Rich Tandler's Real Redskins

Redskins depth chart update

This morning on CSNwashington.com, I took a look at the depth chart after the end of the first week of free agency. I did this knowing full well that the article would have a limited shelf life. After today's resigning of Jammal Brown and the trade of Vonnie Holliday for Tim Hightower let's reset the three affected areas.

Running back

Starter: Ryan Torain
Backup: Roy Helu

I'll leave Helu as the backup since I think that Hightower is a role player. He looks like a good third-down back in both passing situations, with his solid blitz pickups and pass-catching ability, and in running situations with his good power running ability (23 rushing TD's in three NFL seasons). He'll get about a dozen touches a game.

Offensive line

Starters (left to right): Trent Williams, Kory Lichtensteiger, Will Montgomery, Chris Chester, Jammal Brown
Backups: Selvish Capers, Maurice Hurt, Eric Cook, Artis Hicks, Clint Oldenburg

Keeping Brown was big in order to maintain continuity on the line. Yes, that may sound crazy, keeping a line that was one of the worst in the league in 2010 together. But the move of Will Montgomery to center replacing the ineffective Casey Rabach will help. The zone scheme requires a degree of timing and coordination that the line, with four new starters from 2009, never could achieve. 

Defensive line

Starters: Stephen Bowen and Adam Carriker at ends, Barry Cofield at nose tackle.
Backups: Jarvis Jenkins and Joe Joseph at ends, Anthony Bryant at nose tackle

Unless they have faith that either Joseph or Darrion Scott as a reserve, there could be another free agent move here for some experienced, dependable depth.

 

 

Redskins have 74 in, 16 to go

I just finished updated my spreadsheet of the Redskins roster.

There are 74 players on the roster, counting three signings that have been widely reported but have yet to be announced by the team (veteran H. B. Blades, rookie free agents Marc Verica and Obe Ezah). It does not count the three players on the PUP list (LaRon Landry, Kareem Moore, Robert Henson).

There is a 90-player roster limit this year so the Redskins can sign 16 more players.

Here is how they break down by position (including PUP list):

Cornerback--have 8, likely to keep 5
Safety--6, keep 4
Outside LB--5, keep 5
Inside LB--7, keep 4
Defensive end--7, keep 5
Nose tackle--3, keep 2
Fullback--2, keep 2
Running back--6, keep 3 
Quarterback--4, keep 3
Center--2, keep 1
Guard--5, keep 4
Tackle--5, keep 4
Wide Receiver--10, keep 5
Tight end--4, keep 3
Punter, kicker, long snapper--3, keep 3 

The Redskins had 11 unrestricted free agents when free agency started last Tuesday. Santana Moss has signed with the Redskins and we have the report of Blades being back. There are no reports of any of the other 11 being signed, either in Washington or elsewhere.

 

Cofield: 'I'm a little bigger than most people think'

When the Redskins acquired defensive lineman Barry Cofield early Wednesday morning, many wondered where he would play. He was the Giants’ starting tackle for His listed weight is 306 pounds, at least 30 pound lighter than the standard weight for an NFL nose tackle. However, it appears that Cofield was signed to play nose tackle.

Although Cofield said yesterday that defensive coordinator Jim Haslett said that he would play some end, all indications are that he was signed to be the starting nose tackle.

When asked about playing in the middle of the line at that weight, Cofield said that his listed weight is somewhat dated.

“I’m a little bigger than a lot of people think I am,” he said. Just because I was 306 at the combine five years ago doesn’t mean that I’m 306 five years later.”

How much bigger?

“A gentleman never reveals that,” he said to laughter.

He said that he will play the position using leverage, technique, and mental toughness.

“A lot of this is mindset, mentality,” he said. “If don’t want to go in there and play nose tackle and handle that physicality and do that grunt work it’s going to be hard for you no matter how big you are.”

He believes he can overcome his lack of ideal size by staying low. “A lot of times it’s about leverage and the low man will win,” he said.

If Cofield does have success at nose tackle, expect to see him break out his taser celebration. The dance defies description; take a look at the video:

Cofield said that the celebration would come with him. “There’s been a great demand for it, people love it,” he said.  “It’s very special and I can’t wait to share it with the fans of the Redskins.”

 

Riley could have new job, new look

Last year, linebacker Perry Riley saw just a handful of snaps on defense after the Redskins took him in the fourth round of the 2010 draft. His most notable play was a mistake. Against the Vikings, he committed an illegal block that nullified a Brandon Banks touchdown on a punt return. The score would have given the Redskins a fourth-quarter lead in a game they ended up losing.

This year, the LSU product could have a chance to make more positive contributions. Last year’s starter at the Jack inside linebacker spot, Rocky McIntosh, may be moving on in free agency. The job could go to Riley.

“I’ll have a chance to fight for the starting job coming into camp,” he said after Friday afternoon’s practice. “I still have to go and show I’m deserving of the spot.”

Whether or not he wins the job, Riley may be sporting a new look. As you can see in the picture, he is has cultivated a very full beard. But he may not have it for long.

The second Friday practice was not conducted in pads; in fact, the players were not even wearing helmets. But there was sweat dripping off of his beard. No doubt, it was hot but not nearly as hot as it will get in a week or so when the players will practice in full pads.

“It’s hotter, that’s for sure,” he said when asked about the beard.

Asked if he was rethinking his look, he admitted, “Yeah, I’m thinking about cutting it.”

 

Fred Davis wants to be perfect

One of the more frequent questions I found in my inbox and on Twitter last year was, “Where’s Fred Davis?”

The tight end had a breakout season in 2009, catching 48 passes for 509 yards and six touchdowns as he started 10 games after Chris Cooley’s season ended early with a broken ankle.

Going into the 2010 season, we heard a lot about the team taking advantage of their newly found weapon by pairing him with Cooley on two tight end sets. Visions of Davis running free through secondaries danced through fans’ heads.

But things did not quite work that way. Davis did not completely disappear as he played in all 16 games and about 36 percent of the offensive plays. But he caught just 21 passes for 316 yards and three touchdowns.

Certainly, some of Davis’ issues could be traced to an offense that was generally ineffective. But Davis decided to control what he can control.

He lost 12 pounds, getting down to 242. And he changed his jersey number to 83, the number he wore at USC.

The most significant change, however, may be one that is not visible. “I’m going to change everything about myself, become a student of the game,” he said.

What did the student have for study materials during the NFL lockout?

“I had old film, that I had from last season, look at stuff I used to do, critiquing stuff so I can play with the routes a little bit more, play with the timing of it,” Davis said.

So what is the goal of the film study?

“I want to be perfect. That’s what is is, being a perfectionist. Every time you get out there you want to have a chance to make a play,” he said.

Natural talent can get you a long way in college and maybe for a stretch of games in the NFL. But it appears that Davis has discovered that if a player wants to have a successful NFL career, dedication to the craft and having a desire to be a perfectionist are necessities.

This will be a pivotal year for Davis, who is entering the final season of his rookie contract. It appears that he wants to make the most of it. 

 

Redskins training camp fan guide

On CSN Washington, here is what you need to know if you're coming out to Redskins training camp.

Pull Quotes: Kyle Shanahan speaks

Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan spoke to the media today. Here is some of what he had to say.

On the quarterback competition between John Beck and Rex Grossman: “It is going to take a while . . .  Both of those guys will have their fair shot and see which one comes up.”

On newly-acquired offensive lineman Chris Chester: “We feel he fits our scheme very well . . . You have to be flexible everywhere but we plan for him to be at right guard.”

On brining in veteran receivers Jabar Gaffney and Donte Stallworth after drafting three receivers in April: “We wanted to draft some young guys but we do no just want them competing with other young guys. We need these guys to compete with some guys that have done it, who are proven receivers . . . I do not feel our depth has been great.”

On the release of longtime center Casey Rabach: “Casey is one of my favorite players I have coached. He is a warrior and does everything you ask, but with the situation we are in we need some young guys to step up. We have some holes on our team and you cannot fill all those holes right away.”

On Will Montgomery, who will be given first shot at Rabach’s job: “When Will stepped in there, he competed, he battled. It does not always look clean but he fights you to the end.”

 

Armstrong can't rest on his laurels

Anthony Armstrong is taking nothing for granted.

Last year, after completing the climb from the Intense Football League to a starting wide receiver in the NFL, he was one of the few bright spots on a dismal offense. As a 27-year-old rookie he caught 44 passes for 871 yards, an impressive average of 19.8 yards a catch.

However, after working his way into his job, he is not about to get complacent. “Right now, I’m still trying to make the team,” he said after the first practice of training camp on Friday.

Armstrong has some reason to feel uncomfortable even after his impressive debut last year. The Redskins drafted three receivers in April. Then, earlier this week, they agreed to contracts with veterans Jabar Gaffney and Donte Stallworth.

“I told coach Shanahan I was mad at him for it but I appreciate the competition,” Armstrong said. “Sometimes you need somebody there to push you to a higher level.

“You can use that as a stepping stone or you’re going to get stepped on.”

While some other receivers became spectators during special teams drills, Armstrong was full participant, fielding punts and working on drills as a gunner in punt coverage. He was doing the same things a year ago while he was trying to make the team.

“Nothing changes,” he said. “I’ve got kickoff, I’ve got punt, I’ve got all that stuff. I’m still going on the same grind and the same mentality.”

As long as he keeps that mentality, he should have a spot on the team.

 

Character counts but it only gets you so far

After trading away Donovan McNabb and Albert Haynesworth, the Redskins got busy trimming other older players from their roster. Actually, slashing was more like it.

Casey Rabach, who has started all but one game at center since the 2005 season, was told that he would be released this morning. Then defensive end Phillip Daniels, who came to the Redskins along with Joe Gibbs in 2004, announced via Twitter that the Redskins would be letting him go. Finally, nose tackle Maake Kemoeatu, last year’s starting nose tackle, was informed of his imminent release.

In the space of a few hours, the Redskins lopped off 31 years and 359 games of NFL experience off of their roster. They also lost a lot of character. Rabach and Daniels were locker room leaders and favorites of the media due to their willingness to step in front of the microphones in both good times and bad. Kemoeatu was with the Redskins for just a year but he earned respect by fighting back from a torn Achilles tendon he suffered before the 2009 season.

Certainly, character counts. But it only gets you so far.

Rabach was ineffective blocking both for the run and for the pass last year. Although he was praised by coaches for his smart blocking calls at the line, you have to be able to execute your part of the blocks if that is to do any good. Daniels was reasonable effective in the 15-20 snaps a game he played last year but the team can get the same or perhaps even more impact from a younger player. Kemoeatu played with a shoulder injury all year but, regardless, nose tackle was a sore spot all year. Perhaps he would have played better if he was healthy, but the chances of the 32-year-old suffering from another injury were fairly high.

The Redskins are likely to be a better team after replacing those three veterans. Redskins Park, however, will not be a better place.

 

Redskins do some addition by subtraction

The Redskins now have their two biggest potential distractions in the rear-view mirror.

Just hours after completing a deal to send Donovan McNabb to the Vikings, the Redskins shipped Albert Haynesworth to the New England Patriots. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Redskins will get a fifth-round pick in 2013 in exchange for Haynesworth.

A few days ago a report quoted a Redskins team source saying that they would trade Haynesworth for “a ham sandwich.” A fifth-round pick two drafts from now is the NFL equivalent of a ham sandwich.

Haynesworth might regain his old All-Pro form under Bill Belichick, who has taken reclamation projects like Randy Moss and Corey Dillon and has been able to get some good production out of them.

But it really doesn’t matter. Haynesworth was not going to succeed on this team in this system under this coach. They had to cut their substantial losses—they paid him $41 million for 20 games, 6.5 sacks, and 43 tackles—and move on.

It’s the same with the second- and fourth-round picks the Redskins invested in McNabb. The cost is sunk.

On the field and in the short term, the Redskins may be worse off without McNabb and Haynesworth, who are two talented football players. In every other way, the Redskins have done some serious addition by subtraction.