***OFFICIAL*** Washington Redskins 2011 Offseason Thread (1 Viewer)

[nittanylion]

Posted at 04:54 PM ET, 08/05/2011

Redskins sign offensive lineman Sean Locklear

By Mike Jones

The Washington Redskins have signed veteran offensive lineman Sean Locklear, a free agent, who last season started 15 out of 16 games at right tackle for the Seattle Seahawks.

Locklear, a 6-foot-4, 310-pound eighth-year pro, arrived at Redskins Park on Friday afternoon.

The 30-year-old North Carolina State product entered the league as a guard, and in 2005 made the switch to tackle. Locklear has started 51 out of 54 games since 2007.

The Redskins this week added right guard Chris Chester, a free agent who last played for Baltimore, and now add Locklear to the mix.

It’s not immediately clear if he will be used to back up right tackle Jammal Brown and/or left tackle Trent Williams, or if Locklear will compete for a starting spot – possibly at left guard, where natural center Kory Lichtensteiger started 14 games.

Depth is an issue along the offensive line for Washington. Aside from 10th-year veteran guard/tackle Artis Hicks, Washington doesn’t have a veteran backup lineman. Selvish Capers, Xavier Fulton, Erik Cook and Clint Oldenburg all have been seldom used in their young careers. Washington in April drafted Maurice Hurt, a seventh-round pick out of Florida.

 

[dgreen]

Did they cut someone? According the WaPo, they reached the 90-man roster yesterday when they signed OL Donovan Raoila.

 

[Harjiran]

Aldrick Robinson

On the sideline at practice today I was talking to a football analyst who is fairly well known both locally and nationally. We started talking about the receivers and he was very effusive in his praise for rookie Aldrick Robinson, a sixth-round draft pick out of SMU.

A few things about Robinson impressed this analyst, who studies a lot of college film. One was his hustle. We watched several plays that went away from Robinson and on each play he executed his assignment at full speed. Not every receiver does this consistently.

The analyst liked Robinson’s speed, but that advantage won’t be as noticeable in the NFL as it was in Conference USA.

But what impressed the observer the most was Robinson’s ability to plant his foot, cut, and change direction. “That will get you separation at any level of football,” he said.

As we watched, many players, even some NFL veterans, were rounding off their routes. Robinson ran a simple square in and changed direction very suddenly. The ball did not come his way but he had achieved separation. Before practice wrapped up he executed a few more sharp cuts.

I will keep an eye on Robinson over the next few practices to see if he keeps is up. Most believe that Robinson will have a hard time making the 53-man roster and that a year on the practice squad is in the cards for him. But if he can display the skills that this analyst believes he has he just might force his way on to the roster.

 

[VaTerp]

My goodness it's hard to be a Skins fan these days....

http://rumorsandrants.com/2011/08/rex-grossman-is-in-midseason-form.html

 

[Sidewinder16]

Did they cut someone? According the WaPo, they reached the 90-man roster yesterday when they signed OL Donovan Raoila.

I think that included the 3 PUP players. They do not count against the 90-man roster limit until they are removed from the PUP list. After the Locklear signing, they should be able to still sign 2 more before having to cut anyone else.

 

[fatness]

Last week EPN980 had Al Galdi on from 8 to 11 am each weekday from training camp, and all he talked was Redskins. Then Sheehan and Loverro took over from 11 to 2 and talked a lot of Redskins.

One of the best developments on that station is that Rich Campbell is giving updates from training camp, and he's very informative on radio just as he is in print. In my opinion they ought to can Chris Russell and hire Campbell in his place. He has as much or more information as Russell and a lot more insight.

 

[fatness]

My goodness it's hard to be a Skins fan these days....http://rumorsandrants.com/2011/08/rex-grossman-is-in-midseason-form.html

Sweet. We have 2 subpar QB's and one of them is comfortable enough in his job to come to camp out of shape.

 

[Sebowski]

My goodness it's hard to be a Skins fan these days....http://rumorsandrants.com/2011/08/rex-grossman-is-in-midseason-form.html

Beck is entering his fifth season, has played in just five games and has thrown one career touchdown pass. He has a career passer rating of 62.0. Meanwhile, Grossman has a career passer rating of 70.9 and has thrown 40 touchdown passes and 40 interceptions in the NFL.

 

[DCThunder]

Did they cut someone? According the WaPo, they reached the 90-man roster yesterday when they signed OL Donovan Raoila.

I think that included the 3 PUP players. They do not count against the 90-man roster limit until they are removed from the PUP list. After the Locklear signing, they should be able to still sign 2 more before having to cut anyone else.

The cut Robert Henson (LB) today, according to ESPN 980 when I was listening in the car around 12:30. Supposedly he made some ill advised Tweets the other night. And didn't he diss Redskins fans a few years ago when he was a rookie for booing the team because they were awful during the Zorn years.

 

[Sidewinder16]

Did they cut someone? According the WaPo, they reached the 90-man roster yesterday when they signed OL Donovan Raoila.

I think that included the 3 PUP players. They do not count against the 90-man roster limit until they are removed from the PUP list. After the Locklear signing, they should be able to still sign 2 more before having to cut anyone else.

The cut Robert Henson (LB) today, according to ESPN 980 when I was listening in the car around 12:30. Supposedly he made some ill advised Tweets the other night. And didn't he diss Redskins fans a few years ago when he was a rookie for booing the team because they were awful during the Zorn years.

Yep, Henson is gone, and so is Joe Joseph and Kyle O'Donnell. Along w/ Locklear and Raiola recently, the 'Skins signed Keyaron Fox, the Steelers special teams captain for the past 2 years.

 

[Hedgehog]

any homers have an idea on the value of Helu in a dynasty?

 

[Brunell4MVP]

I'm finally beginning to sense some sanity from management and coaches. The defense is much improved. The OL, while still not that good, is improved. Those are the building blocks of a team. The QBs and WRs are mediocre at best. But I can live with Grossman or Beck for a couple of years while we wait for a new QB and for the WRs to develop. At least by being strong up front on both sides of the ball, we have a shot.

I'd say we're looking at an 8-8 season. For what it's worth, I'd be saying we'd be looking at 10-6 if McNabb was our QB. This wouldn't be a bad team with him running the offense.

 

[BearsFan]

Any more feedback from practices on how Niles Paul is looking, or guesses as to how the WR rotation will shake out?

I've heard that Paul is good blocker, but will he also be able contribute on special teams as a KR/PR possibly?

 

[fatness]

This is terrible news for the defense.

Landry said he'd likely have Achilles' tendon surgery next offseason if it doesn't respond to the alternative treatments & rehab this time.

Landry's on the PUP list, they don't know when he can play, he's recovering from an Achilles injury and talking about "if it doesn't respond", and he's their best defensive player.

 

[DCThunder]

This is terrible news for the defense.

Landry said he'd likely have Achilles' tendon surgery next offseason if it doesn't respond to the alternative treatments & rehab this time.

Landry's on the PUP list, they don't know when he can play, he's recovering from an Achilles injury and talking about "if it doesn't respond", and he's their best defensive player.

First Sean Taylor and now this...man, we have awful luck with highly drafted safeties...

 

[Marvelous]

This is terrible news for the defense.

Landry said he'd likely have Achilles' tendon surgery next offseason if it doesn't respond to the alternative treatments & rehab this time.

Landry's on the PUP list, they don't know when he can play, he's recovering from an Achilles injury and talking about "if it doesn't respond", and he's their best defensive player.

It is a very ominious sign that when Landry went onto the PUP. I understand that after what happended to Kelley last year, putting the player on the PUP at the beginning is the safe move, but if Landry could not heal in 6 months of the offseason, how much improvement can we expect in the next 5 weeks?

 

[Sylira21]

I'm finally beginning to sense some sanity from management and coaches. The defense is much improved. The OL, while still not that good, is improved. Those are the building blocks of a team. The QBs and WRs are mediocre at best. But I can live with Grossman or Beck for a couple of years while we wait for a new QB and for the WRs to develop. At least by being strong up front on both sides of the ball, we have a shot.I'd say we're looking at an 8-8 season. For what it's worth, I'd be saying we'd be looking at 10-6 if McNabb was our QB. This wouldn't be a bad team with him running the offense.

I started to reply to this post with "8-8? Are you crazy?" Then I did something I really hadn't done much of - look at the schedule for this year. You know, we have a number of surprisingly winnable games.Week 1, Giants. Seems like every time we open with the Giants they thrash us. Probably a loss.Week 2 Arizona. Kolb still setttling in to the offense, Zona doesn't travel to the East Coast very well. Good chance for a winWeek 3 @ Dallas, Monday night. Splitting with Dallas a lot the last few years. Call this one a loss.Week 4 @ St. Louis. Definitely not a top tier team, but they beat us last year. Wish this one was at home. Rams will be favored.Week 6 Philly. This team might be hard to beat (at least by a team like Washington) this year. Probably a loss.Week 7 @ Carolina. One of the worst teams last year, how much have they really improved? Good chance for a win, but again this is on the road.Week 8 @ Buffalo. See Week 7. Another very winnable game, but on the road again.Week 9 San Francisco. Another West Coast team travelling east. Don't have a really good fix on 49ers this year. But at least with Alex Smith our disadvantage at QB will not be so pronounced. Chance for a win.Week 10 @ Miami. Another not-so-good team. How can Henne really feel comfortable there? Will they be on their second QB by then? Will we be on our third? Tough call, again a not-so-good team but away.Week 11 Dallas. We'll give the Skins this one just cause there must be some justice in the world, which means that Dallas must find new interesting ways to lose. Maybe a fake punt or something.Week 12 @ Seattle. Not that good, but I don't think we play them well. Especially on the West Coast. Different story if it was here, but I'm skeptical about in Qwest field.Week 13 Jets. Don't think so.Week 14 Pats. Don't think so.Week 15 @ Giants. Don't think so.Week 16 Minnesota. The return of Donovan? Rather interesting game. Should be close, it is winnable, we play well against the Vikes seems like.Week 17 @ Philly. Don't think so.So there are a number of games we get against less than stellar teams (at least as it looks in preseason) but most of them seem to be on the road. I guess 8-8 is possible, but the team will have to travel well. 6-10 seems more likely, given our penchent for blowing at least one or two games we should win every year.

 

[Sebowski]

We beat the Panthers, Bills, Seattle, and the Cowboys once. Three of those picks are road games though so we probably lose one or more of those, but win a couple we "shouldn't" at home. Or just go 2-14.

 

[Harjiran]

any homers have an idea on the value of Helu in a dynasty?

Helu is probably the guy to own long-term but this is a Mike Shanahan backfield we're talking about. It'll be a crap-shoot from week to week and the Skins will likely be terrible this year. I'd feel better about the running game if they'd made more of an effort to upgrade the OL during the offseason.

 

[Harjiran]

This is terrible news for the defense.

I think you guys are overreacting a little bit.LaRon Landry

Landry continues to rehabilitate his Achilles’ tendon, an injury that forced him to miss the second half of last year and was repaired in January. He is on the physically unable to perform list and is almost certain to miss at least the preseason opener next week against Pittsburgh.

“Making progress. Everything’s positive. Making strides. It’s getting close. It’s getting better,” Landry said after Friday morning’s practice.

Landry, safety Kareem Moore and linebacker Robert Henson remain on the PUP list. They can be activated at any time.

Landry said the lockout didn’t delay his recovery, citing his time training in Arizona instead of rehabbing at Redskin Park.

“Nature still would have taken its course,” he said. “It still would have needed time to heal. A month ago, it started turning the corner. Now I’m able to do strength-building drills to make it stronger. But I had to let it calm down first.”

Landry hasn’t experienced a setback since reporting to camp and knew all along he would start on the sidelines.

“Throughout the rehab in Arizona, I knew I wouldn’t be able to be myself,” he said. “I’m not going on the field unless I’m 110 percent and can do all of the things I know I can do.”

Landry, who also had off-season wrist/shoulder surgery, won’t return to practice until he knows the injury can’t be easily aggravated.

“It makes no sense to go out there and then come back to the side and take a couple days off,” he said. “When I get out there, I want to stay out there.”

 

[De Novo]

I'm finally beginning to sense some sanity from management and coaches. The defense is much improved. The OL, while still not that good, is improved. Those are the building blocks of a team. The QBs and WRs are mediocre at best. But I can live with Grossman or Beck for a couple of years while we wait for a new QB and for the WRs to develop. At least by being strong up front on both sides of the ball, we have a shot.I'd say we're looking at an 8-8 season. For what it's worth, I'd be saying we'd be looking at 10-6 if McNabb was our QB. This wouldn't be a bad team with him running the offense.

I started to reply to this post with "8-8? Are you crazy?" Then I did something I really hadn't done much of - look at the schedule for this year. You know, we have a number of surprisingly winnable games.Week 1, Giants. Seems like every time we open with the Giants they thrash us. Probably a loss.Week 2 Arizona. Kolb still setttling in to the offense, Zona doesn't travel to the East Coast very well. Good chance for a winWeek 3 @ Dallas, Monday night. Splitting with Dallas a lot the last few years. Call this one a loss.Week 4 @ St. Louis. Definitely not a top tier team, but they beat us last year. Wish this one was at home. Rams will be favored.Week 6 Philly. This team might be hard to beat (at least by a team like Washington) this year. Probably a loss.Week 7 @ Carolina. One of the worst teams last year, how much have they really improved? Good chance for a win, but again this is on the road.Week 8 @ Buffalo. See Week 7. Another very winnable game, but on the road again.Week 9 San Francisco. Another West Coast team travelling east. Don't have a really good fix on 49ers this year. But at least with Alex Smith our disadvantage at QB will not be so pronounced. Chance for a win.Week 10 @ Miami. Another not-so-good team. How can Henne really feel comfortable there? Will they be on their second QB by then? Will we be on our third? Tough call, again a not-so-good team but away.Week 11 Dallas. We'll give the Skins this one just cause there must be some justice in the world, which means that Dallas must find new interesting ways to lose. Maybe a fake punt or something.Week 12 @ Seattle. Not that good, but I don't think we play them well. Especially on the West Coast. Different story if it was here, but I'm skeptical about in Qwest field.Week 13 Jets. Don't think so.Week 14 Pats. Don't think so.Week 15 @ Giants. Don't think so.Week 16 Minnesota. The return of Donovan? Rather interesting game. Should be close, it is winnable, we play well against the Vikes seems like.Week 17 @ Philly. Don't think so.So there are a number of games we get against less than stellar teams (at least as it looks in preseason) but most of them seem to be on the road. I guess 8-8 is possible, but the team will have to travel well. 6-10 seems more likely, given our penchent for blowing at least one or two games we should win every year.

It really is unfortunate that the most winnable non-division games are nearly all on the road - Seattle, Miami, Buffalo, Carolina, St. Louis. Really wish 2 of those were at home and we played Jets and Pats on the road, because we're probably losing them anyway. That would be the makings of an 8-8 season. If the team travels well, we could certainly finish 8-8. I will say I think we steal one or two from the Jets, Pats, Philly, and New York in an ugly 17-13 type game.As it stands, a winning record for this team is highly unlikely unless our running game is in good form and our QBs can manage the game.

 

[De Novo]

Any more feedback from practices on how Niles Paul is looking, or guesses as to how the WR rotation will shake out?I've heard that Paul is good blocker, but will he also be able contribute on special teams as a KR/PR possibly?

Heard that he's made some good plays, including a diving catch a couple days ago, and that drops have not been an issue.

 

[Sidewinder16]

Here's a cool WaPo article about Eric Schaffer and a role he played with the team during the post-lockout free agent frenzy.

 

[dhockster]

My goodness it's hard to be a Skins fan these days....http://rumorsandrants.com/2011/08/rex-grossman-is-in-midseason-form.html

I just don't understand some people. Rex has been a starter and he has been a back-up. He has a chance with a great trainingcamp to be a starter again. And he shows up like that? Maybe he enjoyed being a back-up more than being a starter. That is the only explanation I can think of.

 

[fatness]

Live Redskin chat with Rick Maese today.

Q. If Trent Williams got in a wrestling match with a real silverback Gorilla, who do you think would win? My money is on the gorilla, especially if the prize were bananas.

A. If it's Greco Roman, I'm taking Trent in a heartbeat. If it's freestyle, though, I gotta go with the silverback. And if it's WWE, I think it's a double disqualification cuz Vinny Cerrato jumps in and tries to trade Trent for bag of M&Ms.

Q. Which rookies are looking like they will play this year? Helu?

A. If Jarvis Jenkins isn't starting Week 1, I think he'll be starting pretty early in the season. He looks good. He's getting work on both the left and right side. Haslett likes rotating D-linemen and Jenkins will get a lot of work even if he doesn't start.

Kerrigan was working with the starters today during team drills. The team will expect him to start right away.

Helu is an interesting one. He's certainly looked impressive in camp. I'd like to see him in live action and he's a guy I'll definitely be keeping an eye on him in Friday's preseason game.

Q. My optimistic thought is that the skins were in alot of close games last year that they lost with all of the o line problems and a terrible defense and it appears the defense is better with no reason to think the offense is worse and might be better. They also finally won some conference games. Doesn't that seem to indicate that they will be better?

A. What if their quarterback is worse?

 

[MikeApf]

From Washington Post recap of the morning practice:

"Tim Hightower has now fumbled in four of his five practices with the team. The running back’s latest fumble came at the goal line."



:(

 

[Sebowski]

Is it February yet?

2012 wishlist:

Andrew Luck

Vincent Jackson

Michael Bush

 

[fatness]

Last year the player I was rooting for in training camp and preseason was Anthony Armstrong. This year it's Stephen Bowen.

On June 28, Bowen and his wife, Tiffany, became the parents of twins, Skyler and Stephen III. They were born extremely premature, some four months early. Skyler died 10 days later. Stephen III remains in a hospital in Dallas. Tiffany and the Bowens' 21-month-old daughter Trinity have also stayed behind in the city where Bowen played for five seasons with the Cowboys.

"Things are a lot better," Bowen told The Associated Press following a Redskins practice. "It's still hard. I still think about the son we lost every day. He was just an inspiration for us. While he was here, he was fighting every day to try to be here for us. So the least I can do is just work my butt off and try to be the best football player I can be."

Bowen said the twins were born at 24 weeks, "micro preemies" considered at the cusp of the age of viability for premature babies. Micro preemies generally weigh a little more than a pound and face long-term stays in intensive care. A photo of Stephen III on Tiffany's Facebook page shows the tiny baby wrapped in a small white blanket in the hospital, looking no bigger than the gloved adult hand gently around him.

"He's doing good," Bowen said. "He's still in the hospital, but he's making progress."

Bowen understandably did not want to go into the details of his son's condition, but he is starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel. When Stephen III is released from the hospital - perhaps as early as next month - the family will move to Washington. "Hopefully he'll be here in September, but we'll see," Bowen said. "If he keeps having the right progress he's having right now."

 

[Dexter Manley]

Now that bill Romanowski has weighed in on the situation, I think we can officially put the bulk of the blame on McNabb for things not working out with the Redskins last year.http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/10/bill-romanowski-says-lazy-mcnabb-couldnt-fit-with-shanahan/

Bill Romanowski says “lazy” McNabb couldn’t fit with ShanahanPosted by Michael David Smith on August 10, 2011, 6:16 PM EDT APBill Romanowski played for Mike Shanahan for six years in Denver, and he says that time with Shanahan gives him some insight into why Donovan McNabb was a failure as the Redskins’ quarterback last year.Specifically, Romanowski said on the Jim Rome Show, Shanahan wants hard workers on his team, and that doesn’t describe McNabb.“The reason why Donovan McNabb is not in Washington right now is because he was lazy,” Romanowski said. “He didn’t spend the time. Mike Shanahan likes guys who will work really hard. I narrow it down to two things. He’s either lazy, or he’s not very bright to pick up the offense. One or the other. I think he’s bright enough, I just think he was lazy.”Romanowski also had some thoughts on Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow, saying that Tebow should be playing on “some team that doesn’t have a chance in hell to go anywhere.”Asked what his own approach to Tebow would have been if they had played at the same time, Romanowski said he would have relished the opportunity to drill Tebow.“I would want to lay him out and put him into next year,” Romanowski said of Tebow. “I’d have him so messed up mentally he’d be like, Oh, God, this Romanowski is crazy.”If Tebow did conclude that Romanowski is crazy, he wouldn’t be the first.

 

[thayman]

Now that bill Romanowski has weighed in on the situation, I think we can officially put the bulk of the blame on McNabb for things not working out with the Redskins last year.http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/10/bill-romanowski-says-lazy-mcnabb-couldnt-fit-with-shanahan/

Bill Romanowski says “lazy” McNabb couldn’t fit with ShanahanPosted by Michael David Smith on August 10, 2011, 6:16 PM EDT APBill Romanowski played for Mike Shanahan for six years in Denver, and he says that time with Shanahan gives him some insight into why Donovan McNabb was a failure as the Redskins’ quarterback last year.Specifically, Romanowski said on the Jim Rome Show, Shanahan wants hard workers on his team, and that doesn’t describe McNabb.“The reason why Donovan McNabb is not in Washington right now is because he was lazy,” Romanowski said. “He didn’t spend the time. Mike Shanahan likes guys who will work really hard. I narrow it down to two things. He’s either lazy, or he’s not very bright to pick up the offense. One or the other. I think he’s bright enough, I just think he was lazy.”Romanowski also had some thoughts on Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow, saying that Tebow should be playing on “some team that doesn’t have a chance in hell to go anywhere.”Asked what his own approach to Tebow would have been if they had played at the same time, Romanowski said he would have relished the opportunity to drill Tebow.“I would want to lay him out and put him into next year,” Romanowski said of Tebow. “I’d have him so messed up mentally he’d be like, Oh, God, this Romanowski is crazy.”If Tebow did conclude that Romanowski is crazy, he wouldn’t be the first.

Call me crazy but I expect the Head Coach and GM to actually bother to see if a QB with 14 years in the league will even be able to work with their OC. Do I think McNabb has issues with stamina, accuracy and a resistance to learing a new system? Of course but I thought that when he was in Philly.

 

[DCThunder]

So anybody going to the game tonight?

 

[southeastjerome]

Does anyone know of where I might be able to watch this online?? I am dying to see the game tonight up here in Mass!

 

[DCThunder]

Does anyone know of where I might be able to watch this online?? I am dying to see the game tonight up here in Mass!

CSN Washington website? It'll be on NFL Network on tape delay sometime tomrrow, I'd guess.

 

[southeastjerome]

Does anyone know of where I might be able to watch this online?? I am dying to see the game tonight up here in Mass!

CSN Washington website? It'll be on NFL Network on tape delay sometime tomrrow, I'd guess.

Thanks, I just sucked it up and paid $20 for NFL preseason live.

 

[gbill2004]

Any updates on Cooley's knee?

 

[DCThunder]

Any updates on Cooley's knee?

Cooley is not playing.Other scratches are Torrain, Beck, Landry, Atogwe and Malcom Kelly, I think.

 

[Unwrittenlaw]

Does anyone know of where I might be able to watch this online?? I am dying to see the game tonight up here in Mass!

http://myp2p.eu/competition.php?competitionid=∂=sports&discipline=americanfootball

 

[Eastwood]

Who is the team that came out wearing the Redskins jersey? I am literally in shock. This is the Steelers first team D right?

 

[southeastjerome]

Classic, only the Redskins could drive 88 yards and score zero points...unreal.

 

[hammerva]

If I could describe Leonard Hankerson right now in 1 word it would be LAZY. Needs to pick up his game.

 

[thayman]

If I could describe Leonard Hankerson right now in 1 word it would be LAZY. Needs to pick up his game.

That's dissapointing to hear. If Shanny and Allen walk away from this draft with only one or two players again I will be

 

[ConnSKINS26]

If I could describe Leonard Hankerson right now in 1 word it would be LAZY. Needs to pick up his game.

That's dissapointing to hear. If Shanny and Allen walk away from this draft with only one or two players again I will be

Again? What do you mean again? There are a bunch of players on our roster from last year's draft.

 

[Brunell4MVP]

If I could describe Leonard Hankerson right now in 1 word it would be LAZY. Needs to pick up his game.

That's dissapointing to hear. If Shanny and Allen walk away from this draft with only one or two players again I will be

Again? What do you mean again? There are a bunch of players on our roster from last year's draft.

No doubt. The only offensive starters that remain from 2 years ago are Moss and Cooley. The only defesive starters are Landry, Orakpo, Fletcher and Hall. So of the 22 offensive and defensive starters from 2009, we've replaced 16 since Shanny arrived. I'd say that was much needed, from a talent, age, and attitude persective.

 

[dehaven123]

For all the pessimism that the current OL is getting, can anyone tell me the last time the 'Skins had 4 returning starters AND none of the starters were more than 30.5 years of age on opening weekend?

1st: Bringing back a group of bad starters shouldn't be a cause for celebration2nd: Did we replace the Center and RG so far?

#1: Define bad? Are these guys each the worst in the league at their respective positions? Guys like Lichtensteiger or Montgomery may not be Pro-Bowlers, but what team has Pro-Bowlers across the line? Chemistry across the line is often more important than individual talent.#2: From 2010? Yes.

I am by no means going to try and sell this unit as one of the league's best. But the assumption that the OL will be as bad or worse than last year simply because the 'Skins didn't replace Steiger and Montgomery with big name Pro Bowlers (read: better "talent")* is myopic, at best. ETA: there is enough combined youth, chemistry and talent for this OL to be respectable to good. Whether it pans out that way is, obviously, yet to be seen.

*and/or, because an assumption is being made that Williams and Brown will regress or otherwise can't improve on last season.

I agree completely. First of all, Chester should be a big improvement over Hicks at RG. This also improves the OL depth, as Hicks will now be coming off the bench and can play G or T.Second, Montgomery should be a significant improvement over Rabach at C. Every time I've paid attention to Montgomery when he's played in the regular or preseason, he's appeared to be solid, and he should be much stronger at the point of attack than Rabach.

Third, I expect Williams to be significantly improved this year. Players usually make a jump from their rookie to second year, and lets not forget that Williams was basically playing hurt all last season. Reportedly he showed up to camp in good shape and is healthy.

Fourth, Brown's play should be improved from last season as the health of his hip has improved and he should be more comfortable at RT in his second year.

So assuming that there won't be any improvement at LG with Lichensteigher starting (which may be a faulty assumption), the Skins should be improved at 4/5 spots on the OL.

Finally, you have to factor in the chemistry that is needed for success of the zone blocking scheme (or any scheme for that matter) will be improved, since this is the second year all of these guys have been together sans Chester.

Now do I think that this will be a top 5 OL this year? No. But I don't think it's unreasonable at all to expect the OL to improve at least into an average nfl OL (think middle of the pack in the league).

Agreed. I think this is a more reasonable position on the O line.

Not too shabby for the 1st time out.

 

[fatness]

Now that bill Romanowski has weighed in on the situation, I think we can officially put the bulk of the blame on McNabb for things not working out with the Redskins last year.

Romanowski's a drug-using loon, who applied unsuccessfully last year for a job with Shanahan.

 

[fatness]

If I could describe Leonard Hankerson right now in 1 word it would be LAZY. Needs to pick up his game.

There are no reports from training camp about him being lazy; quite the opposite in fact. He's described as slow coming out of his breaks and dropping too many balls, but those were known things when he was in college. He's also been described in training camp as hardworking and eager to learn.What did you see in the game that looked lazy?

 

[fatness]

I didn't see the game so I'll ask here:

How many possessions did the Steelers' 1st string play on offense and defense?

Did the Redskin guards (Lichtensteiger and Chester) get pushed around? (they've been having that happen in camp)

How was the new starting cornerback?

Will it be Shayne Gano or Graham Graham?

How did Bowen, Cofiel, and especially Jarvis Jenkins look?

TIA

 

[Sidewinder16]

Any updates on Cooley's knee?

Cooley is supposed to miss a couple more weeks. They are being really cautious with his knee (he's had it drained a couple of times already, I think, since camp opened).

 

[Sidewinder16]

Keim's "Ten Observations"

His offense and defense reviews are supposed to be posted today.

 

[Sidewinder16]

Rich Campbell's "Initial Thoughts"