Rich Tandler's Real Redskins

Will the Redskins get a compensatory draft pick?

The NFL will announce the order of the full NFL draft on Friday which means two things for those who follow the Washington Redskins. First, we will find out what pick, if any, the Redskins will get from the Colts in the trade for Justin Tryon. Most think it will be the Colts' seventh-round pick but we haven't been able to find out for sure.

Also, the compensatory picks will be announced. Those picks are supposed to serve as compensation for teams who lost players via free agency. You may have noticed that the Redskins did not have any players leave via free agency. All of the veteran players who departed were released. However, this does not mean that the Redskins will not get a comp pick. There are 32 of them awarded most years. If 32 teams do not qualify for picks under the super secret formula that the NFL uses to determine who gets them the extra selections, at the end of the seventh round, they apparently are distributed to teams in the original order of the draft.

So, if there are 10 extra comp picks to be awarded, the Redskins, who pick tenth, will get one. Unfortunately, internet legend AdamJT13, who has been predicting the compensatory picks with a high degree of accuracy for over a decade, has decided not to take on the task this year. I have been able to find one other blogger who is willing to take on the task of trying to figure out the comp picks. On SB Nation's Mocking the Draft, a writer who goes by ct17 applied AdamJT13's principles and came up with 21 compensatory picks. That leaves 11 extras meaning that the Redskins would pick up one freebie, the next to the last pick of the draft. That would be around pick number 255 or so, depending on if any picks are forfeited by teams in earlier rounds. Given that the Redskins need every draft pick they can get and that if the lockout still is in effect they, like every other NFL team, will be unable to sign undrafted players, that could be a small plus.

Redskins: Furloughs, pay cuts ' to be determied '

While many NFL teams such as the Jets have announced that they are putting non-football staff members on furloughs to reduce costs during the NFL lockout and others like the Lions have said that they will not be trimming personnel costs. So far, the Redskins have said neither. When asked at the NFL owners meetings in New Orleans  about the possibility of layoffs, furloughs, or having assistant coaches work for reduced pay, team spokesman Tony Wylie said, "That is all yet to be determined. We have not made any decision on any of that." So, right now the status quo prevails at Redskins Park. Clearly, however, the organization is leaving its options open and should the April 6 court hearing not result in an injunction that ends the lockout, cost-saving measures could be implemented. One would think that the Redskins will tread very lightly here. Dan Snyder has been the target of plenty of negative publicity after suing the City Paper over an article published about him and for a host of other perceived misdeeds over the years. The owner of one of the most profitable teams in all of sports does not need to add more fuel to the fire by saving a relatively small amount of money by throwing non-football staffers out in the street.

Report: Hokies ' RB Williams to visit Redskins

Chris Russell of ESPN 980 is reported via his Twitter feed that Virginia Tech running back Ryan Williams will visit Redskins Park in April 14 and 15. Williams set a school and ACC record with 1,720 yards rushing as a redshirt freshman in 2009. He suffered a torn hamstring last year, forcing him to miss four games and hampering him after he returned. Williams also had to share time with Darren Evans, who missed 2009 with a knee injury, and speedy sophomore David Wilson. As a result, his productivity fell to 529 rushing yards. Most believe that Williams will be drafted somewhere in the second round. Although Mike Shanahan is noted for being able to find productive backs late in the draft there is precedent for him taking a running back early. He took Clinton Portis in the second round in 2002 and he produced back to back seasons with over 1,500 rushing yards before being traded to the Redskins. Related posts:

• Draft Buzz 03.21.11
• Hokies QB Tyrod Taylor to visit Redskins

Do you think that Williams--or any RB--would be a good pick for the Redskins in Round 2? Or would he be a luxury pick they can't afford to make? Let me know in the comments.  

Success of draft will be determined on Saturday

If you want to see how successful the Redskins 2011 draft is going to be, watch on Saturday afternoon and then wait a few years.

Five of their seven picks will be made on Saturday during rounds five through seven. That being the case, if the Redskins are to have a successful draft they will have to get it done in the late rounds. It should be fairly easy to find a productive immediate starter either on offense or defense with their first round pick, the 10^th overall. And in the second round, the 41^st pick, there should be a player who can develop into a starter fairly quickly.

Go here to read the post on CSN Washington.

Will Shanahan rebuild ' the right way ' ?

There is plenty of concern out there among Redskins fans that Mike Shanahan believes that his team is very close to being a playoff contender. Since the team lost so many close games in 2010--six by a touchdown or less--the fear is that Shanahan will just try to make a tweak here and there and hope that the team can work a little magic and get into playoff contention. The concerns are there because that is the way that the Redskins have done business for much of the past decade. But the fears may well be unfounded. Last month at the combine, Shanahan was asked if he thought the team was close because they were in so many games. His answer seems to start off in the wrong direction but it finishes well.

We were close. The number of games we could have won, we easily could have won 10, 11, 12 games, but we didn’t. We need some more depth. We need to improve a lot of different areas. What you want to do is win consistently. You don’t want to win just one year. You’ve got to build a foundation. You’ve got to get some depth at a lot of different positions. If you want to stay at the top, you’ve got to do things the right way, and we’re going to do things the right way.

So, at least in terms of what he says, it doesn't appear that Shanahan is interested in trying to apply duct tape to the problems that the team has now. Talk of "a foundation," "depth," and "the right way" certainly should be music to the ears of Redskins fans. Of course, it will be more useful to judge Shanahan on the basis of what he does rather than on what he says. What do you think? Is Shanahan committed to rebuilding the Redskins "the right way"? Or was he just saying what he thinks Redskins fans want to hear?

Tyrod Taylor visiting Redskins

According to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post, Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor is scheduled to visit the Washington Redskins. Taylor, the winningest quarterback in Virginia Tech history, had an very good combine, throwing accurately and he ran the 40 in 4.47 seconds, very good for a quarterback. He was the ACC Offensive Player of the Year in 2010, capping a career during which he was the Hokies' starter for most of his four years there. Taylor completed 188 of 315 passes for 2,743 yards and 24 touchdowns and he was the team's second-leading rusher with 659 yards. "It's hard to pass on a guy's athleticism like that," a source told Wilson. "People are excited about him." The primary concern about Taylor is his height. He was measured at 6-1, a few inches short of the ideal height for an NFL quarterback. Most scouts believe that it will take a few years for Taylor to develop. Wilson also reported that Taylor will also visit the Eagles and Jaguars. Do you think that the Redskins should be taking a look at a player like Taylor? Or should the focus on someone who might be less of a project?

On Lunchbox Live with Wes Bunting

I'll be on Lunchbox Live today at noon sharp with Wes Bunting, draft guru for the National Football Post. If you have any questions for Wes, leave them in the comments here. We'll ask him the best questions during the show. Drop by CSNwashington.com at 12 noon to join in.

McNabb doing NCAA hoops commentary on CSN

Update: Ryan O'Halloran of CSNwashington.com talked to McNabb about his gig with Comcast SportsNet and about who he likes in the tournament. We're not sure where Donovan McNabb is going to be later this year but we do know where he will be during the NCAA basketball tournament. The former Syracuse point guard, better known for his exploits on the gridiron with the Orange (or Orangemen, as they were known then) will be joining the crew at Comcast Sports Net in Washington to comment on the first two rounds (I refuse to call the Thursday through Sunday action the second and third rounds) of the NCAA basketball tournament. Watch for McNabb on various editions of Geico SportsNet and Washington Post Live. The full press release from CSN is after the jump. Donovan McNabb to Contribute to Comcast SportsNet’s Coverage of NCAA Men’s Basketball Washington Redskins quarterback and former college hoops player Donovan McNabb will serve as an in-studio college basketball analyst for Comcast SportsNet’s coverage of the first round of the NCAA men’s tournament this week. On Thursday, March 17, McNabb will be featured on SportsNet Central, the network’s daily news program, at 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. and appear on Washington Post Live with Ivan Carter at 10:30 p.m. for a special late night edition of the daily talk show. McNabb will be back in studio on Saturday, March 19, to talk college basketball for the 6 p.m. edition of SportsNet Central. Segments and shows featuring McNabb will also be re-aired at various times and will be available online at CSNwashington.com and CSNbaltimore.com. McNabb, a 12-year veteran of the NFL, spent two seasons as a guard on the Syracuse University basketball team following a stand-out hoops career at Mt. Carmel High School in Illinois. As a freshman, McNabb was a member of the 1996 Orange basketball team under Jim Boeheim that posted a 29-9 record and appeared in the NCAA championship game, losing to Kentucky. Following his sophomore season, he left the basketball team to focus on his football career.  

Redskins release letter to fans

The Washington Redskins have released their first communication to fans since the NFL imposed a lockout last Friday at midnight. A letter addressed to Redskins fans from General Manager Bruce Allen was posted today on the team's website. Allen said that it was "difficult but necessary" to put the lockout into place and that it was "something we tried hard to avoid." He said that the final offer that the owners gave to the players was "fair" and that the the teams shared the fans' "disappointment with the lack of progress" towards getting a new CBA done. The latter finishes with Allen saying, "We care deeply about our passionate fans of the Burgundy & Gold and we are determined to bring you a winning football team. You should know that the current status of the Collective Bargaining Agreement will not disrupt our preparation for the 2011 season or swerve our focus from the Redskins’ objective -- WINNING." The entire text of the letter is after the jump: Dear Redskins Fans: Last Friday, negotiations between the NFL and the NFL Players Association ended without a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. Unfortunately, the union’s abandonment of bargaining and subsequent decertification led to the league’s difficult but necessary step to lock out, something we tried hard to avoid. We remain committed to getting a new deal done and believe that the fastest way to a fair agreement is through mediation and not litigation. We share your disappointment with the lack of progress. The offer that the union walked away from was fair and addressed many of the key issues, including a rookie compensation system, enhanced player healthy and safety measures, improved retired player benefits and compromises on the union’s financial demands. Of particular importance to the Washington Redskins were the additional benefits the proposal would have provided to retired players. Our organization is rich in history and we are proud of the men who have contributed to our glorious past and helped create our great fan base that we all benefit from today. The Redskins alumni continue to play an integral role within our community, and the union’s decision to walk away from a deal that would have benefited our retired players is especially disappointing. As the home team in the nation’s capital, we understand and respect the political process. However, we feel a deal will be reached at the negotiating table and not with the involvement of Congress. The NFL remains committed to collective bargaining and the federal mediation process, which is the most effective way to reach a new agreement -- one that is good for the long-term future of the game. We care deeply about our passionate fans of the Burgundy & Gold and we are determined to bring you a winning football team. You should know that the current status of the Collective Bargaining Agreement will not disrupt our preparation for the 2011 season or swerve our focus from the Redskins’ objective -- WINNING. We greatly appreciate your support of the Washington Redskins. Sincerely, Bruce Allen Executive Vice President/General Manager  

Poll: Do you care if rookies boycott the draft?

This is real simple here. It's not about if you are on the owners' side or the players' side or if you join me in the "pox on both of their houses" viewpoint. It's about whether or not you will watch any less of the draft if the players being drafted in the first half of the first round are present in Radio City Music Hall to give the commissioner a man hug and hold up the jersey of the team that just drafted him. You probably can tell by the tone of the paragraph above where I stand. But I want to know what you think. Hit a response on the poll and leave a few words in the comments if you want. [polldaddy poll=4723813]