WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Been down so long it looks like UP to us

Niners fans are loath to acknowledge it, but until last year they and the Redskins were in much the same place: formerly great teams unable to find a way out of extended periods of losing. Now, with excellent talent and a coach who seems to get the best out of that talent, the Niners are poised for many wins.

Not so the Redskins, at least not yet. Until the end of the 2009 season, under meddlesome Dan Snyder and his lackey Vinny Cerrato, the Redskins invested big money and draft picks in over-the-hill "names," making mostly bad draft picks and changing coaches and systems like underwear.

Luckily for Redskins fans, the 2009 season was so embarrassing that even Dan Snyder learned from it. He got out of football operations, hired an experienced general manager and coach and let them work. They have made the roster younger, changed to a more aggressive 3-4 defense and begun building through the draft. And now, at long last, the Redskins have the player who will likely become the face of the franchise and the leader of their rebirth. Welcome Robert Griffin III!

Development of young players will have a huge impact on the Redskins' 2012 season. Obviously, development of RGIII will have the most impact, but there are several other newcomers who appear ready to make major contributions. The Redskins will welcome their second-round pick from last season, Jarvis Jenkins, who missed all of last year with an injury. Young receivers Anthony Armstrong, Terence Austin and Leonard Hankerson are set to join free agents Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan and veteran Santana Moss in an improved receiving corps. Rookie running backs Roy Helu and Evan Royster showed flashes last year and should be better this year. And DeJon Gomes, a rookie safety last season from Nebraska, showed promise.

The wild card for the Redskins will be the arbitrator's decision about the $36 million in salary cap space taken from the team by the NFL for the Redskins' refusal to collude with other owners in keeping things "in line" during the uncapped 2011 year. If that money becomes available, the Redskins will dip into the free agent market in search of additional talent.

So, the Redskins are poised for what exactly in the 2012 season? Most likely another finish at the bottom of the NFC East, but not before they give some playoff teams a headache. They will play tough defense, with young pass rushers Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan leading the way. They are likely to score more points with RGIII at the helm. And they will play the entire season with zero knuckleheads in the locker room. Good riddance, Albert Haynesworth.

Mike Shanahan won two Super Bowls with John Elway at quarterback. I know, I know, what's so great about that? My aunt Tilley could have taken the Broncos to a Super Bowl with Elway at QB. Well, we in Redskins Nation think RGIII just may be a very special quarterback along the lines of John Elway, someone Mike Shanahan is well suited to develop successfully.

Go ahead and laugh now; we'll see how things develop. RGIII may not break Cam Newton's rookie passing records but he will be leading a team on the rise. And, after the 2012 season, look out! The Niners and 'Skins may meet in the playoffs soon.