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NFC East: Washington Redskins preview

Clinton Portis

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Predicted order of finish in the NFC East: Third

Coach: Joe Gibbs, first season, 13th season overall (124-60).

2003: 5-11 (third in NFC East). Steve Spurrier quit after going 12-20 in two seasons.

Key additions: LB Michael Barrow, QB Mark Brunell, DE Phillip Daniels, DT Cornelius Griffin, CB Walt Harris, RB Clinton Portis, TE Walter Rasby, C Cory Raymer, CB Shawn Springs, S Sean Taylor, WR James Thrash, LB Marcus Washington.

Key losses: LB Jessie Armstead, CB Champ Bailey, RB Trung Canidate, DT Lional Dalton, OG Dave Fiore, TE Zeron Flemister, DL Bernard Holsey, FB Bryan Johnson, OL Larry Moore, DE Bruce Smith, LB Jeremiah Trotter, DE Regan Upshaw.

Pre-snap read: Gibbs returns after 12 years away from the NFL — Dan Snyder's fourth coach in five years as owner of the team. In his first stint with the team, Gibbs had just one losing season and won three Super Bowls. For his return, he brought many of his old assistants with him, as well as some new ones, like defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. Snyder paid out $50 million in signing bonuses for veterans and traded for a new backfield of Brunell and Portis. The Redskins figure to have seven new starters on each side of the ball in an effort to boost an offense that was 23rd in 2003 and a defense that was 25th.

What to expect: It took Dick Vermeil three years to create a competitive team when he returned from a 15-year hiatus in 1997. With new coaches, new players and a new system, the same will probably be true for Gibbs and his crew.

The line on the line: Joe Bugel, who coached Washington's Hogs of the 1980s, has brought stability to a unit that had no direction under Spurrier. There are three new starters after RT Jon Jansen was lost for the season with an Achilles injury. Grade: C

Offensive leaders
Pos.	Player	2003 statistics
QB	Mark Brunell	484 yds, 2 TD, 0 INT
RB	Clinton Portis	1,591 yds, 5.5 avg, 14 TD
WR	Laveranues Coles	82 rec, 1,204 yds, 6 TD
WR	Rod Gardner	59 rec, 600 yds, 5 TD
TE	Walter Rasby	6 rec, 55 yds, 0 TD

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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