5 Players Who Might Find Themselves on Washington Redskins' 2015 Practice Squad
Like most areas on their revamped roster, the Washington Redskins can fill up their practice squad with some intriguing talents. In particular, two rookies who won't make the final 53 are still worth keeping around in case they're needed during the season.
This insurance-style approach makes most sense at running back. Head coach Jay Gruden could well opt to give a brittle incumbent the first chance to nail down a niche role in the backfield. Given the player's history with injuries, though, Gruden would be wise to keep a versatile, undrafted rookie around.
It's a similar story at nose tackle. The arrival of Terrance Knighton, along with the presence of his close friend Chris Baker, have given Washington a strong depth chart at the most important position on the team's 3-4 front.
Still, it would still make sense to keep one more house-sized, natural 0-technique around for cover. Fortunately, three obvious candidates for this third-string role exist.
Find out which five players might find themselves on the NFL's equivalent of an "In Emergencies Only" list.
Austin Reiter, C
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New general manager Scot McCloughan used a seventh-round pick to take Austin Reiter off the board. But the former South Florida pivot man doesn't have an obvious place on the potential final roster.
On the surface, Reiter is the natural backup for veteran Kory Lichtensteiger. However, new offensive line coach Bill Callahan has been keen to explore other options.
Specifically, Callahan has been busy working out several guards over the ball, according to Liz Clarke of the Washington Post. That's hardly a move that screams confidence in Reiter.
Still, missing out on a spot on the final roster needn't be the end of Reiter's bid to carve out a career at the pro level. As an interior lineman with the versatility to play guard or center, he should be kept around as potential cover for three positions.
Versatility is the hallmark of all deputy interior linemen. The Redskins may not have much of that behind proposed starters Shawn Lauvao, Lichtensteiger and Spencer Long.
They'd be smart to keep Reiter in the fold as a challenger to depth road-graders such as fellow rookie Arie Kouandjio and veteran Josh LeRibeus.
Robert Thomas, NT
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Sticking with the theme of dealing with the beef first, new coordinator Joe Barry and his defensive staff would be wise to keep a place on the practice squad for Robert Thomas. The 6'3", 325-pounder spent last season on the squad and still works as a natural two-gap nose guard. He fits as a deputy behind Knighton and Baker.
After originally being guilty of thinking Jerrell Powe could take this spot, I've opted for Thomas because the Redskins still need a third 0-technique. But carrying that player as part of the final 53 needn't be a necessity, not when Baker is on hand to sub for marquee man in the middle Knighton.
Barry can also turn to fellow new arrival Ricky Jean Francois. The veteran can play over center, having lined up there during his first NFL stop with the San Francisco 49ers.
Powe would have been a nice safeguard in case neither Baker nor Francois can match the same push on the pocket Knighton is sure to create. He's very well-versed in the 3-4 defense, having played for Romeo Crennel, a true master of the scheme, with both the Kansas city Chiefs and the Houston Texans.
Powe even began last season as Houston's starting nose guard. He made three starts, including lining up over center against Washington in Week 1. But being active 28 gamedays during four pro seasons rules him out for practice squad eligibility under league rules.
Keeping Thomas around would add one more layer of insurance at the pivotal position along the front seven, even though it would mean parting ways with more experienced pair Powe and Travian Robertson.
The latter doesn't really possess the size needed to offer what Knighton and Baker will at the heart of the D-line. By contrast, Thomas has the right attributes.
During the pre-2014 NFL draft process, analyst Nolan Nawrocki, writing for the league's official site, listed some of the qualities that make Thomas a natural over center: "Has good body mass. Can keep blockers occupied, fight the double team and control gaps."
Nawrocki also dubbed Thomas a possible "rotational wave backup in the pros." He even called him a "practice squad candidate."
That's where Thomas ended up after struggling to overcome the broken leg which had ruled him out of last year's combine. But he did gain brief promotion to the 53-man roster to help cover injuries, per Mike Jones of the Washington Post. Although Thomas appears to have only suited up for one game, per his NFL.com game logs.
Still, he should stick around one more year as a useful third-stringer.
Takoby Cofield, T
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Takoby Cofield is one of those players who may not spend too long on the practice squad. The Redskins certainly appeared very keen on the former Duke tackle after the draft.
ESPN reporter John Keim noted how Cofield "received a signing bonus of $25,000, a source said. That's a hefty sum for an undrafted player, but Cofield received serious interest from a number of teams after the draft."
Keim also detailed how Cofield was originally ticketed for a switch to the right side in D.C., at either guard or tackle. It's a transition the ex-left tackle may struggle with.
There's no shame in such a struggle. Even Washington's top draft pick, fifth-overall selection Brandon Scherff, has found the shift tough, per CSN Washington's Rich Tandler.
He offered this vivid description of what making the transition from left to right can be like:
"The move from one tackle to the other side has been described like learning to eat with your left hand. It can be done but while you’re learning you might poke yourself in the eye with a fork a few times.
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Tandler also noted that while the Redskins see potential in Cofield, "He is a long shot to make the 53-man roster but they probably have him penciled in for a spot on the practice squad if he shows well in training camp and in preseason games."
It will make sense to keep him in proximity to the final roster. The likely backups at the tackle spots are Morgan Moses and Tom Compton. Neither has inspired much confidence so far, despite each earning some starts in 2014.
It would also be smart to have a backup plan in case Scherff or Long's struggles on the right side are still obvious once the action gets real and the games start to count. Callahan may need Cofield sooner than he thinks.
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Devin Mahina, TE
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Devin Mahina is the most intriguing member of a trio of fringe players at the tight end position. He's joined by converted wide receiver Je'Ron Hamm and Chase Dixon, two members of last season's practice squad.
But at 6'6" and 251 pounds, it's Mahina who boasts the most enticing blend of size, athleticism and receiving skills. It's a combination that could keep the former BYU player in town and push Hamm and Dixon off the team altogether.
Stephen Czarda of the team's official site recently detailed what these players have been doing to make themselves stand out this offseason. In Mahina's case, that's meant taking tips from incumbent Logan Paulsen.
It makes sense for Mahina to use Paulsen as a resource. The latter is the closest thing the Redskins have to a competent blocker at the position. That's the exact area where Mahina needs to improve.
Despite his ample size, Mahina is not a punishing player, according to NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein:
"Tight end with good size, but more of a finesse approach to the game. Is a willing blocker and has some ability in that area, but not a grinder who would be drafted on blocking alone.
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Meanwhile, SB Nation BYU writer Kevin Schaefer pinpointed similar limitations in Mahina's game:
"Overall, Mahina is a good sized tight end with positive after the catch ability due to his ability to break tackles and speed for size. He'll need to become more consistent in his blocking and drop fewer passes if he wants to make a team.
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If Mahina can be taught the right technique to go along with his willingness for the dirty work of blocking, he could answer a longstanding problem in Washington. But aside from potentially offering attributes the position currently lacks, Mahina could also be developed into a matchup weapon.
Any tall, 250-pounder who can move in space is going to put stress on a coverage scheme. That's particularly true down in the red zone, an area where Washington's offense is seeking major improvement, per Liz Clarke of the Washington Post.
Mahina is a very raw option, but the potential for his development at least warrants a place on the practice squad.
Trey Williams, RB
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As detailed recently, Chris Thompson has a strong chance to win a role as the change-of-pace option of choice in this season's backfield rotation. But even if he can't avoid the final cut, the Redskins may be loath to give up on Trey Williams altogether.
Keeping the former Texas A&M product, particularly his versatility and explosiveness, on the practice squad is the next-best thing. Williams certainly offers field-stretching speed as a ball-carrier, as well as valuable move skills as a receiver.
There's also his potential as a dynamic return man to consider. Washington's special teams are still painfully short of playmakers in the return game, something that may make it difficult to completely sever ties with players boasting Williams' talents.
So far, of course, the Redskins haven't seen much of those talents. Williams has not made a standout impression during offseason workouts. His only notable early moment was standing out more than converted quarterback tryout Blake Sims during rookie minicamp, according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post.
Williams' lack of impressive moments is a shame considering what he might add to several phases of the game. But Gruden may still find it difficult to give up on his range of so-far untapped skills.
The coach wanted a more explosive, third-down-style back last season, something that prompted using a sixth-round pick on Lache Seastrunk. The ex-Baylor man didn't make the final roster, but Williams might at least go one better and stick on the practice squad.
It says a lot of good things about the current state of the roster that Washington can afford to let a former veteran starter like Powe reside on the practice squad. It's a similar story with Williams and Cofield, two first-year players whose talents are generally well regarded.
But the Redskins now boast a depth of talent at key positions they simply didn't possess last season. That strength in reserve should even extend as far as the practice squad.
All statistics and player information via NFL.com.
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