Vision Quest The Final 53, The Final Guess

Cut day is coming.

It is an NFL reality. Every year in May teams take 90 players into camp but only 53 players get roster spots in September. Almost half are left to wander the CFL and Arena leagues and dream about next year. But it is not just a reality in the NFL, even the Galaxy is getting into the act, recently cutting Pluto and then resigning it to there version of the Practice Squad, the dwarf planets.

But back to the NFL where tomorrow the dreams and nightmares of many players, vets and rookies, will be realized. Most of those players, unbeknownst to them, will not get a next year. They will spend a few years drifting in and out of Pro and semi-pro leagues and then fall back on whatever career path is offered to them. Late at night they will drink beers in a bar and watch other players on Sundays and tell their mates how it could have been them

So before we go onto the cuts lets all raise a glass in toast to those who took their shots but missed. I salute you the fallen brotherhood of athletes who just could not attain the most coveted place in your profession: A NFL roster Spot.



I salute Jesse Lumsden and Kerry Carter our brothers from Canada who gave us a lot to talk about in the off season but look to go back to the cold white North empty handed.

I salute Casey Bramlet who never saw the field yet practiced hard with the hopes the Redskins will call his name, it never happened.

I salute Robert Johnson, Nic and Chris Clemons, and Ryan Boschetti, who were contributors to our squad last year but lost out due to injury and youth being brought in to take their place.

I salute David Lonie, that Aussie who could not replace David Frost. How is that possible? Seriously. But I salute you anyways.

I salute Tyler Jones who could not give the staff a reason to replace Hall. But please don’t go too far from the phone; you are just a hamstring away from being called.

And I salute all those who have been cut and are now wondering what to do. You were redskins if only for a brief time and thus made our team better.

Thank you for your service, please turn in your playbook.

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:

Todd Collins is a God against 3rd or 4th string defenses that is. His two good games this pre-season came when he was the third QB in. He has made living at being the third QB; let’s hope the coaching staff agrees.

Derrick Frost has kidnapped Danny Smiths wife and is holding her hostage. Seriously, do you have a better explanation? No real competition in the off season but an Australian rookie. The only attempt at signing someone after the first cuts lasted 6 whole hours. Metro Police please start investigating.

Manny White can play TE and it may just save his job. With Robert Smith gone and Buck Ortega not quite up to NFL weight for a TE this versatility may keep the former 4th round pick from becoming part of the scrap heap.

Ade Jimoh is a better corner then last year each year this guy is improving with his coverage skills. Sure he dropped an interception but he was at least in position to make that catch. I love that this guy keeps proving others wrong, including me from 2 years ago.

The pre-season means nothing at all That’s right. Nothing at all... at least it better not, or we are screwed.

The Final 53

No more bubble players, no more outside looking in. You either made the squad or you go home crying, that is unless you are signed to the PS. September 2nd at 4pm is D-Day but many teams will make their plans late today. And then on Sunday 8 players will be asked to come back to be on the PS. On Labor Day some will actually be looking for work while some will be getting ready to go to work when the regular season starts the next weekend.

Here is how I see it shaking down:

Quarterback
Allotted Roster Spaces: 3
Projected Starter: Mark Brunell
Projected Backups: Jason Campbell, Todd Collins

Brunell looked bad this pre-season, but he did not look any better last pre-season. He is a gamer and will come ready to play. September 11th. If not Campbell will be ready to take over. He won the #2 job this pre-season and has real promise. If Collins is throwing a pass this season for the Redskins all is lost, burn your tickets, and start looking forward to next year’s draft.

Running Back
Allotted Roster Spaces: 4
Projected Starter: Clinton Portis
Projected Backups: TJ Ducketts, Ladell Betts, Rock Cartwright

The more things change the more things stay the same. Last year the Redskins kept 4 running backs. This year they will do the same despite scrapping the H-back and re-introducing the fullback. Portis hopefully will be ready to come back when the season starts. Duckett will be the changeup short yardage back. Look for Betts to be used sparingly. Rock will play special teams but I doubt he even gets a carry a game.

Full Back
Allotted Roster Spaces: 2
Projected Starter: Mike Sellers
Projected Backup: Manuel White,

A little bit of a change here due to tonight’s game and some roster issues. Sellers is still the main man at fullback and will be opening holes for Portis and Duckett all season long. Manuel White wins the backup spot, ironically due to his versatility. I have been preaching Nemo’s versatility all season long, but Manny White can play FB and TE. This will be handy and needed as it looks like we are only keeping 2 TEs this season.

Wide Receiver
Allotted Roster Spaces: 5
Projected Starters: Santana Moss, Brandon Lloyd
Projected Backups: Atwaan Randle El, David Patten, James Thrash

As Mountains are to wind that shake not though they blow perpetually, so are the top 5 wide receivers. Even the solar system changed more then the top 5 receivers this pre-season. Moss and Lloyd will start ARE will return kicks and be the third WR and Patten will spell all of them and provide excellent depth. Thrash will serve on the special team’s units and be an emergency WR as well.

Tight End
Allotted Roster Spaces: 2
Projected Starter: Chris Cooley
Projected Backups: Christian Fauria

Cooley will start and Fauria will see lots of time in two TE packages. Robert Johnson could not shake the injury bug and was a mild surprise as a cut. The skins will only have 2 TEs on the roster because Manny White can come in as TE. It is a little light but any injury can be replaced with some of the PS members.

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), Jim Molinaro (T), Ikechuku Ndukwe (G), Tyson Walter (T/G/C)

Hopefully the line will look a little more solid and rested come the opening of the season. We have not seen our starting 5 at their top level, I have a feeling we will 10 days from now. It looks like Jim Molinaro may have done the impossible and found a way to contribute to this squad. He was hurt most of the pre-season but actually started the final Pre-Season game. Pucillo and Walters, the big FA additions, and Ikechuku Ndukwe round out the backups.

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), Kedric Golston (DT),

Back to where we started with this group. With Golston being able to show he is healthy and can make a difference I see us going back to 9 DL guys, especially with all the bumps and bruises to the starting line that is happening. Every one will play an important part and rotate in during games. .

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), Spencer Havner (OLB)

Marshall and Washington will be main stays on the defense and one could argue the most irreplaceable defenders on our squad. It was interesting seeing Holdman back up Mike last night. I think that will be his eventual role once McIntosh supplants him on the weak side. Jeff Posey will backup the SAM position and play special teams along with Khary Campbell and Spencer Havner. McCune is dead meat unable to play the last two games, maybe a trip to IR for him for a 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), Vernon Fox (S), Pierson Prioleau (S), Mike Rumph (CB/S)

Reed Doughty did not even play in the pre-season finale as the team took extensive looks at Vernon Fox who is an outstanding special teams player. There is a reason he was signed last week, and Reed’s poor play and inexperience was that reason. Ade Jimoh returned last night with strong play and will battle all season long with Wright and Rumph for the nickel and dime spots, if Springs and Rogers stay injury free, which is uncertain at this point. Prioleau will be the first safety off the bench with Rumph covering S as well as Fox.

Specialists
Allotted Roster Spaces: 3
Projected Starter: Derrick Frost (P), John Hall (K), Ethan Albright (LS)

Everyone who belongs on this team please step forward. Not so fast derrick Frost. Ethan Albright belongs on this team. John Hall if he can stay injury free belongs on this team. Frost gets this by default and is clearly the choice of Danny Smith as no real competition was offered all pre-season despite the availability of some young punters like Gowin And Dorsch. This is the biggest gamble on the squad and I hope the redskins don’t suffer Frost bite once again this year.

Practice Squad Predictions:

OL Jasper Harvey & Keli Lofotu: Young guys who aren’t quite ready for the show yet. Harvey shows the most potential here while Lofuto has the stigma of a 2nd day pick failure all over him.

TE Buck Ortega: Not quite big enough to play TE in the NFL yet. Maybe next year. While on the Practice Squad he will be required to eat at Randy Thomas’ house at least twice a week.

DB Reed Doughty & Christian Morton Doughty ends up on the PS and will continue to learn the defense and work on his coverage skills. Morton ends up on here for the second straight year and hopefully

WR Mike Espy & Steve Harris: Both young guys who will most likely continue to learn their craft and then challenge Patten and thrash next year for their roster spots.

RB Nehemiah Broughton/ AJ Harris: Some say Nemo is PS eligible, others say no. The question is does staying on the 53 man roster give you a year accrued NFL experience even though you were active for only 4 games? I don’t know. But if he is eligible this is where he falls. AJ Harris gets his spot if not.

LB Philippe Gardent : Anyone else find it funny the French player got into the game after the redskins had pretty much conceded the outcome.

Those are the lucky few who will try and win games for us next Monday. As we gather to watch the spectacle that is opening day and hope that Saunders will open up the other 98% of his playbook and Williams will generate a pass rush that we were promised in the off season I can think of only one thing to say.

Hail to the Redskins!!!!