Coming off an emotional playoff run last season and a coaching change, the Washington Redskins may take a step back in order to take two or more forward. The team ame together after the tragic death of Sean Taylor when no one would have faulted them for playing out the string.

Jim Zorn comes in from Seattle to replace the retired legend, Joe Gibbs. Shoes that will be extremely difficult to fill, no doubt. The former southpaw signal-caller finds himself in a tough division housing the Super Bowl champion Giants, division winning Dallas Cowboys, and a Philadelphia Eagles team hungry for a strong rebound after a down year.

Another new face in town will be Jason Taylor, who tangoed his way under Bill Parcells’ skin and out of Miami. While his talent cannot be questioned, the same can’t be said for his dedication.

Will this be the season that Jason Campbell makes the move up to a quality starting NFL quarterback? The ‘Skins run was accented by the play of journeyman veteran Todd Collins, and a sleeper pick was gunslinger Colt Brennan, who fell to the sixth round after starring in June Jones’ run and shoot offense at Hawaii.

How Zorn fairs as a first-time head coach – especially with the omnipresent Daniel Snyder as his boss – remains to be seen. The Washington fanbase is loyal, but not as patient. It should get better, even if it starts out bad.

PREDICTION: 7-9, 3rd Place NFC East

It has been a long stretch since the Pro Bowl back in February. Even for those lucky enough that have the opportunity to watch replayed games on the NFL Network. Once the games get going again – even something as menial as the NFL Pre-Season, there seems to be a little more juice flowing.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Game begins the exhibition season each year, and tonight on NBC, the Indianapolis Colts will face off against the Washington Redskins, who have already shined in Canton, Ohio during HOF Weekend. On Saturday, Darrell Green and Art Monk were among the six inducted into the hallowed halls, and the two former Redskin players stole the show. Emmitt Thomas, a former Washington coach and player with Kansas City, Fred Dean, Andre Tippett and Gary Zimmerman rounded out the rest.

With a considerable amount of Redskin fans in the crowd, Green and Monk brought them to their feet when they walked across the stage. Two huge parts of Washington’s success – one on defense and one on offense – were honored together and will be forever linked and remembered for their yellow blazers now as much as their white jerseys.

Stages and speeches aside, what happens between the white lines is key, and we will see this evening a little of what the offseason has brought these two clubs.

The big headline with the Colts has been their injury situation, topped with Peyton Manning. The perennial Pro Bowl quarterback will miss the game, along with Marvin Harrison, Bob Sanders, Dwight Freeney, Michael Coe and Philip Wheeler.

On the ‘home’ sideline, the ‘Skins will make their debut with new head coach Jim Zorn and defensive end Jason Taylor, who was acquired last month from Miami. Zorn may elect to not play the 2006 NFL Defensive Player of the Year until he gets more reps in training camp. Veterans do not see a lot of game action in August, especially this early on the exhibition schedule.

Whomever is out there, ‘Football Night in America’ is back and Sunday just seems a whole lot better all of a sudden.