NFL: Washington Redskins will be in the playoffs in 2014 if…

If: New head coach Jay Gruden and new offensive coordinator Sean McVay can get the Washington attack back on track and running efficiently. That was hardly the case this past season, which saw the club struggle with consistency, unless you are talking about making mistakes.

Back in 2012, the Redskins boasted the fifth-ranked offense in the league and no team in the NFL gained more yards on the ground. Then-rookie running back Alfred Morris enjoyed a great debut campaign as did quarterback Robert Griffin III, who led a team that committed a league-low 14 turnovers that season while producing an impressive 436 points. Washington’s offensive unit totaled 46 touchdowns, almost perfectly balanced in terms of rushing (22) and passing scores (24).

This past season, for numerous reasons, the production wasn’t there as the offense managed only 34 touchdowns while the team scored 102 fewer points (334). More disappointing was the fact that the Redskins more than doubled their turnover total, giving up the football 34 times, tied for the second-highest total in the league in 2013. And nearly half of those came via Griffin, who threw a dozen interceptions and lost four fumbles in 13 appearances.

Still, Griffin is now mended and will have a few new toys to play with this year in the form of free-agent pickups and wide receivers DeSean Jackson (Philadelphia Eagles) and Andre Roberts (Arizona Cardinals). The former was a three-time Pro Bowl with their division rivals from the City of Brotherly Love and comes off a career season in which he totaled 82 receptions for 1,332 yards and nine scores.