Rich Tandler's Real Redskins

Barnes plays no snaps vs. Vikings

By Rich Tandler

One thing that jumped out at me when I perused the weekly playing time report on CSN Washington was that cornerback Kevin Barnes did not play in the game at all, on defense or on special teams.

Barnes has been the Redskins’ nickel back all season. His playing time has fluctuated through the year. The Maryland product played a low of 12 snaps against the run-oriented 49ers and a high of 53 against the pass-happy Patriots. But against the Vikings he was active, presumably healthy (he did not appear on the injury report during the week) but he did not play.

Byron Westbrook played a combined 38 snaps on defense against the Giants and Vikings after getting a total of four the previous two games.

According to Jim Haslett, it was a coach's decision to play Westbrook, who is a restricted free agent after this season. "We actually started Westbrook at the nickel spot to see what he could do, evaluating for the future to see if he’s a possible candidate there," Haslett said on Thursday. 

The website Pro Football Focus had Barnes with negative grades against the Patriots and Giants. Haslett did not indicate whether Barnes' lack of playing time against the Vikings was related to performance.

 

Shanahan: Carlos catches them in practice

A quick clip from Kelly Johnson's weekly exclusive interview with Mike Shanahan. He says that Carlos Rogers catches interceptions in practice. Take a look and then take the poll: [polldaddy poll=3949156]

53: Defensive backs

[caption id="attachment_1004" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Chris Horton is looking to follow up a surprising rookie year"][/caption] Between now and the start of training camp I'll be making my predictions about who will be on the final 53-man roster for the Washington Redskins--who's there, who's in, who's on the bubble, and who's out. The predicted roster will be revised and updated as preseason events warrant. Today, in the last of the series, defensive backs: Who's here Now: (13) Cornerbacks: Kevin Barnes, Doug Dutch, DeAngelo Hall, Carlos Rogers, Fred Smoot, Justin Tryon, Byron Westbrook Safeties: Michael Grant, Kareem Moore, Reed Doughty, LaRon Landry, Lendy Holmes, Chris Horton. How many will stick: 9 Starters: Hall and Rogers at cornerback, Landry and Horton at safety—Hall isn't expected to be a shutdown corner but one who will gamble and win often enough to make some big plays. Rogers is underrated and in his contract year. He could play at a Pro Bowl level. Landry didn't exactly have sophomore slump but he didn't have the breakout to stardom many predicted for him. Horton was a great story last year and he should continue to improve. Solid backups: Smoot, Barnes, Tryon, Moore –Smoot may be slowing down a bit and Tryon and Barnes will push to be his replacement at nickel back in 2010 if not sooner. Moore is a solid hitter who needs to hone his coverage skills some more to warrant more playing time. Last man on: Doughty—He's an over achiever who's good to have on the team. He rarely makes a costly mistake. First man off: Westbrook—Unfortunately, he won't be eligible for the practice squad since he's been on it two years. 53-man breakdown:

• Defensive backs—9
• Linebackers –7
• Tight end—3
• Offensive line—9
• Specialist—3
• Running back—4
• Defensive line—10
• Wide Receiver—5
• Quarterback—3

Barnes deal is 4 years

According to Mike Florio at ProFootballTalk.com the contract that Kevin Barnes signed was for four years with a signing bonus just north of $780,000. That makes it pretty much a garden variety deal for a third-round pick. And the only reason I'm posting it is because it gives me another opportunity to post the video of his (literally) sick hit against Cal.

Barnes in the fold, 2 released

[caption id="attachment_926" align="aligncenter" width="200" caption="Kevin Barnes"][/caption]

The Redskins have signed Kevin Barnes, their third-round pick in the draft. Terms were not disclosed. Barnes will battle second-year player Just Tryon for playing time as the dime cornerback. A player will have to be released to make room for Barnes. I will pass along word of that as soon as I hear it. Update: Per @seandkennedy on Twitter, defensive end Derek Walker was released. Update 2: Redskins PR has confirmed the release of Walker and also announced the release of wide receiver Jaison Williams. Both Walker and Williams were signed in the spring as rookie free agents.

Rookie Tryon may have to step up at CB

I promised a blurb about the Skins' cornerback situation after the release of John Eubanks, who was the fourth corner last year after Carlos Rogers was put on injured reserve in October.

Eubanks was released, it seems to me, and players like Byron Westbrook and Cedric Holt stayed because Eubanks had used up his practice squad eligibility. If players are close in ability and are long shots to make the 53-man roster, you want to keep around the guys you'll be able to keep around on the PS.

Eubanks may even have been a little bit better than Westbrook and Holt but he would be taking up resources in the form of a roster spot and coaching time and the Redskins don't want to do that if it's likely that he'll be cut loose at the end of August anyway.

Westbrook and Holt and fourth-round draftee Just Tryon may be good players but, for all three of them, their next NFL snap will their first NFL snap.

Rogers is the key to how much all of this matters. If he's ready for Week 1, he, Shawn Springs, and Fred Smoot are the top three corners. Leigh Torrence, the nickel back after Rogers went out in '07, comes in against four wides and in third and very long. Tryon is the fifth CB on the roster, playing special teams when he's on the active list. Westbrook and Holt likely are on the practice squad.

It seems unlikely, though, that Rogers will be ready to play in the Meadowlands on September 4. If he's on the PUP list, which would open a spot on the 53-man roster, Holt or Westbrook will have a shot at making it. In either case, Torrence and Tryon both move up a notch to the nickel and dime spots respectively.