Corner blitz: Gibbs left a load of talent

By MARK CRAIG, Star Tribune

Last update: October 10, 2008 - 12:55 AM

Joe Gibbs is retired, but the Hall of Famer's fingerprints are all over the Redskins team that's 4-1 and coming off back-to-back NFC East wins at Dallas and Philadelphia.

When healthy, 18 of the 22 starters on this year's team were acquired by Gibbs. It would be 19 if safety Sean Taylor hadn't been murdered last season.

"Coach [Jim] Zorn gets a lot of credit for putting us together on the field," said receiver Antwaan Randle El. "But he's come into a good group of guys."

Gibbs was 140-65 in his first stint with the Redskins. He came back and went 31-36. But he didn't lose the ability to pick good players.

All six of Gibbs' first-day picks in his four drafts became successful. They were Taylor, quarterback Jason Campbell, cornerback Carlos Rogers, tight end Chris Cooley, linebacker Rocky McIntosh and safety LaRon Landry.

"You look around the locker room and these are all [Gibbs'] guys," tackle Jon Jansen said.