'Skins Position Battle: At Right Tackle, Heyer Looks to Hold On

With the first set of OTAs come and gone, the Redskins appear to be settled at most positions.  However, a few crucial positions are still up for grabs.

With high priced veterans sprinkled throughout the starting line-up, the Redskins hope to unearth a couple contributors from a group of journeymen, veterans who seem to be on the downside of their careers and inconsistent youngsters, each with glaring holes in their game.

At right tackle, the Redskins brought back veterans Jon Jansen and Stephon Heyer. Neither performed well last season. 

Jansen, a 10-year veteran, always seemed a step or two slow in pass protection, but excelled in run blocking the first half of the season. Eight weeks into last season Clinton Portis was the NFL's leading rusher, largely thanks to the right side of the line. But as the season wore on, Jansen's play deteriorated.

Heyer, entering his third year out of the University Maryland, has shown flashes of excellence, but little else. Strong as a truck and fluid as a tap dancer, Heyer has the tools to excel at right tackle and should be the odds on favorite heading into training camp. His weakness though is consistency.  It seemed that for much of last season offensive line coach Joe Bugel spent equal time praising Heyer as he did scolding him. If Heyer has any hopes of firmly entrenching himself as a starter, he will have to put for a more consistent effort.

The wild card in the right tackle competition could be Mike Williams.  Williams, picked fourth overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 2002 draft, has been out of football for nearly three years and even when he did play he wasn't much more effective. Away from football, Williams allowed his weight to balloon to upwards of 450 lbs.

Williams began a weight loss program at Duke University early this year and with the help of Redskins guard Derrick Dockery has already shed nearly 60 lbs. If Williams can get his weight down to around 350, he still has the skill of a top five pick. At 29, Williams also has far fewer miles on him than other players his age.

Regardless of who ends up winning the competition, the Redskins are hoping that the winner will be the one that steps their game up to a highest level, not just the best of the rest.