Rich Tandler's Real Redskins

Life without London sooner rather than later?

The Redskins could be going into free agency looking for help at inside linebacker.

They had four ILB’s on the roster last year and only one of them is under contract for 2012. Perry Riley, who was promoted into the starting job midway through last season, is entering the third year of his four-year rookie contract he signed as a fourth-round pick out of LSU.

Starter and team captain London Fletcher and reserves Keyaron Fox and Rocky McIntosh are all unrestricted free agents.

It seems that the status McIntosh is clear. It is unlikely that he will be back. He was benched in favor of Riley and he played just 17 snaps in four games over the last half of the season. The former second-round draft pick is 29 and he likely will try to find a starting job elsewhere.

Fox just turned 30 and he played just 51 defensive snaps all year. He played fairly well in that limited action and it would not be surprising if he comes back.

The situation with Fletcher is getting interesting. Mike Shanahan, Bruce Allen, and Jim Haslett have all said at various times that getting Fletcher back is a priority. Fletcher has said that he wants to come back. But here we are less than two weeks prior to the start of free agency and the two-time Pro Bowl linebacker has not yet signed.

And the Redskins are dealing with representation for Fletcher. He recently fired Drew Rosenhaus as his agent and brought in Ben Dogra. That change didn’t send negotiations back to square one but it certainly didn’t help matters.

Two weeks is an eternity in a business where many deals are done right at the deadline so there is plenty of time for the Redskins to get Fletcher in the fold. But the word is that Fletcher isn’t going to give a hometown discount on what is likely to be his last contract.

It is possible that there will not be an agreement before the opening of free agency. Fletcher could then get offers from other teams and at that point, anything could happen.

“I’d love to go back to Washington, but obviously it’s a business,” Fletcher said on SiriusXM NFL Radio earlier this week. “It’ll take some time to get done but we both want to get a deal done. We’ll see what happens.”

If he does leave, the Redskins will have to scramble to find a starter. They could turn to the draft but the position is difficult to learn and free agency may be the only way to go.

There is a fairly deep class of young, potential starters at inside linebacker in free agency including Dan Connor of the Panthers, Curtis Lofton of the Falcons, David Hawthorne of Seattle, and Stephen Tulloch of the Lions, among others.

If Fletcher does hit free agency, timing will become critical. How long do the Redskins let Fletcher shop around before making a serious bid to bring in his replacement? How many of the top free agents would even seriously entertain a bid by the Redskins as long as Fletcher, who everyone knows is their top choice, is still out there.

There is still a very good chance that the Redskins will get Fletcher signed and the team will start searching for someone to replace him in 2014 or 2015, not starting now.

Rich Tandler blogs about the Redskins at www.RealRedskins.com. You can reach him by email at RTandlerCSN@comcast.net and follow him on Twitter @Rich_Tandler. 

 

Building blocks: If Fletcher is back, Redskins set at linebacker--for now

By Rich Tandler

As the Redskins prepare for the 2012 offseason, let’s take a step back look at the big picture. What pieces of the puzzle for 2012, 2013 and beyond are in place? Where will the Redskins have to look for help in free agency and in the draft? We are going to put the roster under a microscope and see where the Redskins stand.

See below for links to the positions previously covered. Today we look at the linebackers:

Key starters: Ryan Kerrigan, Perry Riley, Brian Orakpo
Marginal/depth players: Lorenzo Alexander, Rob Jackson, Markus White
Out: London Fletcher, Keyaron Fox, Rocky McIntosh

The starting assumption here is that Fletcher will re-sign and play for two more years. He could play longer or he might not be back at all. But in any case the Redskins should start thinking about a successor.

That replacement probably is not on the roster right now. McIntosh is almost certain to leave as a free agent and even if the 30-year-old Fox is back this year he’s not a piece of the long-term puzzle.

White and Jackson flashed ability in the preseason but they are stuck behind Kerrigan, who played every defensive snap, and Orakpo, who missed about 100 snaps all year. White was only active for two games and he will benefit from having a full offseason program as he continues to make the transition from college defensive end to NFL outside linebacker.

Jackson made that move in 2010. When Orakpo was injured in the season finale against the Eagles, Jackson acquitted himself well, playing 30 snaps and posting 3 tackles, two for a loss. He will be a free agent in 2013 and he will want to build a case to get more playing time here or to be able to get some elsewhere.

Alexander also is a free agent in 2013 but it is a good bet that he will be back. The team values him as the special teams captain and depth at both inside and outside linebacker. He seems to have strong community roots. It would make sense for him to finish his career here.

Orakpo, Kerrigan, and Riley should be the core of the linebacker unit for the next several years. Replacing Fletcher and then maintaining depth will be the tasks of the scouts and Mike Shanahan over the next couple of years. Perhaps they will think about taking a page from the Super Bowl champion Giants’ book by adding an edge pass rusher on the theory that you can’t have too many.

But the situation here is not critical unless, of course, Fletcher does not re-sign. Since it seems likely that he will be back, we’ll cross that bridge if it comes up.

Previous building block articles:

• Running backs
• Offensive line
• Wide receivers/tight ends
• Defensive line

Rich Tandler blogs about the Redskins at www.RealRedskins.com. You can reach him by email at RTandlerCSN@comcast.net and follow him on Twitter @Rich_Tandler

Top 2012 free agents: Will there be a need at linebacker?

 

Stephen Tulloch

By Rich Tandler

Our friends at Rotoworld have come up with a comprehensive list of players who will be free agents when the new league year starts at 4 p.m. on March 13. We’re going to go position by position and take a look at the top players who may be available and how they might fit with the Redskins.

See below for a list of positions previously analyzed. Here is a closer look at the top defensive linemen available.

• Curtis Lofton ILB, Falcons 
• Dan Connor ILB, Panthers 
• D'Qwell Jackson ILB, Browns
• David Hawthorne ILB, Seahawks 
• Anthony Spencer OLB, Cowboys 
• Stephen Tulloch ILB, Lions 
• London Fletcher ILB, Redskins
• Joe Mays ILB, Broncos
• Ahmad Brooks OLB, 49ers

We can skip over the free agent outside linebackers. Not only are the Redskins set with starters in Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan but they have depth with Lorenzo Alexander, Markus White, and Rob Jackson.

And they may not need any major help on the inside, either. It looks like Fletcher will be back with the Redskins. That would make acquisitions like Lofton, who is 26 and has been the Falcons’ starting middle linebacker since he came into the league in 2008 or Tulloch, who just turned 27 and is rock solid against both the run and the pass, unnecessary.

Previous free agent analysis

• Quarterbacks
• Wide receivers
• Running backs
• Offensive tackles
• Guards
• Centers
• Tight ends
• Defensive line

Redskins' LB coach a plum job

By Rich Tandler

If reports that Lou Spanos is leaving as Redskins linebackers coach are true — and one of his main men, London Fletcher, confirmed his departure to UCLA on Twitter — one would think that the Redskins would not have much of a problem finding a replacement.

The Redskins are loaded at linebacker. On the outside are All-Rookie selection Ryan Kerrigan and two-time Pro Bowler Brian Orakpo, who just finished his third NFL season. On the inside are Fletcher, the team captain and the NFL’s leading tackler, and promising second-year player Perry Riley.

Besides the veteran Fletcher, who probably has a couple of good seasons left in Washington assuming he can come to contract terms, Orakpo is the oldest at 25.

And there is some depth, especially on the outside. Lorenzo Alexander can play outside or inside. Outside reserves Rob Jackson and Markus White are fast, athletic and hard-hitting.

Everyone likes to come into a job where it is easy to look good right off the bat. NFL coaches are no different. Contrast the linebacker opening to the one at wide receivers coach. Whoever takes over for Keenan McCardell has to work with a group that is composed of players who are either aging (Santana Moss, Jabar Gaffney) or unproven (Leonard Hankerson, Niles Paul).

That doesn’t mean the Redskins won’t be able to find a good receivers coach. But they should get some good candidates for the plum job replacing Spanos.

 

Kerrigan focused in improvement, not accomplishments

By Rich Tandler

Ryan Kerrigan was named to the All-Rookie team and he was considered to be one of the best picks in the 2011 draft considering where he was picked and how well he filled a position of need for the Redskins.

Kerrigan, however, is not satisfied.

"I think about a missed sack at Buffalo ... a missed opportunity for an interception against Dallas," Kerrigan said in an interview with the paper from his hometown in Muncie, Indiana. "That's what motivates me to work harder and keep getting better. If you keep working hard you can make those plays."

I don’t want to give away the whole article here since it’s worth a click and a read. But I’ll pass along one quote about Kerrigan that I found to be intriguing came from one of the best in the business.

“You don’t see him get beat by the same thing twice,” said Patriots coach Bill Belichick.

If Kerrigan keeps that learning curve, he’ll go from good to great in a hurry.

 

Rookie review: White stuck low on depth chart

By Rich Tandler

During the course of the year, 11 of the Redskins’ 12 draft picks from 2011 were on the active roster. Here we take a look at each of them, how much they played, what they accomplished and what their future prospects are.

Previously we looked at nose tackle Chris Neild; today it’s outside linebacker Markus White.

Markus White, OLB
Drafted in 7^th round, 224 overall
Active two games, played in both

2011: White made the transition from 4-3 defensive end at Florida State to 3-4 NFL linebacker well enough to earn a spot on the roster coming out of training camp. He was impressive in preseason games, showing his great athletic ability and a nose for the football. Playing in a position of depth for the Redskins, he was only active for two games and didn’t participate in a single play on defense.

Prospects: White managed the position change without an offseason program and he should benefit greatly from going through a round of team workouts, OTA’s and a minicamp. Still, as noted, he plays a position where the Redskins are both strong and young. Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan, the starters at outside linebacker, aren’t going anywhere for a few years. White also is behind veteran Rob Jackson and special teams star Lorenzo Alexander on the depth chart. And there is the possibility that the Redskins will bring in more competition in the draft. It would seem that the upside potential for White’s 2012 season and beyond is to make the team and get an opportunity to play on special teams and on a few defensive packages. 

 

Haslett: To take the next step, Orakpo needs to beat double teams

By Rich Tandler

After making the Pro Bowl his first two years in the league, Brian Orakpo was not named to the squad when it was announced earlier this week. Few if any analysts called Orakpo’s omission a snub.

His sack total has been declining annually. Orakpo posted 8.5 last year and 11 as a rookie in 2009 and he has seven this year with a game to go. That is not the direction anyone wants to see his numbers heading.

But Jim Haslett said that Orakpo’s game has improved in areas that do not necessarily show up on the stat sheet. “I think he’s gotten better [against] the run and his coverage has been excellent.”

Still, Orakpo has to get sacks to be effective. Haslett said that he will be one of the best pass rushers in the business if he learns to beat double teams.

“I think he has got to understand that no matter where he lines up, they’re going to have two guys on him,” Haslett said. “Either they’re going to chip him or they’re going to have two guys on him because they’re going to slide to him. And that’s kind of the way it’s been and he gets frustrated.”

Shanahan said that players like Jared Allen of the Vikings and Dwight Freeney rack up sacks despite having to beat two blocker virtually every time. 

 

Kerrigan: 'We let them off the hook'

Ryan Kerrigan said that the Redskins gave the effort  yesterday but he admitted that after Adrian Peterson and Christian Ponder exited the game in the third quarter, "we let the off the hook

 

Why does Rak lacks sacks vs. NFC East?

By Rich Tandler

As Brian Orakpo prepares to play against an NFC East opponent for the 16^th time in his two and a half year career, an odd stat has started to make the rounds. In his 15 previous games against the division, Orakpo has posted only half of one sack. That came last year against Philadelphia.

In his 25 career games against teams outside of the division he has 24.5 sacks, an average of just about one a game. But against the division he doesn’t get it done in the sack department.

On closer examination, though, maybe the stat isn’t so odd. In order to rack up sacks in a game, it helps to have your team leading in the game. If your team leads by a lot, that makes it that much easier to rare back and rush the passer.

The Redskins have not fared very well against the NFC East since the Redskins drafted him in 2009. They are 3-12 in the division since Orakpo has been with the team and the games really haven’t been close. The Redskins losses to the Cowboys, Eagles, and Giants have been by an average score of 27-15. Washington’s biggest lead in those 15 division games has been 14 points and they had it twice.

In 2010 they scored touchdowns on their first two possessions in Philadelphia to take a 14-0 lead. The Eagles chipped away at that lead in the second quarter and it was a one-score contest by halftime. The Redskins had to survive a Jason Avant drop of a Hail Mary pass at the end to hang on for the win. Then earlier this year, the Redskins broke open their game with the Giants by taking a 28-14 lead midway through the fourth quarter.

So Orakpo has not had much of a chance to let loose against the division. He has shown what he can do in games when his team has the lead. In one of the few laughers he has played in, Orakpo got four sacks as the Redskins thumped the Raiders 34-13. Earlier this year he turned up the heat as the Redskins took a 17-0 lead over the Rams and posted 2.5 sacks.

Regardless of the score, however, you would think that a great pass rusher would be able to stumble into a few sacks over the course of 15 games. As a team, the Redskins have 18 sacks in those games so there have been opportunities for their top sack master to round up a few of them.

Orakpo has three more chances to up his sack total in the division this year. Perhaps the Redskins offense, which has scored four touchdowns in the last five games, can start to click and give him a hand.