Capital gains

Redskins add talent, speed in hopes of playoff run

Patrick Ramsey threw six TDs and only two picks in his final four games last season. Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

By B. Duane Cross, SI.com

Hail to the Redskins -- and we're not taking a shot (this time) at Coach Superior or ol' Danny Boy. In fact, Spurrier and Snyder are to be commended (this time) for their offseason spending.

Losing obviously did not sit well with Steve Spurrier, so he overhauled Washington's roster -- adding four New York Jets in the process -- in hopes of returning the Skins to the top of the NFC East.

Leading the Redskins' offense will be second-year QB Patrick Ramsey, already hailed as one of the playersto watch in 2003. John Allen of Scripts Howard News Service says, "Patrick Ramsey was a surprise first-round pick for the Washington Redskins. The Tulane quarterback was considered a raw prospect, but he ended his first season in the Steve Spurrier quarterback rotation on top. Despite missing most of training camp as a holdout, Ramsey saw significant playing time by the first Sunday in October, throwing for 268 yards and two scores without an interception in a win at Tennessee.

While he started fast, Ramsey struggled, completing more than 50 percent of his passes in only two of the remaining six games in which he threw more than one pass. This season, Ramsey will have more weapons around him in new receivers Laverneus Coles and Taylor Jacobs and running back Trung Canidate.

And that's where it starts for Washington -- on offense. Ramsey, Coles, Jacobs, Canidate and holdover WR Rod Gardner will be relied on heavily to get the Skins in position to challenge for a playoff berth. Facing stiff competition from the Eagles and Giants, two playoff teams from a year ago, and the Bill Parcells-led Cowboys, Spurrier & Co. are still regarded as a team on the come.

As Ramsey told The Washington Times, "I see a lot [of progress]. Guys are pretty assignment-sure. Obviously, we have things we need to work on. ... [But] we've provided ourselves with a foundation that we can build on in training camp and really be far along in the preseason."

Despite the departure of defensive guru Marvin Lewis to Cincinnati, Washington returns a wealth of talent at linebacker and in the secondary, and even made a few offseason signings to bolster the defensive front four.

All in all, it was a very productive offseason for Spurrier. The team was infused with a much-needed dose of speed, and with Stephen Davis departed in favor of Canidate, the offense could set sail for the playoffs. Then again, if it fails, there's always next offseason to spend, spend ... and spend some more.