Many have questioned the Washington Redskins’ “failure” to address the defensive line in the recent draft. They did not draft a defensive lineman until taking Rob Jackson out of Kansas State in the seventh round. Jackson is a prospect but for 2008 he’ll be, at best, a long-term project.
Even without the addition of a high draft pick, however, there will be some lively completion for jobs along the defensive line. To say that it’s a star-studded group would be giving them too much credit, but it’s not a rag-tag unit by any stretch, either.
Andre Carter is the closest thing to a star player the unit has. While he did not have what I would call a Pro Bowl caliber season in 2007, I will say that any player who wore a star on the side of his helmet and who posted 10.5 sacks and four forced fumbles would have been flying to Hawaii in February.
Phillip Daniels will start at the other end position. He’s been a warrior for the Skins and for a few other teams and he’s a leader in the locker room. He stayed healthy in ’07 and he’s was involved in competitive power lifting over the offseason.
The 35-year-old, however, is the player with the target on his back, the one that everyone wanted to replace with Calais Campbell or Quentin Groves.
In choosing to upgrade the offense in the second round and by staying away from taking a D-lineman until almost everyone at Radio City Music Hall had gone home, the Redskins expressed confidence in Daniels’ ability to get the job done this year.
We’ll see how well-founded that confidence is. He might have another good year or two left, but 35 is 35.
Plan B here could be Erasmus James. The Redskins took a flyer on him and, if he can regain his health, he could be the long-term answer as Daniels’ replacement. The health is a big if, however.
Since his freshman year at Wisconsin, he’s been dogged by hip, ankle, and knee injuries. Jim Zorn had him on the list of injured players who may not be ready for the start of training camp. James almost certainly makes the team if he can get back into playing shape.
Demetric Evans will be back as a solid backup. As the Skins will keep four or five ends, that leaves at most one more DE spot available.
1 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Rohit Banerjee about 1 year ago
great point about andre carter...in my opinion he had a pro bowl year on a lackluster line that as you said somehow finished fourth against the run...lets not forget that if by some long shot erasmus james stays healthy, he could be a massive pickup
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