The Red Zone Report

The Redskins started hot in 2008 and showed the world their potential.

Unfortunately, with a disappointing 2-6 finish, they missed the playoffs, causing mixed reviews and a lot of uncertainty.

After a solid draft and a big off-season full of DeAngelo Hall and Albert Haynesworth signings, the Redskins look to be back to their winning ways.

Maybe.

Take a look at five things that could be preventing that from happening.

5. Good-Bye Jason Taylor, Hello, Brian Orakpo?

Jason Taylor was a wine-and-dine chance that failed. And considering his weak 3.5 sack total, he wasn’t very difficult to say good-bye to.

Now he’s back with the Dolphins, and now Washington is starting over with a new defensive end. Isn’t that what they should have done in the first place?

Orakpo brings excellent size and athleticism to the Redskins front line, and also brings the versatility to drop back and be used on the outside as a linebacker.

His presence can’t hurt, as Washington didn’t have a lineman top four sacks all season.

With Haynesworth wreaking havoc in the middle with Cornelius Griffin, Orakpo should have plenty of time to make things happen.

4. Can Clinton Portis Make it Through 16 Games?

After tearing it up in the first eight games of the season, Portis appeared to hit a wall, and stunk it up in the final eight contests.

While you could easily blame this on nagging injuries and too many carries, you could also blame the ineffective Jason Campbell and predictable Jim Zorn.

Portis can last the season, but his productivity will continue to suffer if Jason Campbell can not progress.

It’s not so much about Portis’s health or injury concerns, as it is his surroundings and the natural wear and tear.

3. How Good Can Albert Haynesworth Make Their Defense?

Haynesworth is a big, big man.

He can plug the middle and eat up running backs, but he also has the strength and agility to get to the quarterback.

He adds anywhere from seven to ten sacks to a Redskins team already surviving with solid talent; That , with his presence, could ultimately make the leap to elite.

However, if his supporting cast can’t make the jump, Haynesworth could go down as a free agency bust.

2. Is Jim Zorn on the Hot Seat?

Zorn is most definitely on his way out of Washington if he can’t prove to Dan Snyder that his system works.And the only way he can do that is by getting to the post-season, and possibly winning a game.

Zorn hurt Snyder’s insides with a 6-2 opening tease, and then sliding to an 8-8 finish.

And while the defense wasn’t always scoring all A’s, the offense was ugly and boring, leaving the Redskins to wade in mediocrity.

If Zorn’s chosen one, Jason Campbell, can’t succeed early, it could be both of their necks.

1. Is Jason Campbell Their Franchise Quarterback?

If you were Jason Campbell, would you feel comfortable?

You’ve heard about Derek Anderon, Brady Quinn, Jay Cutler, Brett Favre, and now even Michael Vick.

They are all better than you, they all want your job (probably not Favre), and your team would have preferred any one of them over you.

Oh, and there was also Mark Sanchez.

Hell, your coach even thinks Josh Freeman is better than you.

And believe it or not, there is even a growing support group for Colt Brennan.

The point is, while Campbell has shown excellent game-managing ability, he hasn’t shown and type of a killer instinct or ability to truly take over games.

If that doesn’t show-up in the early going, someone else could be behind center for Washington.