Washington Redskins: Predicting Their Opening Day 2-Deep Depth Chart
The Washington Redskins may be one of the most uncertain teams in the NFL right now. They have a lot of holes to fill between the draft and free agency, and the current lockout is making the filling of those holes impossible. As it stands, the team needs to upgrade most of their roster before they can be considered any sort of threat to anyone in the NFL.
Some positions may seem certain, but a lot can happen before opening day, especially when the season start is in jeopardy.
The Redskins need to make the most out of the draft, even though they won't be able to sign any of the picks before a new CBA is established. What is important is getting the right players in place to be a part of the roster and working from there. The doubt cast over the draft, free agency and every other offseason activity makes predicting the opening day depth chart difficult.
Mike Shanahan has his work cut out for him in rebuilding the Redskins. Here are some predictions for the opening day depth chart.
Special Teams
1 of 13
Kicker: Graham Gano
Punter: Trevor Hankins (Free agent, Arizona State)
PR/KR: Brandon Banks
Gano had a rough year, missing 11 of his 35 field goal attempts with the Redskins. He doesn't have the strongest leg in the world, but he is young and consistent when it comes to kick offs and extra points. There is no sense in continuing the revolving door at kicker by booting another underachiever out the door. He'll be back and he will be better.
The role of punter will fall to whatever player the Redskins pick up off the street. The last time they took a shot at drafting a punter they missed big with Durant Brooks. Since then, it has been a steady dose of Hunter Smith sprinkled with Josh Bidwell and Sam Paulescu. Paulescu could return, but more than likely Danny Smith will start fresh. Hankins averaged over 44 yards per punt over the last two seasons.
Banks is a dynamic returner whose number don't do his abilities justice. He had at least two return touchdowns called back because of penalties that had no real bearing on the outcome of the play. He is small, but lightning quick to the point of being nearly untouchable at full speed.
Defensive End
2 of 13
Starters:
Adam Carriker, Barry Cofield
2nd Team:
Jeremy Jarmon, Vonnie Holliday
Carriker did a good job in his first endeavor as a 3-4 defensive end. He has the size and strength to control the line of scrimmage the way the Redskins need him to. He suffered from playing alongside an inexperienced nose tackle in Ma'ake Kemoeatu.
Cofield is currently a free agent, having played his first five seasons with the New York Giants. At 6'4" 306 lbs., Cofield could be a great defensive end for a still-transitioning defense for the Redskins. He has shown the ability to both create pressure and control his blockers effectively. It would be a change for him position-wise, but he has the type of skills that would translate well to a role in the 3-4 scheme.
Jarmon has not established himself as a starter since being selected in the 2009 Supplemental draft. He is a decent back-up, but barring some leap in his training, he will remain a back-up. Holliday is an experienced veteran who brings 3-4 experience and a hard-working attitude. He started just two games last year, but tallied 2.5 sacks in 15 games. He is under contract for 2011, and will be a valuable veteran presence.
Nose Tackle
3 of 13
Starter:
Phil Taylor (2nd round, Baylor)
2nd Team:
Anthony Bryant
Taylor is regarded as a risk-reward player. There are concerns about his character in his motor that worry many scouts, but is still considered to be a great prospect. He has the size, speed and strength to be the nose tackle the Redskins lacked last season, and he will make parting ways with Albert Haynesworth that much easier. Taylor is capable of eating up space that Ma'ake Kemoeatu was unable to do in a nose tackle role last season
Bryant didn't play a whole lot last season, but he showed enough to warrant a return next season. Kemoeatu did not play the way the team had hoped, and will likely be released from his contract before his bonus hits. Bryant is huge in the way of defensive linemen, listed at 360 by most sources, and can disrupt a lot with his size and strength. At the very least, he will be a suitable back-up, though he could push for serious time as a starter if the Redskins don't draft Taylor.
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Inside Linebacker
4 of 13
Starters:
London Fletcher, Perry Riley
2nd Team:
H.B. Blades, Robert Henson
Fletcher is a no-brainer to be a starter come opening day. He was not slowed by the transition to 3-4 and should continue to provide his veteran leadership in the season to come. Rocky McIntosh is headed for free agency and may want too much money for the Redskins to keep him around. Perry Riley is a young and untested linebacker with the potential to be a quality starter. He has the ability to start, as long as he keeps his head in the game.
Blades returns for another year of duty behind Fletcher. He is a good reserve and special teams player, but is too small to be a full-time starter. Henson has the size, skills and strength to be a starter, but needs to work on the finer points of his game. He should be considered a wild card for next season following a knee injury, but he could easily press for time.
Outside Linebacker
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Starters:
Brian Orakpo, Justin Houston (1st round, Georgia)
2nd Team:
Lorenzo Alexander, Chris Wilson
Orakpo is a lock to start opening day after his 8.5 sack season. He suffered from being the only viable pass-rusher on the Redskins defense, yet he was still able to get to the passer with regularity. The Redskins are likely to trade back in the first round to get more picks later in the draft, and they pick Houston in the top 20. He has the size, strength and speed to be the perfect outside linebacker opposite Orakpo.
Alexander got a lot of time as a starter last season when Andre Carter could not cut it at outside linebacker. However, he is not the ideal starter for the Redskins given his speed in relation to the speed necessary to excel as a 3-4 outside line backer. Wilson has adequate but not ideal size for the position, but makes up for it by being quick and persistent, but is not an every-down player.
Safety
6 of 13
Starters:
O.J. Atogwe, LaRon Landry
2nd Team:
Kareem Moore, Reed Doughty
Landry would have had a career year last season if not for a nagging Achilles injury. He should return as strong as ever next season, and will return to his tackling-machine ways. Atogwe was signed after being released by the Rams rather than his contract expiring, making him a free agent and unsignable in the lockout. He will offer experience and much-needed stability at free safety.
Moore will fall into a more natural reserve role after failing to impress as a starter last season. Doughty is a great player to have for depth, offering a sound football mind a sure tackling in a pinch. He will back-up Landry, and will easily beat out the likes of Chris Horton for the role.
Cornerback
7 of 13
Starters:
DeAngelo Hall, Carlos Rogers
2nd Team:
Kevin Barnes, Richard Sherman (7th round, Stanford)
Hall and Rogers are easily one of the better cornerback tandems in the NFL, contrary to what some may think. Hall is a risk-taker, but he makes plays week in and week out. Rogers has hands of stone, but is a quality cover corner who is rarely out of place. Most mistakes attributed to him in recent years came from his free safety help being late or absent. Rogers should be re-signed this offseason.
Barnes gets rave reviews from coaches, and saw some playing time late last season. He is easily better than Phillip Buchanon, and should beat out Byron Westbrook for position on the depth chart. Sherman is a late-round pick with good size and skills. He won't blow anyone away with his speed, but he has a great vertical and improved his ball skills last season.
Offensive Tackle
8 of 13
Starters:
Trent Williams, Jammal Brown
2nd Team:
Selvish Capers, anyone but Stephon Heyer
Williams struggled some last season, but was better than the rest of the line considering he was a rookie. He will start and he will be better adapted to Shanahan's blocking scheme. Brown came on late last season after struggling early on. He will be a free agent, but injury issues may scare other teams away and keep his price down for Washington to bring him back.
Capers has gotten good reviews as a practice squad member last season. He is a converted tight end with great athleticism, and he should make the active roster. He had a year to learn the offense without pressure of being thrown to the fire, which will be the difference between him being a back-up and a practice squad body. The Redskins don't have many options at tackle, but the "versatile" Heyer seems to hang around despite being awful at most everything.
Guard and Center
9 of 13
Starters:
Kory Lichtensteiger, Deuce Lutui, Will Montgomery
2nd Team:
Artis Hicks, Erik Cook
Lichtensteiger and Montgomery came on strong last season with the injuries to the projected starters. Derrick Dockery was cut because Shanahan feels confident in Lichtensteiger's ability to start. Casey Rabach had an even worse year than he did in 2009, and won't be back next season. The team will spend some money on a quality free agent in Lutui. Montgomery is far from irreplaceable, but he is the best option the team has right now.
Hicks is a versatile veteran who will provide depth and can step in if injuries hit during the season. Cook is also able to play guard or center, and should make the active roster after spending last season on the practice squad. There is plenty of room for improvement, and the draft may very well change these predictions.
Tight End
10 of 13
Starter:
Chris Cooley
2nd Team:
Fred Davis
This is a bit of a no-brainer, but there are plenty of scenarios that have seen both Cooley and Davis sent elsewhere for picks. Since the lockout is preventing any movement, it is easier to include them both for the opening day roster. Cooley has been a rock at tight end since 2004, and not even his occasional but untimely drops will change that. He may be one of the few Redskins who will be with the team their entire careers.
Davis deserves more time, especially considering his ability to extend plays with his speed and deceptive strength. He should beat out late-season upstart Logan Paulsen for this spot. It is also just as likely that the Redskins will use him as trade fodder to better their position in the draft. Assuming the new CBA is in place before the draft, that is.
Wide Receiver
11 of 13
Starters:
Mike Sims-Walker, Santana Moss
2nd Team:
Anthony Armstrong, Jeff Maehl (6th round, Oregon)
Even though he put up great numbers last season, there doesn't seem to be much interest around Moss. That lack of interest should land him back in Washington as a starter, at least for the opener. Walker is the type of receiver the Redskins need if they are going to build their offense. He's big, he's fast and can break games open with his abilities. He is an underrated free agent, and has mentioned his desire to play in Miami, but the Redskins should make an effort to bring him to town.
Armstrong will start the season as the third receiver, but will likely end up as the second receiver with Moss taking on a slot receiver role. Maehl is a hard-working possession receiver. With the potential gamebreakers the Redskins should have, he will be the type of player to move the chains when necessary.
Malcolm Kelly is the wild card, but can he really crack the depth chart after two mediocre seasons and one spent on injured reserve?
Running Back and Fullback
12 of 13
Starters:
Ryan Torain, Mike Sellers
2nd Team:
Keiland Williams, Darrel Young
Torain is on track to be the opening day starter, unless he injures himself between now and then. Sellers will fall into his familiar role at fullback, though he has fallen off since making his first Pro Bowl in 2008. Torain has the ability to be a workhorse, but finds himself falling victim to injuries that derail his production. His health will determine if he remains the starter.
Williams is a quality pass-catching back, and played well in relief of Torain. Young is a converted linebacker with good size, but is very raw in terms of being a fullback. Unless the Redskins draft or sign players to usurp their roles, they won't be going anywhere.
*Vonta Leach of the Houston Texans is a possible free agent fullback that Kyle Shanahan may try to lure from his former team. He would make Young unnecessary and possibly fight to push Sellers out the door.
Quarterback
13 of 13
Starter:
Rex Grossman
2nd Team:
Andy Dalton (2nd round, TCU)
Much has been made about the Redskins and their plans for one-year blunder quarterback Donovan McNabb. Recent news has brought up the Vikings as a potential destination for McNabb, meaning the Redskins will have to retain Grossman or sign another free agent. Grossman is familiar with Kyle Shanahan, and can limp the team along until they feel comfortable handing the offense over to their franchise quarterback.
Dalton has seen his stock rise dramatically in the last month or so, and for good reason. He did nothing but win at TCU, he has good size and experience. He doesn't have elite arm strength, but his accuracy is terrific and he doesn't make many bad decisions. He may not be the flashiest passer in the draft, but he may be the safest pick.
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