Vision Quest: Pre-Season prediction at final 53

Well it is that time of year. The first pre-season game is upon us. As training camp is wrapping up we look at our beloved team and see that 90 young men are trying to make our squad. A lot of them won’t. In fact there are not that many open roster spots on this redskin team. Most of our veteran players, despite what the coaches may say, will return for Salary cap reasons if nothing else. There are about 10 open spots where young guys can hope to break in, 15 if you count the practice squad, and about 50 guys vying for those spots.

This is why they say heart is a big factor in the NFL. There is no minor league to fall back on, NFL Europe aside. Training camp is the time to set yourself apart and the pre-season games the time to prove you are one of the guys a coach can depend on. In Coach Joe Gibbs system, that means playing special teams. Hey DMAC, I am talking to you!!!!!

While there will be a few roster spots reserved for special team only type of players, a minimum number of roster spots have to go to position players. So before going through and determining a final 53 roster, you have to determine what are the minimum number of players a roster needs at each position to allow for depth and proper rotations on the regular plays. In my mind that number for the Redskins is 47. This breaks down to 3 QBs, 3RBs, 4HBs/TEs, 5 WRs, 9OL, 8 DL, 6 LB, 5 CBs, and 4 S. That leaves 6 roster spots dedicated to special team contributors. However 1 Kicker, 1 Punter and 1 Long Snapper will take up almost half of those spots.

So really that leaves 3 spots for players to make the squad solely on their special team play. And while they may also contribute as additional depth at some positions, they will not normally see action unless the special teams unit is on the field.

With those assumptions in mind here are not only my roster predictions but my Depth Chart as I see it.

Quarter Backs Roster Spots: 3

Prediction: Starter: Patrick Ramsey
Reserve: Mark Brunell, Jason Campbell

Analysis: This is the easiest group to determine both the starters and the depth chart. We know this is Patrick Ramsey’s year. He is the starter barring a horrendous pre-season or injury he will be the guy lining up under center against the Bears September 11th. Mark Brunnell has lost a lot on his arm, but he is still a very expensive and very intelligent QB. His salary cap number is too large to let go and Gibbs likes having the Vet on the bench in case Ramsey stumbles. Jason Campbell has $25 million invested him, but he is a rookie. If the season is in the tank by week 12, he may get some action. Otherwise he is an expensive clipboard holder.

Running Backs Roster Spots: 3
Prediction: Starter: Clinton Portis
Reserve: Ladell Betts, Nehemiah Broughton

Analysis: Again not much challenge here either. Clinton Portis is the starter and will get the lion share of the carries. And after setting a goal of 2,000 yards he is going to need them. Betts proved last year he can be a quality NFL running back when subbing for Clinton during his injury. He should see more snaps this year as a changeup back to Portis and is a solid backup if Clinton gets injured again (after three straight years missing the final game of the season I have a little question of Clinton’s durability). Nemo is going to be the big back that we needed so desperately last year. Goal-line situations and 3rd and shorts could see Nemo come in with the jumbo package.

H-back and TE Roster Spots: 4

Prediction: H-Back Starter: Chris Cooley
TE Starter: Mike Sellers
Reserves: Robert Royal, Manuel White

Analysis: Readers of my articles during the draft know how I think about or TE crew. While I think Cooley is an outstanding player, and my personal hero if the two cheerleader rumor is true, and a great h-back, we have no outstanding TE. Last year’s starter Robert Royal never blocked the way that Gibbs likes his TE to block. Thus this year they are thinking about moving Mike Sellers into the position. I think Sellers is going to win out in the end with royal possibly coming in on passing situations and jumbo packages. Manuel White will sit behind Cooley and probably not see the field for most of the regular season if Cooley stays healthy. Nemo, who I counted as a running back, could also provide depth here in the case of injury or emergency.

Wide Receiver Roster Spots: 5

Prediction: Starters: Santana Moss, David Patten
Reserves: Taylor Jacobs, Antonio Brown, James Thrash

Analysis: This was thought to be one of the toughest races in camp, but in my mind it is pretty easy. Santana Moss and his blazing speed will start on one side and David Patten and his three Super Bowl rings will start on the other. Taylor Jacobs will have an opportunity to try and take Patten’s starting spot but more then likely will be a solid #3. James Thrash will be seen on third downs and 4 wide receiver sets, as well as being a flat out star on special teams. I originally would have put Antonio Brown in the special team only category but reports out of camp have him being used in the offense, and used often. You will see Brown spelling our burners and causing match-up problems during multiple receiver sets. This is a small group of receivers with no prototypical possession receiver. So H-backs like Cooley will have to pick up the slack to get tough first downs and goal line catches.

Offensive Linemen Roster Spots: 9

Prediction: Starters: Chris Samuels (LT), Derrick Dockery (LG),
Casey Rabach (C), Randy Thomas (RG),
Jon Jansen (RT)
Reserves: Mark Wilson (T), Jim Molinaro (T/G),
Ray Brown (G/T), Corey Raymer (C)

Analysis: Not much of a battle here either. The starters are set in stone for at least this year and probably the next one as well. With “The Rock” (Jansen) back to lead the Dirt bags and the new edition of Rabach should make this a very solid offensive line. Mark Wilson and Jim Molinaro, drafted last year as projects, will become main reserves this year. The old man, Ray Brown still will contribute, but hopefully sparingly. I hated putting Raymer on the roster. Last year he ate so much grass I thought he was a vegetarian on a strict Atkins diet. But you need a backup center and Raymer has to stay.

Defensive Line Roster Spots: 8

Prediction: Starters: DT Cornelius Griffin, Joe Salave’a
DE Renaldo Wynn, Phillip Daniels
Reserves: Ron Warner (DE), Demetric Evans (DE),
Nic Clemons (DE), Brandon Noble (DT),

Analysis: This could be a tight battle for the final roster spot. The starters are set. Griffin and Salave’a did very well in the middle for us last year. Wynn was solid as usual at one of the ends and can double as a reserve inside lineman as well. Daniels was injured a lot last year and hopefully will be strong. Warner and Evans were reliable backups and can also provide some fresh legs on passing downs. Clemons is a pass rushing specialist who will come in on third and long situations playing both tackle and end. Brandon Noble if he can get healthy will be the sole DT. He will spell both of the starters with Wynn being able to move inside incase of major injury.

Linebacker Roster Spots: 6

Prediction: Starters: Marcus Washington (LOLB), Clifton Smith (MLB),
Lavar Arrington (ROLB)
Reserves: Warrick Holdman (OLB/MLB),
Lemar Marshall (OLB/MLB), Chris Clemons (OLB)

Analysis: This group contains some of the hardest choices for the coaching staff. The outside starters are set with Washington being our lone pro-Bowler from last year/. Lavar will be unleashing a world of frustration this year as he pretends every QB is one of the two Poston brothers. MLB is the real competition here and it is a tight one. I am going out on a limb and predicting Clifton Smith will start in the base 4-3 defense. He is the surprise player Gibbs talked about in OTAs and is playing lights out in training camp. Lemar Marshall who started last year in place of Lavar will spell Smith in passing situations, being a converted safety. Warrick Holdman will push hard for the MLB spot as well but will ultimately be much needed depth. Chris Clemons will come in on passing situations and situational 3-4 blitz packages.

Corner Back Roster Spots: 5

Prediction: Starters: Shawn Springs, Walt Harris
Reserves: Carlos Rogers, Garnell Wilds, Ade Jimoh

Analysis: Another set of hard choices. Springs lived up to his promise to make us forget about the former #24 (or as I call him Iago). Wilds will assume the other starting spot, for now. Roger’s injury is costing him a shot at the starting spot at the beginning of then season and will have to work hard to be our nickel back on game day. Eventually though he will assume the starter’s role, this year or next. Wilds played well last year against the Vikings, even playing well against Randy Moss man-to-man, and is having a decent enough camp to make the squad. Jimoh is starting while Springs and Rogers are injured and his special team’s skills will probably keep him on the squad.

Safeties Roster Spots: 4

Prediction: Starters: Sean Taylor, Matt Bowen
Reserves: Ryan Clark, Pierson Prioleau

Analysis: Many times when analyzing this group the Safety position is broken up into Free Safety and Strong Safety. The Free Safety is a smaller faster safety that defends the pass and Strong Safety is a bigger slower player that helps on the run. So what are you to do when a fast, huge, safety, one who defends the run and pass equally well, a safety like Sean Taylor comes along. After you get done thanking God for your luck, you design a defense around him. That is what Williams has done. (Perhaps we should throw in there a few lessons on Florida’s gun laws as well.) Williams puts the best two athletes out on the field at once and switches up their responsibility. Matt Bowen is coming off injury and Ryan Clark played well in his absence. However Bowen is more versatile and the perfect compliment to Taylor. Pierson Prioleau, along with helping out on special teams, will see action in some sets and if there are any unforeseen injuries.

Special Teams Roster Spots: 6

Prediction: Kicking: John Hall (K), Tom Tupa (P), Ethan Albright (LS)
Specialists: Rock Cartwright (RB), Robert McCune (LB),
Jared Newberry (LB)

Analysis: barring Jon Hall re-injuring himself or showing bad accuracy problems in the pre-season he will hold of Jeff Chandler. But Vinny Cerrato will have him on speed dial. Tom Tupa will also hold off the young guy we have in camp and Ethan “Big Red” Albright will be snapping the ball to them. Robert McCune and Jared Newberry were both drafted to help on special teams, and it is a good thing because with the log jam at LB it is the only way they will make the squad. Rock is the last addition to the roster and it is by only a hair. Rock serves on every special team unit last year, not to mention Danny Smith and Joe Gibbs have gone out of their way to praise his effort.

Practice Squad Fodder

Teams are allowed to keep 8 additional practice squad members to use in practice and often to promote depth. Here are my top 8 players I would like to see make the squad. (To be eligible for the practice squad a player must have less then 2 years NFL experience and can not be activated for more then nine games).

1.) Ryan Boschetti DT

Ryan spent most of last year on the Redskins practice squad and was active for the last 3 games. He still has a chance to make the squad if Noble can not come back from injury. Otherwise he will spend some time on the practice squad waiting for an injury to get signed to the 53 man roster.

2.) Zak Keasay LB

Zak is another very talented LB and will suffer from the tremendous depth we have at that position. However Zak has a good football mind (former Princeton grad) and will be one of the UFAs that make the squad.

3.) Johnathan Combs RB

A young guy who has been playing well. He can add additional depth if there are injuries to our running back corp. or Nemo is forced to move to H-back because of injuries there.

4.) Robert Johnson TE

Joe Gibbs can never have enough TEs and having Johnson on the practice squad can give additional depth in the case of injuries to Sellers or royal. Johnson is HUGE as well and if he can learn to block or catch he has a good shot at making the squad…next year.

5.) Bryson Spinner QB

Bryson did not make the squad last year but this is a different year. Next year Mark Brunnell will almost definitely be cut to save salary cap space, opening up a roster spot. And if Ramsey does not play well he is eligible for a cut as well. Spinner could use a year on the squad to learn the offense and become a decent emergency QB in 2006.

6.) Andre Gonzalez OL

Practice squad players are used mainly to run the scout team and a young lineman or two never hurts. This guy is 6-5 328 pounds and a project for Bugel. But could develop into a nice depth type OL. At the very least Gibbs and Bugel can stand under him for some shade.

7.) Rufus Brown CB

Looks like another year on the squad for Rufus. Spending all but one game last year there he still has some eligibility left. He could be signed immediately in the case of a DB injury and may be able to earn a roster spot next year.

8.) Jon Alston OT

Plays both G and T and can help with the scout team. Not sure if he will ever develop into a starter in the NFL but at the least he can take some reps in practice and provide depth in case of injuries.


On The Bubble

There are some Vets that can still make the squad with serious pre-season campaigns. However if the season started right now they would be sending the résumé’s around the league. Here are my top 5 contenders for roster spots.

1.) Darnerian McCants WR

Half hearted play, inconsistent practices, and really bad music on his website. Seriously have you heard it. If I was DMAC I would start reserving more studio time because it is looking like a long year for him. His only chance at making the squad is horrible play by Jacobs or Thrash at WR. DMAC does not contribute on special teams and that is going to hurt him. If Brown is for real, DMAC is done.

2.) Kevin Dyson WR

In the same camp as DMAC. He will need something bigger then the “Music City Miracle” to make the final 53. After spending a year out of football last year his rust is showing and the redskins may let Cooley play the role of possession WR.

3.) Jeff Chandler K

He subbed for Hall last year when he was injured and will do so again this year if Hall is not healthy. Chandler will be on Danny Smith’s speed dial during the season if Hall has trouble. His only hope is a poor performance by Hall in pre-season which could happen.

4.) Andy Groom P

He could be eligible for the practice squad but teams don’t usually keep a spot for a “kicker” when they can just call them up if something happens during the week to their punter. Andy Groom is young and has raw power, but in my mind Tupa was the best punter in the league last year. Andy should keep rested and ready as Tupa may be in his last season. His only hope is Tupa gets hurt. This could happen when you have 17 years in the league. Seriously 17 years….that is older then my daughter. My how times have changed in 17 years. George Bush was elected president and soon after we would be in a war in Iraq…..oh right…moving on.

5.) Brian Kozlowski Hback/TE

There is a reason the Redskins resigned him after all. If Sellers does not work well t TE or Manny White can not grasp the offense well enough by the time pre-season ends, Kozlowski may be kept on. Let’s just hope he is not around for the 2nd game against the Cowboys. I can not forgive him for giving up an interception leading to a TD against the Cowboys. I know that he is a 13 year vet and has a decent football mind, but I still can’t help but feel there are better options. Perhaps I just don’t want to type Kozlowski at all next season. My fingers actually cramp up.


So that is it…That’s the list. We will know soon enough, around Labor Day, who is staying and who will be free for the family BBQ. But that is my team, and I would be willing to go to war with them.