Vision Quest: Roster Wars…Post Steelers game 2007

Ok ladies and Gentlemen. It is now crunch time. The last pre-season game before the first cut date looms. Nine unlucky players will have their dream of a Washington Redskin career end on August 28th, 2007. An Additional 22 players will be cut on September 1, 2007 to get down to our roster of 53. Eight of those last cuts will be asked to participate on the Practice squad a day later.

Before I get into my predictions for this week I have to inform you of a great contest being run at hR. Roster Wars…the game. If you think that my predictions are off, then it is time to put your money where your mouth is (figuratively speaking of course). Go to this thread http://hailredskins.com/vbforum/showthread.php?t=42278 . You can make your own predictions on not just the final roster but the 75 players who will survive the first cut and the 8 players who will get on the practice squad. This is a bracket-type tournament and all projections are due on noon on Sunday. Mad props to BurgundyNGold for thinking of this contest and organizing it and running it.

I will be making a prediction for the contest there as well. But I do plan on continuing to track and change the progress of the team here on the bog. Since I live out of the DC area I am not privy to live pre-season games like many of you so I have to wait until the next day to catch the Ravens game on the NFL Network. That is not bad since cut day is the Tuesday and I should be able to get an updated guess out before the official cut day. However the NFL Network won’t be re-showing the final pre-season game againstJacksonville until the morning of September 1st, so more then likely I will be guessing blind the next week.

Oh well enough complaining on my part. Here is where I think things stand as of today:

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

Analysis: Jason Campbell’s injury should highlight the battle of Brunell vs. Collins as the #2QB. The injury also solidifies the fact that neither Brunell nor Collins will be released this pre-season. Palmer is looking at a PS spot for sure. However we may get to see Palmer for a series or two Saturday if JC can’t go.

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

Analysis: Mason is working hard and solidifying himself as a decent PS candidate. Dee Brown has done nothing to try and unseat either Rock or Blaylock. This group is set and Dee Brown should fear the reaper come Tuesday.

Fullback
Projected Roster Positions: 2
Projected Starter: Mike Sellers, Pete Schmitt
Camp Fodder: Brian Bell,

Analysis: Pete Schmitt was the only other fullback who played on Saturday and that tells me a couple of things. A.) Brian Bell is done. B.) The coaches like this kid. And so do I. He probably will make the roster as putting him on PS would be a waste.

Tight Ends
Projected Roster Positions: 2
Projected Starter: Chris Cooley
Projected Depth: Todd Yoder
On the Bubble: Eric Edwards
Camp Fodder: Jake Nordin, Tyler Ecker

Analysis: Eric Edwards is playing well for sure, but I think he is now destined for the PS. Mike Sellers and Mike Pucillo can play 3rd TE in goalline formations and the need to have Edwards active on game day is not there. Nordin got cut the moment he fumbled the ball on Saturday. Ecker may be destined to be this year’s Manny White award winner for draft pick put on IR. A groin injury is keeping him out of action for over a month…a MONTH!!!! He could easily be cut as well.

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,
Camp Fodder: Burl Toller, Jarel Myers, Corey Bradford,
Analysis: Mike Espy’s loss for the year opens up a spot on the roster for someone. Toller and Berman seemed like candidates to fill that spot but they both had horrible games on Saturday. Enter Jason McAddley. He is playing with the first team on punt and kickoff coverage units and was the 6th WR off the bench the last two pre-season games. Pinkston and Bradford have not taken the field all pre-season and if they don’t on Saturday, they should fear the reaper as well.

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

Analysis: Pucillo did not have a great game on Saturday, but he is starting again this Saturday. I think it is likely he will now start on the left side come opening day. This has a ripple effect on the line. Ross tucker now has an excellent chance to make the roster since he in essence becomes the backup center, and Todd Wade is pushed to the bench, hurting the chances of Fabini & Armstrong.

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 is back again on the roster and Alexander back as a PS candidate this week. These two keep flip flopping and it will likely keep flipping until the end of the pre-season. Both deserve to make the squad IMO. However will the Redskins sacrifice a vet to give them a roster spot when they can stash one on the PS? If I am Demetric Evans I need to start making major plays this week or else it will be tempting to let him go.

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
Camp fodder: Anthony Trucks, Matt Sinclair

Analysis: Lemar Marshall’s release in a way solidifies the LB group. Godfrey will not be in playing shape or know the defense enough to start or replace Washington on opening day. Campbell will need to stay on to be a backup just in case. Sartz as well. All the tuck on the message boards is on Anthony trucks and I can not figure out why. Kevin Jones is my dark horse LBer candidate and a guy GW and Olivadotti have constantly sung their praises about. He is also showing up on the field. Watch for him to be a PS candidate.

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

Analysis: John Eubanks turned in the best performance of his redskin career last Saturday filling in for the injured Ade Jimoh. Right now you have to put him as the 5th CB. But Butler is on his heels and could slip into that #5 spot. If he does it is another year on PS for Eubanks. Westbrook’s only hope of making the PS is ifButler is cut. So the choice may be Butler vs. Westbrook at the end of the day.

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: Neither Reed or Fox are doing anything to justify moving Omar Stoutmire out of the lineup. They are solidly with the third team and neither has come up with a game changing interception or fumble recovery to make the coaches re-think signing Omar. Once again it is not often the Redskins sign a FA to a multi-year contract and release them in their first year, no matter how small the contract. I like Reed’s story, but it may need to continue somewhere else.

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

Analysis: Suisham’s solid kicking kept the coaches from dial 1-900-get-A-leg. Then again that may have saved Coach Gibbs an uncomfortable conversation with Mrs. Gibbs when the phone bill came. Frost is having had a solid pre-season and I hope he continues to do so.

Practice Squad Projections

1.) Marcus Mason (RB). The Kid has moves. But this is not a lock. With injuries on the line and at WR piling up the Redskins could look to stash someone here like Calvin Armstrong. He needs to show he has enough talent to have the front office risk signing him.

2.) Keli Lefotu (G). He is having a nice pre-season but is in a numbers game. Still he gets the nod over Armstrong because he plays on the inside. If Wade regains the LG position then Armstrong could go here as well.

3.) Jordan Palmer (QB) This is why you don’t waste a draft pick on a QB unless you have a spot for him on the active roster. I am still hoping I am wrong on this because I think the PS should be filled with position players you need depth at. 4th string QB is not what I had in mind.

4.) Kevin Jones (LB) This kid is having a great off-season and if Godfrey washes out or was not signed he was making moves to get on the active roster. He still could overtake Sartz for an active roster spot with a good couple of games.

5.) Eric Edwards (TE) having a great camp and is getting caught in a numbers game. He will wait here in case there are any injuries and then can be called up in an instant. Pucillo, Sellers, and Schmitt can double as goal line TE in game situations.

6.) Byron Westbrook (CB) Needed to follow up his lucky TD last week with a great game to make the active roster, but did not. He is hanging by a thread here, ifButler overcomes Eubanks, Eubanks goes here.

7.) Lorenzo Alexander (DT) The Helmet less one may spend another year on PS. It will depend on whether any DT or Des get hurt in the next couple of games as to whether he or Chris Wilson get to have a roster spot.

8.) Carl Berman (WR) had a bad game and probably cost himself a roster spot. Still he can return kicks and had a decent camp until then, and probably needs a year on PS to mature. Has speed and decent hands, lacks concentration it seems to make the next step, much like Espy last year.

Battles to Watch For

As always here are some battles to watch for against the Ravens.

2nd FB or 3rd TE Pete Schmitt vs. Eric Edwards. Schmitt has the edge because he can backup FB and Sellers and Pucillo can play 3rd TE in goalline situations. Edwards needs to show up big to keep from going to the PS.

Starting LG Todd Wade vs. Mike Pucillo. This competition has not only implications in our starting offense but on the compliment of depth kept behind them. If Pucillo wins the LG spot Ross Tucker benefits as he is elevated to backup C and needed on game days in case of injury. If Wade gets it then Calvin Armstrong and Jason Fabini benefit as we will need more then Stephon Heyer on the bench who can play T.

5th WR. McAddley vs. the field. This is wide open with McAddley getting the edge because of his special teams play. The vets like Hoag, Pinkston, and Bradford have to make a play here to take this spot from him. McAddley needs to show he can be a benefit in the passing game as well. Berman, Berman, Toler, and Myers are eligible for PS and one of them should end up there.

5th CB. John Eubanks vs. Jerametrius Butler. Eubanks is in the lead here but Butler can surprise him. Butler has been hurt all camp and has been coveted by the coaching staff for the last couple of years. He is now healthy and the coaches may decide to keep both by putting Eubanks on the PS. Westbrook needs to be Eubanks biggest backer as I doubt there is room for 2 Cbs on the PS.

9Th DL Chris Wright vs. Lorenzo Alexander. I love both these guys and would not bat an eye if Evans or Montgomery are let go to make room for them. I doubt that will happen on either case though so they are likely fighting for one spot on the roster and the loser going on PS. Martin Askew could make a case here as well if he continues to have a good pre-season. The rest are hoping for either a 2nd PS spot or a vet to get let go so they can sneak on.

As always Hail to the Redskins!!

Discuss it here: http://hailredskins.com/vbforum/showthread.php?p=992092#post992092