man, I thought sure Shanny and Bruce would’ve had us here this year. I mean, all the “The Future is Now” and “Are you in?” talk? Big move for a Hall of Fame quarterback? Shanahan pointing out that McNabb still had plenty of good football in him and would be his next Elway? Wow, look how things turned out: 6-10 and again no playoffs.

> Ah, a playoff game at Qwest Field. Remember those days? Why does 2007 seem so long ago? We were actually here with Coach Joe just four seasons ago. Never mind that our boys lost 35-14, and that it took until the fourth quarter for Todd Collins to hook up with Randle El (Ugh, Randle El, another free agent bust!) and Moss for touchdown passes, at least we were in the playoffs!

> Good ole Pete Carroll. He met with Snyder for nine ours back in 2008 about the coaching job, didn’t he? Wonder why they couldn’t get the deal done? Zorn was who we wound up with?!

> Wow, Hassellbeck is having himself a game! There’s old buddy Gregg Williams (another guy that could’ve been our head coach in ’08 instead of Zorn). Why’s he going with all those soft zones so Hassellbeck can carve him up? Didn’t he learn anything from facing this guys in the playoffs with us in ’05 and ’07? Oh, well. At least we don’t have to keep seeing him every week to be reminded of days when we had a stud defense.

> Mike Williams. So that’s what a big receiver can do for ya, huh?

> What a run by Marshawn Lynch! Sixty-seven yards to paydirt to seal the game? Wow! (Weren’t there rumors we were interested in him earlier this year?) Hold up, now. What are these message board clowns talking about? No way that’s the greatest post-season run in NFL history! No way, man. No way! Riggo's run back in '82 was way, way better! Won the Super Bowl!

> Wow, a team that won one more game than us is one win away from the NFC Championship. Unreal.

JETS vs. COLTS
> Look at L.T. with two touchdowns. Still getting it done. Why didn’t Shanahan bring in LaDainian Tomlinson instead of Larry Johnson and Willie Parker?

> Jets’ defense. So THAT is what a 3-4 is supposed to look like, huh?

> Oh, Jets blew it! You don’t give Peyton Manning 2:36! And here comes Vinatieri. He does it again! (What would it be like to have a clutch kicker year in and year out?)

> Wait, the Jets aren’t really gonna march this thing downfield in less than a minute are they? Big hookup from Sanchez to Edwards, there. Yeah, go get us a young QB. It’s working out pretty well for the Jets.

> Again, that’s what a big wideout can do for ya, huh? No way our shorter receivers could’ve made a grab on a throw that high.

> Wow, Nick Folk. Another kicker getting it done.

> OK, let’s fix that 3-4 D and put an O-line in front of a young QB and grow him the right way. We’ll take our lumps. But if New York can make it to the playoffs back-to-back years with Sanchez as a rookie and now a sophomore, why can’t we?

Ah, Redskins fans. Reminders all around of what could be but what isn’t. Here’s to fewer reminders on Day 2 of Wildcard Weekend.

The Redskins in their first season in Kyle Shanahan’s system made progress in some areas but also fell short in others. A year after ranking 16th in passing offense, they jumped up to eighth in the NFL with 3,913 passing yards. But Washington produced only 21 touchdowns through the air, which ranked 22nd in the league. The Redskins also were next to last in the league in third down conversions (29 percent).

The Redskins for the first time since 1989 had three pass-catchers with at least 800 yards apiece, but aside from Santana Moss, Chris Cooley and Anthony Armstrong, there were no consistent contributors.

Here’s a look at how the Redskins’ receivers and tight ends did this season:

RECEIVERS
Santana Moss -- The 10th-year veteran took to Kyle Shanahan’s offense just fine and set a career high for catches (94) and with 1,115 receiving yards, he topped the 1,000-yard mark for the fourth time in his career. Moss’ 94 catches ranked fourth in the NFL, and his yardage total was the 10th highest this season. Touchdowns were hard to come by for Moss, however. Although his six scores doubled his total from last season, they ranked 29th in the NFL. Shanahan moved Moss all over the field to create mismatches, and Moss benefited greatly. Moss wasn’t used much as a deep threat. His 12-yard-per-catch average was the lowest of his career. He had some costly drops -- the biggest of which was what likely would’ve either been a game-winning touchdown against Dallas, or at least would’ve moved Washington into range for a game-winning field goal. Grade: B

Anthony Armstrong -- When Kyle Shanahan came to Washington, he didn’t even know who Anthony Armstrong was. But the former practice squad member this season emerged into one of the team’s top pass-catching threats and finished the year with 44 catches for 871 yards and three touchdowns. His yardage total is the most by a first-year Redskin since Gary Clark had 926 receiving yards as a rookie in 1985. And Armstrong’s 19.8 yard-per-catch average ranked third in the NFL behind DeSean Jackson (22.5) and Pittsburgh’s Mike Wallace (21.0). Early this season, it first looked like Armstrong was a one-trick pony as the Redskins used him only on deep routes. But late this season, Kyle Shanahan began using him in more of a variety of ways: screens, crossing routes, intermediate routes. It appears that this 27-year-old former arena league player is a keeper. The only negative was that for all of his big-gain catches, Armstrong had only three touchdowns. A few times he stumbled out of bounds after making the grabs, other times the balls were under thrown and he had to slow up to make the catch. Jackson had six catches, Wallace had 10. San Diego's Malcolm Floyd (19.4 yards per catch) had six touchdowns. The next step in Armstrong’s progression is turning those big gains into scores. Grade: A-

The rest -- If you were grading this unit as a whole, you’d probably have to hand out something like a D-plus or C-minus. After Moss and Armstrong, there were no consistent contributors. Joey Galloway obviously gets a failing grade. Tired of his lack of aggression in going after the balls that came his way leading to interceptions, the Redskins cut him with a month left in the season. Roydell Williams surprisingly survived the whole season and had had only eight catches for 109 yards while being targeted only 18 times. A possible bright spot for the future is rookie Terrence Austin, who spent most of the year on the practice squad and had only three catches for 47 yards. His two catches for 41 yards late in the season finale are cause for optimism. Brandon Banks was a stud on kick and punt returns, but had only two catches for 10 yards. He likely would’ve been used more as a receiver during the second half of the season had it not been for his knee surgery, from which he never fully recovered. The Redskins really could’ve used a bigger receiver to go with Moss and Armstrong. Maybe that could’ve been Malcolm Kelly, but he was on IR all year.

TIGHT ENDS
Chris Cooley -- The two-time Pro Bowl selection rebounded from an injury-shortened 2009 campaign with 77 catches for 849 yards (tying a career high) and three touchdowns. The tight end revealed today during his weekly radio appearance with the Sports Junkies on 106.7 The Fan that he did all that on a knee that had a meniscus tear. (He says he suffered the injury when former Redskins teammate Todd Yoder’s wife kicked him in the offseason.) Cooley purposefully kept his injury private during the season and instead just gutted it out. His totals likely could have been higher this season, but he at times was a forgotten man during stretches of games. Cooley basically had only one bad game and that was in Jacksonville when he dropped four of the five first-half passes that came his way. Otherwise, he was his usual productive Captain Chaos self. Cooley played nearly 1,000 snaps (a team high) this season, and in nine games played every offensive snap. Considering he was on the field that much with a meniscus tear is pretty impressive. Grade: A-

Fred Davis -- Davis this season had just 21 catches for 316 yards and three touchdowns. Considering the third-year tight end caught all but eight passes that came his way, perhaps Kyle Shanahan should have gone to him more in two-tight end sets. Many times Davis was kept in to provide extra pass protection, but he wasn’t the most sure pass-protector. Grade: B+

Logan Paulsen -- The rookie tight end played in 11 games, but was used mainly as an additional blocker in jumbo packages. He had two catches for 10 yards, one of them being a 1-yard touchdown grab. But his action was too limited to hand out a conclusive grade. Considering he wasn’t used often, but appeared to do a solid job when he did get playing time, I supposed you could give the “Satisfactory” grade.