Predicting Awards Honors for the Washington Redskins' 2013 Season

Robert Griffin III won't have the plaudits to himself for the Washington Redskins this season. When it comes to awards time and bestowing honorary recognition, some surprise names will lead the way.

They will include a deputy running back who can shake the injury bug to be a key part of this season's offense. There is also room for a late-round draft pick who can prove himself as starter material much sooner than expected.

If his recovery from major knee surgery means Griffin is not quite the superhuman he was as a rookie, the Redskins need not worry too much. Fortunately, 2012's workhorse runner can emerge as this season's talisman.

The following slides predict which performers will merit honors for the Redskins in 2013, ranging from the team's MVP to its biggest disappointment.

Rookie of the Year

The Redskins must have been barely able to believe their luck back in April. They entered the 2013 NFL draft with a glaring need at safety, but no first-round pick.

Yet head coach Mike Shanahan and general manager Bruce Allen still managed to snare two potential starters. The first was fourth-rounder Phillip Thomas, but sadly fate has conspired to rule him out for the season following Lisfranc surgery, according to Rob Rang of CBSSports.com. 

The second safety the Redskins landed was Georgia's Bacarri Rambo, left to bide his time until the sixth round. What the Redskins got was a true ball hawk and a natural free safety—something their defense has missed for too long.

Rambo snared eight interceptions in 2011, but a pair of drug suspensions marred his final year with the Bulldogs. But as Mike Harris of The Washington Times has noted, Rambo has made a strong impression this preseason.

However, he has struggled against the run during initial action and Rich Campbell of The Washington Times expects that to be a focus for the first-year safety. These kind of teething problems should be expected from a rookie, though.

Things are wide-open at safety, ready for any player to seize his chance. As his game refines, Rambo should quickly distinguish himself in the rotation. He will become the clear starter at a crucial position of need.

As the season progresses, Rambo will make his share of big plays and outshine the rest of Shanahan's 2013 rookie class.

WINNER: Bacarri Rambo

Most Improved Player

When Shanahan traded up to select Roy Helu Jr. in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL draft, excitement grew among Redskins fans. Given Shanahan's prolific history of turning late-round runners into stars, it was easy to get excited about one the coach felt the need to move up and select.

After a slow start, Helu began to reward that faith. He proved himself an adept receiver with a 14-catch, 105-yard receiving effort against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 9.

But the real buzz was created by his performance against the Seattle Seahawks three weeks later. Against a usually stingy run defense, Helu rushed for 108 yards on 23 carries. His 28-yard hurdle and sprint to the end zone was the highlight play of a disappointing 5-11 season.

Much was expected for year two, but turf toe and niggling issues with his Achilles landed Helu on injured reserve after only three games and two carries.

But now the versatile speedster is primed to put his injury nightmare in the rear view mirror. Helu is fully fit and already looks like he will play a big role in 2013.

He is a natural choice to attack defenses on third downs, as Rich Campbell of The Washington Times has noted:

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Helu is a quality third-down back because of his good hands, his ability to gain yards after the catch and his adequate pass blocking. He improved his blitz recognition as his rookie season progressed. Saturday’s performance in team drills was an auspicious sign.

His speed and elusiveness on the second level set him apart from first-string running back Alfred Morris. He also could join Morris and quarterback Robert Griffin III in an extremely potent triple option.

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Campbell's scenario of a triple-option involving Helu's field-stretching speed, the power of Morris and Grffin's elusiveness is a tantalizing prospect for Redskins fans.

It also underlines the increased versatility Helu offers an already diverse offense. That and his sharpness in preseason action puts Helu ahead of Evan Royster and rookies Chris Thompson and Jawan Jamison in a crowded pecking order.

Morris will still carry the brunt of the load, but Helu's flexibility and speed will earn him more reps. He will improve as a runner and enjoy a big year.

WINNER: Roy Helu Jr.

Offensive Player of the Year

Alfred Morris won't quite hit the heights of 2012's superb 1,613 yard output, but he will still be the driving force of this season's offense. As a rookie, Morris had the benefit of defenses looking first to Griffin and planning for his potential to take off on the run.

If Griffin's mobility is not what it was pre-knee surgery, or defenses take it away more often, Morris is sure to face greater attention. However, just because opponents know the run is coming, it does not mean they can stop it.

Shanahan has turned the zone-running scheme—particularly the stretch run—into an art form, and Morris is fast becoming an expert practitioner. He is disciplined enough to follow the pattern of the blocking in front of him, but more importantly, is still decisive enough to quickly attack holes.

Morris has that knack for anticipating creases before they have fully developed. Like Shanahan's best zone-runners, Morris makes short work of getting to the second level of a defense.

Once there, his natural power often makes linebackers and defensive backs dread the idea of tackling him. With those attributes intact and aided by precise, efficient blocking, Morris is a good bet to again top 1,000 yards.

Having greater competition at his position will also help the work-heavy second-year pro. In 2012, there was nobody to share carries or take third down duties away from Morris. Now the Redskins have a fit again Helu, as well as Jamison and Royster to split the load.

If his yards are down, it won't be by much, and Morris should even improve on his 13 touchdowns as a rookie.

WINNER: Alfred Morris

Defensive Player of the Year

Whisper it very quietly, but Ryan Kerrigan is ready to dominate. Does any other defensive player in the league have his flair for splash plays?

The player who announced himself with a tip-interception-touchdown triple-winner on his debut in 2011, is fast becoming Washington's defensive linchpin.

Kerrigan continued his knack for highlight-reel worthy stuff last season. This time he chose to embarrass Atlanta Falcons passer Matt Ryan in Week 5.

Kerrigan has been at it again this preseason. Somebody ought to have told Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger that attempting a screen pass Kerrigan's way is a risk you should avoid.

But the 25-year-old outside linebacker has much more to his game than play of the week contenders. At 6'4" and 260 pounds, the former Purdue defensive end is tough to move in the running game.

Kerrigan regularly sets the edge and forces runners toward the sideline, or back inside to the teeth of Washington's 3-4 front. But what has been even more encouraging has been Kerrigan's development as a pass-rusher.

He logged 7.5 sacks as a rookie, but led the Redskins with 8.5 last season. That was despite the team's best pass-rush ace, Brian Orakpo, missing the entire season.

With Orakpo on the sidelines, opponents were able to slide their protection towards Kerrigan. Despite the extra attention and being the only natural pass-rusher in the front seven, Kerrigan still applied plenty of pressure.

Now that Orakpo is back in the fold, Kerrigan will face more one-on-one blocking. That means it will be a tough year for quarterbacks.

WINNER: Ryan Kerrigan

Biggest Surprise

Darryl Tapp's signing went as good as unnoticed when the Redskins rescued him off the league's scrapheap in March. But that low-key move could soon look like a masterstroke, given its implications for the pass rush.

Tapp, a former 4-3 defensive end, gives the Redskins a situational pass-rusher, something this author has advocated for two years. The benefit of adding a pressure specialist for sub-packages is how it lets the Redskins vary their pass-rush fronts.

John Keim of ESPN.com, describes one way Tapp is already helping the Redskins be more creative with their pressure looks:

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They did have one alignment in which they used five linebackers and two defensive linemen. Kerrigan was at left end with Brandon Jenkins at right end and Darryl Tapp inside to his left. The Steelers gained nine yards with a quick pass. But it was a first-down play, so it was an example of the Redskins perhaps trying to generate extra push with an early-down pass rush. It helps that Tapp is a former defensive end, albeit in a 4-3 (where the ends can be sometimes 30 pounds lighter than a 3-4 end).

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That is just one way the Redskins can use extra rushers like Tapp to confuse and outmatch blocking schemes. The more coordinator Jim Haslett can get Tapp, Kerrigan and Orakpo on the field together, the more big plays the pass rush can create.

Not much was initially expected from Tapp, but he has a chance to be a really positive surprise this season. Rookie defensive end Brandon Jenkins is also a contender here for the same reasons.

WINNER: Darryl Tapp

Biggest Disappointment

The Redskins need Brandon Meriweather to emerge as a leader among the safeties. Unfortunately, the brittle and temperamental journeyman could well disappoint again.

Meriweather could not get healthy during his first season in D.C. He barely saw the field and has yet to do so this preseason.

The Redskins are naturally being cautious with the veteran, after he tore his ACL last November. However, sooner or later they need him on the field.

The problem is that even when healthy, Meriweather has struggled to prove himself as a credible starting safety. The fact that he is being counted on shows just how thin the Redskins are at safety and why many still worry about the state of the secondary.

Even if he starts, Meriweather will have trouble handling an important role on the defense.

WINNER: Brandon Meriweather

Most Valuable Player

Griffin has to be removed from this equation until his true health status is known and we see how he responds to the first few hits and his first scrambles from the pocket.

Of course, we already know what to expect from Morris. In many ways last season he was an unsung hero, despite finishing second in the league's rushing charts as an unheralded sixth-round pick.

The hype surrounding Griffin often obscured the influence Morris had at crucial times during Washington's push to the postseason—like his 200 rushing yards to destroy the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East-clinching season finale.

There was also his 27 carries and two scores in a tough, but vital road win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 15. It was Morris who controlled the clock and protected a one-point lead over the Giants two weeks earlier.

Whenever the Redskins really needed it last season, Morris delivered. He will be the main man again during the new campaign.

Morris will lead a rushing attack that could easily feature a pair of 1,000-yard rushers. He will also push close to the 20-touchdown mark and seal more than a few victories.

WINNER: Alfred Morris