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Washington Redskins Final 53 Man Roster Projections

So now that preseason has come to an end, the Washington Redskins will start cutting players to get from 75 (where the roster is at now) to the final 53-man roster, which will be set on Friday night. Since I posted my 53-man roster predictions (which you can check out by clicking here) a lot of things have  happened to change the landscape of everything. Here is how I think the final 53-man roster will look.

Quarterbacks (3)

  1. Robert Griffin III
  2. Rex Grossman
  3. Kirk Cousins

No surprise here, Cousins may pass Rex in the pecking order further down the road, but the backup spot belongs to Rex at the moment.

Halfback/Fullback (5)

In my previous roster prediction post, I talked about players on the bubble, well it just so happens that one of those players, Alfred Morris, has played his way onto the team. It should be real interesting what happens in terms of the Redskins running back position. Will they keep four halfbacks or only three? If only three, then who gets cut? I believe barring a last minute trade, that the Redskins will go with four. Not sure if a depth chart is truly needed as we all know Shanahan normally goes with whoever has the hot hand in the backfield at the moment.

Halfback

  1. Tim Hightower
  2. Alfred Morris
  3. Roy Helu Jr.
  4. Evan Royster

Fullback

  1. Darrel Young

Wide Receivers (6)

The wide receiver race was possibly where the best competition of the preseason to make the final 53 occurred. The only change to this list that I think has occurred since my last breakdown is that Anthony Armstrong has lost his spot to Aldrick Robinson. Some may argue that the Redskins should keep seven receivers this year, I believe that may be the only way that Brandon Banks makes the roster.

Previous list:

Pierre Garcon, Josh Morgan, Santana Moss, Leonard Hankerson, Anthony Armstrong, Dezmon Briscoe

Final list:

  1. Pierre Garcon
  2. Josh Morgan
  3. Santana Moss
  4. Leonard Hankerson
  5. Aldrick Robinson
  6. Dezmon Briscoe

Tight Ends (3)

Well, a move that I myself was not expecting, but one that probably had to be made because of cap issues happened this week, veteran Chris Cooley was released. Beyond a re-signing by the Redskins, Cooley’s release answers the question that many had about how many tight ends should the Redskins keep, I predicted they would keep three. Logan Paulsen looks to benefit the most from this scenario.

  1. Fred Davis
  2. Logan Paulsen
  3. Niles Paul

Offensive Lineman (9)

Jammal Brown finally found his way onto the PUP list last week after having surgery, so I believe my projections from before will come out right as far as the offensive line is concerned.

Tackles:

  1. Trent Williams
  2. Tyler Polumbus
  3. Willie Smith

Guards:

  1. Kory Lichtensteiger
  2. Chris Chester
  3. Maurice Hurt (Hurt can play tackle and guard)
  4. Josh LeRibeus
  5. Adam Gettis

Center:

  1. Will Montgomery

Defensive Lineman (6)

Originally I had Chris Neild making the roster, since that time Neild had a season ending knee injury. In his absence, Chris Baker has certainly stepped it up during the preseason.

Nose Tackle:

  1. Barry Cofield
  2. Chris Baker

Ends:

  1. Stephen Bowen
  2. Adam Carriker
  3. Jarvis Jenkins
  4. Kedric Golston

Linebackers (8)

If the Redskins go with three running backs, it may be a move that leads to nine linebackers being kept, if that happens  Bryan Kehl will be the extra man in. I almost penciled Kehl in, but I’m not sure Shanahan will take the chance of Keenan Robinson not clearing waivers and making it to the practice squad. Chris Wilson made his case with a solid showing this preseason, but I believe Shanahan will go with the youth of second year lb Markus White.

Outside:

  1. Brian Orakpo
  2. Ryan Kerrigan
  3. Rob Jackson
  4. Markus White

Inside:

  1. London Fletcher
  2. Perry Riley
  3. Lorenzo Alexander
  4. Keenan Robinson

Defensive Backs (10)

I predicted that this year Kevin Barnes would be cut, well he was traded to Detroit last Friday. I’m sticking with my original predictions here, it should be noted that I said Richard Crawford would make the team before preseason. I honestly have no clue how they will stack up on a depth chart at this point though, this unit worries me the most on the team.

Josh Wilson, DeAngelo Hall, Cedric Griffin, Madieu Williams, Tanard Jackson, Brandon Meriweather, Reed Doughty, DeJon Gomes,  Brandyn Thompson, Richard Crawford

Special Teams

Last week this category got real different, real quick. Billy Cundiff was brought in after being released by the Baltimore Ravens, and Graham Gano and Neil Rackers were released.

Kicker:

Billy Cundiff

Punter:

Sav Rocca

Long Snapper:

Nick Sundberg

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What Did we Learn From the Bears Game?

A good test is often the best way to gauge just how far along a football team is. In the case of the Washington Redskins, there is still much work to be done after their second preseason game against the Chicago Bears. I don’t much care for scoreboards in the preseason, but for the record the Redskins lost 33-31.

That score is somewhat deceiving as the Redskins made a game of it in the fourth quarter behind Kirk Cousins catching fire against the Bears back-ups. Up to that point the two glaring weaknesses that have me afraid this year shined their ugly faces, the offensive line and the secondary. The o-line is dinged up a bit and has some backups playing but you could just tell they were over-matched against the Bears defense. Words can’t even describe how the Redskins secondary looked at times in the game, let’s just say Raheem Morris’s job is far from complete when it comes to strengthening the unit.

Robert Griffin III had a somewhat bumpy game fumbling deep in Bears territory on a play he was under serious pressure on (not directly his fault), he finished 5-8 for 49 Yards and 3 rushes for 17 yards.

Rookie Alfred Morris looked REALLY good early on but somewhat leveled out once protection slacked up some, he finished with 10 carries for 34 yards but also blew a blitz pickup read that lead to the RGIII sack/fumble.

Brandon Banks returned a punt 91 yards for a touchdown, but I still think his chances of making the team are slim, especially since Aldrick Robinson had the night he did, he finished with 6 catches for 104 yards and a touchdown. Mike Shanahan has already been clear that Banks will have to be able to produce at BOTH positions and that receiver competition is pretty tight right now, Robinson may have made the team with his showing against the Bears. Dezmon Briscoe also looked good catching 3 balls for 51 yards and a touchdown, I believe Briscoe could be the red-zone receiver we desperately need.

Brian Orakpo injured his left shoulder (same one he hurt last year) and Brandon Meriweather injured his left knee in the first quarter. Both will undergo MRI’s tomorrow but Homer McFanboy tweeted this after the game in reference to Orakpo.

There is a quarterback controversy in DC, but it will never be one that involves Robert Griffin III, Kirk Cousins and Rex Grossman are battling for the number two spot in the lineup and Rex better watch himself as Cousins was 18-23 for 264 yards and 3 touchdowns in the second half of the Bears game. Rex didn’t take a snap in the game.

Ryan Kerrigan, Jarvis Jenkins, Perry Riley and Delvin Johnson each had a sack.

The main thing to take from all this is that it’s only preseason and these game don’t count. The love of having these games is the ability to be able to try new things/players out while not really giving the game-plan away to anyone. Of course, the injuries are the downside of preseason and the reason I believe they play to many exhibition games.


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Washington Redskins 53-man Roster Projections

rg3aaa Washington Redskins 53 man Roster Projections

As camp is now a week in the books, I figured I would take a moment to preview the 53 man roster as I see it panning out. Some questions are still open in my mind on if we should keep more than 3 TE’s, 6 defensive lineman, 10 defensive backs or seven wide receivers,  so I’m going to give a 52 man projection and have the last spot be sort of a wildcard. Look for the section titled “bubble players” at the bottom.

 

Quarterbacks (3)

Robert Griffin III, Kirk Cousins, Rex Grossman

After Mike Shanahan made it known very early on that Robert Griffin III would be the starting quarterback of the Redskins this year, any thought of a battle for the number one spot was gone. But there is an interesting battle that is on-going in camp between Grossman and Cousins for the backup spot. Cousins has been getting a lot of the second team reps in practice but I would be highly surprised if Rex doesn’t start the year off as the backup. I do however believe Cousins will be the backup by mid-season as Rex is destined to hold the clipboard and ride the pine this year.

Cuts

Jonathan Crompton

I think we all know that Crompton is nothing more than a camp body.

Halfback/Fullback (4)

Tim Hightower, Roy Helu Jr., Evan Royster, Darrel Young

If Tim Hightower is healthy I believe the starting job at running-back is his to lose. While Hightower has been recovering from his knee injury suffered last year, Evan Royster has been getting a lot of the first team snaps in camp and he and Helu look to get a fair amount of carries this year. Darrel Young has been a little banged up so far this year but his spot is all but locked up on the roster.

Cuts

Alfred Morris, Antwan Bailey, Lennon Creer, Stafon Johnson,Tristan Davis

The interesting name in this cut list is Alfred Morris who I believe could make the team if Hightower is unable to go, otherwise I see him starting the year on the practice squad. Should also be noted that Tristan Davis is currently on the PUP list. (UPDATE: Tristan Davis has been activated)

Wide Receivers (6)

Pierre Garcon, Josh Morgan, Santana Moss, Leonard Hankerson, Anthony Armstrong, Dezmon Briscoe

This will ultimately be a battle all the way through preseason but I believe that the top four are set in Garcon, Morgan, Moss and Hankerson. From there I believe Armstrong knows the playbook well enough to be a decent five or six and Briscoe gives the Redskins a red-zone threat if he can keep his head on football.

Cuts

Terrence Austin, Aldrick Robinson, Brandon Banks, Darius Hanks, Sam Kirkland, Lance Lewis

Reports have been saying that Austin has been having a really good camp and that Robinson has not. There is still a very good possibility that Austin, Robinson or Banks could beat out Briscoe or Armstrong or the team could keep 7 receivers. So who knows yet fully, but I’m thinking Banks may not make the roster this year. (see bubble players)

Tight Ends (3)

Fred Davis, Chris Cooley, Niles Paul

First and foremost, I think we can all agree that this is Davis’s job to lose. Cooley is on the outside looking in at this point and will need to have a strong camp and an injury free preseason to make the team. Niles Paul is making the transition to tight end and could surprise some this year with some decent production in his first year at a new position.

Cuts

Logan Paulsen, Richard Quinn, Beau Reliford

The tight end position could be tricky this year, some think that Shanahan may go with four tight ends, in that situation, Paulsen will make the team.

Offensive Lineman (9)

Trent Williams, Willie Smith, Tyler Polumbus, Maurice Hurt , Will Montgomery, Kory Lichtensteiger, Chris Chester, Josh LeRibeus, Adam Gettis (Jammal Brown?)

Offensive line poses a difficult situation as Lichtensteiger recently had his knee scoped and will miss the preseason in a move so that he doesn’t re-injure himself. A few days ago I would have had Jammal Brown penciled down in this list, now I’m left with that not so sure feeling inside about him since he is currently on the PUP list. Polumbus has been taking a lot of the snaps with the first team in camp in place of Brown, but obviously what most would want would be for Polumbus to be a depth piece instead of a starter. I believe the key here will be how well the rookies can step in when needed as Gettis and LeRibeus could end up playing vital roles if injury strikes. An argument could be made that keeping ten offensive lineman wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Cuts

Tom Compton, Jordan Black, Nick Martinez, James Lee, Grant Garner, Cole Pemberton, Erik Cook  (Jammal Brown?)

Again Brown will be a deciding factor in this as I am unsure of his availability at this moment. I for one would really like it if Tom Compton could step up and make the team and be effective in a situation we need him in (right tackle), but I believe he will need at least a year on the practice squad before being ready for the NFL.

Defensive Lineman (6)

Barry Cofield, Stephen Bowen, Adam Carriker, Jarvis Jenkins, Kedric Golston, Chris Neild

Cuts

Kentwan Balmer, Chris Baker, Darrion Scott, Doug Worthington, Delvin Johnson

Balmer has apparently gone AWOL from camp, which is highly peculiar to say the least, but I don’t believe he would have made the roster anyways. Scott and Baker could perhaps make a push towards a roster spot.

Linebackers (8)

London Fletcher, Brian Orakpo, Ryan Kerrigan, Perry Riley, Rob Jackson, Markus White, Lorenzo Alexander, Keenan Robinson

Cuts

Bryan Kehl, Chris Wilson, Brian McNally, D.J. Holt, Monte Lewis

Defensive Backs (10)

Josh Wilson, DeAngelo Hall, Cedric Griffin, Madieu Williams, Tanard Jackson, Brandon Meriweather, Reed Doughty, DeJon Gomes,  Brandyn Thompson, Richard Crawford

I think the bigger question here is who can the Redskins keep that can help the team, I must admit some of the names above would not strike fear in me as an opposing fan but I believe the idea is to use our strength (front seven) to put pressure on the quarterback, which will disrupt timing in the play. If Meriweather can return to the way he played in New England, this unit will be a lot better than most have given them credit for. The word out of camp is that D. Hall is enjoying playing the nickel back so far, that’s worth keeping an eye on.

Cuts

Kevin Barnes, Morgan Trent, David Jones, Jordan Bernstine, Michael Hamlin, Travon Bellamy

In a perfect world Bernstine would make this team, of course in the world we live in he will have to spend a year on the practice squad. I believe the long needed cutting of Kevin Barnes will happen this year.

Special Teams

Graham Gano, Sav Rocca, Nick Sundberg

Cuts

Neil Rackers

I think most Redskins fans were happy to hear that Rackers was brought in to push Gano, but I just don’t think Rackers has the leg to beat Gano out for a roster spot this season. As a matter of fact, I believe Gano will have the best year of his career this season.

Bubble Players

Terrence Austin, Aldrick Robinson, Brandon Banks, Alfred Morris, Chris Baker, Bryan Kehl, Logan Paulsen, Kevin Barnes, Tom Compton, Jammal Brown

The list above could very well hold the names of players who will make the 53-man roster but at this point I believe they need to show more in either camp or preseason to be able to make the team.

I will give another update on this after week two of the preseason.

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Saturday Slop: Chris Cooley Says Everyone Loves RGIII; Ryan Kerrigan Wants to Make Strides in Second Season

hogs haven   daily slop gfx medium Saturday Slop: Chris Cooley Says Everyone Loves RGIII; Ryan Kerrigan Wants to Make Strides in Second Season

Redskins Practice Report: July 27 | WashingtonExaminer.com
1. Redskins right tackle Jammal Brown will undergo an MRI Tuesday in New York. He wanted to wait until he could be seen by his doctor and this was the earliest it could happen. 2. The Redskins claimed receiver Dezmon Briscoe off waivers from Tampa Bay. The Bucs released him in part because he failed their conditioning test.

 

RG3 Report | WashingtonExaminer.com
On a bootleg to the left side, Robert Griffin III tucked the ball and started running. He dashed out of bounds before linebacker Lorenzo Alexander would have hit him (had it been a real game). Alexander’s pursuit on the play was solid: he took the proper angle, leaving Griffin no place to go but out of bounds.

 

Redskins RB Royster getting noticed | WashingtonExaminer.com
Evan Royster is one of three runners competing for the starting job, along with Tim Hightower and Roy Helu. With Hightower practicing but coming back from a torn ACL, Royster took snaps with the first team ahead of the others.

 

Washington Redskins Training Camp Day 2 Afternoon: Shanahan, Garçon, Helu, Alexander And Moss ” CBS DC
The coach said Brown wants to see his own doctor and will get an MRI on Tuesday, then they’ll know more.  With Brown unable to practice, Tyler Polumbus has been taking the first team reps at right tackle. Listen here to what Mike Shanahan, Pierre Garcon, Roy Helu, Lorenzo Alexander & Santana Moss had to say following practice today.

 

Chris Cooley says everyone loves RGIII – DC Sports Bog – The Washington Post
“Everyone’s relationship with Griff has been great,” Cooley said. “He has an ability to be a leader. It’s just such an intangible ability. Some guys are born with it, and he has that characteristic. I’m not that kind of person. For me to do what he’s doing would be so forced, but for me to watch him has been a lot of fun.

 

RGIII’s HTTR cleats – DC Sports Bog – The Washington Post
Redskins quarterback started training camp with the initials for ‘Hail to the Redskins’ on his kicks.

 

The Redskins Blog | Rookie Spotlight: Kirk Cousins
“It went well,” Cousins said Friday after the team’s morning walk-through session in the Redskins’ Indoor Training Facility. “Definitely a lot of learning taking place, mistakes being made as a rookie which is to be expected, but a dream come true to be a part of an NFL training camp, a very exciting opportunity — just gotta get used to that heat going forward.”

 

Backup Kirk Cousins has starter’s mentality – The Insider – The Washington Post
Fourth-round draft pick in competition with Rex Grossman to back up Robert Griffin III

 

Pierre Garcon, Tim Hightower aim to spark team offensively – The Insider – The Washington Post
Newcomer and RB who was injured last season want to make an impact in 2012.

 

Ryan Kerrigan wants to make strides in second season – The Insider – The Washington Post
Kerrigan wants to make strides

 

Shanahan: Running Back Competition Open
Going into 2012, Shanahan added rookie Alfred Morris to the mix and declared an open competition for the starting spot. “Sometimes you get a running back that can carry the load by himself,” Shanahan said.  “Most of the time you kind of have two or three guys, but we’ll just have to wait and see as the preseason goes on who wins the playing time.”

 

Williams, Teammates Have Griffin III’s Back
Given the cost of acquiring Griffin III, the Redskins must protect their investment.  Redskins 2010 first-round pick, left tackle Trent Williams will be entrusted with protecting Griffin III’s blindside. For what it’s worth, Williams is prepared to protect the dynamic athlete lining up under center. “I like him,” Williams said, matter-of-factly.  “I think he’s everything he’s hyped up to be.”

 

Redskins camp report: RG3′s development will determine how fast this team rises – NFL – CBSSports.com News, Rumors, Scores, Stats, Fantasy
Besides the Griffin trade, the Redskins made a splash by jumping on receivers Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan right away in free agency, and made some middling moves, bringing back injured RB Tim Hightower, taking chances onTanard Jackson and Brandon Meriweather at safety. The roster remains riddled with questions at some key spots.

 

Meriweather a big Redskins question mark – NFC East Blog – ESPN
When Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan was considering signing safety Brandon Meriweather this spring, he called Patriots coach Bill Belichick to ask if he thought it was a good idea. Belichick cut Meriweather just before the start of the 2011 season, and Meriweather wasn’t productive last year with the Bears, so Shanahan wanted to know if something was up — and more importantly, whether the guy could still play. Belichick told Shanahan he thought Meriweather could still play and would fit well as the strong safety in the kind of defense Shanahan likes to run.

The muddle and mystery of Redskins RBs – NFC East Blog – ESPN

I get a lot of questions about the Washington Redskins’ running back situation — who’s the starter, how much of a role will Roy Helu have, could Evan Royster handle the load, etc. I know most of them are fantasy-related, but that’s okay. I don’t judge. I’m a fantasy sports junkie myself.

Don’t Forget To Use Protection! – Hogs Haven

We look at some common pass protection schemes in the west coast offense; the 2 Jet, 3 Jet and Fox 2. All will be used by the Redskins this season to help block for Robert Griffin the third and keep him standing upright.

 

Redskins training camp: Robert Griffin III ushers in new era – NFL.com
Trouble? Discord? These things no longer define Washington Redskins training camp. Jeff Darlington says it’s a new day with fresh-faced quarterback Robert Griffin III at the helm.

 

Return of the Hogs Haven Podcast! – Hogs Haven

The Hogs Haven podcast makes its triumphant return to the airwaves after a month off. With the Redskins starting training camp this week, we discuss all the battles and story lines to come from camp.

 

Moss wants to tap the brakes on RG3-mania
Santana Moss understands all of the RG3 hype, but he doesn’t really want to participate in it.

 

 

Five Non-Starters To Watch In Preseason – Hogs Haven
Hogs Haven takes a look at five veterans non-starters for the Redskins to keep an eye on at this week’s training camp.

 

A trio of punt returner candidates
Three different players tried their hands at fielding punts at Thursday’s practice.

 

Brown’s ‘little’ injury could be a big problem for the Redskins – Rich Tandler’s Real Redskins
Even though Jammal Brown looked healthy during OTA’s and minicamp, it was not shocking when Mike Shanahan announced that he would be on the physically unable to perform list to start training camp. Shanahan said that the team’s starting right tackle’s hip “felt a little bit tight” after running some conditioning sprints on Wednesday and that the hip was “a little bit sore” on Thursday morning.

 

New practice schedule favors early risers – Rich Tandler’s Real Redskins
By Tarik El-Bashir CSNwashington.com In his first two seasons as the Redskins’ coach, Mike Shanahan held training camp practices in the morning and walkthroughs in the afternoon. This summer, however, Shanahan has flipped that familiar schedule. “I haven’t worked it this way before,” he said this week. “But with the new rules [in the collective bargaining agreement], we are getting a good lift in the morning from 7:30 to and 8 to 8:30 with the rookies and the vets.

 

Redskins’ Evan Royster expecting more from himself in second season – Washington Times
When Evan Royster looks at film of his second professional start, the Washington Redskins running back doesn’t see the 28 yards he gained on a toss to the left against the Philadelphia Eagles last January.

Ex-Redskins lineman Bostic sues NFL over concussions – Washington Times

Jeff Bostic, former Washington Redskins center and original member of the famed “Hogs” offensive line, has joined the concussion lawsuits against the NFL, according to court documents reviewed by The Washington Times.

DALY: Veteran Santana Moss playing with a rookie’s zeal – Washington Times

It was just one play, a single snap in a Washington Redskins camp full of them, but for Santana Moss it was oh so symbolic. On a throw to the left flat Thursday morning, just a few minutes into the first workout, Robert Griffin III led Moss a bit too far, and Santana was forced to make a tumbling catch, an effort that sent his visor flying.

Redskins Hopeful With RGIII After Lean Years – NYTimes.com

Rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III generated excitement among the veterans at the opening of Redskins camp on Thursday.

Washington Redskins Training Camp Day 2: Hankerson, Lichtensteiger, Royster And Cousins Speak ” CBS DC

Listen here to what Leonard Hankerson, Evan Royster, Kirk Cousins & Kory Lichtensteiger had to say following the walk-through this morning.

Hogs Haven Round Table – Training Camp Position Battles – Hogs Haven

So with training camp beginning this week, we thought it was a good idea to kick off the first round table of the year with opinions on player position battles. Which position battles do you guys think will be the most competitive and the best to keep on eye on this year? Who do you see winning those battles?

 

Point-Counterpoint: Debating the Redskins Pass Catchers | Fanspeak Washington Redskins Blog
Training camp starts this week and we have already looked at both the offensive and defensive lines.  Now it is time to look at a more exciting position, the receivers.  Recent seasons have seen solid play for the tight end position, but not as much from the wideouts. Shanahan and Allen saw a need in the off season at wide receiver and added both Pierre Garcon (still need to figure out how to get that squiggly thing) and Josh Morgan.  The last time the Skins spent big money on the position was when Gibbs and Cerrato brought in Antwan Randle-El and Brandon Lloyd.  All must hope this situation has a better ending, but will it?

Orakpo diversifying his pass-rushing repertoire – Washington Times
ROLB Brian Orakpo is looking to add some inside pass rushing moves to his arsenal.

Holden & Danny: Brian Westbrook Says Mike Vick Was The Root Of The Eagles Issues ” CBS DC
Former Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook joined Holden & Danny to give his thoughts on various story lines from around the league, including why he thinks his former team struggled last season.