Second-year coach Jim Zorn won't likely get a third season if he does not show significant progress late in the season in 2009. The Redskins started out at 6-2 last year before the offense fizzled out under lame-duck quarterback Jason Campbell. In the last eight games, the Skins scored just 100 points and tallied less than 17 ppg for the season, ranking in the bottom five of the league. The O-line was mostly overmatched, and Campbell was the scapegoat as he had far too few downfield threats (speedy Santana Moss was always double-teamed). Clinton Portis gained 1,487 yards rushing, but only got as many as 80 yards twice in those fateful last eight weeks. The aging O-line still has questions, and director of football operations Vinny Cerrato didn't upgrade much at any of the skill positions, either. Still, with Campbell running Zorn's West Coast for the second season, perhaps there will be an improvement because of the team's familiarity with the offense this year. Capable Ladell Betts should continue to pilfer carries from Portis as he continues to evolve.

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The defense was ranked fourth in the league, and added a nine-figure signee in Albert Haynesworth. The defensive tackle was taken from Tennessee and figures to immediately impact the division. Owner Daniel Snyder also wrote big checks to re-sign CB DeAngelo Hall and added DE Brian Orakpo in the draft, which should bolster an already solid defense. Cerrato certainly figures to be on the hottest seat after the one-year experiment with Jason Taylor was deemed a failure after Taylor scurried back to Miami in the offseason. With Snyder spending lots of cash to field a winner, the Skins must show no signs of regression this fall the way they did last year in November and December.

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