The Washington Redskins surprised a lot of people last season when they captured their second NFC East championship in four years.
Regardless of their recent successes, is Washington a team that should be slept on this season? The Sporting News' David Steele thinks some people are underestimating them, when he says they shouldn't.
Steele came up with eight teams he feels are grossly underrated, with one of those teams being the Redskins.
"After winning the NFC East, franchising [quarterback] Trent Williams, drafting [wide receiver] Josh Doctson for him and continuing [general manager] Scot [McCloughan's] non-flashy roster-building plan, Washington still isn't thought highly of by observers who have the Cowboys and Giants passing them," Steele said. "This team deserves more of a benefit of the doubt."
Head coach Jay Gruden will let the critics say what they will about his team. Each and every day, his job is to go out and get the best out of his players, which he believes he's done so far this offseason.
"My job is to try and get them better – that's all – and prepare them for situations," Gruden said. "I think these guys have responded well. We've challenged them with a lot of different situations and they've responded. We've challenged them in meetings, [and] challenged them in the weight room. We've had great attendance here and they're all willing to work."
If Gruden can continue to push his players to higher levels, and they're still willing to accept that push, there's no reason why the Redskins can't turn the heads of the non-believers this year.
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