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

The Redskins proved this last week why it is so hard for outsiders like myself, and most fans, to predict a final roster in the pre-season. Not only do you have to figure in injuries and try to get a glimpse of players on pre-season games and not in practice, but the Redskins made a few roster moves to upgrade the team last week which could very well impact the final 53

Gone are Canadian Kerry Carter, the recently signed Ben Emmanuel, and last years pass rush specialist Chris Clemons all to injury settlements. The Redskins made a late trade sending the worthless Taylor Jacobs to San Francisco for Mike Rumpf who can play corner and safety and most likely will take a roster spot away from someone. Mike Rumpf will have company in the battle for a roster spot as CB Julian Battle a starter for woeful KC and S Antuan Edwards a former team mate of Arch, were signed as well in an obvious move to bolster the secondary depth.

Also being signed is Jeff Posey, the possibility of which I wrote about last week. He is going to give quality veteran depth to our LB corp. and will likely back up Marcus Washington. Also signed were OL Spencer Folau who will try and win a backup T spot and AJ Harris who might challenge for a practice squad spot.

The new additions don’t just affect the people they replaced, but the players the players that remain. Players like LB Spencer Havner, LB Robert McCune, DB Christian Morton, S Redd Dougherty, OT John Alston, and OT Jim Molinaro. Some might be pushed to the Practice squad, and some might be pushed off the cliff.

Time will tell if these veterans are able to win spots. It would be wise to keep in mind that they were for the most part without an NFL team at the time they signed with the Redskins and there were reasons for that. However it would also be wise to remember that the Redskins targeted them specifically and they must have something in mind for some of them.

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:

.Jason Campbell will be #2 this year Any hopes of Todd Collins winning back the #2 job probably ended on Saturday. Campbell didn’t play lights out, but he played acceptably well. He built on his performance last week and will continue to do so all Pre-season. It would be best for the Redskins to end this battle now and anoint him as the eventual successor to Brunell. That way he can work both of the next two games as the backup and be ready for the Regular Season.

Danny Smith is the Pete Best of our Coaching Beatles. Ok follow me on this. Joe Gibbs is Paul McCartney the talented, grounded, leader of the band. Gregg Williams is the surly genius of John Lennon. Al Saunders has the stoic wisdom of George Harrison. Joe Bugel is the humorous fun loving Ringo Starr. If all that is true Danny Smith is Pete Best, the drummer that the Beatles left in London. Smith’s special teams choices are really starting to wear on this fan’s patience. It is not just Frost or Lonie, but that is a good example. Either Smith felt that the Punting situation was acceptable this off season or he was not able to get the Redskin organization to do anything about it. Either way the blame will be laid on his doorstep until the coverage units and punting units start playing up to par.

Antwaan Randle El will be involved in the offense. It was nice to see ARE catching a couple of decent passes Saturday. With Moss Lloyd and Cooley running routes ARE is going to have plenty of chances to take advantage of single coverage. He will be very productive this year for us, and that is pretty good indeed.

Marcus Washington is poised for a career year Ok I have been harping on this all Pre-season but all of a sudden Marcus Washington is everywhere on the field. He is blitzing, he is run stopping, he is altering throws and covering passes. Wherever the ball is MW will be there this year. He is easily the best free agent signing of the Dan Snyder era.

We will pay for our aggressiveness on Defense Whether it was the flea flicker in Cincinnati resulting in a touchdown or the reverse against NY, the memo is out on the Redskin's defense. We are ultra-aggressive and that will lead to a large number of big plays. But we are susceptible to the trick plays we have seen the last two weeks. Williams will have to account for this and preach to his linebackers and defensive backs to stay at home and not bite on fakes.

The Final 53

Two pre-season games down and now 2 more to go. However only 1 game remains until the first cut down date on Aug 29th. It is tradition that the third pre-season game is used as a fine tuner for the first stringers and most of the players that will be cut after the game have already been identified. However there is still an opportunity for some bubble players to remain alive, even if it is just one more game. The final cut down looms on September 2nd and a reprieve for 8 players who go on the practice squad and avoid real work for one more year. Special Teams ability, versatility, and the ability to stay healthy will determine the outcome.

Here is how I see it at this juncture:

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

Nothing new here. Brunell is the starter. Campbell did nothing to lose the #2 spot and is the heir apparent. The only thing apparent about Todd Collins is that if he is taking a regular season snap then we are having some serious injury issues.

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

It looks more and more like the Redskins will stand pat with the three running backs they had last year, Portis, Betts, and Rock. Jesse Lumsden only got one carry and is more then likely looking at a practice squad birth. AJ Harris and Johnathan Combs did not see the field and are likely to be among the first cuts a week from today.

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

Mike Sellers showed that he can run the football and may be a decent short yardage option on thirds and short or goal line situations next year. Nemo fumbled this last week and that might open up a space for Manny White. However Nemo can also act as the 4th RB and White has yet to carry the rock in an NFL game. Unless Jesse Lumsden can prove he could be a backup fullback I can’t see this changing.

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: Ataveus Cash, Jimmy Farris

Mike Espy wherefore art thou going to go? Sure he had a couple of drops but he also showed flashes of brilliance returning punts, something ARE does not want to do. There is nothing that can get him to crack the top 5 and is most likely trying to convince the Redskins to keep 6 Wide Receivers. Not likely. Harris and Smith’s best hope is if Mike Espy makes the squad or goes to another team’s final 53 and they can get on the practice squad. Cash will be among the first cuts and Jimmy Farris will be a phone call away.

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 again looked impressive, but he is so small I can’t see him taking the spot of Robert Johnson on the final 53. The Redskins already have receiving Tight Ends in Cooley and Fauria. Ortega can spend a year on the PS trying to bulk up and be ready for next season.

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), Spencer Folau (T), Jasper Harvey (G/C), Tyson Walter (T/G/C)
On the Bubble: Keli Lefotu, Ikechuku Ndukwe, Jim Molinaro, Jon Alston, Chris Pino
Outside Looking In: Chris Pino, Jim Jones

I was very surprised that Molinaro was not offered an injury settlement and I will put him back on the bubble. I think Pucillo, Harvey, and Walters have all but assured themselves of a roster spot. The remaining spot, a backup tackle, will be battled for by Folau, Lefotu, Alston, Molinaro. Advantage to Folau who has real NFL Experience. I doubt Pino and Jones make the final squad here, or possibly anywhere.

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: Karon Riley, Joe Sykes,
Outside looking in: Ryan Boschetti, Nic Clemons, Vaka Manupuna, Chris Mineo

The question here is do they keep 8 or 9 DL. Given history of Gregg Williams and Joe Gibbs they will keep 9 DL and that is a break for Kedric Golston. However if a Mike Espy or Jesse Lumsden can convince the coaches to keep one more offensive player then Kedric could find himself on the PS or worse. Riley and Sykes are playing well, but not well enough to make the final 53 over a few draft choices and FA signings. More then likely one of them will end up on the PS. The bell tolls for Boschetti and Clemons on the first cut down.

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) Jeff Posey (OLB), Kevin Simon (MLB)
On the Bubble: Spencer Havner
Outside looking in: Robert McCune

Jeff Posey’s addition will most likely bump someone out of the final roster spot. That someone is likely Spencer Havner who is not impressing anyone on the field. He most likely needs a year on the PS to mature. Robert McCune had some big time special teams mistakes and that is his only way to make the squad. Looks like the 27 year old rookie from last year will not be wearing Burgundy and Gold next year.

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), Mike Rumpf (CB/S)
On the Bubble: Dimitri Patterson, Reed Dougherty, Kenny Battle, Antuan Edwards
Outside looking in: John Eubanks, Aric Williams, Curry Burns

Kenny Wright may have saved his roster spot this last week, starting for the injured Shawn Springs and playing well recording a sack and a pass defended. Mike Rumpf showed he had something left and can play both Corner and Safety giving Williams more versatility. Morton, Dougherty, Edwards & Battle are more then likely battling for the last db spot. Advantage right now to Morton. Patterson is playing for PS time while Eubanks, Williams, & Burns are looking in from the cold.

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)

There is a possibility I might kill myself watching Frost this year. At least Hall is looking better. Maybe the offense will be some good that punting won’t be as frequent as last year. David Lonie is not doing much to make the squad and Tyler Jones is still auditioning to be the first guy called if Hall is injured.

Practice Squad Predictions:

RB Jesse Lumsden: 1 run 6 yards against NY. With the first string getting a lot of work in the third game he may have to wait until the last pre-season game to impress coaches or he may not even make it here.

OL Ikechuku Ndukwe & Jon Alston: Zeke and Lofuto will provide guard and tackle depth and hone their skills for next year.

TE Buck Ortega: He needs to bulk up to be an NFL TE. Perhaps he can hang out with Randy Thomas next off season and get into some competitive eating events.

DB Dimitri Patterson & Reed Dougherty Patterson spends another year on PS to develop, but he is emergency depth at best. Dougherty will watch and learn how not to bite on every reverse and/or trick play in the book.

WR Mike Espy: Got to like this kid, but will he survive to be a Practice squad guy. I think he does.

LB Spencer Havner: Jeff Posey’s signing pushes the youngster onto the PS.

LB Philippe Gardent : How do you say tacking dummy with legs in French?

Up next are the New England Patriots. Watch for the first string to use the first half to develop continuity and rhythm. Not many chances to avoid that first cut and this time next week our team will really start to take shape.

Until next time Hail to the Redskins!!!!