Rich Tandler's Real Redskins

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

Need to Know: Roster churn continues

Here is what you need to know on this Wednesday, May 15, five days before Redskins OTA’s start.

Stability comes to the roster

Mike Shanahan is in his fourth year as Redskins head coach and final decision maker on all things football. He has transformed the roster over the course of the four offseasons he has been in Washington. Of the 89 players currently on the preseason roster, only 10—London Fletcher, Santana Moss, DeAngelo Hall, Reed Doughty, Kedric Golston, Will Montgomery, Fred Davis, Rob Jackson, Brian Orakpo, and Darryl Young—were with the organization when Shanahan arrived.

Of those players, all but one signed his current contract with the Shanahan-Bruce Allen Redskins. Only Brian Orakpo, who is in the last year of his five-year rookie contract, signed under previous management.

Although the roster churn is beginning to slow down, it continues. In the past year, five players who predated Shanahan—Kevin Barnes, Graham Gano, Chris Wilson, Chris Cooley, and Anthony Armstrong—have departed.

I predicted the final 53-man roster earlier this week (offense here, defense/specialists here). Of the 25 players I projected on offense, 21 were on the roster to finish last season and one was on injured reserve. That leaves three new faces on that side of the ball (Jordan Reed, Chris Thompson, and Jeremy Trueblood).

The defense should undergo more transformation. Of the 25 defensive players I projected, 12 were on the roster for the Redskins’ playoff game, five were on injured reserve and eight are new to the team (Phillip Merling, Marvin Burdette, Darryl Tapp, Brandon Jenkins, E. J. Biggers, David Amerson, Bacarri Rambo, Phillip Thomas).

If you do the math, 11 new players on a 53-man roster is a turnover rate of about 20 percent. That is fairly typical around the league.

It is an indication that the team has some of they key pieces in place but still has some tinkering to do before it can be serious Super Bowl contenders.

Brandon Jenkins talks about his injury recovery

In case you missed it

• 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

Days until: OTA’s 5; Minicamp 27, Training camp 71

Need to Know: RG3 is USA's most marketable athlete

Here is what you need to know on this Tuesday, May 14, six days before Redskins OTA’s start.

RG3 most marketable American athlete

Robert Griffin III ranks No. 4 on the list of the most marketable athletes in the world and he is the top American in the rankings compiled by the website SportsPro.com.

Here is what they said about the Redskins’ quarterback, who is entering his second year:

Robert Griffin III joined the National Football League (NFL) last year as the number two draft pick, but he ended it as undoubtedly the most marketable player in the world’s richest league, with sales of his number ten Washington Redskins jersey setting a new single-season NFL record.
. . .

Off the field, RGIII already has a keen sense of his own value, creating his own company, Thr3escompany, in 2012 and successfully trademarking a variety of phrases, including ‘RGIII’ and ‘RG3’.

Two soccer players, Neymar (Brazil) and Lionel Messi (Argentina) are 1-2 on the list and British golfer Rory McIlroy is third. The only other American athletes in the top 10 are tennis player Sloane Stephens and NBA star Blake Griffin.

RG3 is the only NFL player on the list, which seems odd given the popularity of the sport in this country. But what’s popular in the USA is not necessarily what is popular around the rest of the world. SportsPro.com lists the criteria as follows:

Athletes from across the world have been ranked according to their marketing potential over a three-year period from this summer.

• Value for money
• Age
• Home market
• Charisma
• Willingness to be marketed
• Crossover appeal

Alex Ovechkin of the Capitals was 19^th on the list.

Ryan Kerrigan talk before Caps Game 7

In case you missed it

• Redskins sign Rambo, Jenkins
• Pass defense will face tough early tests
• Redskins 53-man roster projections, offense
• All hands on deck in Ashburn

Days until: OTA’s 6; Preseason opener @ Titans 86; Eagles @ Redskins 118

Tandler on Twitter

Chances RG3 takes a preseason game snap < 50%. Maybe way less RT @dridings: Do you think they would hold him out of the preseason? #Redskins

— Rich Tandler (@Rich_TandlerCSN) May 13, 2013

The 53: Roster predictions, offense

The Redskins now have 83 players under contract and seven draft picks. Out of those 90 players, Mike Shanahan and Co. will choose the 53 who will make up the roster for the Monday night season opener Sept. 9.

Who will those 53 be? Armed with the full knowledge that OTA’s have not started yet, training camp is over two months away and plenty could change, Redskins Insiders Tarik El-Bashir and Rich Tandler project their survivors. Today, we pick the offense and tomorrow we'll reveal our choices on defense.

Backs

Quarterback

Tandler (3): Robert Griffin III, Kirk Cousins, Rex Grossman

El-Bashir (3): Griffin, Cousins, Pat White

Go here to read the post on CSNwashington.com.

Need to Know: All hands on deck in Ashburn

Here is what you need to know on this Monday, May 13, seven days before Redskins OTA’s start.

All hands will be on deck

As the Redskins resume their workout program in Ashburn this week their ranks will be larger. They will be joined by the seven draft picks and by most of the 12 undrafted free agents that have been added to the team over the past few weeks.

Not all of the undrafted players will be able to attend due to the NFL’s graduation rule. Other than the rookie minicamp, which the Redskins held last weekend, players can’t report for work until their respective colleges have graduated. All of the draft picks’ schools have done the cap and gown thing and all but two of the undrafted free agents will be free to come to Ashburn as well.

The other three won’t have to wait long. The graduations for the schools attended by WR Jason Thompson (New Haven) and Chip Reeves (Troy) all take place this coming weekend. That means that they can be at Redskins Park for the start of OTA’s a week from today.

This is a very minor disruption compared to what some players are facing. Dion Jordan, the third overall pick in the draft, can’t report to the Dolphins until after Oregon graduates on June 15. Miami’s minicamp ends on the 13^th so Jordan will have a lot of catching up to do in training camp.

Decisions to be made

The Redskins should decide soon if they are going to sign any of the tryout players they had in for the rookie camp last week.

A total of 48 players without contracts participated. Some of them tried out for the NFL teams who are holding their rookie camps this weekend.

The Redskins don’t face any sort of NFL-imposed deadline for signing the tryout players but they would like to get the team fully assembled before the start of OTA’s.

The roster is currently at the league limit of 90 so if they do add one of the tryout players, or anyone else, they will have to release someone.

In case you missed it

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

Days until: OTA’s 7; Training camp 73; Redskins @ Cowboys 153

(Correction: An earlier version of this post said that Skye Dawson went to SMU. h/t @hbeatskins)