Ron Borges

After a 5-6 start last season, the Redskins finally came on, winning five straight to end the regular season, then beat Tampa in the playoffs before losing to eventual NFC champion Seattle. The question was whether that late-season rush was a measure of who they really are?

Off what the Redskins showed throughout a disappointing exhibition season, it was not. Coach Joe Gibbs's comeback to the sidelines seemed to be foundering until that late-season rush and now the Redskins' pre-season disappointments have the doubters again wondering if the game has passed him by.

To his credit, Gibbs has added brilliant offensive coordinator Al Saunders to a staff that has the same kind of excellence on defense in coordinator Gregg Williams. Both seem to have enough weapons for the Redskins to be in the thick of things from start to finish this time, but they have not played like a team ready to compete with the Giants and Cowboys, although they have the talent to.

Wide receiver Santana Moss (1,483 yards, 84 receptions) was given some welcome reinforcements in free agent Antwaan Randle-El and ex-49er Brandon Lloyd. Randle-El probably will serve as the slot receiver with Moss facing the double teams while Lloyd gets the chance to make enough plays early in the year to free up Moss at some point. That improvement in the passing attack assumes Mark Brunell's unraveling in the postseason and continued struggles this summer aren't the first signs that at 36 he's coming apart. One thing that would help is if the offensive line stays healthy. It is a stout group, especially at tackle, when everyone is in one piece, but for Brunell to stay that way the men up front, especially tackles Chris Samuels and Jon Jansen, have to hold up physically.

Another problem is the shoulder of running back Clinton Portis. It is unclear how long the injury he sustained during the preseason will keep him sidelined but as insurance the Redskins traded for power running T.J. Duckett to rotate with Ladell Betts until he can get back onto the field.

Portis is not a perfect fit for the way Gibbs likes to see his backs run, but he put up 1,516 yards rushing so it's unlikely Duckett or Betts will do enough to unseat him.

Defensively, Williams has put together an aggressive defense that likes to blitz. In an effort to improve the rush, the 'Skins signed free agent defensive end Andre Carter, who is the kind of player Williams will make good use of. Carter had 12 1/2 sacks in 2002 with the 49ers but only 13 since. Why? Playing for the 49ers is part of the reason. Now Williams will search for ways to utilize his rushing skills. Carter was ill-suited to play linebacker in a 3-4, as he did with the 49ers, but he's back at defensive end and Williams has moved defensive end Philip Daniels to the left side to accomodate Carter.

Slide show   Week in Sports Pictures Dogs on the ski slopes, motorcycles in the harbor and more madness from the sports world. more photos

The addition of free agent safety Adam Archuleta adds a knockout dimension to the secondary, where bad boy Sean Taylor already patrols.

Williams will run coverages that allow Archuleta to play close to the line of scrimmage to help stuff the run, and he can get away with it because of Taylor's ability to make plays on the ball all over the field. Their ability, and Williams' coaching, will put them both in position to turn games around. The concern going into the season is an injury to cornerback Shawn Springs, which has temporarily put Kenny Wright on the corner in his place. That's a dropoff in ability of some consequence. Still, if Carter provides the kind of big plays from the front seven that departed LaVar Arrington stopped making, the defense should be competitive with anyone.

None of that may matter, however, if Brunell is unraveling.

Hot seat
Mark Brunell. Fairly or unfairly, when a quarterback turns 36, people start to look at him funny. This is no laughing matter for Brunell, who is immobile and dogged by the presence of young former No. 1 pick Jason Campbell behind him. Brunell's 2005 numbers can be deceiving. He threw for 3,050 yards, 23 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions with a quarterback rating of 85.9, but he had 12 of those TDs and only two picks in the team's first five games. In the final 11 he threw only 11 touchdowns and eight picks, and he had only 41 passing yards against Tampa in the playoff victory. He didn't look much better in the loss to Seattle, and he's struggled this summer, so the coaching staff has to wonder if he's losing it. With improved receivers new offensive coordinator Al Saunders is expecting Brunell to throw the ball on time and in tight spots. If he can't get it there, Campbell may be called upon to see if it's time for youth to be served in Washington.

Overheard
A battle waged between veteran Warrick Holdman and second-round pick Rocky McIntosh for the right to replace Arrington. Holdman was a disappointment last season, but Williams' demands were too much for the rookie. So the job is Holdman's, for now. But if McIntosh begins to grasp the defense as the season wears on, things could get Rocky for Holdman unless he plays better.

Outlook
It's a mystery. The defense should be at least as good as a year ago but hasn't played like it. The offense has more weapons around Brunell than a year ago, but he's playing worse. Perhaps the biggest concern for Gibbs and Saunders is that only five quarterbacks who started a playoff game the last two years were 30 or older. That's a trend that has to be respected in Washington too, off of the way Brunell seems to be fading.

Prediction
Third.

NFL TRAINING CAMP PREVIEWS Click for the latest on your favorite teams (teams listed in predicted order of finish) AFC EAST Patriots Dolphins Jets Bills NFC EAST Cowboys Giants Redskins Eagles AFC NORTH Bengals Steelers Ravens Browns NFC NORTH Bears Vikings Lions Packers AFC SOUTH Colts Jaguars Texans Titans NFC SOUTH Panthers Falcons Bucs Saints AFC WEST Broncos Chiefs Chargers Raiders NFC WEST Seahawks Cardinals Rams 49ers

MORE FROM NFL

NFL Section Front

Chargers' woes won't be easily fixed Buzz missing from Raiders-Chargers rivalry Novacek's picks: Chargers will find a way Thursday NFL to broadcast first game in 3-D on Thursday   Curran's picks for Week 14 Expert: Steelers may be best of wide-open AFC Madden's previews for Week 14 Matchups if NFL playoffs started today Judge blocks drug suspension of Vikings DTs   NFL players union sues to block suspensions NFL Section Front   Add NFL headlines to your news reader: