NFL Draft 2012: 7 Areas of Need for the Washington Redskins

Don’t let the title fool you. When you’re 5-11 with Rex Grossman as your starting quarterback, you have a lot of areas of need. In an effort to avoid writing War and Peace, I’m going to try to keep this to the top seven areas of need for the 2012 season.   

With Mike Shanahan at the helm, the Redskins are at-least moving in the right direction when it comes to the draft. For years, ‘Skins fans were led astray by impulsive free agency spending and trading away draft picks (Adam Archuleta and T.J. Duckett anyone?).

But the 2011 draft proved what can happen when you have adults running your draft board. Last year, the Redskins successfully acquired, held on to, and used 12 total picks. The team hadn't used 12 draft picks since the 1985 draft. With the exception of Jarvis Jenkins (torn ACL in the preseason) and Aldrick Robinson, the entire 2011 draft class saw playing time.   

With seven picks currently at their disposal, here are the key positions that the Redskins need to focus on in the 2012 NFL draft.  

Quarterback

The talent drought at quarterback has plagued the Redskins for years. The 2011 regular season was an exercise in QB futility. Between Rex’s consistent flair for the turnover dramatics and John Beck’s inability to attempt a pass downfield, anything positive that the team was able to generate was negated by sub-par quarterback play.     

And once Grossman moved the offense into the red zone, he showed no regard for maintaining possession. His turnovers helped firmly establish the team as the 29th-ranked offense in red zone efficiency.  

The ‘Skins need direction under center. They need someone the fans can get behind and suffer with, if need be, through the growing pains. While Jason Campbell was in no way the best signal-caller, the Redskins have had, fans were able to get behind him, for better or worse, and chalk up the losses to a learning experience.   

If the Redskins draft a franchise quarterback this April, Robert Griffin III preferably, it buys Shanahan more time. The first two years under the Shanahan regime have proven that stop-gap veteran solutions will not work with this team. With all of the youth on offense, the team needs a quarterback to grow and develop with the skill position players while the offensive line is rebuilt piece by piece.  

Right Tackle

At first pass, the Jammal Brown trade seemed great. The Redskins were getting a former Pro Bowler who had fallen out of favor in New Orleans with the emergence of Jermon Bushrod. Two years and one new contract later, Brown has yet to live up to the expectations that came with him in 2010.   

Starting only 12 games last season, Brown has been trying to recover from his surgically repaired hip in 2009. Combining the lingering hip issues with his strained groin and large salary cap hit for 2012, $4.6 million, makes Brown’s future with the team uncertain.  

Starting a rookie at tackle opposite another young tackle is risky but, with Jon Jansen and Chris Samuels, the Redskins have successfully gone down that road before.  

Center

While Casey Rabach was a serviceable center, his best asset was his relationship with Jason Campbell.  Having a center that the QB can trust to make the right line calls and is seeing the same defensive coverage can take pressure off a young QB.  

The Redskins need a battery at and under center. Much like a pitcher and catcher in baseball or an NBA player and their jeweler (Trent ‘Silverback’ Williams honorable mention), a consistent battery strengthens an offensive line and makes a sub-par passer, Mark Sanchez, look like a pro for at lest a few seasons.  

Will Montgomery and Eric Cook are not the answer for the Redskins. Even though taking Ryan Kerrigan in the first round proved to be a fantastic pick, Maurkice Pouncey would have made a great support system for whichever rookie QB the Shanahans bring in.

Inside Linebacker

Let’s be clear about this, if we had a Flux Capacitor and could get London Fletcher before he went to the Bills and start him next season, we’d be set for another 10 years. However, the almost 37-year-old is not getting any younger. Since 2007, Fletcher has given the Redskins everything he possibly could on the field.   

He deserves better. A free agent this offseason, Fletcher has earned the right to play for a Super Bowl contender. I’d hate to see him go, but I doubt his body can hold up long enough for the Redskins to compete for a Lombardi Trophy.  

Rocky McIntosh, another free agent, fell out of favor last season as fast as Kyle Orton did in Denver.  While he proved, statistically, the last two years that he could play in the 3-4, Shanahan seems to have punched McIntosh’s ticket out of town well before deactivating him for the season finale.  

Safety

Unbeknown to Reed Doughty, coverage skills are a prerequisite for playing safety in the NFL. Doughty finds his way into the line up year after year because of injuries to those in front of him on the depth chart. His speed makes him a liability on defense and special teams.   

The Redskins need to target an intelligent and athletic safety. Many fans and GMs turned radio hosts are often too caught up in starting a big hitter at safety. If you can’t read a play’s progression and see routes developing, good QBs will expose you (Hi, Roy Williams!). 

While a huge tackle is great for game momentum, bouncing off of an offensive player because you forgot how to wrap up is deflating to a team. The ‘Skins need an Ed Reed type player to consistently make the right play, not to try for the highlight play.

Wide Receiver

Having used the franchise tag on Fred Davis and with the uncertainty surrounding Chris Cooley’s health, the receiving corps needs to be strengthened going into the 2012 season. The Shanahans cannot afford to go shopping at the sub-6" possession receiver store anymore.   

So far Kyle Shanahan has yet to find someone to step into the Andre Johnson role that he exploited in Houston. Leonard Hankerson showed some promise when he finally saw the field. However, he also demonstrated suspect hands which send Michael Westbrook chills down my spine.     

Jabar Gaffney had the best year of his career last year when reuniting with a heavier version of his Florida QB. He showed a willingness to go over the middle and consistency on third down. Gaffney and Moss suffer the same ailment that London Fletcher might fall prey to—Father Time.  

Kicker

Say it Ain’t Gano! Ga-No More! Uh-Oh Gano!  

Graham Gano was last in field goal percentage in 2010 and was only slightly better than former ‘Skins kicker Shaun Suisham and Josh Brown in 2011. With his kickoffs out of bounds and blocked attempts, Gano has more than made his case to be sent packing to wherever it is kickers go their upon retirement.  

Offenses that can’t score Touchdowns in the red zone need a great kicker. The San Francisco 49ers scored TDs on roughly 41 percent of their red zone possessions but, with a great kicker like David Akers, they were able to ride field goals and their defense all the way to the NFC Championship Game.  

Let’s hope that on the 2012 Opening Day roster Graham is Ga-nowhere to be found (my apologies to those with a sophisticated sense of humor).

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