But as Free Agency approaches Feb. 27, it appears Redskin One may have to fuel up for a busy opening few days in a competitive market low in numbers because 14 teams have used the franchise tag.

Coach Jim Zorn doesn't expect the kind of spending spree from years past but indicated the Redskins will pursue free agents.

"There are some good free agents out there, so we want to compete for them to strengthen our Football team," he said. "Other teams know they have good players, too, so they're signing them up or they're getting tagged. The only thing we can do is compete for those athletes at the right positions but also athletes that make sense."

Out of necessity, the Redskins' top priority likely will be retaining cornerback DeAngelo Hall and left guard Pete Kendall.

Hall is certain to draw interest from other teams because top free agents Dunta Robinson (Houston), Kelvin Hayden (Indianapolis) and Nnamdi Asomugha (Oakland) have been franchised or signed long-term contracts.

Kendall is a need because the market features few quality guards and the Redskins have given no indication that second-year player Chad Rinehart is ready for full-time duty.

Zorn doesn't expect Hall or Kendall to be re-signed before Feb. 27. Hall signed a seven-year, $70 million contract last year with Oakland, but the team cut him after eight games. If Hall is retained, the Redskins could part ways with Shawn Springs, who is still effective but often injured.

"The decisions are DeAngelo and Shawn Springs," Zorn said. "The athletes we have there are very good, but Free Agency will determine direction and determine a couple of the situations. ... I think it's going to be a fast and furious pace by most NFL teams when Free Agency starts If we don't get it done then, it doesn't mean we can't get it done the next day or the next week."

Elsewhere on defense, Zorn didn't rule out the return of defensive end Jason Taylor despite an $8.5 million salary cap figure, but most of the topics he covered centered on an offense that finished 28th in scoring last season.

While starting to rebuild the offensive line would seem to be a priority, Zorn expressed faith in his aging group and wants it to include Kendall, who will be 36 when training camp starts. He hasn't missed a snap in two years with the Redskins and could benefit from the franchise's neglect in spending high draft picks on offensive linemen. Each projected starter is in his 30s, and two - left tackle Chris Samuels (triceps) and right guard Randy Thomas (neck) - will be coming off major surgery.

"Yeah, it's an older group," Zorn said. "You want to put me on the spot to be negative toward the guys we've got, and I don't want to do that, but those guys' careers are coming to a close. ... We just need to go further down the line in the season with the O-line intact"

At the skill positions, Zorn said the Redskins won't add to the receiving corps and hopes for marked improvement from Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas, isn't concerned with Clinton Portis' hesitation to commit to the full offseason program and expects quarterback Jason Campbell to be on point despite not getting a contract extension.

"[Campbell's] next step is to have a second year in this system where he'll be able to improve his rhythm, improve the way he makes decisions, and I do think he's an accurate passer," Zorn said. "As far as the years or the extension, I don't know how that's going to play out yet. I think he can [stay focused]. He's a quality guy. He won't stay away because he wants to negotiate a contract. He'll be there working hard and trying to be a better quarterback."

ZORN AT THE COMBINE

For the first time since Dec. 29, Washington Redskins coach Jim Zorn met with reporters Thursday at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. Some of the highlights:

On whether reviewing the season produced any surprises: "Where we got stopped in our offensive thrust to get the ball in the end zone was from [midfield] to the [opponents'] 20. That's where we ended a lot of drives. We took a detailed look at that, and there are some answers there, and that's what we're trying to address as we start experimenting with some new ideas. Our overall schemes are going to stay the same, but how we get the ball into the red zone and then be able to score from the red zone are concerns of mine because we didn't score enough points."

On the difference for him between this year's combine and last year's: "I have a much better handle of the process. It's going to take that to get to our upcoming season. I don't have to be concerned about putting in a whole new scheme, of trying to get people up to speed with vocabulary and how we're going to run things. From the nuts and bolts of it, those things are laid out. Just the experience I've gotten from the first year has helped me out. I hope to be as enthusiasm and constant and as consistent as I have been in the past."

On the punting situation, which includes only Zac Atterberry (no career punts): "We're going out and getting a couple of guys to compete against each other. We ended up 32nd in punting - that's not a great place to be. ... We started out bad and we ended up bad ... We have to [bring in two kickers and two punters to camp] If we had top-10 situations, I would say, 'OK, let's put [the roster spot] into another area.' But it's such a critical issue for us we have to bring in two, and I think we have to have competition for [Shaun Suisham] to be able to encourage him to get better as well."

On whether Antwaan Randle El's position as primary punt returner is in danger: "I don't know if you saw Antwaan improve during the year, but I did. In the beginning of the year, he was going sideways trying to get to the edges. When he started to go vertical and more north-south, he put some pretty good punt returns together."

On Clinton Portis being noncommittal about being at all the offseason workouts: "I want everybody to participate. As far as it being a concern, I think he's going to come back in very good shape, and I'm hoping he'll participate in everything. I fully expect him to participate at a strong level."

On Colt Brennan challenging Todd Collins for the backup position: "Colt's Football season is really the preseason. I really want him to show what he can do in preseason. He's going to gear up for a lot of playing time. That has to be his season. Todd will play as well, and Jason's going to play. As far as being No. 2, I wouldn't speculate on that at the present time."