Current Washington Redskins Compare Favorably to Past Greats

2012's version of the Washington Redskins is quite simple when it's examined one month before training camp.

The Redskins resemble a blank canvas, which can leave a lot to the imagination. But their portrait will materialize when the rendering is complete.

If we were to paint a picture of this summer's roster and compare it to Washington's all-time greats, what would it look like? Could playoff dreams become reality if current players channeled the past? And would life resemble art after the paint has dried?

To capture the essence of it, let's envision success for this year's Redskins by recalling those who have achieved it.

Superman Returns

2012 marks the 80th anniversary of the Redskins' franchise. So let's celebrate it by comparing quarterbacks. 

Robert Griffin III was the first player from Baylor to win the Heisman Trophy, but he is the second quarterback to don a Redskins uniform after achieving the honor. Florida's Danny Wuerffel was drafted by Washington in 1996, after leading the Gators to a national title. Let's hope RG3 survives the attention and scrutiny that's sure to come with "the territory."

As far as skills and athleticism are concerned, RG3 is comparable to Sammy Baugh and Joe Theismann. Both men were included in 2002's anniversary list list of the 70 Greatest Redskins and both won championships with the Redskins. During their tenures, they was recognized for their leadership and intelligence. And both had the unique ability to escape pressure.

Baugh and Theismann were also comfortable with fans and the media and displayed the same type of charm and charisma that's currently making Washington swoon over RG3.

Billy Kilmer (Redskins, Saints and 49ers) and Eddie LeBaron are similar to current backup Rex Grossman because they started for more than one team and achieved mixed results.

Kilmer and Grossman both appeared in a Super Bowl, but lost it due to lackluster play. LeBaron shared time as a starter in Dallas with Don Meredith, and Kilmer was revered for stepping in several times for an injured Sonny Jurgensen. Perhaps with his experience, Grossman will adequately do the same, if Griffin misses time too. 

Kirk Cousins may need to be patient like Sonny Jurgensen was with Philadelphia in the late 1950s. He also may need to be traded, like Sonny was, to become a respected starter in the league.

Jurgensen won a pair of passing championships with the Redskins, while Mark Rypien and Doug Williams won World Championships. All three were prototype drop-back passers, like Cousins is. 

Rushing to Greatness

This January will mark the 30th anniversary of John Riggins' 43-yard touchdown gallop that broke the backs of the Miami Dolphins' defense in Super Bowl XVII. But this year's Redskins should emulate the way the 1983 team ran the ball en route to a 27-17 win.

With a pair of bruising returnees from last year, the Redskins are capable of a ground-and-pound attack that proved to be a rousing success for Riggins and company. Of course, "The Diesel" had a mammoth line of "Hogs" that sprung him to glory.

But head coach Mike Shanahan has done wonders with less, and Roy Helu and Evan Royster proved late last season that they're a force to be reckoned with. The addition of 5'10", 219 lb rookie Alfred Morris gives the 'Skins another one-cut runner, but he is in the small, but strong category of Dick James.    

Helu, Royster and Tim Hightower are comparable to Larry Brown, Riggo and Earnest Byner with size and grit. But they will have to overcome injuries to be productive.

Hightower will have a tough road back after tearing an ACL last year. Brown had a splendid career (NFL MVP in 1972), but he had his career cut short with numerous ailments. Charlie Justice also succumbed to the injury bug in the mid-1950s. 

Unless Hightower regains his speed, there is nobody on the current Redskins roster that has the elusiveness of former stars Terry Allen, Joe Washington and special teams ace Brian Mitchell.

Meanwhile, Hall of Famer Bill Dudley was in a class by himself. According to his personal website, he is the "only person to win MVP awards in college, service, and the professional levels." He also won the league's MVP Award in 1946. 

Fun Bunch Reborn

Comparing the Redskins' current receivers to the team's all-time greats is easy because aside from Santana Moss and newcomer Pierre Garcon, nobody has proven anything yet. That's not meant to be facetious. It's just the simple truth.

A few pass-catchers from the current group recently showed respect for the infamous "Fun Bunch" by replicating their signature high fives. But they'll have to score plenty of touchdowns to celebrate repeatedly in 2012. 

Art Monk was a member of the "Redskins Posse" and joined Bobby Mitchell and Charley Taylor in the Hall of Fame.

But he can't come back to replace Leonard Hankerson (hip surgery) or Josh Morgan (broken leg) in Washington's lineup. Both were limited during minicamp and are hoping to be good to go by training camp. Let's hope so, for the offense's sake.

Meanwhile, any combination of Moss, Anthony Armstrong, Terrence Austin or Brandon Banks could form a new set of "Smurfs," but Moss more than doubled the receptions and yardage totals of the three others combined last year.  

The group is hoping to catch lightening in a bottle, which occurred often when Gary Clark teamed up with Ricky Sanders to terrorize defensive backfields in the late 1980s and early '90s.

Picture Not so Perfect

Washington's tight ends are solid but unreliable. Let's leave it at that, because if they can stay clean and injury free, they could be spectacular.

Conditioning will be extremely important for Chris Cooley this year, while staying out of trouble and remaining drug-free is absolutely necessary for Fred Davis. Davis and Left Tackle Trent Williams are both one strike away from a one-year suspension.

The off-the-field transgressions of Davis and Williams could be compared to former Redskins star defensive end Dexter Manley, who was permanently banned from the NFL after failing numerous drug tests.

But Davis' receiving prowess compares favorably with Jerry Smith and two-time Pro Bowler Hugh "Bones" Taylor. At 6'4", Davis is the same height and as dominating a pass-catcher as Taylor was.

Taylor averaged over 19 yards a catch for Washington from 1947-1954, while Smith reeled in 421 passes from 1965-1977. According to Wikipedia, Smith's 60 touchdowns were "a record for tight ends at the time." He was also an "All-Pro twice and held several records that stood for years." 

We can compare Cooley to multi-purpose greats from the past like Wayne Millner and Don Warren.

Millner is a Redskins Hall of Famer, who was known for making the "big catch." According to Redskins historian Mike Richman, he was known as "The Money Player" because "when the stakes were highest and the pressure greatest, Wayne Millner was at his best." 

Cooley also has the heart and soul of Warren, who Richman referred to as a man with a "hard-working, no-nonsense mentality." Recently, Cooley showed his outspoken side by questioning RG3's ability to improvise.    

Like Warren before him, Cooley is fiercely competitive, without the "glitz and glamour." But if he had one wish, it would be to wear a Super Bowl ring. When Warren retired, he owned a pair of them.

More to Come

Stay tuned for more comparisons between this year's Redskins and the team's All-Time Greats. In Part II, we'll take an in-depth look at this year's defense and special teams, as well as the ever-changing offensive line and how it compares to the beloved "Hogs."