Rich Tandler's Real Redskins

Need to Know: Is Orakpo 100 percent healthy?

Here is what you need to know on this Wednesday, May 22, 64 days before Redskins start training camp.

Rak ready to roll?

It looks like Brian Orakpo has been given the all clear and he should participate fully in OTA’s and minicamp over the next month.

In Richmond on Monday Bruce Allen was asked about Orakpo and the condition of his left pectoral muscle, which he tore for the second time in less than nine months last September. The general manager said that Orakpo was practicing in the OTA’s that were taking place that that very moment, presumably in the right outside linebacker spot he has occupied since the Redskins drafted him in the first round in 2009.

This dovetails with Orakpo’s pronouncements that he is “100 percent” and that he is “ready to wreak havoc” around the NFC East and the league in general.

Still, some remain skeptical that Orakpo is fully healthy. The uncertainty probably stems from the fact that he seemed to be ready to roll last year after suffering the first torn pec in the 2011 season finale. But after just one game plus a few plays he was done for the season.

Orakpo said that the second tear was not related to the first and that it was just a “freak accident”. He now has had nine months to recover and he appears to be ready to go.

There is no need to tell anyone who has been paying attention how important a big season by Orakpo would be to the Redskins. Even though they brought some new talent into the secondary and are getting Brandon Meriweather back from a knee injury, the unit is likely to remain shaky for at least part of the year. A strong pass rush from Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan will go a long way towards helping the pass defense while the back four gets set.

Theismann confident in RG3’s recovery

In case you missed it

• Expert: RG3’s timetable hard to predict
• Tiger is pulling for RG3’s recovery
• Richmond training camp site taking shape
• Some clarity from RG3?

Days until: Minicamp 20; Training camp 64; Preseason opener @ Titans 78

Need to Know: Is clarity coming from RG3?

Here is what you need to know on this Tuesday, May 21, 65 days before Redskins start training camp.

RG3 to speak

Robert Griffin III will talk to the media that covers the Redskins as a group for the first time since his press conference after the Redskins’ playoff loss to the Seahawks on Jan. 6.

Griffin has been seen frequently since he had his right knee surgically reconstructed three days after that game. He was in New Orleans to accept his Offensive Rookie of the year award, at a Hollywood movie premiere, jumping up and down in front of an enthusiastic draft day party crowd at FedEx Field, at the circus and other events at the Verizon Center, at a post-party after the White House Correspondents dinner, the Kentucky Derby, and other places both in and out of town.

He also has been heard from but mostly in controlled environments like Twitter and an occasional interview. But what we have heard has shed little light on how his knee is doing and what he and the organization about the circumstances surrounding his injury.

Much of what he has said has led to more confusion than understanding. In an interview with ESPN magazine he said, “I don’t feel like playing against the Seahawks was a mistake. But I see the mistake in it.”

Say what?

There is no guarantee that we’ll get any more clarity out of Griffin on Thursday. But we’ll try and maybe see how he is handling being a spectator.

Redskins catching up to NFL tight end revolution

In case you missed it

• Allen: “It’s too early to tell” about RG3’s knee
• Countdown to OTA’s—Who plays safety?
• NFL looks to change date of draft
• How much will the Redskins retool the offense?

Days until: Minicamp 21; Training camp 65; Preseason opener vs. Titans 80; Redskins @ Packers 117

RG3 fans nearly buy out his wedding gift registry

A few weeks ago, a local publication made public the link to the wedding gift registry set up by Robert Griffin III and fiancee Recebba Liddicoat. Apparently some of RG3's legion of fans decided to take advantage of the opportunity to express their appreciation for his play and get Robert and Rebecca a wedding gift. It seems that, in fact, a lot of them did. The quarterback tweeted the following on Sunday:

Thank you to the Fans who are helping buy ALL the items from our wedding registry at Bed Bath & Beyond … say.ly/MLw5Rbg

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) May 19, 2013

The gestures of these individuals spending their own money drew some fire from hundreds, perhaps thousands, of other tweeters. Griffin retweeted a couple of them and responded:

I didn't ask the fans to buy me anything. They found it on their own and decided to get what they could. SMH at all these Debbie downers

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) May 19, 2013

A look through some of the critical tweets directed at Griffin had a litany of the usual suspects like Cowboys and Raiders fans (some of them were profane) and a number of others wondering if perhaps Griffin might have been better advised to set up a charity fund to which fans could donate to express their well wishes to him and Rebecca. 

A look at the registry online reveals that it isn't quite sold out. For example, there is still a hammock in which RG3 can relax after a tough day of rehabbing his famed right knee for $199 or for about $50 you can get him a paper shredder. 

Shutdown Corner noted that among the items already purchased are "the $439.99 Palm Harbor 2-Piece Outdoor Wicker Seating Set, the $399.99 KitchenAid® 5-Quart Tilt-Head Designer Series Stand Mixer with Glass Bowl (in lovely Candy Apple), the $299.99 11-Foot Outdoor Round Cantilever Latte Solar Umbrella with Steel Frame [and] the $249.99 Calphalon® Precision Series 16-Piece Cutlery Knife Block Set."

The purchases of such relatively expensive items for someone with an annual income of seven figures, if not more, did raise some eyebrows. It should be noted that the registry also was available to the invited guests and the list doubtless includes teammates, coaches, and others whose incomes are in the top one percent. 

According to media sources the wedding will take place on July 6.

Update: Griffin apparently continued to get grief for receiving gifts from his fans. About seven hours after the first series of tweets on the subject he posted the following:

Haters gon hate. Theme of the day. They always say more money more problems. Or mo' money mo' problems. Yea I'm cultured #DealWithIt

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) May 20, 2013

Need to Know: Not always a running team

Here is what you need to know on this Monday, May 20, 66 days before Redskins start training camp.

A long streak of futility

Although the Redskins have not have much success since their last Super Bowl win following the 1991 season, they usually have had a pretty good running back to hand to the ball to. From Terry Allen to Stephen Davis to Clinton Portis to Alfred Morris, they have had someone to tote the rock.

It hasn’t always been that way. During the early 1960’s the team went through a record streak of futility when it cam to running the football.

On Dec. 17, 1961 Dick James ran for 146 yards and three touchdowns as the Redskins won the season finale against the Cowboys.

They went the entire 1962 season without having a running back gain 100 yards in a game. It didn’t happen in 1963, either. In 1964, 1965, 1966, no 100-yard rusher.

It took until October 1, 1967 for the Redskins to have another back post 100 yards. The back was Bobby Mitchell, who ran for 110 yards as the Redskins beat the Giants 38-31.

According to Football Perspective, the 72 games in between 100-yard rushing performances is the longest such streak in NFL history. Some wonder why Hall of Fame quarterback Sonny Jurgensen, who joined the team in 1964, wasn’t able to lead the team to more success. The lack of a rushing attack could well have something to do with it.

Shanahan and Gibbs talk about the Super Bowl

In case you missed it

• A silver lining to the cap woes?
• Countdown to OTAs: A crowded backfield
• Better than the sum of their parts?

Days until: Training camp 66; Preseason opener vs. Titans 80; Eagles @ Redskins 112

The Week That Was: Better than the sum of their parts?

Here is what you need to know on this Sunday, May 19, the day before the Redskins start OTA’s.

That was the week that was

—I wrote about the Redskins on the NFL Top 100 list (Alfred Morris, London Fletcher, Trent Williams) the other day. It looks like just one more Redskin, Robert Griffin III, will be named to the list. I’m going to guess that the total of four players in the rankings will be among the fewest for any playoff team, if not the fewest. The hosts on the show have said that there will be a total of five representatives from the Chiefs on the Top 100 and they finished with a total of two wins. While some Redskins fans might feel insulted by relative paucity of Redskins on the list I think that in some ways it’s a tribute to the team. They won 10 games and the NFC East without any full-fledged superstars, a few “A” players and a lot of “B” and a few “C” players. That is a team playing better than the sum of its parts.

—When asked about RG3’s knee, Bruce Allen said "We’re not even going to think about it until later in July." I know we’ll write about it and talk about it before that but we really won’t know anything until then. (h/t @JakeRussell)

—I found a cool stat cooked up by Chase Stuart on Football Perspective. It’s called the game script and like most good stats it’s fairly simple. There are 3600 seconds in a 60-minute game. The game script is “the average score over each of those 3600 seconds. The Redskins’ game script last year was 1.9, meaning that every second of every game they led by an average almost two points. In 2011 they were, coincidentally, at a -1.9. In 2012 the best game script belonged to the Patriots at 7.7, the worst was the Chiefs at -7.3.

—Something I want to try to figure out between now and the start of the season is how much pressure the Redskins are under. I’m seeing a lot of fans predicting that the Redskins will go 12-4 or something like that. If I dare to go on Twitter or into a chat and suggest that I think they might go 9-7 I get strong push back. High expectations equal high pressure. While I think they are out of the territory where they are a threat to lose double-digit games, they are not yet to the point where they should be written in as the division champs every year either.

—Honestly, I have no idea why so many Redskins fans who want Charles Woodson to come to Washington. I see Twitter inquiries addressed to me and to others daily. In case you missed it, the Redskins drafted three defensive backs. Even if Woodson was to sign for the minimum—and he wants much more than that—his presence on the roster would take away snaps from Bacarri Rambo, David Amerson, and Phillip Thomas. That makes zero sense. Add in the fact that they would have to redo contracts to make salary cap room for him and push cap charges off into future years (the old Vinny credit card cap management style) and it makes less than no sense.

In case you  missed it

Here are links to all 26 Redskins posts on Real Redskins and CSN Washington from the past week. Get some coffee and get caught up!

Sunday 05.12

• The Week That Was: Links to all 26 posts from last week
• Enemy Intel: Giants
• Big expectations for ’13 Redskins—but big enough?

Monday, 05.13

• Redskins sign Rambo, Jenkins
• Pass defense will face tough early tests
• Redskins 53-man roster projections, offense

Tuesday 05.14

• It’s time for Cousins, White to shine
• The 53 Roster projection: Defense/specialists
• Tandler and Tarik chat archive
• RG3 is the USA’s most marketable athlete

Wednesday 05.15

• RG3’s knee not the only injury concern
• Should the Redskins go no huddle?
• Redskins sign Chris Thompson
• Roster churn continues

Thursday 05.16

• Thursday Tweetbag: Answering your Redskins questions
• Jamison in the fold
• Defensive injury concerns for OTA’s
• Redskins sign Jamison
• RG3 No. 83?

Friday 05.17

• RG2 says RG3 “is doing extremely well”
• Redskins sign draft picks Amerson and Thomas
• Countdown to OTA’s: What is RG3 missing?
• Another running back in the mix?

Saturday 05.18

• How many starting jobs are set?
• Countdown to OTA’s: The battle at right tackle
• Morris makes the list

Need to Know: Morris makes the list

Here is what you need to know on this Saturday, May 18, two days before Redskins OTA’s start.

Morris makes the list

We haven’t paid a whole lot of attention to the NFL Network’s top 100 players of 2013 list. The voting process is suspect. Only 481 players out of over 1700 who were in the league last year voted. They are give ballots and asked to list his top 20 players. Our friends at Pro Football Talk put it this way:

So it’s really not a “top 100″ list.  It’s the 100 players who received the highest vote totals from players who attempted to list their personal top 20, presumably without the benefit of all 32 rosters or starting lineups or Pro Bowl qualifiers or anything else that would ensure they aren’t accidentally overlooking someone as they pull 20 names out of thin air.

But, it is of some interest so we’ll take this opportunity to get up to speed. So far, 40 of the 100 have been revealed and three Redskins have made it so far. Trent Williams was No. 99, London Fletcher was No. 86, and, last night, it was revealed that Alfred Morris landed at No. 64.

Unlike some players like Antonio Gates, Morris was perfectly happy with his ranking. “I’m happy with that,” he said when asked about being No. 64. “For my peers to rank me at all in the top 100 in such a talented league, it’s a great feeling just to be ranked.

“Like I said there is a lot of talent around, there are a lot of guys that could have been on this list who are not. But just me being a rookie being able to come in and have my peers in the NFL to even rank me is an honor in itself.”

Morris’ humility serves him well.

Barring a surprise (and the way the list is put together you can’t rule that out) the other Redskin who should be on the list is quarterback Robert Griffin III. We will let you know when his name pops up, probably somewhere in the top 20 or so.

Tarik previews camp roster battles

In case you missed it

• RG2 says RG3 “is doing extremely well”
• Redskins sign draft picks Amerson and Thomas
• Countdown to OTA’s: What is RG3 missing?
• Another running back in the mix?

Days until: OTA’s 2; Training camp 68; Preseason opener @ Titans 82

Griffin's dad says QB has been throwing since April

Sometimes lately it’s been hard to figure out what @RGIII has been tweeting about. There was no ambiguity on his timeline today.

Today....Treadmill Run.....Threw the football around & a couple roll out throws...But some take Friday off...

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) May 17, 2013

What got attention here was the part about “roll out throws”. That means that he is doing some running on the field and putting some degree of stress on his surgically-repaired right knee.

It’s not planting the right foot and turning upfield. It’s not making one of the lightning-quick moves to elude a defender in the pocket or downfield. But the ability to roll out and throw has to be considered a step forward in his rehab.

USA Today talked to Griffin’s father, Robert Griffin II, and he said that his son has been throwing since before the NFL draft in late April.

"Robert is doing extremely well as far as the timetable,'' the elder Griffin said. "He's been doing a lot over time, he never stops.

Griffin II said that the quarterback is “a little ahead of himself” compared to his rehab from a torn ACL to the same knee that he suffered four years ago as a sophomore at Baylor.

"He's smarter, stronger, wiser,'' said Griffin, speaking of RG3 in 2013.

Need to Know: Another RB in the mix?

Here is what you need to know on this Friday, May 17, three days before Redskins OTA’s start.

Hightower makes no sense

There was a report yesterday that the Redskins have had “exploratory talks” about bringing back running back Tim Hightower.

Hightower was the Redskins’ top running back in 2011 until he tore his ACL in the fifth game of the season. The Redskins brought him back last year but he wasn’t fully recovered from his injury and he was released in the final roster cut. He did not play anywhere last year.

So how does he fit with the Redskins in 2013? Well, he doesn’t.

Nobody would have complained had they stood pat with their running back corps of 1600-yard rusher Alfred Morris and backups Roy Helu Jr., Evan Royster and Keiland Williams. But Mike Shanahan likes to collect running backs so the Redskins drafted Chris Thompson in the fifth round and Jawan Jamison in the seventh last month.

On the 53-man roster there room for three running backs, maybe four if one can serve as a backup fullback. Morris, of course, is going nowhere so that means that at least one and probably two backs who Shanahan drafted in the past three drafts will have to be let go.

It wouldn’t make any sense to add Hightower to the mix. They could have done that prior to the draft and taken another player instead of one of the two backs. Perhaps they might consider giving Hightower an opportunity to showcase himself so that he might be able to get a shot with another team. The team likes him a lot and might be inclined to do him a favor.

But they are going to be pressed to find enough reps for the five backs who are competing for the two or three spots. And Morris needs to get some action in practice and in preseason games himself.

It would not surprise me to learn that the reports of the Redskins’ interest in Hightower emanated from the player’s camp for the purpose of creating some competition for his services.

That being said, I never say never when it comes to Shanahan and running backs. But a Hightower-Redskins reunion seems to be a long shot.

This Week @ The Park

 

Had fun doing this with Ray Smith and Brian Tinsman. I can’t embed the video but here is the show in two parts:

• This Week @ The Park, Part 1
• This Week @ The Park, Part 2

In case you missed it

• Thursday Tweetbag: Answering your Redskins questions
• Jamison in the fold
• Defensive injury concerns for OTA’s
• Redskins sign Jamison
• RG3 No. 83?

Days until: OTA’s 3; Minicamp 25; Redskins @ Packers 121

Thursday Tweetbag: What about right tackle?

Thanks for your questions for today's Tweetbag, let's dive right in:

@rich_tandlercsn with 3 TEs (Fred, Jordan, and Logan) as supposed locks for the 53.. Do you think Niles Paul gets cut before the season?

— ⚡Rémy LeBeau⚡ (@Lil_Tem) May 15, 2013

It doesn't look like Paul is going anywhere. On the night Reed was drafted, Shanahan spoke of carrying four tight ends. Since he rarely talks roster numbers he likely was sending a message to Paul that they were not looking to replace him. Paul's primary value is on special teams and with Lorenzo Alexander gone they aren't about to cut another special teams stalwart. Anything Paul can contribute on offense is gravy.

@rich_tandlercsn Rich, what's the best guess on the RT position at this point? #Redskins

— StephenDenny (@Note_to_CMO) May 15, 2013

I'll say the safe bet is for Tyler Polumbus to be the starter when the season starts. It's hard to bench they guy after he started 15 games for one of the better offenses in the league. But he's far from a lock. Tom Compton will be given an opportunity and I wouldn't rule him out. Jeremy Trueblood has started a lot of games at tackle as has Tony Pashos so they are both in the mix.

@rich_tandlercsn Has Shanahan & company given any indication that they'll be adding more "no huddle" to an already potent offense? #HTTR

— Micah Nile™ (@MicahNile) May 15, 2013

Actually, I wrote a post about that yesterday. When I asked about it last year I didn't get the impression that they are all that enthusiastic about the no huddle. I will follow up with Mike Shanahan when OTA's start and ask Kyle when he is available during minicamp. I wouldn't anticipate much of an answer as they are quite secretive about such strategic matters but I will pass along what I do get.

@rich_tandlercsn Is London Fletcher's replacement currently on the roster?

— Suggside11 (@Suggside11) May 15, 2013

The player they would like to replace London is. That's Keenan Robinson but it remains to be seen if he can get it done. His season-ending injury came at a time when he was just starting to get some regular snaps on defense. Perhaps an undrafted player like Marvin Burdette, who, like Fletcher, is an undersized tackling machine, can claim the job. If they can't develop someone they can hit the free agent market. Fortunately, that is not a high-dollar position and they should be able to find someone for a relatively reasonable contract if necessary.

@rich_tandlercsn Do you think Lewis has a shot at making the 53 and if so, who gets the boot? #Redskins

— Vitamin G™ (@GreenAzGator) May 15, 2013

@rich_tandlercsn Do you see Desmond Briscoe making the final roster?

— Suggside11 (@Suggside11) May 15, 2013

These to are related so we'll take them together. Briscoe faces pressure to make the team from two fronts. One is a player like Lewis, who seemed to be a pretty good prospect in camp a year ago before he got injured and some other receivers who can also return kicks like Skye Dawson. Briscoe also faces pressure because, as noted in the response to first question here, the Redskins are likely to carry four tight ends. That other roster spot has to come from somewhere and if Jordan Reed proves to be versatile enough to play some slot receiver then a sixth receiver--meaning Briscoe--might not have a roster spot.

@rich_tandlercsn Are the following players eligible for PS: White, Worthington, Bernstine, Peterson, Nield, Kettani, Minnifield?

— Greg Barackman (@Flybear2Greg) May 16, 2013

The basic rule of thumb on the practice squad is that if a player has never been on the game day active roster (the 46) and hasn't been on a PS for more than two years he is eligible. That rules out Pat White and Chris Neild. Doug Worthington, Jordan Bernstine, Deangelo Peterson, Eric Kettani, and Chase Minnifield are eligible. 

Are Doughty, Gomez, and Pugh fighting for one spot or two? #RedskinsTalk @rich_tandlercsn

— David Allen (@dave_allen76) May 16, 2013

I do not put Doughty in the category those of fighting for a job; like Paul, I think his special teams prowess gets him a spot unless he falls flat on his face and he's not going to do that. Will they carry a fifth safety along with Doughty, Brandon Meriweather, Bacarri Rambo, and Phillip Thomas? If they are going to, it's Gomes, Pugh, and, if healthy, Jordan Bernstine going for that one last job. My full defensive roster prediction can be found here.

@rich_tandlercsn if you had to venture a guess, who do you think will be the starting safeties for the skins?

— Turd Ferguson Jr. (@GreenEyedSuge) May 16, 2013

Brandon Meriweather and Reed Doughty. That's just venturing a guess that Meriweather will be healthy enough and Rambo and Thomas aren't quite ready to start. 

Thanks again for your questions, feel free to hit me up any time on Twitter @Rich_TandlerCSN

Need to Know: Troller warning--RG3 No. 83?

Here is what you need to know on this Thursday, May 16, four days before Redskins OTA’s start.

No. 83? Really?

According to one NFL writer, Robert Griffin III is not among the top 50 players in the NFL. He’s not even in the top 75. In fact, he’s not even the best player on his team. Or the second best.

That is all in the opinion of Pete Prisco, Senior NFL Columnist for CBS Sports. Yes, he is the same guy who last year predicted that the Redskins would go 3-13, drawing the ire of many fans of the burgundy and gold. Of course, he was dead wrong about that.

And, yes, he is probably just looking to stir the pot and generate some page views with analysis like that and with his ranking of the top 100 players in the NFL he posted earlier this week.

To get to Griffin on the list you have to scroll past the likes of Evan Mathis, Henry Melton, Mike Pouncey, Alfred Morris (the Redskins top-ranked player at 41), Calais Campbell, Tony Romo, Andy Levitre, Cam Newton, Jared Vledheer, Trent Williams (78) to get to Griffin, the No. 83 player on the list.

Prisco’s bio says that he has been covering the NFL for three decades and he is certainly entitled to his opinion. But if there are 82 players in the NFL who are better than Griffin I should start covering NASCAR or something. I could do some extended analysis here but it's so obvious that Griffin is one of the best players in the game that anyone who even casually watches games would know.

Just a heads up here to beware of such lists and rankings as the dead of the offseason approaches. Riling up a fan base or two (Prisco ranked Russell Wilson one spot ahead of Griffin, certainly rankling Seahawks fans) is a good way to generate conversation and page views as the dead period from mid-June to late July. Consider yourselves warned.

Talking OTA’s, Cousins, and safeties

In case you missed it

• RG3’s knee not the only injury concern
• Should the Redskins go no huddle?
• Redskins sign Chris Thompson
• Roster churn continues

Days until: OTA’s 4; Training camp 70; Preseason opener vs. Titans 84