On Saturday, Aug. 16, the Redskins travel to New York to face the Jets. As the first round of roster cuts approaches (all NFL teams must cut to a maximum of 75 players on Aug. 26), the Redskins have many questions to answer.
This has been a good week for the Redskins. On Monday, rookie wide receiver Devin Thomas returned to practice, defensive end Erasmus James began practicing with the team for the first time since being acquired in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings, and linebacker Rocky McIntosh and cornerback Carlos Rogers have seemingly completed the first major steps in their return from knee surgery by practicing all week.
And on Thursday, the Redskins ended training camp, Jim Zorn’s first as the Redskins' head coach. All seems to have gone quite well for Zorn and his Redskins. His newly installed offense (yet another version of the vaunted “West Coast offense”) has been as productive and efficient as his starting quarterback Jason Campbell has been sharp and decisive.
Showing no ill effects of having to learn his seventh new offense within the last eight years of football (including college), Campbell seems to have settled in very nicely with Zorn’s offense.
The defense has not been stellar, playing without many of its projected starters, but it has been steady. Even in the team’s first preseason game, in which defensive coordinator Greg Blache commented that his defense played like “three-day-old fish,” the Redskins’ defense only gave up 16 points (they did, however, give up 410 yards of offense) while only playing four of the team’s projected opening day starters.
Training camp has brought to light some very difficult decisions for Zorn and Vinny Cerrato (Redskins' Executive Vice President of Football Operations). Some of these difficulties have been caused by injuries, and some will be eased by injuries.
While injuries hinder some players’ ability to showcase their abilities, injuries also offer other players the opportunity to step forward and be noticed. And for the Redskins, this is no different. Injuries have already played a significant role in shaping the Redskins’ roster.
The well-publicized trade, in which the Redskins acquired star defensive end Jason Taylor, was brought about by season-ending injuries to starter Phillip Daniels and backup Alex Buzbee.
There are heated battles taking place for spots in the defensive backfield. Backup safety (both free and strong), and each backup cornerback position is up for grabs.
These are particularly important battles for the Redskins, as Springs has rarely been able to play a complete season, and fellow starter Carlos Rogers’ recovery from major knee surgery make for very large question marks at corner.
The backup DBs stand to play a major role in the upcoming season and thus are playing a major role in the preseason, as each of several youngsters tries to convince coaches and team executives that they not only can backup now, but perhaps can become starters in the future.
14 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
Tanner Kluth 10 months ago
What do you mean both cornerback positions are up for grabs? Springs is the clear starter for the first position, and if Rogers is healthy enough and playing like his old self, he will be the other starter.
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Craig Garrison Sr 10 months ago
Not the starting spots,
"and each backup cornerback position is up for grabs"
but the backups, both Springs and Rogers are the starters for sure(if Rogers is healthy), my point is that Springs is not likely returning next season and the Skins could be looking for fresh blood at the position depending on how things go with Rogers. Richardson, Westbrok, Holt, and Tryon are trying to prove they belong in this league.
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Angel Navedo 10 months ago
I'm really interested in seeing if Colt Brennan can light it up again. I'd hate to see it against the Jets, but the kid looked good last week for a QB people said was a product of the Hawaii system.
Regardless, I'm expecting the Jets defensive approach to be very simple and basic -- so you guys might have a field day through the air. Should be a fun game to watch. Hopefully there's enough coverage outside of the Brett Favre debut.
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Craig Garrison Sr 10 months ago
I also hope Favre doesn't end up with all of the attention, both teams have a lot going on, it would be a shame for everything(everyone) else to get lost in the wash of the Favre rush.
It should be an interesting game, if your a fan of one of the clubs, anyway. I just hope we get the chance to pay attention to the whole team(both Jets fans and Skins fans to their respective teams) without the constant crap about Favre.
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Andreas Kraemer 10 months ago
Craig,
Nice write up. Good perspective for the upcoming game, and I think you are dead on with your analysis.
That being said, you mentioned in your comments that you think Springs is not likely returning next season... What makes you think that? Contract?
He seems to have renewed his passion for the game, seems happier on the sidelines than he has been in quite some time, his skills (when healthy) are still elite, and he has talked about prolonging his career by switching to safety.
Assuming (and this is a big assumption) he stays healthy, that would mean he intends to continue playing football for a few more seasons. And if that is the case, why would he switch teams when he has a good rapport with management and the new coaching staff. He has been through enough turmoil in his life lately. I can't imagine he would want to pick and move.
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Craig Garrison Sr 10 months ago
My assumptions in regards to Springs are based on his contract(next year is final year, with at least 5 mil cap charge) and his ability or inability to stay healthy. Next year could be pretty tricky for the Skins concerning the cap, Campbell will be entering his final year(if he has the year I expect he will have, there will be a big contract in the offseason) Rogers will be entering his final year(could lead to the Skins looking elsewhere in FA or renew his contract). Springs was also very close(according to an interview I read) this past offseason and I will be shocked if he plays again next year. That's just me though, so, hey, ya never know!
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Craig Garrison Sr 10 months ago
Thanks Andreas, my assumptions in regards to Springs are based on his contract(next year is final year, with at least 5 mil cap charge) and his ability or inability to stay healthy. Next year could be pretty tricky for the Skins concerning the cap, Campbell will be entering his final year(if he has the year I expect he will have, there will be a big contract in the offseason) Rogers will be entering his final year(could lead to the Skins looking elsewhere in FA or renew his contract). Springs was also very close(according to an interview I read) this past offseason and I will be shocked if he plays again next year. That's just me though, so, hey, ya never know!
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Craig Garrison Sr 10 months ago
don't know how this double thing happened, sorry folks
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Jack Anderson 10 months ago
Nice piece Craig! The backup spots will be key since Springs might play some safety during the season. Safety would save him some wear and tear, but I agree that we'll see him retire so I guess that doesn't matter. He is so solid at CB that I'm hoping he'll mainly play there which I believe he will.
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Tanner Kluth 10 months ago
I don't see Springs playing any safety unless an injury happens there. Landry and Doughty more than suffice.
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Jack Anderson 10 months ago
I agree accept maybe in some long yardage situations since Doughty struggles in coverage.
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Craig Garrison Sr 10 months ago
Not including injuries, I could see Springs at Safety in the dime package perhaps. Splitting the field deep with Landry in an effort to insure nothing deep gets completed, but I would be surprised if he spends much time there with out injuries coming into play. He has commented that he will play safety if they ask him to, but each time I have heard or read him discuss it, I have gotten the impression that he doesn't really like playing the position, he's a corner.
Tonight's game should give us a pretty good look at the starters, it should be fun!
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Jennifer Johnson 10 months ago
I wish Blache would keep mixin up his DB packages. The more looks we give the opposing team, the better the odds of getting the results we want. Confusion is like the 6th man in football. Keeping the coaching staff busy trying to find the right play to combat what we "appear to be doing" allows our d to open up a bit. Attack those lanes, hit the o-line and drive them back, and if all goes well sack the QB. Blitzing is gambling. You're gonna win some battles, and then you're gonna get burned and be down until you can prove yourself again.
Overall my impression of Springs at safety is that this experimentation helps more that hurts the skins. We lack a true cover corner, and with Carlos Rogers starting to see action, it behooves the team to use the rest of the preseason as litmus test for their personnel. Extremely glad to see Rocky return to action as well. Nothing compares to playing at full speed in a live-action game. As of now I have not heard that they had a setback. Hopefully Randy Thomas' sprained knee is not a lingering problem.
On a personal note: Love that kid Marcus Mason. Wish he was a db. Ah well. Next up the Carolina Panthers. Looked listless against the Jets, so here's hopin the fire returns to darken Jake Delhomme's night.
Skins 20 Panthers 17
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Craig Garrison Sr 10 months ago
Like your thoughts Jennifer. No setbacks for McIntosh and Rogers, all is well. Thomas and Betts' knee injuries are minor and they should both be fine.
I agree that the time to experiment is now, and with Landry not playing, it makes it even better timing. The youngsters saw more time at safety on saturday than Springs did though, which is also a good thing. Moore, Horton and Hamilton seemed to play fairly well. It helped alot that the Jets' receivers dropped so many passes, but they still did ok.
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