Vision Quest: Help & Hurt, Roster Wars Post Ravens game 2007

Help & Hurt

First off I have a caveat. Because of the extreme wisdom of someone at the NFL Network I was not able to see the Ravens game this week. I got up early drove 30 miles to my parent’s house who just got a new 60” plasma TV with Dish Network in time for the 8 am replay scheduled for this morning. The picture was nice but unfortunately what I saw was the KC Saints game.
So my analysis is really a combination of some information I compiled from various media sources including the most unreliable of them all: Redskins.com. I did see the limited clips on Sports center and on the Web. So if I am wrong, as always, I will blame it on someone else. This time it won’t be Vinny Cerrato … maybe.

However disappointed I might be this morning, the coaching staff and some players have to be even more disappointed. This is a critical game for the Redskins as the first cut down day is Monday. The last impression many players were going to have to actually impress the coaches and avoid what could be the end of their NFL career Monday.So here are a few players who I think helped and got hurt by the shortened game last night.

Players who helped themselves:

Todd Collins: Did he light it up? No. But he did a manageable job and if Brunell can not play significantly better against Jacksonville, he could get the #2 job.

HB Blades: He isn’t fighting for a roster spot; he has that guaranteed to him. But he does want playing time as the 4th LB off the bench in the Regular season and he earned that last night showing he can play Sam as well as Mike.

Dallas Sartz: When you are on the bubble you need a signature play that the coaches can remember to keep you on the roster. Sartz got his last night. Was it lucky, yes, but it was a defensive TD anyways.

Anthony Trucks: What people are missing on the Prioleau hit and Sartz score is that Trucks got to the QB first. Trucks is battling Jones for the last PS spot IMO. More then likely they are even now.

Players who Hurt Themselves:

I really can’t say. All bubble players were hurt by not getting a chance to play in the second half. This could cost a few people their job come Monday.

Quarterbacks
Projected Roster Positions: 3
Projected Starter: Jason Campbell
Projected Depth: Mark Brunell, Todd Collins
On the Bubble: Jordan Palmer

Analysis: As I said above, Collins helped his cause but Brunell will get his chance againstJacksonville. IN Fact Gibbs has already said Collins will not play at all and Brunell will be #2 with Palmer getting some work at the end. If Brunell wants the #2 job, he needs to play lights out, 2005 style. Otherwise if Palmer shows he could be a decent #3 Brunell could find himself out of a job all together.

Running Backs
Projected Roster Positions: 4
Projected Starter: Clinton Portis
Projected Depth: Ladell Betts, Derrick Blaylock, Rock Cartwright
On the Bubble: Marcus Mason

Analysis: There is some speculation that Derrick Blaylock could be out of a job because of a poor pre-season. However every running back has had a poor pre-season. With Cartwright having a nagging hamstring injury I doubt he is going to get cut. Mason is still hoping he has a shot at a PS spot since he was not able to play much last night.

Fullback
Projected Roster Positions: 1
Projected Starter: Mike Sellers
On the Bubble: Pete Schmitt, Fred Beaseley
Camp Fodder: Brian Bell

Analysis: With the health issues at RB, WR, and OL I doubt the Redskins can afford to keep 2 FB. They didn’t last year and probably won’t this year. Pete Schmitt has shown enough in camp to warrant a PS spot, but Beasley has arrived now. If the Redskins keep 2 FBs it will be a battle between Schmitt and Beaseley against Jacksonville that will determine the backup.

Tight Ends
Projected Roster Positions: 3
Projected Starter: Chris Cooley
Projected Depth: Todd Yoder, Eric Edwards
Camp Fodder: Jake Nordin

Analysis: Back to 3 here. Cooley is the starter and Yoder and Edwards will back him up (as well as spot duty at FB if needed). We are pretty deep at this position and the release of Tyler Ecker should not hurt us at all.

Wide Receivers
Projected Roster Positions: 5
Projected Starters: Santana Moss, Antwaan Randle_el
Projected Depth: Brandon Lloyd, James Thrash, Jason McAddley
On the Bubble: Carl Berman, Todd Pinkston,
CampFodder: Burl Toller, Jarel Myers, Corey Bradford

Analysis: Still possible that the Redskins keep just 4 WRs and pump up another spot, maybe FB. But every year the Redskins under Gibbs have opened with 5 WRs. McAddley in my opinion has the edge because he plays special teams and the coaches seem to like him. Carl Berman likely gets a PS spot for return duties and because he is better then any other rookie WR we have on the roster.

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

Analysis: The addition of Pete Kendall is a stabilizing move in the long run for the offensive line. However in the short term it is going to create some unavoidable chaos. With Samuels hurt and Kendall just learning it is very likely they will not play together until the opening game of the season. However that is still better then leaving JC’s blindside open with Pucillo and Heyer in there. Ross Tucker looks to be the odd man out since Pucillo is now back to backing up center and guard.

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, Lorenzo Alexander, Alex Buzbee, Martin Askew, Justin Hickman
Camp Fodder: Bryant Shaw, Ryan Boschetti

Analysis: Chris Wilson played against the first stringers last night in Marcus Washington’s 3rd down pass rushing position. He seems to have gotten the attention of the coaching staff. The question now is can Alexander justify giving him a spot on the roster as well. Evans has had a bad an average pre-season and could lose his spot, but he is young and versatile. More likely they will PS Alexander and release and aging guy like Daniels or Salave’a next year.

Linebacker
Projected Roster Positions: 7
Projected Starters: Rocky McIntosh (WLB), London Fletcher-Baker (MLB), Marcus Washington (SLB)
Projected Depth: Randall Godfrey, Khary Campbell, HB Blades, Dallas Sartz
On the Bubble: Kevin Jones. Anthony Trucks
Camp fodder: Matt Sinclair

Analysis: The top 7 is set; the only question is who will get the final PS spot. Jones and Trucks have had great camps. Jones had a great game last week; Trucks had a decent few minutes of play this week. They are about as even as it can be. Edge right now flips to Trucks but it will all be about who can impress coaches on Thursday.

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

Analysis: Ok I am flopping on the 5th corner again. I still think Eubanks is going to PS, but Butler is a depth guy the Redskins like to have around in case our top three corners who are all injury prone. Eubanks can return punts and will be activated if ARE gets hurt (Moss and Thrash can do it during the game).

Safety
Projected Roster Positions: 4
Projected Starters: Sean Taylor (FS), Laron Landry (SS)
Projected Depth: Omar Stoutmire, Pierson Prioleau
On the Bubble: Reed Doughty, Vernon Fox

Analysis: Landry and Taylor are going to be downright scary this year; P squared is doing his job well also. Stoutmire rounds out the safety field and Doughty and Fox are more then likely looking for work a week from now.

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

Analysis: Suisham seems to have solved his Kick-off problem. Frost has been consistent. Albright is one of the ugliest guys on the team according to Smoot, but his snaps are always pretty so he stays again.

Practice Squad Projections

1.) Marcus Mason (RB). A nice young RB who can learn the offense and battle for a roster spot next year. Still needs to avoid any accidents next week to make the Coaching staff want to keep a 5th RB. With so many injuries on the line this could go either way.

2.) Keli Lefotu (G). With Wade, Heyer, Pucillo, and Whitley making the roster, The Redskins need a guard to run a full second line in practice. Lefotu looks at another year on the PS.

3.) Jordan Palmer (QB) If Brunell is cut or traded Palmer could find his way to the active roster, which would be good for Palmer. However without any pre-season snaps so far he needs to make good use of his time in Jacksonville.

4.) Anthony Trucks (LB) Jones could go here also. Trucks and Jones are going to battle it out on Thursday and the guy who wins will go here.

5.) Pete Schmidt (FB) If Sellers gets hurt Schmitt will be activated. He can also play TE and is a good young FB with nice hands. Still will the Redskins keep 7 RBs between the active roster and PS? Seems like a lot.

6.) John Eubanks (CB) Another year on PS but will battle for a roster spot next year. He has had a good camp and can return kicks. One more year on PS and he can battle some of the Vets for playing time next year.

7.) Lorenzo Alexander (DT) Look for the Redskins to take advantage in the CBA loophole to keep Alexander for one more year on PS. Next year Alexander will be rewarded for his patience.

8.) Carl Berman (WR) Need a guy who can come in and play if one of your WRs go down. Berman can do that. He also can return kicks and is very young, perfect PS guy.
That is it for now. Later this week I will be back with my reaction to the first round of cuts and the battles to look for against Jacksonville on Thursday.

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