The Washington Redskins’ added one of the last missing pieces to their offense by agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with veteran running back Tim Hightower.

That adds Hightower to a running back mix that features Roy Helu, Evan Royster and sixth-rounder Alfred Morris. Let the competition begin.

The team will hold its first round of organized team activities next week. They will run on May 21, 23 and 24th, May 29-31 and June 4-7. The team’s mandatory minicamp takes place June 11-14, and then comes a lull in the action until late July, when training camp kicks off.

Many starting jobs appear to be decided, but some remain up for grabs. Sure, it’s early and a lot could – and likely will – change between now and the start of the season. But let’s take a look at the projected starting lineups and possible position battles on offense and defense.

OFFENSE:

QB Robert Griffin III

RB Tim Hightower. Challengers: Roy Helu, Evan Royster

FB Darrel Young

TE Fred Davis. Challenger: Chris Cooley

WR: Pierre Garcon, Josh Morgan, Leonard Hankerson. Challengers: Santana Moss, Anthony Armstrong, Brandon Banks, Aldrick Robinson, Terrence Austin

LT: Trent Williams

LG: Kory Lichtensteiger. Challengers: Josh LeRibeus, Adam Gettis, Maurice Hurt

C: Will Montgomery

RG: Chris Chester

RT: Jammal Brown. Challengers: Willie Smith, Tyler Polumbus

Notes: Hightower is coming back from a torn ACL, but Redskins coaches consider him valuable. He’s the most well-rounded of the backs on the roster and a strong leader. Helu and Royster aim to overtake him with a year of playing time under their belts. … The Redskins don’t currently have a backup fullback on the roster, but Kyle Shanahan’s three-receiver and double-tight end sets often eliminate the need for a fullback. … It will be interesting to see how things play out at wide receiver, where Garcon and Morgan, or Hankerson, will likely start. Those three are likely to be on the field together often, with either Morgan or Hankerson lining up in the slot. How does that affect Santana Moss? Judging by Coach Mike Shanahan’s comments last week, it sounds as if the soon-to-be 33-year-old will be reduced to a reserve role. But he also has Banks and Robinson eying snaps at that slot receiver position. … Lichtensteiger continues to make progress in his return from torn knee ligaments, but LeRibeus (who also is being groomed as a backup center) or Gettis could contend for that starting left guard job. … Right tackle will be interesting. Shanahan says he feels much better about Jammal Brown and his hip after an offseason of rehab, but will the former Pro Bowl tackle be able to truly return to form? If not, does the team go with a promising second-year player in Smith with Polumbus and sixth-rounder Tom Compton as the backup tackles? … Another key competition is at kicker, where incumbent Graham Gano and free agent signing Neil Rackers face off.

DEFENSE

DE: Adam Carriker. Challenger: Jarvis Jenkins

NT: Barry Cofield

DE: Stephen Bowen

OLB: Ryan Kerrigan

ILB: London Fletcher

ILB: Perry Riley

OLB: Brian Orakpo

CB: DeAngelo Hall

CB Josh Wilson

SS: Brandon Meriweather. Challengers: Reed Doughty, DeJon Gomes

FS: DeJon Gomes. Challengers: Tanard Jackson, Madieu Williams, Doughty

Notes: The front seven remains intact thanks to the re-signings of Fletcher and Carriker, but the team gets a valuable addition with the return of Jenkins, who missed all of his rookie season with a torn ACL. He figures to see significant snaps at both left and right defensive end. The team also brought back the reliable Kedric Golston, who can spell either end as well, and is counting on second-year pro Chris Neild for depth at nose tackle. … Hall and Wilson both return, but there will be competition at nickelback. Kevin Barnes remains under contract, but the team signed veteran Leigh Torrence and undrafted rookie Chase Minnifield, and also has second-year back, Brandyn Thompson. And where does Cedric Griffin fit? … The biggest question mark involves the two safety positions. Gone are LaRon Landry and Oshiomogho Atogwe, and there are some uncertainties about nearly every player in the mix. Can Meriweather return to the two-time Pro Bowl form he showed in New England in 2009 and 2010, or will he disappoint as he did in Chicago, where he lost his job after four games? Can Gomes flourish in his second season and hold down the free safety duties? Or will one of two free agent signings, Jackson or Williams, claim the job?

More on the Redskins:

Monk is lead plaintiff in concussion lawsuit

Throwback uniforms

Upgrades at Redskins Park

Washington Redskins coach
Mike Shanahan is convinced his title-hungry club has found its
franchise quarterback in Robert Griffin III but admits an
instant return to the glory years is not on the horizon.

Griffin was the second player chosen in Thursday’s NFL
Draft, the Redskins’ first top-flight signal-caller since Joe
Theismann stood under center in the mid-1980s.

“We have a lot of belief that he is going to do everything
he possibly can to give us the best chance to win and for him to
be as good as he’s going to be,” Shanahan told reporters.

“It is up to me to get him the right supporting cast and the
right system so he feels comfortable with what we’re doing
without putting too much pressure on him.

“There is a learning curve and it does not happen overnight.
Take a look at all the great quarterbacks over the years. It
doesn’t happen just like that.”

The Redskins have won three Super Bowls but the last one
followed the 1991 season and the once-proud franchise has spent
most of the last 20 years searching for an elite quarterback.

Griffin, a Baylor graduate who won the Heisman Trophy in
2011 as the nation’s top collegiate player, said he is familiar
with the Redskins and the NFC East.

“Being a Texas kid, you always watch Philadelphia, the
Cowboys, the Giants and Washington just because they’re all in
the same division, and you’re in Texas,” said Griffin, known as
RG3.

“I’ve seen the Redskins over the years. I’ve seen the many
quarterbacks that they’ve gone through.

“I’m glad that the organization and the coaching staff
bought into drafting a younger quarterback, trying to make him
their franchise quarterback and growing with him.”

Washington won three of its first four games last season but
stumbled down the stretch with Rex Grossman and John Beck at
quarterback and finished 5-11. After the season, the Redskins
traded four draft picks, including two future first-rounders, to
get into position to select Griffin.

Shanahan, who won two Super Bowls as coach of the Denver
Broncos, said Griffin played a different style offense at Baylor
but is convinced he will “pick up things pretty quickly.”

“There is going to be a big adjustment because they did a
good job of spreading their offense out and running the option,”
said Shanahan. “If we did that in pro football all the time, the
chances are you wouldn’t survive very long.

“These guys are big and they’re fast and they hit pretty
hard. You try to take a look at somebody’s talents and utilize
them to the fullest without trying to get your quarterback hurt
at the same time.”

Griffin, despite being one of the most physically gifted
quarterbacks in the draft, acknowledged “the speed of the game
is definitely different” at the pro level.

“You’re going against All-Americans at every single position
on the field, but I look forward to the challenge,” he said.
“That’s how I play football.

“If you can play football in high school, you can be an
elite college player. If you’re an elite college player, you can
be an elite pro. So I’m going to go out and know that.

“Yeah, I am a rookie, but I’m not going to use that as an
excuse. I’m going to try to succeed.”

The Philadelphia Eagles have nothing at stake against the Washington Redskins on Jan. 1. Eagles fans like myself can only root for a .500 record that is completely misleading to how 2011 really went – and a loss doesn’t seem likely to get Andy Reid fired anyway. The Redskins have nothing to play for either, since they are 5-10 and stuck in last place yet again.

This makes the Eagles-Redskins battle completely meaningless as a whole. What’s more, it is even more embarrassing since it is one of the few Week 17 games that have absolutely no stakes at all.

There are only two other games that will not make any impact on the playoff picture or on the top of the NFL draft order. The 7-8 Chicago Bears visit the 3-12 Minnesota Vikings, after the Bears got knocked out of the playoff race and the Vikings knocked themselves out of the race for Andrew Luck. Meanwhile, the 7-8 Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals do battle with only an 8-8 record on the line for the winner.

Every other game means something in some way for some team – and even the Indianapolis Colts-Jacksonville Jaguars battle is huge since it will settle the No. 1 draft pick one way or the other. The other finales will determine postseason berths and playoff seeding for one or both teams in action. But the Eagles and Redskins are completely free of such worries, however.

Washington is used to just playing out the last game of the season with nothing to shoot for, but it is a different story for Philadelphia. It is either resting for the postseason, trying to secure a better seed or seeking to clinch a spot in the playoffs by now. Instead, the Eagles are only attempting to reach .500 and not have any injuries that will impact the start of 2012.

Considering the rest of the high impact action in Week 17, there is no reason to tune into the Eagles-Redskins game over all the others, unless one is a fan of these teams. Unfortunately, myself and others are stuck with the Eagles and will have to yawn through the finale. In between, we will either be infuriated that Philadelphia couldn’t win four straight earlier in the season, or be mad at only the third losing season in the Reid era.

There is a slim chance that this finale could be historic as the last game in Philadelphia for Reid and DeSean Jackson, but we won’t know that for sure for weeks or months. For the moment, this is the most boring and meaningless Week 17 Eagles game in a long time, and perhaps the most boring Week 17 battle in the NFL as a whole.

Robert Dougherty is a life-long Philadelphia resident who has followed the Eagles since he was eight years old.

Other stories by this contributor

Shanahan, Reid likely to survive disappointing 2011

Smith latest Dallas legend to question Cowboys

Cowboys, Giants to reverse momentum yet again?

2011 Jets collapse nearly as bad as 2008

Rumors of Spagnuolo’s return to Eagles more of the same

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

Here we go again, Redskins fans.

Another December, another losing record, another season that’s coming to an end with no postseason contention. The Washington Redskins are once again playing with an eye toward their future, they are using the last two weeks of the 2011 regular season to study their roster for the next year, and big decisions are already on their way.

Fans are probably once again disappointed, but looking at the long-term plan that the Shanahan era has brought in town, there’s also reason for optimism.

The two-year record may tell another story—it’s simply another losing effort which fans are tired of. However, Shanahan inherited a team that needed major improvements in a large number of spots and did a decent job in the last 24 months to adjust as many things as possible—and let’s not forget that he helped to change a fundamental aspect: the culture.

History taught us that winning teams are built through excellent draft choices and smart management, none of which was seen inside Redskins Park since owner Dan Snyder purchased the franchise that he loves so much.

The Redskins have been considered a joke in recent years. They signed a lot of bad free agents, basing all the evaluation process on bringing in the big name, giving roster spots to players who rarely produced as expected.

They gave away many high draft picks while failing to build a rock-solid foundation for seasons to come, contrary to what great teams like the Patriots, the Ravens or the Steelers have been able to do.

Shanahan and Bruce Allen may have kept that bad habit alive when they decided to trade for Donovan McNabb, a move that backfired, but the overall belief is that they’ve chosen the correct path to right this sinking ship.

Shanahan didn’t tolerate any prima donna acts. He put any player on his roster on the same level (no, Fat Albert, that contract didn’t mean that you were the best player on the team). He had the courage to suspend players that didn’t follow his lead and sent a clear message to the entire locker room—he came there to win, simple as that.

Utilizing Jim Haslett’s coaching experience, he switched the defense to a 3-4 without having the right personnel to properly run the scheme from day one, but this year the defensive side of the ball has witnessed significant improvements.

Pre-Shanahan players adapted well, and the new ones were asked to fill in immediately, and mostly did.

But defense has been the lesser problem for a long time.

The Redskins struggled mightily to find the right quarterback—McNabb, Grossman and Beck all failed in a certain way. This is the only roster spot for which Shanahan probably never had a plan, or was probably waiting to develop one knowing that the problem was meant to be solved approaching the 2012 draft.

This year’s draft was correctly used to pick some roster elements that fit the new defensive scheme and to add overall depth, so quarterback was not a high priority.

Even if it’s difficult to believe that Shanahan has seen something in a player (Beck) who actually still never has won as a starter in this league, he gave him a chance. But would be the Redskins a better team if Grossman would’ve run the offense without being demoted?

Anyway, whoever played this season was hopefully a mere bridge between today and the beginning of a new era.

Speaking of Rex, the team knew what it was getting from the former Florida Gator. Grossman never was the best decision-maker available and has always been turnover-prone, but he proved that he could give the offense the best chance to create big plays.

However, the Redskins once again lack the franchise player that they  desperately need to make a run to the postseason any given year. The team strongly deserves this after two decades of frustrating suffering.

Mistakes made by past management produced three playoffs appearances since the last time the team won the Super Bowl.

That’s not acceptable anymore in a place like Washington.

During that time span, no one found a way to make the offense work. Joe Gibbs, in his second stint, tried to bring back his old power-rushing concepts, but for the majority of the games, opposing defenses were stopping it too easily.

Steve Spurrier and the Fun ‘N’ Gun was a complete failure. So was Marty Schottenheimer.

This has been a team that produced very little on the offensive side, so defense was the only reason the Redskins played many close games. Last year and this year, the feeling has been dangerously close to this.

The reason of hope is exactly how the culture change helped to manage this franchise differently.

For the first time in the Snyder era, the draft was given strong value. Shanahan and Allen made a Patriot-like move, obtaining 12 picks. The Redskins picked well in the last two years, finally bringing into town something comparable to a solid foundation.

Think about the new generation of players.

Trent Williams, Shanahan’s first pick as a Redskin, steadily improved from his rookie campaign. Perry Riley, a fourth-rounder in 2010, has taken McIntosh’s starting spot. Ryan Kerrigan, this year’s first-round pick, proved doubters wrong and made an efficient switch from college defensive end to 3-4 outside linebacker.

Roy Helu Jr. is a one-cut back that fits perfectly in Shanahan’s typical zone-blocking scheme and is already considered the team’s future featured back. Niles Paul was valuable on blocking schemes, and last Sunday was utilized as third receiver. Leonard Hankerson showed flashes of the player this offense has desperately searched for for years—someone with athleticism and size—before ending on injured reserve.

The Redskins won only five games, couldn’t manage leads and gave up games that shouldn’t have been lost, a sinister feeling that brought everyone back to the disastrous Jim Zorn days.

But recent outings proved that they have improved so much, and they somehow moved the chains despite losing (again) Chris Cooley for season and not having Santana Moss active for a long time.

Grossman developed a nice chemistry with Jabar Gaffney, a player that should be on next year’s roster for his ability to make plays, and the rushing game can only improve as Helu accumulates experience and once Tim Hightower returns a healthy player.

Something’s still wrong, but the new Redskins’ operating ways could hold a competitive future.

The third draft run by Mike Shanahan will hopefully answer many questions, including to determine who will be the best signal-caller to accept this challenge.

Credit: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A quick glance at a stat sheet reveals a respectable Washington Redskins offense.

Rated 17th in the NFL in total offense, the Redskins boast the league’s 12th-ranked passing attack.

Rookie running back Roy Helu has rushed for at least 100 yards in each of the past three games. And the unit performed well last Sunday in a 34-27 loss to the New England Patriots.

Today, the Redskins (4-9) play at the New York Giants (7-6).

But there is a reason Redskins’ fans hold their breath every time they see the offense break from the huddle.

During a season full of shortcomings, the Redskins have been beset by turnovers.

Washington’s 30 turnovers trail only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ and Philadelphia Eagles’ 31 for the highest in the NFL. The Redskins’ minus-14 turnover ratio is worst in the league.

Redskins coach Mike Shanahan remains convinced his team’s record would be substantially better if it weren’t for its tendency to give the ball to the other team.

Shanahan pointed to four games as especially galling.

“You’re talking about the two Dallas games, you’re talking about the Jets game (and) talk about the game (against the Patriots),” Shanahan said. “All of a sudden, you’re 7-6 instead of where you’re at, and that’s the difference between winning and losing the games you just mentioned.”

Indeed, the Redskins’ hopes against the Patriots (10-3) were derailed by a costly late-game interception. On third and goal from the 9-yard line, quarterback Rex Grossman’s pass went off the hands of wide receiver Santana Moss and was caught by linebacker Jerod Mayo (Hampton) with 22 seconds left.

That sealed the Redskins’ eighth loss in their past nine games.

Mayo’s interception wasn’t the only critical turnover suffered by the Redskins last week. Facing third-and-9 from his 5-yard-line, Grossman dropped into the end zone, moved to his right and, as he cocked his arm to pass, was hit by defensive end Andre Carter, a former Redskins player. Grossman fumbled, and the Patriots recovered for a touchdown.

The Redskins have 27 straight games with a turnover, the longest active streak in the NFL. They have failed to win the turnover battle in every game this season.

Much of the blame goes to Grossman, whose 20 turnovers overshadow the 13 touchdowns he has produced this year. In 13 starts over two seasons with the Redskins, Grossman has turned over the ball 27 times, including a recent string of nine starts with an interception.

Only Tampa Bay’s Josh Freeman and San Diego’s Phillip Rivers have exceeded Grossman’s 16-interception mark this season.

Part of the problem has been lack of protection, which often prompts Grossman to hurry throws into coverage. In addition to 36 sacks, the Redskins’ offensive line has yielded 93 quarterback hits, a number surpassed by only two teams.

“We need to figure out a way to eliminate mistakes so we get a little bit of a cushion,” Grossman said. “You look at our record, (we) could very easily, just two or three plays, be a lot better. The reason those games are close is because of mistakes, and we need to eliminate those so we can not be five minutes left to go in the fourth quarter (and) the game can go either way.”

The Redskins’ offense will get a decent shot at stopping the self-inflicted bleeding today against a Giants defense that ranks 29th against the pass and 22nd against the run.

Grossman will need to be wary, though, of a pass rush coming off a three-sack performance last week against the Dallas Cowboys.

Protecting the football is a team goal, something that’s been drilled into the heads of every player this week.

“It’s unfortunate that we’ve had as many turnovers as we’ve had,” Redskins receiver Donté Stallworth said. “We obviously preach about it in the meetings and throughout the week. Hopefully, we can have a game where we don’t have any turnovers.”

The bookend plays of the Washington Redskins’ most recent loss to the New England Patriots also could bracket their season. In the first quarter, quarterback Rex Grossman dropped back to pass in his own end zone, was drilled by New England defensive end Andre Carter, dropped the football and yielded a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, trailing by just seven points, Grossman looked for veteran wide receiver Santana Moss inside the Patriots 5-yard line. The ball hit Moss in the hands, popped out the other side, and was intercepted.

Those were the 29th and 30th turnovers of the Redskins’ season, and they — more than any other plays — prevented Washington from winning, yet again. Only two teams — Philadelphia and Tampa Bay — have more turnovers, with 31 and 32, respectively. No team has a worse turnover margin than the Redskins, who have committed 14 more than they have created.

And this isn’t a new problem: The last time the Redskins went without a turnover was Sept. 19, 2010, 27 games ago. That’s the longest active streak in the NFL.

“This is almost every year,” said Redskins Coach Mike Shanahan. “If you look at the playoffs, the teams that don’t turn the football over, they usually win the Super Bowl. . . . If you look at turnover ratio, if you look at the teams that get in the playoffs, usually there will only be two or three that aren’t [among the best in the league]. That’s a big part of winning and losing.”

Perhaps the biggest. In 13 games this year, the Redskins — who face the New York Giants Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J. — have yet to create more turnovers than they commit. There is a direct correlation with their 4-9 record. The top five teams in turnover margin have a combined .785 winning percentage. The bottom five: .292.

For all the Redskins’ problems in what will be their fourth straight losing season — flip-flopping from Grossman to John Beck and back to Grossman at quarterback, the defense’s inability to stop opponents at crucial moments — many of the players will look back on these games and wonder: What might have happened if we had held onto the football?

Each turnover its own story

When Grossman prepared to take that ill-fated snap from center in the first quarter of last week’s game against the heavily favored Patriots, he hadn’t yet completed a pass, and the Redskins had managed a total of five yards in their two possessions. It was third and nine from their 5-yard line. In the shotgun formation, Grossman’s feet were on his own goal line.

Grossman believes that each turnover has its own story, that rarely are they the fault of one person. This season, he has had the opportunity to tell many tales. In 10 starts, he has thrown 16 interceptions. Only two players — Tampa Bay’s Josh Freeman and San Diego’s Philip Rivers — have thrown more picks. Of the 29 quarterbacks with more than 240 pass attempts this season, none has a higher interception percentage than Grossman’s 4.6.

“We’ve been competitive in most of our games that we’ve lost,” Grossman said. “It comes down to a play here or a play there and, I think, without a lot of those turnovers, maybe we can put ourselves in that situation where we dominate a team. We’ve got to figure out a way to finish those games that are tight. We also need to figure out a way to eliminate mistakes so we get a little bit of a cushion.”

Rookie running back Roy Helu has galvanized the Washington Redskins‘ running attack over the past three games. He has rushed for at least 100 yards in each since coach Mike Shanahan appointed him the team’s featured back.

That success has carried over to the passing game, too. Opponents are respecting the threat Helu poses, and that has unlocked Washington’s play-action passes.

“We’ve talked about that from Day 1 – through preseason and our first four regular-season games – when the running game is going, the play-action game always improves,” Shanahan said. “It better improve, because that’s where your big plays usually come. We’ve come up with a few more big plays in play-action and a little bit more consistency. Hopefully, we can continue to do that.”

Since Helu became the full-time starter against Seattle on Nov. 27, the Redskins have posted their two best yards-per-pass averages of the season.

Quarterback Rex Grossman averaged 8.5 yards per attempt against Seattle and 8.4 against New England last Sunday. The previous high was 6.8.

Against Seattle, the Redskins effectively ran play-action on quarterback keepers to misdirect the linebackers and safeties. There was less of that against New England, but fake handoffs still were effective in drawing the linebackers forward and opening up space for receivers in the secondary.

On Jabar Gaffney’s 9-yard touchdown, for example, a fake handoff fooled a safety on Gaffney’s side of the field. That left Gaffney alone against cornerback Devin McCourty, who he easily ran away from in the end zone.

Grossman has noticed a difference between how defenses are reacting to play fakes in the past three weeks compared to earlier this season.

“Scheme-wise, when teams are really relying on their linebackers to be aggressive and have safeties come down and help, those type of play-actions work a lot better,” he said. “Obviously, when you’re running the football, I don’t care what type of scheme you have, it’s going to make the linebackers come up even more and safeties and all types of things so you can get the ball over their heads into the second level. It’s a lot easier.”

Giants‘ ground game down

The New York Giants, this Sunday’s opponent, rank last in the NFL in rushing yards and yards per carry.

“Really?” linebacker London Fletcher said. “I didn’t even realize that. You think about the Giants, obviously you typically think about them being a run-first football team.”

The Giants average only 85.8 rushing yards per game and 3.32 yards per carry. It’s easy to understand why Fletcher was surprised. New York has ranked in the top seven in the NFL in yards per carry in six of coach Tom Coughlin’s seven seasons.

One reason is that leading rusher Ahmad Bradshaw missed four games with a broken foot, and running back Brandon Jacobs sat out two other games with a knee injury.

Their rushing attack has improved, however, since Bradshaw came back two games ago. The Giants have rushed for at least 100 yards in each game.

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The Washington Redskins love talking about identity.

“You’re playing to establish our identity as an offense,” quarterback Rex Grossman said. “Establish who we are as a team.”

If this is their identity, the Redskins should enter the witness protection program in the offseason.

The offense is ranked 17th in the NFL — 31st in running and a surprising 12th in passing. But other than their 28-14 victory against the New York Giants in Week 1, the Redskins rarely have played well. Many of their points in close losses came in garbage time.

What kind of identity could the Redskins create in their final weeks? The second coming of the 1993 Redskins that won four games? Players would be better off wearing ski masks and leaving no witnesses to this mess.

There is little benefit from playing well in the final weeks of the season, no such thing as spillover into next year. The only current offensive starters who are sure to be back are running back Roy Helu, fullback Darrel Young and receivers Santana Moss and Jabar Gaffney, and the wideouts are veterans who aren’t building on anything.

Maybe Grossman will return. Right tackle Jammal Brown and center Will Montgomery could be back, too.

But out of that group, Helu is the only one who can use more experience over the final three games, including Sunday at the New York Giants. Otherwise, the 2012 starting lineup will be a bunch of returning injured or suspended players and newcomers.

Still, Shanahan dangles the prospect of returning in 2012 as a way to keep players motivated over the final weeks. Certainly, some of the current starters could remain as reserves.

“Sometimes you rate players more when you’re out of the playoffs,” Shanahan said. “It’s easy to get up when you’re playing for something. When you’re playing for pride and characters, you’re showing the coaching staff what you’re made of is a good indication of character.”

The Redskins truly believe that 30 turnovers, including 20 interceptions, cost them a winning season. Certainly they didn’t help. But by scoring a bunch of points late in games that already were decided, the Redskins have deluded themselves into thinking they were one or two plays away from winning. Opponents wouldn’t have allowed the late scores if they mattered.

“You look at our record. Very easily two or three plays could [make it] better than it is,” Grossman said.

There will be some carryover. Kyle Shanahan will become the second offensive coordinator to last three seasons in Washington since Joe Gibbs’ first stint ended in 1992. Grossman backed his beleaguered coordinator, saying continuity empowers great teams.

“I have a lot of confidence in the offensive gameplan every week,” Grossman said. “I feel like it’s one of the best in the NFL. You look across the NFL — best teams have had continuity. You look at Green Bay, New Orleans. All these teams establish what they do well and what’s unstoppable in their offense. They’re very, very precise.”

Which is precisely the Redskins’ problem.

Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or email rsnider@washingtonexaminer.com.

The
New England Patriots
squandered the majority of a seemingly comfortable lead last weekend, leaving an uneasy feeling even after their fourth straight
victory.

They left no such doubts the last time they faced the
Washington Redskins
.

The nation’s capital, however, remains the only NFL city where the Patriots have never won, a distinction that will disappear
Sunday unless the Redskins can pull off the upset and avenge a historic rout four years ago.

New England (9-3) charged to a 28-point lead against winless Indianapolis last Sunday, but was outgained 266-11 and outscored
21-0 in the final quarter, securing a 31-24 victory only after pouncing on an onside kick in the final minute.

Although the Patriots are tied for the AFC’s best record, the near-meltdown reinforced concerns about a patchwork defense
that ranks last in the NFL both overall (412.1 yards allowed per game) and against the pass (310.0).

New England’s starting safeties against the Colts were
Nate Jones
, who was making his Patriots debut, and
Matthew Slater
– typically a wide receiver.

“It’s disappointing. Go back to the drawing board and try to improve,” linebacker
Jerod Mayo
said. “We just have to learn how to put two halves together next week.”

The Patriots certainly did that against Washington during their perfect regular season in 2007, opening the game with 52 straight
points before a late Redskins touchdown made it a 52-7 final.

That remains Washington’s most lopsided loss since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.

Losing has become all too familiar for the Redskins in recent seasons. The Patriots have won eight division titles – they
would clinch another Sunday with a win and a
New York Jets
loss to Kansas City – since Washington last won the NFC East in 1999.

The Redskins (4-8) lost 34-19 to the Jets last weekend, falling to 0-4 in their last four home games, 0-3 against AFC foes
this season and 1-7 since their promising 3-1 start.

They got even more troubling news after the game, learning that tight end
Fred Davis
and left tackle
Trent Williams
would be suspended for four games – the rest of the regular season – by the NFL for repeated violations of the league’s substance
abuse policy.

“Am I disappointed in them? Big time, yeah,” coach Mike Shanahan said. “Because they affect not only themselves but this organization
and their teammates. That’s a bad decision, and they know they put us in a heck of a position.”

The Redskins selected Williams with the No. 4 overall draft pick in 2010, and Davis leads the team with 59 receptions and
796 receiving yards.

The Patriots have also used their tight ends as major weapons in the passing game – particularly
Rob Gronkowski
, who scored three more touchdowns last week. One went down as a rushing score because it was ruled a lateral by
Tom Brady
, leaving Gronkowski with 13 receiving TDs – tied with
Vernon Davis
(2009) and
Antonio Gates
(2004) for the single-season NFL record for tight ends.

“He is a tough kid and he knows how to run the routes,” Colts defensive back
Jerraud Powers
said of Gronkowski. “It also helps when you have one of the greatest quarterbacks.”

Brady may face a bit of a challenge against a Washington defense that has not allowed a 300-yard passer all season. The reigning
NFL MVP has averaged 303.3 passing yards during New England’s four-game winning streak, throwing 10 touchdowns and no interceptions
in that stretch.

Brady, though, struggled against Shanahan’s teams when the coach was in Denver. Including a postseason loss, he went 1-5 against
Shanahan’s Broncos, completing just 56.5 percent of his passes and posting a 78.1 passer rating.

Teammate
Andre Carter
played for Shanahan last season, his fifth year with the Redskins, but the defensive end didn’t fit in the 3-4 scheme. With
the Patriots moving largely to a 4-3 this year, the veteran has clicked, leading the team with nine sacks.

“He’s a very professional guy that’s smart, a well-conditioned athlete,” coach Bill Belichick said. “He really works hard
at football and things are really falling into place for him here.”

Two former Patriots –
Jabar Gaffney
and Donte’ Stallworth – are now wide receivers for the Redskins, but one player is notable in his absence from both rosters.
Each club has parted ways with
Albert Haynesworth
this year, with Washington trading the controversial defensive tackle to the Patriots, who waived him last month.

The Patriots, who’ve won at every other NFL franchise’s home venue, are favorites to defeat the Redskins on the road for the
first time. New England has only played two previous regular-season games at Washington, most recently losing 20-17 in 2003
– a game in which Brady threw three interceptions.

Redskins safety
LaRon Landry
will miss his second straight game Sunday because of a groin injury.

The 9-3 New England Patriots will travel to FedEx Field to battle the 4-8 Washington Redskins on Sunday. The Patriots seem to have hit their stride as they try to lock in a first-round bye in the playoffs, and possibly home-field advantage throughout.

The Redskins are 4-8, and they have lost seven of their last eight games. Even though their defense has been solid this season, especially against the pass, the Skins have struggled.

They have the 31st-ranked rushing attack, and inconsistent QB play from John Beck and Rex Grossman hasn’t helped.

When: Sunday, Dec. 11 at 1:00 p.m. ET

Where: FedEx Field in Landover, Md.

Watch: CBS

Spread: New England (-9)

The fact that the Patriots are nine-point favorites on the road tells you how well they’re playing and how bad Washington has looked recently. The Redskins’ anemic offense will have trouble sustaining drives. That will wear down their defense, and the pass rush will slow down, even with their two excellent young rushers, Ryan Kerrigan and Brian Orakpo.

Wes Welker has been a bit banged up, but the emergence of tight end Rob Gronkowski and the presence of veteran Deion Branch is more than enough firepower.

Over/Under: 48

The big number is tricky, as the Skins have a good defense, but poor offense. The game could easily turn out 24-10, or 28-10. This number seems a little too high in my opinion. The Patriots have scored more than 30 points four games in a row. The Skins have looked better with Grossman, but the number still scares me.

Patriots Key Injuries

Brandon Spikes—doubtful. knee

Julian Edelman—questionable, back

Patrick Chung—questionable, foot

Devin McCourty—questionable, shoulder

Wes Welker—questionable, knee

Danny Woodhead—questionable, abdomen

Redskins Key Injuries

LaRon Landry—doubtful, groin

Sav Rocca—doubtful, left ankle

Terrence Austin—questionable, hamstring

Stephen Bowen—questionable, knee

Jammal Brown—questionable, hip

London Fletcher—questionable, ankle

DeAngelo Hall—questionable, back

Fantasy Big Plays

QB Tom Brady (NE)—Despite the Redskins quality pass rush, the Pats offense is in one of those grooves. When they are clicking as they are now, they are going to score points, and that means big fantasy numbers for Brady. He hasn’t thrown an INT in a month, and when you combine that with 10 TDs, Brady is a big play.

WR Deion Branch (NE)—Branch could be a primary beneficiary of Brady’s day, with Welker less than 100 percent and the Skins keying on Gronkowski, that open things up for Branch. He has more receptions over 20 yards than any other Patriot.

Keys to Patriots Win

Turnovers are big for both teams. The Pats have to stay away from allowing the Skins to put points on the board with short drives. The Redskins offense will struggle to sustain drives, so it makes things easier if they give up short fields. Likewise, special teams will be big. They must play disciplined and smart in the coverage and punting games/

Keys to Redskins Win

The Skins must run it effectively. That means a lot of Roy Helu. Establishing him and the rushing attack will open up the play-action pass. That is when Grossman is at his best. If they do that, the Redskins will allow their defense a break, and they can apply pressure throughout the game.

Prediction

Patriots 28, Redskins 10

ANALYSIS/OPINION:

A review of the best and worst performances by the Washington Redskins‘ offense and some observations after rewatching the TV broadcast of their 34-19 loss to the New York Jets.

GAME BALLS

TE FRED DAVIS: How ironic that Davis and LT Trent Williams finish their suspension-shortened seasons on this list. Sunday’s game was a reminder of how invaluable they are to the Redskins‘ offense, and their absence over the final four games will provide more painful evidence.

The Redskins planned to target Davis because that was their best matchup. In contrast, their receivers didn’t match up very well against Jets CBs Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie. WR Jabar Gaffney, for example, did not catch a pass.

If this was Davis‘ last game as a Redskin, he went out strong by contributing to the passing game and the running game. The athleticism that makes him a dynamic pass-catcher truly stood out. His best play was a 12-yard reception on third-and-6 with the game tied, 13-13, early in the fourth quarter. New York blitzed seven defenders, leaving Davis isolated on the left against S Brodney Pool. QB Rex Grossman‘s throw was high — perhaps intentionally because Davis has two inches on Pool — and Davis jumped and caught it. His arms are strong enough to catch passes away from his body even with defenders draped on him.

On Davis‘ 30-yard reception in the second-quarter, he separated from CB Donald Strickland with a crisp ‘in’ cut and broke Strickland’s tackle to gain an additional 21 yards. He benefited from a blown coverage on his 42-yarder on the first series. Cromartie and S Eric Smith both ran with WR Santana Moss deep down the left seam, leaving the sideline wide open for Grossman to find Davis.

Davis was OK — and somewhat consistent, actually — on the edge in the running game. He sometimes struggles with big, powerful ends but he held his ground against the Jets‘ smaller outside linebackers. He ran into the secondary to block S Jim Leonhard on RB Roy Helu‘s 15-yard run on the Redskins‘ first play from scrimmage.

LT TRENT WILLIAMS:Williams‘ speed and athleticism helped RB Roy Helu rush for 100 yards for the second straight week. He moved as well as he has in several weeks, which was to be expected as time distanced him from his left knee sprain.

Williams blocked two defenders to help clear Helu’s path to the end zone on a 2-yard touchdown on the opening drive. He helped TE Logan Paulsen push DE Muhammad Wilkerson out to the left, then quickly redirected to the second level to blow up ILB David Harris. On Helu’s 8-yard run around the left edge in the third quarter, Williams blocked DL Kenrick Ellis before sprinting out into space and blocking Harris to the ground. That’s the athleticism that made him the fourth-overall pick last year.

Williams was sound in pass protection, too. When OLB Jamaal Westerman beat him with an inside move on first-and-10 on the second play of the fourth quarter, Williams recovered to block Westerman into the ground, giving QB Rex Grossman time to check down to Helu in the left flat for 12 yards. The Redskins are going to miss him even more than Davis.

RB ROY HELU:Helu’s second-half fumble and his pass protection breakdown almost cost him a spot on this list, but those gaffes don’t negate the fact he’s a driving force on the offense right now.

The Jets‘ defense was the latest group to have trouble getting him to the ground. He rushed for 66 yards after contact on 22 rushes and had 13 yards after contact on four receptions. He maintains low pad level, he’s fast enough to elude defenders and he doesn’t hesitate to initiate the contact himself.

Helu gained 11 after running through OLB Calvin Pace’s arm tackle on a rush on the opening drive. He gained eight yards around the left edge on a third-quarter carrying after running through Pace’s arm tackle. Helu also is fast and shifty enough to make something out of nothing. He eluded several defenders to gain 8 yards on a screen on the opening drive. He spun back toward the inside behind the line of scrimmage, squared his shoulders and sharply cut upfield.

Helu’s fumble in the third quarter didn’t cost the Redskins points because New York missed a 40-yard field goal. He missed a blitz pick-up against S Donald Strickland in the second quarter, which led to an intentional grounding penalty. Strickland gave Helu a stutter step in the backfield, and Helu lunged a bit and reached, which allowed Strickland to get by to the inside.

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Williams and Davis were among 11 NFL players who failed drug tests at the start of training camp, immediately after the NFL lockout was lifted. But as part of the settlement between the NFL and the players’ union, those players received no punishment under a 30-day grace period granted players. During the four-month league shutdown, players were neither tested nor counseled about drug use.

Davis and Williams both failed an additional test during the season for recreational drugs, believed to be marijuana, according to people familiar with their cases. Under the settlement between the NFL and the union, the third positive test is being treated as a second offense, which carries a four-game suspension.

Both players allegedly failed tests for marijuana use some time earlier in their careers.

News of the suspension first broke Sunday, shortly before the Redskins’ 34-19 loss to the New York Jets at FedEx Field.

Davis, whose contract expires at the end of this season, was working with an attorney before the NFL issued its statement Tuesday afternoon to determine whether he could challenge the penalty. But he seemed to have little recourse. Because the suspension is part of a deal between the league and the union, he would have to challenge both if he went to court.

Davis’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, has not responded to requests for comment.

Williams, according to one person who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, accepted the suspension after he and his representatives concluded they had no other choice except to fight both the NFL and the union. The Williams camp, the person said, was disappointed with the deal struck by the union, believing the final outcome should have been more lenient because of the circumstances of the lockout.

The Redskins confirmed the suspensions Tuesday afternoon, after the NFL issued its statement. Under league policy, neither player will be allowed to visit the team’s Redskins Park facility or take part in any team-related activities until the suspension is lifted immediately following the regular season. They also will be removed from the team’s 53-man roster.

Davis has career highs this season in catches (59) and yards (796). He is in the final year of his rookie contract and is scheduled to be a restricted free agent after this season. He was supposed to make $600,000 this year but will likely lose $141,176 by missing the final four games.

Williams, the fourth pick in the 2010 NFL draft, was set to earn $7.852 million in the second year of his rookie contract. He stands to lose nearly $1.85 million.

Redskins Coach Mike Shanahan declined Monday to discuss the matter until he was notified by the league. Williams and Davis were at Redskins park Monday and participated normally in team activities, he said. Players had the day off Tuesday.

“Number one, there’s a strict, confidential protocol between the NFL and the players association, and I have not talked or spoken with the NFL thus far,” Shanahan said Monday. “Until I do, there’s not really anything I can say at this point. . . . I don’t want to go through those scenarios — hypothetical situations — until I know for sure what the NFL and the players association has agreed to.”

Staff writers Rick Maese and Barry Svrluga contributed to this report.

Washington Redskins left tackle Trent Williams and tight end Fred Davis were formally suspended without pay for four games by the NFL Tuesday after failing multiple drug tests, according to a statement issued by the league Tuesday afternoon.The suspensions begin immediately

Williams reluctantly accepted the penalty earlier Tuesday, according to a person familiar with his situation. Davis’s response was less clear; he had been exploring other options over the suspension, which was hammered out in a deal between the NFL and the NFL Players Association.

Williams and Davis were among 11 NFL players who failed drug tests at the start of training camp, immediately after the NFL lockout was lifted. But as part of the settlement between the NFL and the players union, those players received no punishment under a 30-day grace period granted players. During the four-month league shutdown, players were neither tested nor counseled about drug use.

Davis and Williams both failed an additional test during the season for recreational drugs, believed to be marijuana, according to people familiar with their cases. Under the settlement between the NFL and the union, the third positive test is being treated as a second offense, which carries a four-game suspension.

Both players allegedly failed tests for marijuana use some time earlier in their careers.

Davis, whose contract expires at the end of this season, was working with an attorney before the NFL issued its statement to determine whether he could challenge the penalty. He seemed to have little recourse. Because the suspension is part of a settlement between the league and the union, he would have to challenge both in court.

Davis’ agent, Drew Rosenhaus, has not responded to requests for comment.

Williams, according to one person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, accepted the suspension after he and his representatives concluded they had no other choice except to fight both the NFL and the union. The Williams camp, the person said, was disappointed with the deal struck by the union, believing the final outcome should have been more lenient because of the circumstances of the lockout.

The Redskins confirmed the suspensions Tuesday afternoon, after the NFL issued its statement. Under league policy, neither player will be allowed to visit the team’s Redskins Park facility or take part in any team-related activities until the suspension is lifted immediately following the regular season. They also will be removed from the team’s 53-man roster.

Redskins Coach Mike Shanahan declined Monday to discuss the matter until he was notified by the league. Williams and Davis were at Redskins park Monday and participated normally in team activities, he said.

“No. 1, there’s a strict, confidential protocol between the NFL and the players association, and I have not talked or spoke with the NFL thus far,” Shanahan said Monday. “Until I do, there’s not really anything I can say at this point. … I don’t want to go through those scenarios – hypothetical situations – until I know for sure what the NFL and the players association has agreed to.”

Staff writers Rick Maese and Barry Svrluga contributed to this report.

More Redskins news:

Redskins await word on Davis, Williams suspensions

More shuffling ahead along the offensive line

The Washington Redskins fumbled twice and lost one interception Sunday to extend their streak to 26 consecutive games with at least one turnover. That is the longest in the NFL and has to come to an end for the Redskins to have a shot at success, coach Mike Shanahan said.

“If you don’t fix it, you don’t win,” the coach said. “Again, if you turn the ball over like we did on the 11-yard line back there and you give them [seven] points, that’s the difference between winning and losing.”

The Redskins this season are minus-13 in the turnover department, tied with Philadelphia and Indianapolis for last in the NFL. Washington quarterbacks have thrown 19 interceptions and the team has lost nine fumbles. Their 28 turnovers rank next to last to Philadelphia’s 29.

With four games remaining on the schedule, the Redskins stand just three giveaways shy of last year’s total of 31 (19 interceptions, 12 fumbles). At this pace, the Redskins will finish with roughly 37 turnovers this season, as the team staggers toward its third straight losing season.

“It’s something you emphasize and players know that if you don’t succeed in that area, you’re not going to win,” Shanahan said. “But you work on it. You try to get turnovers. You try to prevent them, and that’s about all you can do.”