The Redskins appear to believe that there is safety in numbers at safety.
Per media reports, six safeties will make the 2012 Redskins. Brandon Meriweather, Tanard Jackson, Madieu Williams, DeJon Gomes, Reed Doughty, and Jordan Bernstine all have either been told they will be on the final 53-man roster or are locks to make it.
They had four safeties on the roster most of last year and most NFL teams carry four or five safeties on the roster.
The surprise was Bernstine, a seventh-round pick this year. Many analysts believed that he would need a year of seasoning on the practice squad this year and then come back to compete for a spot on the roster this year. But he has been told that he will make it this year.
And the conventional wisdom was that Gomes and Doughty were fighting for one job, but they both appear to have made it.
You don’t have to look far to see where the Redskins trimmed personnel to make room for the extra safety or two. Cornerbacks Brandyn Thompson and David Jones will be released leaving the Redskins with just four cornerbacks—DeAngelo Hall, Josh Wilson, Cedric Griffin and rookie Richard Crawford. Five is the usual number for most NFL teams and the Redskins carried five most of last year.
The puzzling thing about breakdown of the defensive backs is that Hall and Griffin both are capable of playing safety if needed. Bernstine did play cornerback at Iowa before moving to safety but it would be surprising of they had the rookie learn two positions.
It is possible that more moves will be made in the coming days and perhaps we will be further explanation when Mike Shanahan addresses the media tomorrow afternoon.
Comments