Predicting Washington Redskins' 1st Wave of Roster Cuts
A handful of days is all that is needed to show the Washington Redskins who they need and who they don't need at the depth charts' lower end at key positions. Decisions will already be in the works regarding the first wave of cuts, with five players in particular set to dread those decisions.
Among them are a pair of rush linebackers naturally shunted aside by the recent move to acquire Junior Galette. There's also a backup safety who has done little to impress so far at training camp—a problem considering the improved talent around him.
It's a similar story for an offensive tackle experiencing his second stop with the Burgundy and Gold. Being surplus to requirements is now a reality since the return from injury of one of Washington's prominent 2014 draft pick's return from injury.
Read on for a more detailed breakdown of the five Redskins players most likely to see their names on the list of initial camp cuts.
Willie Smith, OT
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Willie Smith was likely the only player in Richmond not thrilled by Morgan Moses' return to health and practice. Last year's third-round pick had been nursing a prolonged foot injury.
But Moses was an active figure on Day 4 of camp, according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post. While also referencing center Josh LeRibeus' performance, Jones liked what he saw from Moses:
"LeRibeus did some good things at center, and Moses appears to have improved on last year’s underwhelming body of work as a rookie. The UVA product does a better job of staying low, rather than playing too upright while blocking.
LeRibeus looked comfortable making calls at the line. And early in practice, Moses kicked out on Preston Smith, and left guard Shawn Lauvao blocked down, creating a big running lane for Alfred Morris to run for a first down.
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Despite Jones' cautionary final note about Moses being "far from a finished product," his return to the field is still welcome news. As a player capable of operating at both tackle spots or even sliding inside to guard, Moses figures to be a very useful swing backup in this season's rotation.
Versatility is always deputy trench warriors' primary feature. Moses has it; Smith, not so much.
Smith's case also isn't helped by Moses offering slightly greater size at the position. While the former stands 6'5" and tips the scales at 310 pounds, Moses enters the room with a 6'6", 318-pound frame.
Sure, it's not a major difference, but it's one that could count against Smith this offseason. After all, new line coach Bill Callahan will lean on power-based schemes more in 2015, something that naturally requires bigger linemen. Beef in the trenches is also something new general manager Scot McCloughan puts a lot of stock in (forgive the lame quip).
McCloughan already brought Tom Compton back in free agency. While Smith was picked up this offseason, that was likely only as insurance while Moses rehabbed.
With the latter fit again, Smith is sure to find himself surplus to requirements.
Trevardo Williams, OLB
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Trevardo Williams won't have been happy to see Junior Galette arrive at Redskins Park. Honestly, how could he be?
Prior to the Galette signing, Williams had made a strong case to be part of the rotation at outside linebacker. With Ryan Kerrigan and Trent Murphy likely taking the starting berths, while rookie Preston Smith adopts a roving brief early on, Williams might well have been next man up.
He'd already shown some pass-rushing chops late last season when he felled Mark Sanchez for a sack in the Week 16 home win over divisional foe the Philadelphia Eagles. While Kerrigan recuperated from knee surgery this offseason, it was Williams who took key reps with the starting defense during OTAs, according to ESPN's John Keim.
Williams may have fancied himself to help new defensive coordinator Joe Barry create the matchup problems Kerrigan is hoping Galette will cause, per another report from Keim:
"The thing that sticks out to me is matchups. If we like Junior’s style of rushing on one particular tackle, we can have him over there. If they want me on another one, we can do that. We’re not similar rushers so that flexibility allows you to take advantage of matchups.
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Being able to show quarterbacks and blocking schemes a myriad of pass-rush looks is certainly good news for Washington's D. The possibilities available with Galette, Kerrigan and Murphy on the field together are certainly tantalizing.
But the arrangement hasn't done Williams' career any favors. He would have been competing with Jackson Jeffcoat, another player's future Galette's arrival has put in jeopardy.
Phillip Thomas, S
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It just doesn't seem likely that Phillip Thomas will ever make the grade in Washington. A very intriguing player when he was selected in the fourth round in 2013, Thomas' pro career has never got going.
A Lisfranc injury put an end to his rookie campaign, and the practice squad soon beckoned. That's where Thomas stayed until the Redskins needed him late season. It was a real "in case of emergencies only" type of situation.
Thomas made eight appearances and four starts, registering 27 combined tackles in the process. But he was found wanting in coverage. While that hardly made him unique as a Redskins safety in 2014, Thomas is now the victim of increased competition at his position.
McCloughan added Jeron Johnson in free agency and Kyshoen Jarrett via the draft. They've been competing with Duke Ihenacho.
With the field this crowded, Thomas really needs to stand out at camp. Sadly, he hasn't been doing that, according to Jones, who wrote in the Post that the third-year safety's "name hasn’t been called very often at all."
The Redskins are no longer in a position where gross weakness at the position means they have to carry every available safety who can merely put on a pair of cleats. Thomas now looks increasingly likely to be hunting for a new NFL home in the coming weeks.
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Tyler Larsen, C
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Tyler Larsen is another backup offensive lineman whose name is sure to be filed in the "Not Needed" column. He's currently competing for a spot as a backup center. Not only is that a very tenuous position, but Larsen also already finds himself way down the pecking order.
Writing for ESPN, Keim listed Larsen as a member of the third-string O-line at camp. Significantly, he also appeared to pencil in seventh-round rookie Austin Reiter as the center in that group.
Reiter is just one of the players Larsen finds himself competing with. In fact, he's one of many. Another is LeRibeus, a player Rich Tandler of Real Redskins stated worked with the first team on Day 4.
While regular starters are often rested a few days in, LeRibeus getting the first-team reps shows he's still clearly the next man up behind veteran Kory Lichtensteiger in coaches' minds.
Larsen's case also isn't helped by the fact Callahan has been busy "cross-training" multiple linemen at center this offseason, according to Liz Clarke of the Washington Post. It's not a move he'd be likely to make if he was content with the existing options at the position.
Larsen seems certain to be part of the first wave of cuts.
Jackson Jeffcoat, OLB
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Jackson Jeffcoat may be the most unfortunate casualty from the decision to risk bringing Galette on board. That would be a shame considering the young player with excellent NFL lineage possesses intriguing raw potential.
Jeffcoat showcased some of his promise late last season. He notched a sack against the Eagles in the penultimate week, before creating his own interception during the finale against the Dallas Cowboys.
The son of former Cowboys great Jim Jeffcoat, a terrific and versatile natural pass-rusher, Jackson seemed a good bet for a roster spot in Washington. But Galette's arrival naturally changes all that.
It's tough to suppose the Redskins will keep more than four natural outside 'backers on the final 53-man roster. Kerrigan, Murphy, Smith and Galette seem enough, while special teams captain Adam Hayward can also slide outside at a push.
Perhaps Jeffcoat will land on the practice squad. Barring a truly spectacular camp, that now seems like his only chance of sticking around.
The players listed here represent relatively easy choices for the first wave of cuts. The Redskins can wave goodbye to them and still know they are well-stocked at vital positions.
Three proposed defensive subtractions are a reflection of the fine work McCloughan has done to reload on that side of the ball. He's created a situation where only the best will do at every area of the unit.
You know, it's the way things should have been running in the first place.
All statistics and player information via NFL.com.
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