2008 Washington Redskins season

Infobox NFL_season

team = Washington Redskins
year = 2008
record = 4-1
division_place = 2nd NFC East
coach = Jim Zorn
stadium = FedExField
playoffs = TBDThe 2008 Washington Redskins season is the 76th season for the team in the National Football League. They try to improve upon their 9-7 record in 2007. They will play teams from the NFC West and AFC North as per the schedule rotation, as well as their regular games with NFC East rivals.

Offseason

The 2008 offseason opened with the announcement on January 8, 2008 of the retirement of head coach Joe Gibbs. [ [http://www.redskins.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=33853 Gibbs Retires As Head Coach, President] ] The Redskins immediately began a national search for a new head coach. On January 25, 2008, Jim Zorn was hired as offensive coordinator. [ [http://www.redskins.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=34055 Redskins Name Zorn Offensive Coordinator] ] The following day, Associate Head Coach Al Saunders and Assistant Head Coach Gregg Williams were fired and Greg Blache was named defensive coordinator. [ [http://www.redskins.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=34038 Redskins Release Coaches Williams, Saunders] ] [ [http://www.redskins.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=34120 Blache Moves to Top Spot On Defense] ] On February 9, Jim Zorn was hired to be Head Coach. [ [http://www.redskins.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=34376 Redskins Name Zorn Next Head Coach] ] On February 15, Sherman Smith, the former running backs coach for the Tennessee Titans, was hired as an offensive coordinator. [ [http://www.redskins.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=34519 Smith Is Named Offensive Coordinator] ]

Key departures

On February 26, 2008, the Redskins released WR Brandon Lloyd. [ [http://www.redskins.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=34639 Redskins Release Wide Receiver Lloyd] ] Lloyd later signed with the Chicago Bears. [ [http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=4454 Bears sign WR Brandon Lloyd to one-year contract] ]
Mark Brunell, Reche Caldwell, Rick DeMulling, Randall Godfrey, Brian Kozlowski, David Macklin, Keenan McCardell, Pierson Prioleau, Mike Pucillo, and Omar Stoutmire were never re-signed by the Redskins, making them free agents.
On August 30, the Redskins released veterans Ryan Boschetti (DT), Derrick Frost (P), and Todd Wade (OT) . [ [http://www.redskins.com/gen/articles/Decision_Day__Wade_Among_22_Cuts_By_Redskins_19885.jsp Decision Day: Wade Among 22 Cuts By Redskins] ]

Key additions

On May 27, 2008, the Redskins traded a conditional 2009 seventh-round draft pick to the Minnesota Vikings for DE Erasmus James. James must play at least one regular season game in order for the Vikings to receive the draft pick. [ [http://redskins.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=36009 Redskins Trade For DE Erasmus James] ]

On July 20, 2008, the Redskins traded their 2009 second-round draft pick & their 2010 sixth-round draft pick to the Miami Dolphins for DE Jason Taylor. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3497625 Skins trade for Dolphins' Taylor after Daniels goes down] ]

Free agents heading into the 2008 season:

["RFA": Restricted free-agent, "UFA": Unrestricted free-agent, "ERFA": Exclusive rights free agent]

=Hall of Fame Game vs. Indianapolis Colts=

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Colts
R1=3
R2=10
R3=3
R4=0
RT=16
Home=Redskins
H1=7
H2=2
H3=7
H4=14
HT=30"at Fawcett Stadium, Canton, Ohio"
* Game weather: 76°F (Clear)
* Game attendance: 22,216
* Referee: Walt Coleman
* TV announcers (NBC): Al Michaels (play-by-play), John Madden (color commentator), & Adam Schefter (sideline reporter)

Washington starting the game on a high note when they recovered a surprise onside kick by the Colts. It only took QB Jason Campbell three plays to throw a touchdown pass to Antwaan Randle El and put the Redskins up by 7. The Colts responded on their own drive which ended in a field goal by K Adam Vinatieri. In the second quarter, Colts C Jamey Richard overthrew a shotgun snap and the ball went out of the endzone for a safety. However, the Colts got the ball back later in the quarter and scored a touchdown when QB Quinn Gray threw a 30-yard pass to WR Onrea Jones. The Colts got the ball back after a missed field goal attempt by Shaun Suisham and were able to end the half with a field goal of their own. The Colts received the ball following half-time and marched down the field to score another field goal. The Redskins responded with a drive resulting in a 20-yard touchdown pass from QB Colt Brennan to WR Maurice Mann. The Redskins were able to follow up with another touchdown drive when Brennan hit RB Marcus Mason on a 5-yard pass. After the Colts got the ball back a couple of series later, QB Jared Lorenzen threw an interception to CB Matteral Richardson who took it back for a touchdown and sealed the victory for the Redskins. The Redskins ended a great weekend where two former Redskins, WR Art Monk and CB Darrell Green, entered the Hall of Fame.

Preseason Week 1 vs. Buffalo Bills

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Bills
R1=3
R2=11
R3=0
R4=0
RT=14
Home=Redskins
H1=7
H2=7
H3=3
H4=0
HT=17"at FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland"
* Game weather: 81°F (Sunny)
* Game attendance: 69,532
* Referee: Jeff Triplette
* TV announcers (CSN Mid-Atlantic): Mike Patrick (play-by-play), Joe Theismann (color commentator), & Kelli Johnson (sideline reporter)

The Redskins received the ball first but immediately gave it to the Bills when RB Marcus Mason fumbled during the kick return. However, the Redskins defense was able to hold the Bills to a field goal. Later in the 1st quarter, the Redskins drove down the field and RB Clinton Portis scored on a 1-yard rushing play on a 4th down. Two series later, the Redskins drove down the field again and QB Todd Collins passed to RB Ladell Betts on a screen play which resulted in a 12-yard touchdown. Buffalo responded with a drive of their own which resulted in a field goal. When the Redskins got the ball back after the field goal, Collins threw a pass which was intercepted by CB Ashton Youboty. QB J.P. Losman threw a touchdown pass to WR James Hardy and the Bills completed a successful 2-point conversion to tie the game before halftime. The second half was dominated by both defenses and the only score was a 46-yard field goal by Redskins K Shaun Suisham in the 3rd quarter.

Preseason Week 2 at New York Jets

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Redskins
R1=0
R2=3
R3=3
R4=7
RT=13
Home=Jets
H1=7
H2=0
H3=0
H4=3
HT=10"at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey"
* Game weather: 80°F (Clear)
* Game attendance: 76,132
* Referee: Scott Green
* TV announcers (CSN Mid-Atlantic): Mike Patrick (play-by-play), Joe Theismann (color commentator), & Kelli Johnson (sideline reporter)

The Jets scored first in this game when newly-signed QB Brett Favre completed a 4-yard touchdown pass to TE Dustin Keller. The Redskins responded with a drive that ended with a 30-yard field goal from K Shaun Suisham. The Redskins would have another chance to score later in the 2nd quarter, but that drive ended when QB Derek Devine threw an interception to CB James Ihedigbo at the Jets' 19 yardline. Neither team would score for the rest of the half. The Redskins received the ball first starting the 3rd quarter and ended a 51-yard drive with a 36-yard field goal from Suisham. Later in the 4th quarter, the Jets scored when K Mike Nugent hit a 43-yard field goal. After two more drives stalled, the Redskins received the ball with 2:04 left in the game. QB Colt Brennan and the Redskins drove down the field and scored a touchdown when Brennan threw a short pass to TE Jason Goode who took it 33 yards to the endzone. The Jets received the ball again and had a chance to tie the game, but K Mike Nugent missed a 23-yard field goal as time expired.

Preseason Week 3 at Carolina Panthers

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Redskins
R1=0
R2=0
R3=3
R4=0
RT=3
Home="'Panthers
H1=3
H2=31
H3=7
H4=6
HT=47"at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina"
* Game weather: 86°F (Cloudy)
* Game attendance: 71,770
* Referee: Gene Steratore
* TV announcers (CSN Mid-Atlantic): Mike Patrick (play-by-play), Joe Theismann (color commentator), & Kelli Johnson (sideline reporter)

Although the game was close after the first quarter, the Panthers dominated the second quarter. Both RBs Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams rushed for a 50 and 60 yard TDs, respectivelly. WR Steve Smith scored on a fumble recovery and QB Jake Delhomme threw a 24-yard TD pass to TE Dante Rosario. The Redskins were finally able to score a field goal in the 3rd quarter, but not before Delhomme threw a screen pass to Steve Smith who took it 33 yards for a TD. The Redskins held the Panthers to just 6 points (two field goals) in the 4th quarter, and were happy to end the game as quickly as possible.

Preseason Week 4 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Jaguars
R1=7
R2=10
R3=0
R4=7
RT=24
Home=Redskins
H1=0
H2=3
H3=0
H4=0
HT=3"at FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland"
* Game weather: 72°F (Cloudy)
* Game attendance: 59,076
* Referee: Alberto Riveron
* TV announcers (NBC): Al Michaels (play-by-play), John Madden (color commentator), & Adam Schefter (sideline reporter)

For the second week in a row, the Redskins were held to just one score, a field goal. The Jaguars scored on their second drive when QB David Garrard threw a 3-yard TD pass to WR Reggie Williams. They were able to score again early in the second quarter when QB Cleo Lemon threw a 4-yard TD pass to TE Greg Estandia. Early in the 4th quarter, the Jaguars scored on their first play of the drive when QB Todd Bouman threw a 51-yard TD pass to WR Troy Williamson. The Redskins didn't end their preseason the way they wanted to and hoped that it wouldn't translate into the start of the regular season.

Regular season

chedule

Rushing

Punting

Defense

References

sequence
prev=2007 Washington Redskins season
next=2009 Washington Redskins season
list=Washington Redskins