Rich Tandler's Real Redskins

Locked in Redskins starters

The Redskins start OTA’s on Monday and for the first time since January they will line up as a team. Twenty-two players will line up as “starters”, others on the second team, third team, and so on. Of those lining up with the first team, which ones are certain to be the first to take the field when the Redskins play the Eagles in the season opener on Sept. 9? Which players will be in a battle for a starting job? Let’s take a pre-OTA’s look (players in bold are locked into starting jobs.

Offensive line: Trent Williams, Kory Lichtensteiger, Will Montgomery, Chris Chester, Tyler Polumbus

The line is 80 percent set, with only Polumbus’ right tackle spot up for grabs. It remains to be seen how open the competition will be between Polumbus, who started 15 games last year and was widely considered to be the weakest link on the line, and Jeremy Trueblood, Tom Compton, and Tony Pashos. This is a battle that could go into the season unless somebody steps up and really seizes the job.

Offensive backs: Kirk Cousins, Alfred Morris, Darrell Young

Cousins is in for Robert Griffin III. How long Cousins is in the starting role remains to be seen. It will be at least through OTA’s and likely a good chunk of training camp and perhaps through some of the regular season.

Receivers: Leonard Hankerson, Santana Moss, Logan Paulsen

Both of the players who started most of the games last year are likely to be spectators during OTA’s. Josh Morgan underwent surgery to his ankle and both hands and Pierre Garçon is rehabbing the toe injury that cost him six games last year. Moss will return to his role as slot receiver when the starters are healthy but Hankerson might have a shot at unseating Morgan as the starter. At stake is about 150 snaps over the course of the year. Fred Davis will take the starting tight end spot when his torn Achilles is sufficiently rehabbed.

Defensive line: Stephen Bowen, Barry Cofield, Jarvis Jenkins

Adam Carriker may eventually push Jenkins to get back the left end job he had until he suffered a quad injury in Week 2 last year. But after a setback in his rehab nobody seems to know when he will be ready.

Linebackers: Brian Orakpo, London Fletcher, Perry Riley, Ryan Kerrigan

We could put a small question mark next to Orakpo and a large one next to Fletcher in terms of their participation in OTA’s. Orakpo has said on multiple occasions that he is 100 percent after suffering his second torn pectoral muscle in less than a nine-month span last September. But he still could be held out of all or most of the offseason work. And Fletcher had surgery for the first time in his career (ankle, elbow) and he is likely to see a light workload as well.

Defensive backs: DeAngelo Hall, Josh Wilson, Reed Doughty, DeJon Gomes

There will be many changes at cornerback over the course of the year but it would be a major upset of Hall and Wilson were not the starters on Sept. 9. Brandon Meriweather will be the starting strong safety, assuming his knee is in good enough shape. The free safety spot is wide open.

So there are 14 set in stone starters who should be participating in OTA’s plus a few more like Jenkins and Hankerson who could work their way into the starting lineup. That looks like a pretty solid percentage. 

How many roster spots are up for grabs?

The Redskins have the league maximum 90 players on their roster and a lot of what goes on between now and the start of the season will be about finding out who will be on the final 53-man roster. Mike Shanahan loves competition. But how much competition is there? How many of those coveted 53 jobs are already locked up and how many are up for grabs? As OTA’s start this week let’s take a look with the caveat that injuries and a truly surprising performance could change the picture for a few players.

Right now, it looks like 41 players are locks to make the final roster:

Offense

QB (3): Robert Griffin III, Kirk Cousins, Rex Grossman
RB (2): Alfred Morris, Darrel Young

Go here to read the rest of the post on CSN Washington.

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.

All's well that ends well for Briscoe

By Tarik El-Bashir
CSNwashington.com 

Friday was Dezmon Briscoe’s 23 birthday. It was also cutdown day around the NFL, and the Redskins wide receiver wasn’t certain he had done enough in the preseason to earn a spot on the 53-man roster.

“Everybody kept asking me what I wanted” for a present, Briscoe said. “I really didn’t want anything. I told them, ‘Just pray for me.’ The only thing I really wanted for my birthday was to make the team.”

On Friday morning, his cell phone rang. It was Paul Kelly, the team’s director of football operations.

“He said, ‘Coach wants to see you,’” Briscoe said. “I was like, ‘Um…’ Then he was like, ‘Calm down. It’s not one of them calls.’ It was a good feeling.”

Briscoe said his talk with Shanahan was more of the personal one. But Shanahan was also very clear when the conversation turned to on-field expectations, he added.

“He just wanted to get to know me,” said Briscoe, who was claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay on July 28 after the Buccaneers released him for reportedly failing a conditioning test. “He didn’t really know me as a person. He just wanted us to get to know each other a little better.”

Shanahan “also said he wants me to come in and keep doing what I’m doing,” he continued. “Keep making plays, catch every ball that comes my way, contribute anyway I can, whether it’s scout team or getting reps on offense.” 

Added Shanahan: “I felt very good about my conversation with him.”

Still, Briscoe didn’t allow himself to relax until the 9 p.m. deadline for submitting rosters had passed. At 7:30, Briscoe tweeted, “I hour 30 minutes …”

A second call from Kelly never came. The team released Anthony Amrstrong instead to create a spot for him.

“No call is a good call,” said Briscoe, who tweeted “HTTR” just after the deadline. “I just basically showed up [Saturday] and had a locker.”

It was the end of a stressful week for Briscoe, who sounded downtrodden after the Redskins’ preseason finale against the Buccaneers. He had expected to see ample playing time but didn’t enter the game until the second half and was hardly used, leading him to believe he wasn’t in the teams’ plans.

“I was on the edge because I didn’t play special teams,” he explained.

As it turned out, the 6 foot 2, 210 pound third year professional out of Kansas had already shown Shanahan enough. In three preseason games, Briscoe had hauled in six passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns.

“Briscoe is a little bit bigger guy,” Shanahan said. “A very physical receiver, whereas Anthony is more of that X guy where he’s got that great speed, very similar to [Pierre[ Garçon, [Aldrick] Robinson and even [Brandon] Banks. So we thought we were a little deeper at that X position than we were at that Z position, so that’s why we went in that direction.”

So after an anxious birthday, Briscoe got the present he wanted. But he said Monday that he also knows this is not the time to celebrate, not for a player listed on the third string behind Garçon, Morgan, Leonard Hankerson and Santana Moss. 

“Just don’t slack off,” Briscoe said. “Everything can easily get taken away. Don’t take it for granted. Just go out there and contribute any way that I can.”

Shanahan: Releasing Hightower "a tough decision"

By Tarik El-Bashir
CSNwashington.com 

A day after cutting Tim Hightower, Redskins Coach Mike Shanahan said the decision was a difficult one and that the veteran running back could return at a later date if he’s healthy.

Hightower was attempting to return from 10-month layoff due to ACL surgery on his left knee. But the 26-year-old appeared in only one preseason game, racking up 28 yards on five carries against the Colts. After that game, Hightower was sore and did not suit up for the preseason finale against the Buccaneers. 

“A guy like Tim, I think the world of,” Shanahan said Saturday. “He might be back sometime this year. But you have cut down. You have make the decision that’s best for your football team and we went three running backs and a fullback. But it was a tough decision.”

With Hightower gone, the tailback duties will fall to second year players Evan Royster and Roy Helu Jr. and rookie Alfred Morris.

Pressed on whether Hightower could return to Washington, Shanahan said, “He could come back here. I thought when he did play, he played well. …That one run he had off the left side [against the Colts], that was pretty impressive.”

For Hightower to return, however, another Redskins’ running back probably would have to get hurt and, of course, Hightower would have to return to full health. It was apparent this week that Hightower still had some progress to make.

“He was a little sore,” Shanahan said when asked if Hightower had suffered a setback against Indianapolis.

Asked if Hightower’s release was because of his knee or the emergence of Morris and the other two running backs, Shanahan said: “You’ve got to take the top 53 guys. And when you put all the factors together, you’ve got to way, ‘Hey, what’s best for us this year?’ And that’s what we thought was best for us.”

Redskins add their 53rd player

 The Redskins have added a 53^rd player to their roster. Mike Shanahan confirmed that the team claimed cornerback Crezdon Butler, a former Steelers draft pick who was most recently with the Cardinals, on waivers. Butler, out of Clemson, had tweeted earlier in the day that he was going to the Redskins.

Butler, 25, was a fifth-round pick by Pittsburg in 2010, played four games for the Steelers as a rookie. Pittsburgh waived him and the Cardinals claimed him.

Butler played in one game in Arizona before he suffered what on observer called an “ugly” ankle injury during practice. That landed him on injured reserve. The Cardinals waived him yesterday and the Redskins claimed him.

Butler gives the Redskins five cornerbacks on the roster. It was widely assumed that they would add a corner after finishing yesterday’s round of cuts with 52 players and only four corners.

Roster churn: 24 of last year's initial 53 are gone

You can’t accuse Mike Shanahan of standing pat.

After the Redskins went 5-11 last year, 24 of the 53 players who were on the 53-man roster that season are gone. That’s a turnover rate of 45 percent.

Of the 23 new players—as of right now, the Redskins have only 52 on their roster—eight are 2012 draft picks. Of the nine picks this year, only offensive tackle Tom Compton was released.

Here are the departed members of the first roster of 2011 and their replacements on the current roster.

Wide receiver

Jabar Gaffney—Pierre Garçon
Donte Stallworth—Josh Morgan
Anthony Armstrong—Dez Briscoe
Terrence Austin—Aldrick Robinson*

Offensive line

Jammal Brown**—Tyler Polumbus*
Sean Locklear—Jordan Black
Erik Cook—Josh LeRibeus
Willie Smith—Adam Gettis
XX—Maurice Hurt* (additional offensive lineman carried in 2012)

Tight end

Chris Cooley—XX (Niles Paul moved from WR to TE)
Mike Sellers—XX (carrying one fewer TE than in 2011)

Running back

Tim Hightower—Evan Royster*
Ryan Torain—Alfred Morris

Quarterback

John Beck—Robert Griffin III
XX—Kirk Cousins (carrying 3 QB’s this year)

Defensive line

Darrion Scott—Jarvis Jenkins
Chris Neild—Chris Baker

Linebackers

Rocky McIntosh—Keenan Robinson
Markus White—Chris Wilson
Keyaron Fox—XX (carrying one fewer linebacker this year)

Defensive backs

Byron Westbrook—Cedric Griffin
Kevin Barnes—Richard Crawford
Brandyn Thompson—XX (as of now, one fewer CB on the roster

LaRon Landry—Brandon Meriweather
Oshiomogho Atogwe—Madieu Williams
XX—Jordan Bernstine (carrying one more safety this year)

Specialists

PK Graham Gano—Billy Cundiff

*Was on the Redskins’ roster at some point during the 2011 season
**On the PUP list, could return between Weeks Six and Nine

Redskins officially announce cuts

The Redskins officially announced their roster cuts:

WR Anthony Armstrong

WR Terrence Austin

DB Travon Bellamy

FB Dorson Boyce (Injured)

T Tom Compton

C Erik Cook

QB Jonathan Crompton

RB Tristan Davis (Injured)

NT Marlon Favorite

C Grant Garner

LB Donnell Holt

NT Delvin Johnson

LB Brian McNally (Waived with injury settlement)

TE Richard Quinn

T Willie Smith

CB Brandyn Thompson

LB Markus White

DE Doug Worthington

RB Tim Hightower

CB David Jones

LB Bryan Kehl

DL Darrion Scott

The team also announced that it has placed exempt DE Kentwan Balmer on the Reserve/Left Squad list.

Safety Tanard Jackson has been suspended indefinitely without pay for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse. His suspension is effective immediately.

The Redskins cut to 52 players

After looking at the official list of cuts, the Redskins have 52 players on their roster.

There is one spot open, perhaps for a player to be acquired in a trade or in a waiver claim.

To be sure, there could be surprise or two still in waiting. And trades and waiver claims could further shake things up.  But here is how it appears that it stands right now, with some quick analysis.

Specialists

In (3): P Sav Rocca, LS Nick Sundberg, PK Billy Cundiff

This was set earlier this week when Neil Rackers and Graham Gano were released and Cundiff was signed.

Defense

Defensive backs 

Cornerback (4): DeAngelo Hall, Josh Wilson, Cedric Griffin, Richard Crawford

Safety (5): Brandon Meriweather, Madieu Williams, DeJon Gomes, Reed Doughty, Jordan Bernstine


The suspension of Tanard Jackson, who would have been one of the top three safeties, helped Bernstine land a spot. It is still somewhat odd that they are keeping four corners and five safeties and this is one of those areas where further moves could be made.

Linebackers

Outside (4): Brian Orakpo, Ryan Kerrigan, Rob Jackson, Chris Wilson

Inside (4): London Fletcher, Perry Riley, Lorenzo Alexander, Keenan Robinson

It was thought to be a battle between Wilson and Markus White for the last roster spot and Wilson won it. Bryan Kehl also was a surprise release.

Defensive line

In (6): Stephen Bowen, Jarvis Jenkins, Adam Carriker, Kedric Golston, Barry Cofield, Chris Baker

Offense

Running backs (4): Roy Helu Jr., Evan Royster, Darrell Young, Alfred Morris




The shocker of the day was the release of Tim Hightower. It was thought that the team would wait out until his knee, injured last October, got close to 100 percent.

Tight ends (3): Fred Davis, Niles Paul, Logan Paulsen



No drama here after Chris Cooley was released on Tuesday.

Wide receivers (7): Pierre Garçon, Leonard Hankerson, Josh Morgan, Santana Moss, Aldrick Robinson, Brandon Banks, Dez Briscoe

Banks will be more of a kick returner than a wide receiver so there are really six here. Briscoe beat out Anthony Armstrong for the last spot. Most thought Briscoe was the superior receiver during training camp and the preseason but there was a chance that Armstrong’s special teams play could keep him on the roster.

Quarterbacks

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




Rex Grossman was never, ever in any danger of being cut.

Offensive line

In (9): Trent Williams, Kory Lichtensteiger, Will Montgomery, Chris Chester, Tyler Polumbus, Josh LeRibeus, Jordan Black, Adam Gettis, Maurice Hurt

While none of the individual names here is a surprise the overall number is. The Redskins have kept eight offensive linemen the last two years. But they did get burned to an extent last year when a rash of injuries hit the line. 

Only one decision left to get to 53?

If we assume that Anthony Armstrong is either traded or released and that a few of the longshot players we haven’t heard about one way or the other end up getting released, as of right now it looks like there is just one major decision left to be made on the 53-man roster.

Will they keep linebacker Markus White and go with 25 offensive players, 25 on defense and three specialists (counting Brandon Banks as a kick returner)? Or will they keep wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe and go 26-24 offense-defense?

To be sure, there could be surprise or two still in waiting. But here is how it appears that it will shake out:

Specialists

In (3): P Sav Rocca, LS Nick Sundberg, PK Billy Cundiff

Defense

Defensive backs 

Cornerback (4): DeAngelo Hall, Josh Wilson, Cedric Griffin, Richard Crawford

Safety (6): Brandon Meriweather, Tanard Jackson, Madieu Williams, DeJon Gomes, Reed Doughty, Jordan Bernstine


Linebackers

Outside (4-5): Brian Orakpo, Ryan Kerrigan, Rob Jackson, Chris Wilson (Markus White?)

Inside (4): London Fletcher, Perry Riley, Lorenzo Alexander, Keenan Robinson

Defensive line

In (6): Stephen Bowen, Jarvis Jenkins, Adam Carriker, Kedric Golston, Barry Cofield, Chris Baker

Offense

Running backs (4): Roy Helu Jr., Evan Royster, Darrell Young, Alfred Morris




Tight ends (3): Fred Davis, Niles Paul, Logan Paulsen



Wide receivers (6-7): Pierre Garçon, Leonard Hankerson, Josh Morgan, Santana Moss, Aldrick Robinson, Brandon Banks (Dez Briscoe?)

Quarterbacks

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




Offensive line

In (9): Trent Williams, Kory Lichtensteiger, Will Montgomery, Chris Chester, Tyler Polumbus, Josh LeRibeus, Jordan Black, Adam Gettis, Maurice Hurt