Vision Quest: Roster Wars 2007 Week 1

Training Camp is here and now the real work starts. Players are fighting for Every is signed and in camp with Landry being a late appearance the Redskins will report to training camp with virtually the same players listed on the roster right now. Over the course of the next 5 weeks the list of 84 players will be reduced, week by week, until the magic number of 53.

So here we go a position by position look at the Roster, including the projected starters and depth of each position. I will also list people On the Bubble as having a chance at taking out some of the Depth guys, and the camp fodder who dread the first day of cuts like Michael Vick dreads his date with destiny in October. (BTW his destiny…jail bars).Quarterbacks

Projected Roster Petitions: 3
Projected Starter: Jason Campbell
Projected Depth: Mark Brunell, Jordan Palmer
On the Bubble: Todd Collins, Casey Bramlet

Analysis: Jason Campbell is the man. The season squarely rests on his shoulder. Mark Brunell’s contract and experience make him uncuttable this season. Not to mention a decent safety valve in case of emergency. The fight here will be for the 3rd QB. You have to give Jordan Palmer the edge since the Redskins used a draft pick on him. Sure he could be signed to a practice squad spot, and that is Todd Collins & Casey Bramlet’s only hope. But the Redskins have never wasted a PS spot on a QB under the Gibbs II regime, doubt they will start now.

Running Backs
Projected Roster Petitions: 4
Projected Starter: Clinton Portis
Projected Depth: Ladell Betts, Derrick Blaylock, Rock Cartwright
Camp Fodder: Marcus Mason

Analysis: Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts will get the lion share of carries during the season. But since both have injury histories the team will look to shore up its third RB position. As much as I love Rock, he fumbles too much to be relied on in anyway. Thus Derrick Blaylock was brought in. Rock will make the squad as a special teams guy. It is possible that Blaylock may not make the team if he cant perform in the pre-season, or if another return guy emerges Rock could see his job in jeopardy, but that won’t help Marcus Mason. Marcus is hoping for A PS spot or an injury call later in the season.

Fullback
Projected Roster Petitions: 1
Projected Starter: Mike Sellers
Camp Fodder: Pete Schmitt

Analysis: Mike Sellers is the prototypical bruising FB that the Saunders offense needs and a locker room leader. Only an injury changes this. Pete Schmitt is hoping to win a PS spot but I would not hold out hope if I were him.

Wide Receivers
Projected Roster Positions: 5
Projected Starters: Santana Moss, Antwaan Randle_el
Projected Depth: Brandon Lloyd, James Thrash, Mike Espy
On the Bubble: Corey Bradford,
Camp Fodder: Ryan Hoag, Carl Berman, Jason Willis, Kyle Brown, Jason McAddley, Burl Toller

Analysis: It While right now I am predicting Randle-El starting over Lloyd, it could change easily by end of camp. Lloyd looks to have taken the off season seriously and with Randle-El’s special teams duties he could overtake him by end of camp. Lloyd is much more talented then he has shown and perhaps he can get it together in the off season. Ole reliable James Thrash will assume the 4th WR spot fill in where needed and play special teams. Much like QB the fight will be for the last spot. Mike Espy has the first shot at the 5th WR spot. However the signing of Corey Bradford could spell another year on the PS for the young WR if he can’t show he has improved significantly from last year. Virtually every other receiver on the roster is camp fodder, a pitiful bunch of undrafted free agents or journeyman WRs who could not win jobs in other NFL teams. I doubt someone else will rise beyond first cut down.

Tight Ends
Projected Roster Positions: 3
Projected Starter: Chris Cooley
Projected Depth: Todd Yoder, Tyler Ecker
On the Bubble: Brian Bell, Jake Nordin

Analysis: Chris Cooley is the unquestioned starter and possibly the second option in the passing game after Moss. The only real question that remains is why in hell have we not signed him to an expansion yet? Todd Yoder will assert himself as the main backup to Cooley and be used in 2 TE sets and goal line formations. Tyler Ecker it is presumed will make the squad as the third TE, but his injury could give some of the Bubble guys a chance to take it over from him.

Offensive Line
Projected Roster Positions: 9
Projected Starters: Chris Samuels (LT), Todd Wade (LG), Casey Rabach (C), Randy Thomas (RG), Jon Jansen (RT)
Projected Depth: Mike Pucillo, Jason Fabini, Will Whitticker, Taylor Whitley
On the Bubble: Calvin Armstrong, Stephon Heyer, Kili Lefotu, Ross Tucker,

Analysis: My initial analysis was GOD I hope no one gets hurt. Then Randy Thomas started missing practices, and now Chris Samuels will miss 4 weeks. Not good, not good at all. Depth on the oline is quite putrid, same as it ever was. I just pray the Todd Wade experiment at guard works. The starters are more then likely set, if Wade struggles it is possible Pucillo or Fabini could make a push at guard. After Pucillo and Fabini the last two roster spots are wide open. Tucker and Whitley have the edge but any of the 4 players on the bubble can overtake them. Don’t rule out a late camp sign if injuries continue to pile up and some vet becomes available.

Defensive Line
Projected Roster Positions: 9
Projected Starters: Andre Carter (RE), Cornelius Griffin (DT), Kedric Golston (DT) Phillip Daniels (LE)
Projected Depth: Renaldo Wynn, Joe Salave’a, Anthony Montgomery, Demetic Evans, Chris Wilson,
On the Bubble: Jamaal Green, Ryan Boschetti
Camp Fodder: Bryant Shaw, Justin Hickman, Alex Buzbee, Lorenzo Alexander, Jared Clauss,

Analysis: Most of us, including me, expected an overhaul of the defensive line. Unfortunately that was not to be. The starting four and significant depth stays the same. Unless Ponce De Leon stops by camp sometime, that is not really a good thing, I for one am not buying the Montgomery hype, and I think Golston will settle as the second starting DT. Chris Wilson has a chance to make the last spot but with no NFL experience he equally has a chance to become this year’s version of Jesse Lumsden. Boschetti & Green are in the mix for the last roster spot as well. I doubt the rest will do much more then look to be injury replacements or PS spots.

Linebacker
Projected Roster Positions: 6
Projected Starters: Rocky McIntosh (WLB), London Fletcher-Baker (MLB), Marcus Washington (SLB)
Projected Depth: Lemar Marshall, Khary Campbell, HB Blades
On the Bubble: Dallas Sartz
Camp fodder: Kevin Jones, Anthony Trucks, Matt Sinclair

Analysis: With two new starters in McIntosh and Fletcher-Baker, they are instantly more athletic and faster. Lemar Marshall becomes the first LB off the bench, especially on the outside, and special teams play and knowledge of the Defense will keep Khary Campbell on the roster as well. I think Blades and Sartz are fighting for the same Roster spot with the loser going to the PS. If there is a significant injury here it is likely we could keep 7 lbers, but usually we only keep 6.

Corner
Projected Roster Positions: 5
Projected Starters: Sean Springs, Carlos Rogers
Projected Depth: Fred Smoot, David Macklin, Jerametrius Armstrong
On the Bubble: Ade Jimoh,
Camp Fodder: John Eubanks, Byron Westbrook, Leigh Torrance

Analysis: This group promises to be the deepest we have been at corner in years. Carlos Rogers will remain the starter opposite Springs, for now. But he has a short hook and Fred Smoot will be breathing down his neck. Macklin and Armstrong are strong corners and will be decent nickels and dimes, especially if there are injuries to the top 3. The bell may toll for Ade Jimoh whose special teams play will probably not be enough to keep him around. Eubanks, Westbrook, and Torrance are looking for PS spots.

Safety
Projected Roster Positions: 5
Projected Starters: Sean Taylor (FS), Laron Landry (SS)
Projected Depth: Omar Stoutmire, Pierson Prioleau, Vernon Fox
On the Bubble: Reed Doughty

Analysis: Despite his late arrival in camp Landry will be the starter come opening day. GW has too much riding on this pick for him to be sitting on the bench. Taylor and Landry could be one of the best combos in the league, potentially. Prioleau will be the first safety off the bench while Stoutmire and Fox add veteran help in case of injuries. Reed Doughty will have to show a lot to avoid another year on the PS.

Special Teams
Projected Roster Petitions: 3
Projected Starters: Sean Suisham (K), Derrick Frost (P), Ethan Albright (LS)

Analysis: How sure am I of these picks? Well the Redskins have nobody else signed even on the training camp roster. Uh yeah. These are your special teams players for 2007. Suisham showed potential last year and Frost was not horrible and showed flashes of consistency (yes I know it is an oxymoron but what else can you use to describe his play?). Albright as always will snap the ball perfectly every time he is called upon and will always have a roster spot on the Redskins as long as he wants it.

Practice Squad Projections

1.) Marcus Mason (RB). The Redskins always seem to want a RB on the PS to help run the scout team and e there in case of injuries. Mason is fast and could be a decent depth guy in the league. He also is the only back who could effectively simulate a speed back for the defense besides Portis, and Portis won’t be running scout team practices anytime soon.

2.) Keli Lefotu (G). It will be hard for Keli to break into the Redskins Roster and the former 7th round draft pick looks destined to develop one more year on the PS.

3.) Calvin Armstrong (T) With Jansen and Samuels’s injury history it would be nice to have a true tackle on the PS to be activated for depth in case of injuries.

4.) Dallas Sartz (LB) Another low round pick can’t quite make the squad. I was never sold on this guy and he has Robert McCune written all over him. Early injuries aren’t going to help him either.

5.) Reed Doughty (S) Again another young 2nd day pick is going to be wasting away on the PS. But at least he will be around learning the system. Due to the age of the depth S having a young one on the PS will help.

6.) Byron Westbrook (CB) His pedigree will get him a one year shot to prove he can be a decent NFL CB.

7.) Jamaal Green (DE) Another return to the PS. Having depth on DL is only prudent and Jamaal can get another year to grow and learn the system.

8.) Carl Berman (WR) Lets face it some WR will get here. IF Espy does not make the squad, he will take this place. Otherwise Berman has as good a chance as any of them.

So that is it for now. Let’s see how our boys do over the next week.