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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.

Saturday Slop: Jurgensen Says RGIII Will be ‘Quicker Than any Redskins QB in History’; Roy Helu set to Take Redskins Running Back job

hogs haven   daily slop gfx medium Saturday Slop: Jurgensen Says RGIII Will be ‘Quicker Than any Redskins QB in History’; Roy Helu set to Take Redskins Running Back job

 

Becoming a Redskin: Robert Griffin III’s journey from Texas to Washington – The Washington Post
From Texas to Washington, from regional hero to national pitchman, from college student to multimillionaire, from the face of a small private university to that of the third-most valuable franchise in U.S. professional sports.

 

Sonny Jurgensen says RGIII will be ‘quicker than any Redskins quarterback in history’ – DC Sports Bog – The Washington Post
The Redskins legend also advises fans to exercise some caution when it comes to the hype.

 

Neild puts his nose to the grindstone | PoconoRecord.com
As rookie seasons go, it was a successful one for the 6-foot-2, 320-pound nose tackle out of Stroudsburg High School and West Virginia University. It all started after being drafted by the Redskins in the seventh round (No. 253 overall pick) and playing in all 16 games behind starter Barry Cofield, finishing with 10 tackles and two sacks.

 

The Redskins Blog | 80th Bus Tour At Commonwealth Games
On Friday afternoon, the Redskins 80th Anniversary Bus Tour made one of its final stops, this time at the 23rd Annual Virginia Commonwealth Games.  Nearly 2,000 Redskins fans gathered at Roanoke Civic Center to meet current and former members of the burgundy and gold.  Sophomore players DeJon Gomes and Aldrick Robinson were joined by Redskins’ greats Ken Harvey, Dexter Manley, Frank Grant and Roy Jefferson aboard the Thank You Bus.

 

Five questions heading into Ashburn: Offense edition – Blogging the bEast
3) We know Pierre Garcon will start, but how will the rest of the WR roles shake out? Santana Moss isn’t going anywhere, and I expect him to start opposite Garcon.  But we already know plenty about Tana by now.  The real competition will be between Leonard Hankerson and Josh Morgan.  In 3 WR sets, Moss will likely move inside to the slot, with either Hankerson or Morgan lining up outside, but I suspect we’ll see the Redskins show a wide assortment of looks.

 

Redskins positional review: Quarterbacks | WashingtonExaminer.com
Projected starter: Robert Griffin III Key reserves: Rex GrossmanKirk Cousins

 

Robert Griffin III: Becoming a Redskin – The Insider – The Washington Post
At heart, the new Washington quarterback was a Redskin long before he was drafted and signed his contract.

 

Skins FB Darrel Young joins Thom on the Fix
Interview

 

Video: RG3 versus Luck in rookie year – NFC East Blog – ESPN
One of the debates on First Take this morning was over which of the two quarterbacks taken at the top of this year’s draft would have the better ro

 

Brian Orakpo spends final week before camp… in camp! | Ball Hogs Radio
Curious what pro athletes do on their final days before the grind of football training camp begins?  They host football …

 

Roy Helu set to take Redskins running back job – NFL.com
Tim Hightower is expected by many to return as the Washington Redskins‘ starter this season. But Gregg Rosenthal explains why Roy Helu could give the veteran a run for his money.

 

ProFootballWeekly.com – RG3 can rev up Redskins’ running backs too
The presence of QB Robert Griffin III should have a tangible effect on the Redskins’ run game this season.

 

Rak on the refs lockout: ‘Fans don’t come to see referees’
The NFL has locked out the regular referees and there are plans to have replacements work the games if no resolution to the dispute is reached. Brian Orakpo had a few words to say on that subject.

 

Quick hits: Will one RB dominate?
Quick hits: Will one running back carry the load for the Redskins? Plus, will the Redskins borrow from Baylor’s playbook?

 

The Redskins sign RG3–now what? – Rich Tandler’s Real Redskins
The Redskins have their franchise quarterback signed, sealed, and delivered. Robert Griffin III is under their control for the next five years (the four-year deal plus a team option in the fifth year). So now what? Well, once they get RG3 enrolled in the 401k and health care plans, get his direct deposit information (unless he’s going to drop off his $14 million signing bonus check at the drive-through at the bank like Chris Cooley did with his bonus check),…

 

Robert Griffin III and Cam Newton: Comparisons are fair – Hard Hits – The Washington Post
Redskins QB could have a rookie year that surpasses the Carolina star’s first season.

 

Training camp questions countdown: Wide receivers coming off injuries – Washington Times
Counting down the most important personnel questions facing the Redskins during training camp and the preseason.

 

Washington Redskins: RGIII’s New Gatorade Commercial “Greatness is Taken” (Video) | Cowboys Vs. Redskins
Robert Griffin III puts in the lonely work this summer because he knows that greatness isn’t given – it’s taken

 

Interview: LaVar Arrington Talks About Orakpo’s Pass Rushing & His Xtreme Procision Football Camp – Hogs Haven
In an interview, LaVar Arrington shares the details of his new patent pending training clinic and offers advice on how Biran Orakpo can better his pass rush.

 

ESPN Insider Ranks Evan Royster 11th Best NFL Prospect – Hogs Haven
Royster, a sixth-rounder from Penn State, put up the best rushing DVOA ever by a running back with at least 40 carries.

 

Robert Griffin III Agrees To Terms With Redskins – Hogs Haven
Robert Griffin III tweeted out that he agreed to terms with the Washington Redskins on his rookie contract. We take a look at the reported deal.

 

Saints Offseason Problems Linger – NYTimes.com
There were 100 million reasons for Saints fans to smile last week. Drew Brees signed the richest per-season contract in NFL history.

 

Five Greatest Offenses in NFL History | Football Nation
FN contributor Peter Tebin gives his picks for the five greatest offenses in the history of the NFL.

 

Brett Favre to be assistant on high school football team – Washington Times
Brett Favre is returning to football — as an assistant high school coach in Mississippi.

Fate of Saints, Peyton Manning, Randy Moss at forefront of NFL training camp questions – Don Banks – SI.com

With NFL training camps set to open next week, there are storylines galore to delve into. Here are the 10 questions I’m most eager to get answered as players return to the field and conclude their summer breaks …

Kenny Britt’s DUI arrest, and some interesting NFL crime facts | Shutdown Corner – Yahoo! Sports

At this point, are we even surprised when it happens? Well, we shouldn’t be. As first reported by radio station 104.5 The Zone, Tennessee Titans receiver Kenny Britt was arrested for a DUI at Fort Campbell, Ky., on Friday morning. …

Saturday Slop: RG3, ‘Skins Receivers Hold Passing Camp in Waco, Texas; Hankerson Will Excel With RG3 and Redskins

hogs haven   daily slop gfx medium Saturday Slop: RG3, Skins Receivers Hold Passing Camp in Waco, Texas; Hankerson Will Excel With RG3 and Redskins
With camp just a few weeks away we are in the dead time for news, but here is a collection of current articles on the Redskins from around the net!

Leonard Hankerson will excel with RG3, Redskins – NFL.com
You may not know who Leonard Hankerson is yet, but the receiver will soon make a name for himself with RG3 and the Redskins.

 

Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins receivers hold passing camp in Waco, Texas – The Insider – The Washington Post
Rookie quarterback convinces his receivers to come to Texas for an informal passing camp.

 

The Redskins Blog | RGIII Face-To-Face With Slingin’ Sammy
“Everybody says (with) the success ladder, you have to make sure you’re not reaching too high on your success ladder,” Griffin III told Darlington after his tour of the Hall of Fame. “But I think everybody’s goal should be to get to the Hall of Fame, because if that is truly your goal, you’ll work to get there. All the guys that have given us testimony have told us how hard you have to work to get to that point, so if you’re willing to say, ‘Hey, that’s my goal. I want to be a Hall-Of-Fame player,” then you’re going to go through every day and make sure you seize the most out of that day.”

 

Fred Davis accused of throwing juice on a woman his body guard claims is a pimp – DC Sports Bog – The Washington Post
Tight end is involved in a lawsuit that features restraining orders, accusations of escorts and juice throwing.

 

Redskins on list of both best and worst contracts
On one list of the best and worst contracts in the NFL, the Redskins have representation in both categories.

 

Why Tim Hightower could be in line for a significant role in 2012 | Fanspeak Washington Redskins Blog
Personally I’m excited to see how the Redskins rushing attack can succeed behind 2nd year guys, Roy Helu and Evan Royster, but it is sounding very much like Tim Hightower may be the top back in DC. This is a bit surprising considering, he averaged just 3.8 yards per carry last year, and is coming off an ACL injury he suffered mid-last season.

 

The 53: QB appears to be set in stone – Rich Tandler’s Real Redskins
There are four QB’s on the roster, the Redskins will keep three. In: Robert Griffin III, Rex Grossman, Kirk Cousins Out: Jonathan Crompton

 

My impression of Robert Griffin III continues to grow – Hard Hits – The Washington Post
LaVar Arrington thinks highly of Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III after meeting him for the first time.

 

NFL Videos: Robert Griffin III beat-boxes at commercial shoot
Washington Redskins rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III breaks into a beat-boxing rap while shooting a Subway commercial in Dallas.

 

Robert Griffin III: “It sucks” watching Olympic track trials | ProFootballTalk
Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III is happy spending his summer preparing for his rookie season in the NFL, but there’s a small part of him that wishes he were spending his summer in London and competing in the Olympics.

 

How Many Are You Keeping – Offensive Line – Hogs Haven
How Many Are You Keeping – Offensive Line. We poll our readers to see how many offensive lineman they would keep on the final 53 man roster.

 

 

Washington Redskins Depth Chart | Fanspeak Washington Redskins Blog
Redskins Current 53 Man Roster Projection:

 

Brian Orakpo Says Vick is the Quarterback he Enjoys Hitting the Most
Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo was on the Rich Eisen Podcast on Tuesday and when asked which quarterback he enjoyed hitting the most he replied….

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Saturday Slop : RGIII Not Afraid to Tell Trent Williams to Shut it; Could Niles Paul At Tight End Work?

hogs haven   daily slop gfx medium Saturday Slop : RGIII Not Afraid to Tell Trent Williams to Shut it; Could Niles Paul At Tight End Work?

Redskins email report: Bowen says Cooley still valuable — if healthy | Washington Examiner
Always enjoy talking football with the ex-Redskins safety (and current columnist for the National Football Post).He touched on a few subjects this time: No. 1 receivers; Chris Cooley and, of course, safety and how it’s changed in recent years.

 

Robert Griffin III, Mike Shanahan smitten with each other – NFL.com
It would be nigh on impossible not to believe in Griffin. The Heisman Trophy winner is at Redskins Park early every day. He’s a committed student, drawing praise from Shanahan for picking up the playbook faster than anyone he’s coached. Griffin also understands humility, professing Thursday he still only has “60 to 70 percent” of the playbook down.

 

Washington Redskins: Terrence Austin Would Love Opportunity To Return Kicks ” CBS DC
Although Brandon Banks is the Washington Redskins return specialist, Terrence Austin is longing for an opportunity to handle a few punts, which is how he made a name for himself at UCLA.

 

Predicting the Redskins 53-man roster in May
Predicting the Washington Redskins 53-man roster before June 1st hits, can be a dangerous game of media Russian roulette.

 

HomerMcFanboy ” getting to know kirk cousins
At 6-foot-3 and 214 lbs., Cousins looks like a prototypical quarterback. Of course, that didn’t stop many of the so-called experts from openly questioning Washington’s decision to select the Michigan State standout because the team had already landed Heisman Trophy winner, Robert Griffin III.

 

RGIII not afraid to tell Trent Williams to shut it – DC Sports Bog – The Washington Post
“I don’t want to brag on him too much, but from what I’ve seen these last few weeks, it’s kind of hard not to. I mean, he commands the huddle. I’ll be in the huddle and joking around. When he walks in, he’ll tap me and tell me to be quiet while he calls the play. That’s impressive for a rookie to have that kind of command over a huddle.”

 

Redskins marvel at Griffin’s arm strength in offseason practices | ProFootballTalk
The Washington Redskins have held nine days of offseason practice so far — a three-day rookie camp and six OTAs — so they’ve gotten a chance to formulate early impressions of rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III.

 

The Redskins Blog | Hurt Liking Chemistry Along O-Line
“As far as the O-line, we’re a tight-knit group,” Hurt said after Thursday’s round of OTAs at Redskins Park. “You can ask anybody for help. The older guys – Trent (Williams), J.B. (Jammal Brown) – the same guys that helped me last year whenever I needed something. Same with Kory (Lichtensteiger). Everybody’s always helping each other, so it’s a real good group.”

 

Raheem Morris implementing changes in Redskins secondary – The Insider – The Washington Post
Cornerback DeAngelo Hall remarked, “I ain’t the loudest one on the defense no more. Raheem probably is. I just love his energy, his coaching style.”

 

The Redskins Blog | Video: QBs, Running Backs Work Together
With the expected three-headed monster of Tim HightowerRoy Helu Jr. and Evan Royster in the Redskins’ backfield in 2012, the team can boast three backs — each with their own standout attributes — that can challenge the defense.

 

Rex Grossman takes quarterback situation in stride – The Insider – The Washington Post
When the Washington Redskins used a fourth-round pick in the NFL draft in April on Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins, it gave them an unusual mix at the sport’s centerpiece position.

 

The Redskins Blog | QBs Embracing Healthy Competition
“I feel it’s huge where we can go out there and support each other, but at the same time compete,” Crompton said after Thursday’s round of organized team activities at Redskins Park. “That’s what it’s all about. Competition makes everybody better. So that’s what I think we’re doing.”

 

Cedric Griffin Relishes Competition In Secondary
“I was kind of familiar with the coaching staff here, and I kind of fell in love with the scheme,” he said.  “It was something I ran in school, so I’m used to the fire zones, the man blitzes, and stuff like that. It fits my style of play a little bit.”

 

Flashback Friday : Ken Houston | Hail to the Redskins
This week we flash back to a time when the Washington Redskins traded five veteran players to the Houston Oilers for safety, Kenneth Ray Houston. A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Houston is widely consider the best safety to ever play for the Burgundy and Gold!

 

Position series: Redskins linebackers – NFC East Blog – ESPN
The Redskins’ hope is that Orakpo and Kerrigan are in the process of developing into one of the more formidable pass-rushing duos in the league.

DeAngelo Hall Looking To Play More Like Charles Woodson – Hogs Haven

DeAngelo Hall Looking To Play More Like Charles Woodson. Hall claims he’s going to be playing more of a Charles Woodson role for the Redskins this year. We take a look at exactly what that might contain.

Hog Wire: Redskins OTA Round-Up | Hog Blogs

Thursday’s Redskins’ OTA’s were open to the media, so here are a collection of articles to help you sort through all of the ‘exciting’ action: Mike Shanahan

Digging Deeper: Mike Shanahan’s One-Cut-and-Go Running Backs – Hogs Haven

By now, we all know Mike Shanahan’s running philosophy – one cut, and get upfield. No dancing, no Marcus Allen runs, of 10 yards in one direction, stop on a dime, then reverse field, and take it to…

Trent Williams: “Bruce reassured me if he had the 4th pick again, he’d take me again” – Hogs Haven

The Redskins stud Left Tackle talks about the Redskins are behind Trent 100%, a funny story of how RG3 has already commanded the huddle, and how Jammal Brown is 100%.

Hogs Haven Podcast: Scrapple is for Champions – Hogs Haven

Hogs Haven Podcast: Scrapple is for Champions. The latest podcast from the Hogs Haven staff, discussing all things Redskins and more.

RG3′s arm is a hammer – Rich Tandler’s Real Redskins

By Ray Frager It’s arm-ageddon at Redskins Park. You’d better stay out of arm’s way. The Redskins have an armed force. As this report by Les Carpenter at Yahoo! Sports describes, the Redskins frequently refer to Robert Griffin III by talking about “The Arm.” “It’s more of running to your left and flicking your wrist and throwing the ball 70 yards,” saidRex Grossman, who will back up the Roman-numeraled quarterback. “His arm almost comes off like a whip.” Having…

June 2, 1971: State of the Art Training Complex | Redskin Historian

George Allen was a visionary.  After becoming Redskins coach in 1971, he called for a state-of-the-art training complex, something bold and futuristic in nature.  Groundbreaking ceremonies were held on June 2, 1971, and the complex – known as Redskin Park – stood as the most advanced practice facility in the NFL, by the time it opened in Chantilly, VA, before the `71 season.   It featured grass and artificial turf practice fields, and a building with every amenity a football team would want.  Allen thought the innovation would vastly improve the Redskins’ chances of winning.  Sure enough, they reached the post-season for the first time in a quarter-century in 1971 and appeared in their first Super Bowl the next year.

RB Report: We’re talking practice – Rich Tandler’s Real Redskins

Observations or thoughts from team drills during spring practices are often couched with a reference to no pads being worn, no tackles being made. Rightfully so, especially when it comes to the running game, so says the man in charge.

Redskins expect big plays from Garçon – Rich Tandler’s Real Redskins

The Redskins had two No. 1 picks this spring. One, of course, is quarterback Robert Griffin III, who they took with their top pick in the draft, the second overall. Their other first choice, judging by how quickly they contacted and signed him, was free agent wide receiver Pierre Garçon.

Are OTAs really important? – Hard Hits – The Washington Post

An inside look at what really goes on.

Observations and thoughts from Thursday’s Redskins practice – Washington Times

Observations from Thursday’s Redskins practice

Meet Mr. Morris – Burgundy Blog [On the Washington Redskins]

Meet Mr. Morris Shanny’s sneaky selection of unheralded running back Alfred Morris kind of flew under the radar on Draft Day 3, what with everyone freaking out about Kirk Cousins and all.

Washington Redskins Defensive Stars | Fanspeak Washington Redskins Blog

A couple weeks ago, I looked at who might be the Redskins offensive X-factor, so I figured I should go back and look at who the defensive X-factor might be. While including London Fletcher could make for some interesting debate, I figured looking beyond the heart and soul of the team.

Could Niles Paul At Tight End Work? | The Burgundy Warpath

Niles Paul stood out in today’s practice, catching two deep balls while being matched up against  a safety and a linebacker. His transition to tight end will hinge more on his development as a blocker than as a pass-catcher, but there’s no question that a tight end with his 4.5 speed will present problems for defenses.

Ignoring the “Big Blue”-print? – Hogs Haven

Hogs Haven looks at the strength of the NFC East and what the Redskins are doing to combat it.

Report: NFL has Saints bounty ledger – Washington Times

Documents gathered in the NFL’s bounty investigation of the Saints include a ledger detailing payments for plays such as “cart-offs” and “whacks,” a person familiar with the probe said.

Random notes from around the NFC East: On “unexpected Pro Bowlers,” and Niles Paul beating linebackers at Skins OTAs – Blogging the bEast 

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Redskins vs. Cardinals : Old Rivalries Revisited

cardsskins4 300x161 Redskins vs. Cardinals : Old Rivalries Revisited

This weekend when the Washington Redskins host the Arizona Cardinals it will be the 120th time the two have played. The last time these two teams met the Redskins won on a late pass by Jason Campbell to Santana Moss, nearly 3 years ago. Much has changed on both teams since then. The Redskins only have a hand-full of players left from that 2008 team and the Cardinals no longer have Anquan Boldin or Kurt Warner. Both teams had tough years last season as well finishing in last place in their respective divisions but have reasons to believe the future is bright and both teams started the 2011 season off with a win.

The Cardinals faced a rookie led Carolina Panthers team who threw on their secondary for much of the game as Arizona game-planned to stop the run. Kevin Kolb threw for over 300 yards and 4 touchdowns in his debut for the Cardinals. On the other hand the Redskins snapped their six game losing streak to the New York Giants in week 1 with a win, Rex Grossman threw for over 300 yards and 2 touchdowns and looked like a seasoned veteran in what is his third year in the Shanahan system.

Tim Hightower will be playing the team that traded him away for backup defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday and a conditional draft pick and looks to show them they made a mistake. With the amount of things Hightower can tell the Redskins players and coaching staff and the energy he is sure to bring to the field, I look for the Redskins to look to expose weaknesses and continue with their commitment to running the ball more. There should be some nice match-ups in this game as DeAngelo Hall will probably line up most of the game in front of Larry Fitzgerald and Santana Moss will more than likely line up against Patrick Peterson for most of the game. Look for Hall to get some opportunities at his first interception of the season as I believe that Kolb will try to force the ball to his side on multiple occasions.

The key to this game remains the same as it did for the Redskins in week 1, win the battle in the trenches. The offensive line needs to continue to improve and the defense needs to pressure Kevin Kolb into making mistakes. I expect field position to play a factor in this game as well and both teams have good returners.

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Is Rex Grossman the Right Starter for the Redskins?


ap110102120794 e1313197135511 300x195 Is Rex Grossman the Right Starter for the Redskins?

Rex Grossman will start week 1

 

 

News swept through Redskins Nation today that Mike Shanahan was going to name Rex Grossman as the starting quarterback like a California wildfire. The news was confirmed by Shanahan this afternoon when he said Rex had beat out John Beck in a close competition between the two.

 

The stats the two quarterbacks put up in preseason show Rex having an advantage.

 

 

  • Grossman’s numbers : 34 for 53 for 407 yards, two touchdowns, an interception and two sacks…his quarterback rating was 92.3.
  • Beck’s numbers : 30 for 48 for 356 yards, a touchdown and two interception and four sacks….his quarterback rating was 74.7.

Going into his third year in the system, Grossman looked really comfortable this preseason and does have 3 starts to his credit from last year as well. Beck had an uphill battle to fight in this process as he was dealing with a shortened evaluation time frame in which he basically only had 6 weeks to show what he had. It should also be said that Beck played more with the second string in preseason, an obvious disadvantage as well.

I have openly supported the idea of John Beck being the starter this year based on the thought process that we all know what Grossman brings to the table, which is the exact opposite of what we can say for John Beck as he has not seen live game action since 2007. On the other hand, Grossman has a history of being a game managing quarterback who did guide a strong defensive team to a Superbowl appearance a few years ago with the Chicago Bears in a system that relied heavily on the running game and a special teams unit who put points on the scoreboard.

I expect the Redskins to have a top ten defense this upcoming season and the offensive line looks like they are a better unit for the zone blocking scheme that will open up holes for the running back trio of Tim Hightower, Roy Helu and Ryan Torain. The true key to this season will be if the Redskins can win the battle in the trenches and stay healthy in the process. That does not mean I believe the Redskins will go to the Superbowl this season, but I do believe they will win more games then they lose this year and will shock some teams in the process.

I doubt we have seen the last of John Beck, but for now the “Sexy Rexy” era has begun in DC, only time will tell if it’s the right decision or how long it will last.

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Preseason Game Four : Redskins vs. Bucs

Untitled 61 177x300 Preseason Game Four : Redskins vs. Bucs

We are coming down the stretch run now in the preseason as the Redskins are slated to face the Tampa Bay Bucs on Thursday night in what will be the final preseason game.

Some may think the coaches already pretty much know who is going to make the team, some may think that a lot of the positions are still up for grabs. The truth will not be known for a few more days but when the smoke clears, Washington will be poised to prove some doubters wrong this season. That being said, everyone should still be focused on the offensive line play in these games as it cannot be anymore true that as they go this season, the Redskins will follow. The game against Tampa Bay will be the first time Ryan Torain will see action this preseason as he is coming back to find himself caught in the middle of an all of a sudden, deep backfield. Tim Hightower has been looking like a natural fit in Mike Shanahans system this preseason and rookie running backs Evan Royster and Roy Helu have been showing sparks as well.

Brandon Banks will be seeing playing time for the first time since the first preseason game. The only thing in my eyes that may hold Banks back from making the team this year is his nagging knee injury and the fact that he isn’t a guy who can play wide receiver like some of the guys he is in competition with.

Some question marks that I have include, just how hurt is Laron Landry? Will he be ready for week 1? If Laron can’t go week 1 against the Giants then Reed Doughty looks to be the guy who will have to step in at strong safety.

This game will probably be a game we see a lot of John Beck in, I for one want to see as much out of him as we possibly can. The thing about the Beck vs Grossman qb battle is that we all know what Rex brings to the table as most of us have seen him try to force the issue in close games and turn the ball over, but little is known about just how John Beck will react to those same situations. It has appeared that the offense looks energized when he is on the field this preseason and he appears to know the system rather well, Rex has also looked rather impressive for the most part this year and has played like a solid veteran, which is going to make the decision on who starts this year a very difficult call.

The strength of the Redskins this year will most certainly come from the defensive side of the ball and this last preseason game may prove to be a make or break moment for some of the rookies who are trying to make the roster. Should be interesting who steps into Jarvis Jenkins role now that he is out for the season with a torn ACL.

One thing is for certain, it’s time for a some guys to step up in this last preseason game if they want to make the 53 man roster this year.

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