Vision Quest: The Final 53 Post Bengals Pre-Season Game

Injuries.

The Bane of an NFL veteran in pre-season games and a particular problem with the Redskins in recent years. Injuries are a part of football. The can and will happen at any time. But is especially disconcerting when it happens on the second series of the first Pre-season game. Even worse when it is a potentially severe injury to your star Running back and arguably the most valuable player on your team.

Throw in he was making a tackle when he did it and it is enough to talk about curses and bad Karma.

However initial reports are that Portis should be back for the opening weekend after suffering a partially separated shoulder. Not so lucky is Kerry Carter a reserve running back whose career may be over with a damaged MCL and ACL. Chris Clemons sprained ligaments in his knee possibly ending his quest to make the roster this year and new arrival S Ben Emmanuel, who replaced the injured S Dennard Wilson, left Cincinnati on crutches.

So much for staying healthy.

5 Things We Now Know

With each Pre-season game we learn a little bit more about our Redskins. This week we learned the following:

Saunders likes to attack. Mini-posts and downfield patterns are going to be seen in abundance this year. Don’t expect us to throw many 5 yard out patterns (unless Collins is in the game, more on him later). Saunders is going to stretch the field like a Speedo on Rush Limbaugh and unlike the metaphor I just used that will be a very good thing.

Todd Collins is no #2. Sure he had a horrible line in front of him, but he just looked horrible out there. There is a reason he has been in the league for 12 years and has thrown only a couple of dozen passes. Whether throwing it into an opposing player’s hands or taking a safety he just made bad decisions and worse, played scared. He may be a good teacher but at best he is the third string QB.

Jason Campbell is the future. This kid throws a beautiful ball and shows poise and decent decision making skills. He is still raw and needs one more year to develop, and maybe more importantly consistency and the same offensive scheme 2 years in a row. If he gets it, watch out.

Mr. Redskin is Mr. Washington This off season I replaced my Lavar Jersey with a Chris Cooley jersey but I thought heavy on a Washington one. And know I am going to go out and buy a second. Marcus is the real deal. He displayed a spin move that would make Dorothy Hamill sick and got a sack last night that was unreal. John Madden said that GW is thinking about bringing Marcus more this season. All I got to say is gang way here comes the hurt.

Our Front 4 can play The Defensive line is playing real well. That is an understatement. It is playing with passion and persistence. First unit against first unit last night they were consistently 5 yards in the backfield on almost any running play. I know Carson Palmer was out, but with that kind of penetration Jesus could not throw a pass and Vishnu would have a hard time running up the middle, despite 2 extra appendages to stiff arm with.

The Final 53

On \e pre-season game down and now 3 more to go. However only 2 remain until the first cut down date on Aug 29th. After that 22 lucky players will get a one week reprieve, and just one game to prove their worth, as the final cut down looms on September 2nd. 8 players will then go on parole keeping their NFL dreams alive on the practice squad the next day. Injuries to starters can affect numbers for many players and some vets may find themselves on the outside looking in.

That’s the NFL, it’s a cruel world baby.

Here is how I see it shaping up:

Quarterback
Allotted Roster Spaces: 3
Projected Starter: Mark Brunell
Projected Backups: Jason Campbell, Todd Collins
Outside looking in: Casey Bramlet

The only thing that happened here is Jason Campbell will probably be the #2 going into next week vs. the Jets. If he can show poise and confidence he will relegate Collins to 3rd string duty.

Running Back
Allotted Roster Spaces: 3
Projected Starter: Clinton Portis
Projected Backups: Ladell Betts, Rock Cartwright
On the Bubble: Jesse Lumsden
Outside looking in Kerry Carter, Johnathan Combs

It is premature to speculate that the Redskins will now automatically keep 4 running backs because of the Portis injury. However if Jesse Lumsden can heal and show a reason to keep him and if Portis’ injury lingers over the next couple of weeks things could change. They also could use their backup fullback, possibly NEMO, as a reserve running back as well. Kerry Carter will likely go on IR or get an injury settlement later this week. Johnathan Combs looks like a first cut because despite being decimated by injury he did not see the field at all.

Full Back
Allotted Roster Spaces: 2
Projected Starter: Mike Sellers
Projected Backup: Nemo Broughton
On the Bubble: Manny White

On the other hand Clinton Portis’ injury could effect the backup fullback position more then the RB position when it comes to roster space. Manny White looked good last night catching and operating in space. However Nemo showed some blitz pickup ability as well and did run block well also. Nemo may get the edge since he can likely be a backup emergency running back.


Wide Receiver
Allotted Roster Spaces: 5
Projected Starters: Santana Moss, Brandon Lloyd
Projected Backups: Atwaan Randle El, David Patten, James Thrash
On the Bubble: Mike Espy, Steven Harris, Richard Smith
Outside looking in: Taylor Jacobs, Ataveus Cash, Jimmy Farris

Mike Espy is going to be one of those cuts that really really hurt. I just don’t see the Redskins keeping more then 5 wide receivers and if they keep an extra skill player it will probably be at running back. Espy’s strong showing could prompt a trade of David Patten, but not likely unless some O-line help is offered. Espy will be offered a PS spot but with a few more performances like last night he may not be around to accept it.

Tight End
Allotted Roster Spaces: 3
Projected Starter: Chris Cooley
Projected Backups: Christian Fauria, Robert Johnson
On the Bubble: Buck Ortega
Outside looking in: Calen Powell

Buck Ortega showed some decent catching abilities, but the Redskins have three pass-catching TEs ahead of him already. With Cooley and Fauria on the roster the third TE should be a big slobber knocker type TE. Robert Johnson fits that mold more then Buck Ortega. Buck can spend a year on the PS though developing and be ready for next year.

Offensive Line
Allotted Roster Spaces: 9
Projected Starter: Chris Samuels (LT), Derrick Dockery (LG), Casey Rabach (C), Randy Thomas (RG), Jon Jansen (RT)
Projected Backups: Mike Pucillo (G/C), Chris Pino (T), Jasper Harvey (G/C), Tyson Walter (T/G/C)
On the Bubble: Jonta Woodard, Keli Lefotu, Ikechuku Ndukwe, Jim Jones, Jon Alston
Outside Looking In: Jim Molinaro,

Jim Molinaro was removed from the second team unit and likely will be one of the first cuts. What are backups lack in ability they may make up for in versatility as most of them can play 3 or 4 positions on the line equally well. Unfortunately that is not very well at all. Here is hoping only one of our linemen miss action at the same time otherwise it could be a very long season.

Defensive Line
Allotted Roster Spaces: 9
Projected Starter: Andre Carter (RE), Phillip Daniels (LE), Cornellius Griffin (DT), Joe Salave’a (DT)
Projected Backups: Renaldo Wynn (DE), Demetric Evans (DE), Anthony Montgomery (DT), Cedric Killings (DT), Kedric Golston (DT)
On the Bubble: Vaka Manupuna, Joe Sykes,
Outside looking in: Ryan Boschetti, Nic Clemons, Karon Riley, Chris Mineo

Joe Sykes is playing well, having bested Jon Jansen in practice, making his presence known in Baltimore, and racking up a sack last night. We are stacked at Defensive End though and Sykes will probably earn a way onto the PS if he keeps playing well. If the redskins decide to go down to 8 DL and keep either an extra RB or WR, Golston could be the odd man out.

Line Backer
Allotted Roster Spaces: 7
Projected Starter: Warrick Holdman (WLB), Lemar Marshall (MLB), Marcus Washington (SLB)
Projected Backups: Rocky McIntosh (OLB), Khary Campbell (MLB) Spencer Havner (OLB), Kevin Simon (MLB)
On the Bubble: Robert McCune
Outside looking in: Chris Clemons

McIntosh played well but most likely not start the season. Look for him when the leaves start changing color and snow is on the ground in late October early November. Chris Clemons injury may give Spencer Havner a shot at the roster. It will be short lived though if the redskins sign Jeff Posey, which looks more likely now. They need an experienced backup at SAM and Posey is a GW favorite from his Buffalo days.

Defensive Back
Allotted Roster Spaces: 9
Projected Starter: Shawn Springs (CB), Carlos Rogers (CB), Sean Taylor (S), Adam Archueletta (S)
Projected Backups: Kenny Wright (CB), Ade Jimoh (CB), Christian Morton (CB), Pierson Prioleau (S), Reed Doughty (S)
On the Bubble: Dimitri Patterson, Curry Burns, Chris Hawkins, Aric Williams
Outside looking in: John Eubanks, Ben Emmanuel

Reed Doughty looked lost out there and if Curry Burns could get healthy he might be able to surpass him. Kenny Wright looked horrible but will make the squad. The question is whether Morton becomes the nickel. A more likely scenario is that Prioleau will be the first DB off the bench in nickel situations and Morton and Wright will come in on dime and Quarter packages. Eubanks and Emmanuel looked horrible and that was before the latter’s injuries. If I were jerry Gray I would think about moving Jimoh to S and try to keep Dimitri Patterson sending Dougherty to PS.

Specialists
Allotted Roster Spaces: 3
Projected Starter: Derrick Frost (P), John Hall (K), Ethan Albright (LS)
On the Bubble: David Lonie (P)
Outside looking In: Tyler Jones (K)

Bad news for Lonie is he was not doing kickoffs in the second half. The Punter will have to do kickoff duty in addition to punting. Apparently for now Frost will continue to boom punts from the 50 into the endzone and shank it when punting from our 20.

Practice Squad Predictions:

RB Jesse Lumsden: If he was healthy he may be able to give the Redskins a reason to spend another roster spot at running back. For now he looks like a good PS guy who can be activated if needed.

OL Ikechuku Ndukwe & Jonta Woodard: Zeke and Woodard will provide emergency depth and take another year of tutelage to become NFL depth worthy.

TE Buck Ortega: Eventual replacement for Fauria…but not yet.

DB Dimitri Patterson & Chris Hawkins Patterson spends another year on PS to develop, but he is emergency depth at best. Hawkins may not be even that.

WR Mike Espy: Man I hope he sticks around. A local product that probably needs another year to unseat Thrash or Patten.

LB Robert McCone: Robert McCune is only here if Jeff Posey does not sign, otherwise he joins so many other 2nd day draft choices for the Redskins in UFA hell.

LB Philippe Gardent : What kind of football name is Philippe? NFL Europe is making him wear the Burgundy and Gold so he gets a year of dress up before being sent back to France.

Up next come the Jets, otherwise known as the Redskins factory outlet store. I am still hoping on the first play Sean Taylor will level Coles on a crossing pattern on a high pass from Ramsey. Arch will pick up the interception and return it for a touchdown but Taylor won’t notice as he is in the stands having sex with the Toe’s girlfriend.

Until next time Hail to the Redskins!!!!