The Redskins have a nice corps of running backs set up for the 2008 season.  Clinton Portis is the main running back for the Redskins and he is a really good all around back.  He played in 16 games (all starts) for the Redskins last season and he carried the ball 325 times for 1,262 yards (3.9 ypc) with 11 TD runs.  He also caught 47 passes for 389 yards (8.2 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  Portis should add to his impressive career numbers this season for the Skins.  Portis has now played in 84 games (79 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 1,710 times for 7,715 yards (4.5 ypc) with 63 TD runs.  He also has caught 205 passes for 1,688 yards (8.2 avg) with 4 TD grabs.

Ladell Betts would be a starting running back for most teams in the NFL but not the Redskins.  He’s a very skilled back who can handle a heavy workload if something were to happen to Portis.  Betts played in 16 games (0 starts) for the Redskins last season and he carried the ball 93 times for 335 yards (3.6 ypc) with 1 TD run.  He also caught 21 passes for 174 yards (8.3 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Look for Betts to add to his career numbers as he begins to count down the days until he can become a free agent and make the big money.  Betts has now played in 80 games (11 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 659 times for 2,760 yards (4.2 ypc) with 10 TD runs.  He has also caught 126 passes for 1,126 yards (8.9 avg) with 3 TD grabs.

Rock Cartwright is a talented back but he’s firmly behind Portis and Betts on the depth chart so he doesn’t get much of a chance to show what he can do on offense.  He played in 15 games last season for the Redskins and he carried the ball 2 times for 0 yards (0.0 ypc).  Cartwright has now played in 91 games (3 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 146 times for 647 yards (4.4 ypc) with 6 TD runs.  He has also caught 31 passes for 320 yards (10.3 avg) with 1 TD grab.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  A-

New head coach Jim Zorn really likes Jason Campbell and he expects him to step up this season.  With some big WRs added in the draft the Redskins will likely play more of a power passing game which should suit Campbell’s skill.  Campbell has a strong arm and he’s a good runner.  He played in 13 games (all starts) last season for the Redskins and he completed 250 of 417 passes (60%) for 2,700 yards with 12 TD passes and 11 interceptions (77.6 QB Rating).  He also ran the ball 36 times for 185 yards (5.1 ypc) with 1 TD run.  Look for Campbell to have his best season in the NFL in 2008 with all of the added offensive help.  Campbell has now played in 20 games (all starts) in his NFL career and he has completed 360 of 624 passes (57.7%) for 3,997 yards with 22 TD passes and 17 interceptions (77.3 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 60 times for 292 yards (4.9 ypc) with 1 TD run.

Veteran Todd Collins thought he played well enough last season to garner a nice paycheck in free agency but he was wrong and returned to the Redskins who are happy to have him.  Collins played in 4 games (3 starts) for the Redskins last season and he completed 67 of 105 passes (63,8%) for 888 yards with 5 TD passes and 0 interceptions (106.4 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 8 times for only 1 yard (0.1 ypc).  Collins will be more than ready to step into the starting job if something happens to Campbell and the offense wouldn’t likely miss a beat.  Collins has now played in 44 games (20 starts) in his NFL career and he has completed 369 of 651 passes (56.7%) for 4,335 yards with 22 TD passes and 19 interceptions (76.2 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 82 times for 152 yards (1.9 ypc).

The Redskins drafted Colt Brennan out of Hawaii but he will likely need a couple of years holding a clipboard before he’s ready to step onto the field for the Redskins.  That’s because he will have to learn how to play under the center which he didn’t do much in college.  Still, he has nice long term potential.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  B-

Chris Horton is the classic strong safety as he has trouble in coverage but he packs a wallop against the run.  Horton is 6′1″, 210 pounds and he runs a 4.55 40.  Horton played in 41 games (28 starts) at UCLA and he made 238 tackles, had 3 sacks, 13 tackles for a loss, broke up 11 passes and he had 4 interceptions.  Look for Horton to make his mark on special teams as a rookie and he might be more down the line for the Redskins.

Rob Jackson plays all out all the time but he has some things he needs to improve on.  He must get stronger to fight off blocks and make plays.  Jackson is 6′3″, 265 pounds and he runs a 4.85 40.  He played in 25 games (23 starts) at Kansas State and he made 61 tackles, had 13.5 tackles for a loss and he had 6.5 sacks.  Look for Jackson to make a splash on special teams for the Redskins as a rookie. 

It will be interesting to see how Colt Brennan adjusts to playing in the NFL.  His most important game of his career was last season against Georgia and he laid a big egg.  Brennan has good touch on the football but he becomes much less accurate the further the throw as he didn’t have to do that often at Hawaii.  Brennan is 6′2″ but he only weighs 185 pounds so he might not be able to handle the punishment he will likely have to endure in the NFL.  Brennan played in 38 games (35 starts) at Hawaii and he completed 1,115 of 1,584 (70.4%) for 14,193 yards with 131 TD passes and 42 interceptions.  The Redskins hope Brennan develops into the long term backup for Jason Campbell.