Washington Redskins
QB: Aaron Rodgers
RB: Joique Bell
WR: Demaryius Thomas
WR: DeSean Jackson
RB/WR: Darren Sproles
TE: Martellus Bennett
LT: Ryan Clady
LG: Andrew Whitworth
C: Evan Dietrich-Smith
RG: Larry Warford
RT: Cordy Glenn
DE: Everson Griffen
DT: Kawann Short
DT: Akiem Hicks
DE: Quinton Coples
WLB: Daryl Smith
MLB: Jon Bostic
SLB: Jameel McClain
CB: Orlando Scandrick
CB: Tramaine Brock
FS: Ryan Mundy
SS: Dawan Landry
SCB: Richard Marshall (plays outside with Scandrick moving to slot)
K: Blair Walsh
P: Britton Colquitt
KR: Sproles/DeSean Jackson/Jonyer/Sims/Hawkins
PR: Sproles/DeSean Jackson/Joyner/Sims/Hawkins
Bench:
Dominique Davis, QB
Charles Sims, RB
Jerricho Cotchery, WR
Andrew Hawkins, WR
Ryan Grant, WR (Tulane)
Andrew Quarless, TE
Sean McGrath, TE
Tim Lelito, C/OG
Jack Mewhort, OT/OG
C.J. Mosley DT
Devon Still, DT
Dee Ford, DE
Anthony Spencer, DE
Darryl Tapp, DE
Dane Fletcher, LB
O'Brien Schofield, LB
Telvin Smith, LB
Dwight Bentley, CB
Jabari Greer, CB
Duron Harmon, SS
Lamarcus Joyner, FS
Offense:
I think I have the best offense in the league and it's not close. I drafted offensive players early and often and it shows. Aaron Rodgers is an elite QB who has shown he can lead a team to a Super Bowl victory. My offensive line has multiple studs and Aaron Rodgers should have plenty of time in the pocket as each individual player excels in pass protection.
I plan to use 11 personnel as my main grouping. Demaryius and DeSean Jackson both have great deep speed and should be creating plenty of room underneath. Bennett is a tight end who thrives as both a receiver and a blocker. Sproles is so shifty and reliable and complements the outside, vertical threats on this team. Bell is one of the best screen backs in the game and has proven to be competent in all facets of the game. I envision using my backs similarly to how the Lions use Bush and Bell. Sproles and Bell should both easily surpass 50 receptions each.
My main concern on offense is Sproles and his age. When the season starts he'll be 31. During the regular season, the Redskins will need to put him on a snap count. Hawkins, Cotchery, and Quarless should all be competent options to limit the snap count of Sproles but none of those players bring the skillset and reliability that Sproles brings. Sims and Ryan Grant are my lottery tickets on offense who I'm not really counting on to contribute.
Defense:
I think this unit will be below average at best and it's pretty likely that this will be one of the worst defenses in the league. I do think that for all of the early picks I spent on offense, the defense will be good enough. I want my defensive coordinator to blitz and gamble a lot and put an emphasis on generating turnovers.
My defensive line is the bright spot of my defense. Short and Hicks are both young and talented tackles. Griffen, Spencer, Coples, and Dee Ford should form a nice rotation on the outside at DE. On obvious passing downs, Coples and potentially Griffen may be moved inside to DT.
My group of linebackers is ugly. The lone bright spot is Daryl Smith and he is a definite 3 down linebacker for the team. Outside of him, I'm hoping at least one of my veteran linebackers can really step up. Bostic and O'Brien Schofield provide some upside at the position while McClain and Dane Fletcher bring experience and can be adequate "break glass" players with decent floors. Telvin Smith is my lottery ticket at linebacker. He's undersized but athletic and could be useful in subpackages.
I actually like my group of cornerbacks. Brock and Scandrick both played well last year and I think both are solid starters. Marshall is a versatile, veteran player who can play both corner and safety and not look out of place. Greer, if healthy, could be a starter for this team. That's a big if though. Dwight Bentley is a young player with athleticism and upside.
Safety is another potentially ugly position for the Redskins. I have Landry and Mundy penciled in to start but am really hoping Joyner and/or Harmon can play well enough to start. Marshall may be seeing time at safety depending on how things pan out.
Special Teams:
DeSean Jackson will be my returner in special circumstances when the Redskins need a big play. He is too important to be the regular returner. I am envisioning one of Joyner, Sims, or Hawkins being my regular returner. If none of those options prove to be reliable, then Sproles will handle returner responsibilities.
Kickers and punters are a dime a dozen but I got two of the better ones in Blair Walsh and Britton Colquitt.
Overall:
My offense is going to score a lot of points and I feel like I have the best offense in the league. On the other hand, my defense will give up a lot of points. The biggest weakness of this team is at linebacker but I envision using subpackages with one or two linebackers the majority of the time. My defensive line and defensive backfield don't have any true studs but I think there is enough talent to potentially make this unit adequate.
In this draft, owners can build their teams in one of three ways:
- Offensive heavy teams with weak defenses
- Defensive heavy teams with weak offenses
- Balanced teams
I think the Redskins are best against category 2 and 3 teams. I don't think even the best defensive teams can contain my offense and my defense should be able to limit the relatively weaker offenses.
It's tougher for me to predict how games will go against category 1 teams because both offenses should overwhelm the other team's defense. I do think in shootouts with minimal defense, there isn't a quarterback I'd trust or want more than Rodgers.
Obviously I am biased, but I think the Redskins are one of the best teams in this draft.