Youth Gone Wild: Projected Starters for 2012 Washington Redskins

It's no secret that the Redskins are headed in a young direction.

There's a very good chance that all of the Redskins starting offense next season will be under 30 years old.

For years, the Redskins were a team labeled as old and full of veteran "has-beens" or "never beens."  There was never any sort of emphasis on building through the draft or having youth for the future.

All that changed when Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen grabbed the reins of this team.

Fred Davis, a young player who was drafted before Shanahan arrived, had a breakout season last year and has assumed the starting job at tight end.

Players such as Trent Williams and Perry Riley who were drafted in the first year of the new regime have now started to come into their own.

Last season's draft class was an overall success as Ryan Kerrigan, Roy Helu, Evan Royster and DeJon Gomes all had solid rookie seasons.

In the past few days, the team has once again sent the message that they are getting younger, by turning down 29-year-old Vincent Jackson for 26-year-old Pierre Garcon and 25-year-old Josh Morgan.

Shanahan has a plan for the future, and he proved it last season by accumulating 12 rookies in the draft...a move that paved the way for giving up picks this year for a 22-year-old quarterback. This team is evolving.

These are not the Redskins of old.

The starting quarterback, running back, wide receiver and left tackle could all be born Redskins with two years or less under their belt.

It should be exciting for Redskins fans to watch the transition take fold this year and the progression of this young quarterback and offense for seasons to come.

Quarterback: Robert Griffin III

How much is too much?

I frankly don't care. The Redskins didn't need Peyton Manning, Matt Flynn, Kyle Orton, Rex Grossman or any other free-agent quarterback. They needed a young rookie quarterback who fits their system.

Robert Griffin III is exactly what they needed.

He has the character to be a quality leader. He has the arm to be a quality quarterback. He has the athleticism to be a quality playmaker.

RG3 will automatically make this offense better from day one. He gives the fans, and more importantly his teammates, someone to believe in and buy into.

The difference at quarterback will be significant and immediate. Play-action schemes carry a greater scare factor for defenses with a dual-threat quarterback.

Surrounding him with players like Pierre Garcon and Fred Davis will help him in his transition and aid in the teams overall success this season.

The Redskins just put themselves in position to be one of the youngest up-and-coming teams in the NFL. Cam Newton and RG3 could be the next Peyton Manning-Tom Brady. You never know what could happen.

What I do know is Robert Griffin III offers hope. A word lost in disappointment over the past two decades. Hope is exciting. It's exciting to be a Redskins fan again.

Halfback: Roy Helu

While Tim Hightower could be the guy if re-signed, I believe that Mike Shanahan and the Redskins saw enough from Roy Helu last season to fall in love.

He is the best player to fit the running scheme, and his "one-cut and gone" ability is outstanding.

The fourth-round selection was one of the most productive rookie running backs last season and has the opportunity to improve on that in 2012.

One of the most impressive traits of Helu was his ability to extend the play. It would take at times up to three tacklers to take down the determined back.

Roy Helu has the potential to be Shanahan's next great running back and seemed more and more comfortable in the scheme towards season's end.

I look for Helu to come of age in 2012 and turn in a 1,000-yard season. His yards after contact numbers are impressive, and he has speed unlike anything the Redskins have had for years.

Fullback: Darrell Young

With the release of Mike Sellers, Shanahan is putting a lot of faith in his linebacker-turned-fullback Darrel Young.

Young looked promising last season, with solid blocking, and some production in the running and passing game. He will have the fullback position all to himself next season.

While fullback is somewhat of a dying position, it is still very much necessary for opening holes and leading blocks—particularly on the goal line.

Young did a good job of this for whatever running back had the ball, and he also made some good catches for yardage out of the backfield.

It appears that Young has finally proven himself outside of Mike Sellers' shadow enough to earn the position in the Redskins offense.

Wide Receiver No. 1: Pierre Garcon

Unlike a lot of Redskins fans, I am actually ecstatic about the Pierre Garcon signing.

While Vincent Jackson would have been flashy and nice, he's hit his prime. He's going into his 30s, and he's already proven what he's capable of doing.

Not to say that he isn't capable of amazing things, but you know what you're getting.

While most would argue that's not a bad thing, Garcon is just now coming into his own. He hasn't hit his ceiling, and he could potentially become the No. 1 receiver that the Redskins have desperately needed.

At 26 years old, the Redskins are getting a budding receiver that has improved his production and reduced his drops over the past seasons. And don't look at Peyton Manning as the reason, as last year Garcon took passes from Curtis Painter and Dan Orlovsky and still had career-high numbers.

He was the fastest receiver on the Colts' roster and his yards-after-catch numbers were staggering. He averaged over three yards more after the catch than both Santana Moss and Vincent Jackson.

I have every reason to believe that Pierre Garcon will be the Redskins' top receiver in 2012 and will post career-high numbers in a bigger role.

Garcon's career is just now hitting its prime, and he could be the Redskins' top deep threat for years to come. By the time he's 30 and in the prime of his career, V-Jax will be trailing off at 34.

Wide Receiver No. 2: Leonard Hankerson

No, not Josh Morgan, Santana Moss or Jabar Gaffney.

Leonard Hankerson will be the Redskins' No. 2 target in 2012. In his short time on the field last season, Hankerson lit it up. Against the Miami Dolphins, he had eight receptions for 106 yards.

Unfortunately, he tore his ACL in that game and was sidelined for the remainder of the season.

Hankerson has the size and hands to become a very productive receiver in the Redskins offense. He has good speed, and his routes were improving with every game.

The key will be his return from injury. If it is a full recovery and Hankerson can return to full form, he has the potential to be a straight shot to Washington's No. 2. His competition will be from Jabar Gaffney and Josh Morgan. I expect Santana Moss to move into the slot and thrive.

Garcon and Hankerson could be a tandem with good size and good speed. They are both very young and could bolster a receiving corps that has waxed thin for years.

Tight End: Fred Davis

The franchise man.

Personally, I've been a Fred Davis fan since 2009. Chris Cooley just doesn't have the upside that Davis has, and Shanahan's move to make him the No. 1 tight end was the smart one.

Davis was the Redskins' top offensive weapon last year, and he was the one player in their offense who teams had to plan against.

Factor in Pierre Garcon.

Garcon, a healthy Hankerson, a healthy Cooley and a solid running game from Helu, and most importantly a better quarterback, will open the doors of opportunity for Davis. If he can keep his off-field activities clean, he can be taking a trip to Hawaii next season.

His route running, speed and hands are phenomenal, as many opposing teams found out the hard way last season.

I believe the Redskins have one of the best young tight ends in the league, particularly in the passing game. He could use some work in blocking, but that's not his expertise.

Look for Fred Davis to have another great season this season, with more offensive output than his breakout year last year.

Left Tackle: Trent Williams

Trent Williams needs to get things together.

Not to be too critical, but he didn't justify his off-field actions with stellar play on the field. While he has the potential to be a great player, he has hit his funk as just a good player.

Too many busted assignments and sacks allowed. Period.

To be fair, the offensive line was in shambles last season, as players were being rotated and shifted around to compensate for the injuries. But Williams is the captain of that unit, and he shouldn't have left the field due to suspension.

This needs to be a defining year for the team's 2010 first-round pick. He needs to take that next step as a tackle and be the captain that the offensive line needs him to be.

Anything less would be disappointing.

Left Guard: Kory Lichtensteiger

I can't fault Kory Lichtensteiger that much.

He went down to injury last season and had been playing pretty good football prior to that. The running game was hitting all cylinders until Lichtensteiger and Hightower went down for the season.

I think he's a very underrated left guard, and he fits well in what Shanahan likes to do.

He has good chemistry with Williams on his left and Montgomery on his right, and I expect him to return to his full form by the start of the season.

While the team could use an upgrade at the position, I don't think Lichtensteiger is a bad player at all. I think he deserves another shot at the starting job, and it will be interesting to see if he can continue where he left off.

Center: Will Montgomery

Will Montgomery did okay in his first season as the Redskins' starting center. There's no reason to think he won't be back in the middle of the line this year to build on his play last year.

Montgomery was definitely an upgrade over Casey Rabach who was released by the team prior to the start of the 2011 season.

He needs to improve, but he was voted by Dan Graziano as the best center in the NFC East.

A little more consistency and more familiarity with the position will be necessary for Montgomery this season, but he won't be blocking for Rex Grossman anymore. Robert Griffin III's athleticism should aid in the offensive line's production.

Look for Montgomery to be right back as the starting center and improving on his performance last season.

Right Guard: Chris Chester

Chris Chester was a good pickup for the Skins last year.

While many players on the offensive line fell to injury or suspension, Chester was a consistent player who opened holes in the running game and solidly did well in pass protection.

The coaches aren't looking to replace him, which tells me that he'll likely be back in the starting job in 2012.

Right Tackle: Willie Smith

The only reason I'm listing Willie Smith, is because right now, he's the best option currently with the team.

Smith has a lot of upside and performed fairly well in Trent Williams's absence, however, I don't think he's ready for anything more than a fill-in player.

I don't know how the Redskins are going to address this position. They brought in Demetrius Bell for a workout but haven't done much more than that.

Bell is an interesting option and would be a solid signing. The bottom line is that the Redskins has that main need right now.

Left Defensive End: Jarvis Jenkins

The Redskins might have lost a second-round draft pick this year, but they're getting last year's back in return.

Jarvis Jenkins was a force to be reckoned with during the preseason last season and had already pushed himself into the starting role at left end. Unfortunately, an ACL injury cut his strong run short before he took the field in a regular-season game.

Throughout the course of the season, the updates from Jenkins' recovery were all positive, and he was working hard to get back to full speed.

2012 should be a season that Jenkins can get back on his feet and show the coaches and fans that he has a lot to prove.

If he can pick up the form he left the team with, he's a solid start at left end and a force on the defensive line.

Nose Tackle: Barry Cofield

The gamble paid off for Washington.

Many believed that Barry Cofield didn't have what it took to be a starting nose tackle in the NFL. While he was dominant on the Giants' 4-3 defensive line, he was thought to be too small for the 3-4.

Think again. Cofield was very solid last season and showed the coaches and the rest of the league that he could make the transition.

He looks like a natural fit for the nose tackle position and should be a force in the middle of the Redskins' defensive line for years to come. This position is set for 2012.

Right Defensive End: Stephen Bowen

Stephen Bowen is a young player who many believed was overpaid from the Cowboys, but the Redskins liked him, and he proved them right.

While he still has a lot of room to grow, he definitely played well and should be right back in the trenches this season.

The defensive line was a solid unit last year but were still coming together and gaining continuity. That unit should improve even more in 2012, and Stephen Bowen is part of that unity.

Bowen was a good pickup for the Skins last year, and he should continue to grow in their system this year.

Left Outside Linebacker: Ryan Kerrigan

Dominant.

Ryan Kerrigan more than proved himself worthy of his draft pick last year. When you compare the Redskins giving up Blaine Gabbert at No. 10 for Ryan Kerrigan at No. 16, the Skins got better value for less.

The rookie accumulated 63 tackles, 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and a pick-six.

For a player some questioned couldn't transition from defensive end to outside linebacker, no one's wondering now.

Ryan Kerrigan is one of the Redskins best first-round draft picks in the past decade.

His strength and athleticism should be a staple in the Redskins defense for years to come.

Middle Linebacker: London Fletcher

Pay the Man.

Seriously.

London Fletcher offers so much more than a Pro-Bowl caliber linebacker. He is the leader of an improving defense. When the lockout hit, London was the man rallying the troops on high school football fields.

Last year, this man led the NFL in tackles with 166. He plays with a passion and energy beyond his 37 years. Whatever he asks for, let him retire in the city that loves him.

The Redskins entire season rides on this signing. The defense will not play at its full potential without him, and that could cost the team some wins.

He needs to come back. The players respect him. The coaches respect him. The fans respect him.

Bring the captain back.

Middle Linebacker: Perry Riley

Perry Riley had a breakout season last year.

He found a comfort lining up beside London Fletcher and performed very well.

In his first year starting, Riley accumulated 68 tackles and one sack. He was drafted by Mike Shanahan, and the coaches obviously like what he brings to the field.

Rocky McIntosh lost his job to Perry Riley last season, and with the way Riley played, I don't see him losing that job in 2012.

Depending on whether or not Fletcher resigns, Perry Riley could have a great season in 2012.

Right Outside Linebacker: Brian Orakpo

Brian Orakpo has 28.5 sacks, 165 tackles and five forced fumbles in his first three years in the pros.

Last year, he posted nine sacks, 59 tackles and three forced fumblers.

While some think his numbers declined, his sacks and forced fumbles actually increased in 2011. Brian Orakpo plays with energy and passion that you don't always see in younger players.

He's a marked man in the Redskins' front seven, and Ryan Kerrigan made it harder for offenses to focus only on Orakpo.

Brian Orakpo has fully transitioned to outside linebacker, and 2012 should be a monster year for the four-year pro. Even so young, he's a leader on the defense and respected by his teammates.

Cornerback: DeAngelo Hall

Ugh...

So much potential wasted chasing impossible interceptions. DeAngelo Hall could actually be a shutdown corner, if he didn't try to be the ball hawk that he isn't.

Hall will be back with the Redskins in 2012, and he needs to change his attitude and approach to the position.

He also needs to keep his mouth shut.

While I am being very critical of Hall, I actually do like him as a Redskin. He's a quality player, but his ego and poor tackling always get the better of him.

This needs to change in 2012. Hall needs to play the ball and the receiver, not just the ball.

Cornerback: Josh Wilson

Josh Wilson struggled with a few injuries in 2011, but when healthy, he played fairly well.

He'll be back and hopefully healthy and improved.

While Wilson still has a lot of growing to do, he has a lot of potential and is a young corner with good upside. The Redskins targeted him in free agency last year, and he should continue budding in 2012.

Strong Safety: Brandon Meriweather

Good riddance LaRon Landry.

A healthy Brandon Meriweather is much better than a side-lined LaRon Landry. And Meriweather is a hard-hitting, talented safety.

Many forget that this player has been to two Pro Bowls in his six-year career.

Meriweather's hitting and speed are exactly what Jim Haslett likes from his strong safeties. He will most likely have a role similar to Landry's, playing close to the line of scrimmage in blitz packages.

While he's been tied to some off-field issues, if he can stay focused and get back on track, the Redskins might have gotten a good value for a great player.

Free Safety: DeJon Gomes

I believe the Redskins plan to go with second-year player DeJon Gomes at free safety for 2012.

He played very well for his experience and draft value last year. The fifth-round Nebraska Cornhusker found himself in the starting role at season's end.

He's a good tackler and a hard hitter—ask Adrian Peterson.

He did decent in coverage, but that should improve as he gets more comfortable in the backfield.

New defensive backs coach Raheem Morris should be a valuable mentor to the young safety. He brings a lot more to the table than Reed Doughty does.

I like Gomes, and so do the Redskins. I wouldn't be surprised to see him suiting up to start on opening day.

Kicker: Graham Gano

Oh, the ups and downs of Graham Gano.

The Redskins resigned the young kicker last week, and he'll be back in Washington next season.

Gano does have a lot of potential, and while that sounds cliche by now, there's still room to grow and improve for him.

His power is fine, his accuracy is a problem. He has missed game winning field goals on more than one occasion. (see Dallas, Houston)  But, he has also made a lot of good, long kicks.

In his third full year starting, it'll be interesting what Gano has done in the offseason to correct his problems.

Punter: Sav Rocca

One could argue that Sav Rocca was the best player on the Redskins last season...as sad as that is.

He was a very good punter and often pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line.

He'll be back and hopefully brings the same game he did last season. There isn't much more to say about the punter though.

Kick/Punt Returner: Brandon Banks

I'm really not sure about this one.

There are a lot of receivers on the roster, but Banks managed to make the team despite a crowded receiving corps last year.

He's a good player, with a quickness that outshines his stature. However, I still don't know if he'll actually be back.

I do believe he's the best returner on the team, but do the Redskins really want a player who's only role is to return the ball?

This could have been Eddie Royal, but with the receiver signing with San Diego, Banks is still the man.

As of now.

Team Projection: 2nd in NFC East (Wild-Card Berth)

While I'm not ready to give them the East crown just yet, I do believe this is the best-fielded Redskins team in the past decade.

The team is young, exciting and full of potential, while at the same time led by quality leaders and veterans.

Young playmakers such as Griffin III, Helu, Davis, Hankerson, Kerrigan and Orakpo offer a lot of hope for fans dying for a glimpse of something special.

I hate to say it, but I'm not sure the Redskins have what it takes to topple their three division foes just yet. With that said, the division is wide open. Any one of the four teams could take home the division this year.

I believe the Redskins will play good enough for a playoff spot, and if that happens, you never know what could happen.

One thing I do know, It's exciting to be a Redskins fan again.