Washington Redskins: Essential Confidence in 2011

So yesterday, the DMV endured its first large earthquake in many, many years. For some, it was a hiccup in their drive and they wondered when the road they were on got so bumpy (my son experienced it that way). Others had a scary time of it, perhaps sitting in an office building like me, feeling the increasingly hard shaking and rumbling, listening to the noise and taking a few seconds before acknowledging – against all reason – that, “This is a (you supply the word) earthquake!” and trying to remember what we’re supposed to do in that event.  Others, unfortunately – and this is who I most worried about – were in precarious situations when it happened, like up on a ladder, and actually got hurt. For those people, I wish you all a speedy recovery.

When serious natural events like an earthquake or hurricane (stay tuned) have ended, introspection sometimes occurs and something popped into my mind as I was going over the day’s events.

This year, probably because of the lockout, the NFL seems to have taken a more cerebral tone. There are a lot of intellectual discussions as if the people involved with the game simply appreciate it more.  There are discussions of all things X’s and O’s, of course, but there are other things being considered.  For example, we are now into the third week of the preseason and, in the locker room this week, several Washington Redskins players spoke not of the coming contest against the Baltimore Ravens but of their confidence in the current schemes and each other.

Confidence is high in Washington, D.C.  And why shouldn’t it be?  Their first two outings of the Redskins exceeded the expectations of a lot of people. After this past game against Indianapolis, the team ranked number one in total defense. One can say, “Big deal. Neither team they were playing cared very much.” But don’t forget that Washington ranked close to last place defensively last season.  Playing any NFL team and doing well counts.  On the other side of the ball, the offense converted on third downs and moved the ball up and down the field under quarterbacks Rex Grossman and John Beck, who supposedly, are battling for the number one spot on the team.  Decisions were made quickly. Passes were thrown and caught, running backs broke through holes and yards were made after catches with a precision and at a tempo that this team has been missing for years.

With this truncated off-season, this confidence could well be an intangible element of winning in 2011. All of the teams are going to need every advantage they can get to make up for not being together through strength and conditioning OTAs and mini-camps.  I noticed in many conversations with players that, as well as feeling confident in themselves and the schemes, it is important to them that they not let their teammates down this season.

This, of course, is not unusual in the NFL. It’s rare to hear a player say something negative about a teammate.  But here in Washington, where there have been so many dysfunctional seasons - the last one in particular - the amount of support the players have for each other is open and noticeable.

In the course of talking to players, when not talking about the aforementioned X’s and O’s, I hear guys exalt the system and each other. Lately, I’ve heard things often like “coming together” and “jelling.”  Players were glad to get into training camp this year and, for now anyway, practices.

It seems that, almost to a man, for every returning player, there’s a new guy across from, beside, behind or, in front of him and they all are learning to work together the right way.  This results in confidence.

Earlier this week, wide out Terrence Austin talked about how he gets the most out of his return game.  He’s been returning balls since he was in college so the act of doing so is nothing new to him.  But there is more to this piece of the game puzzle than some might think and getting it done correctly requires doing the right thing by your teammates.

“Obviously you’ve got to plan where you’re going to go with the ball,” Austin said in the locker room. “It’s all about just trying to get to that spot. I’ve got to make it easy for my blockers. I mean, it’s a tough job for them to block as it is and I’m the one that can see everything when I’m returning it.  So that’s just how it is.”

See?

As I said, it’s not often you’ll hear a player say something negative about a teammate.  But last season, the situation with defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth affected so many players that they would have had to think the media were fools if they had said it had not concerned them. Players like veteran middle linebacker London Fletcher and defensive lineman Phillip Daniels were honest about the feeling that Haynesworth had let the team down although they were typically diplomatic in the way they voiced their opinions.

The offense had their challenges as well with quarterback Donovan McNabb’s dilemma.  While that situation was different in that McNabb wasn’t openly (key word, “openly”) to blame for the problems that came with his benching, the situation still affected the rest of the team.  Later, a few of the guys told me at the time that they’d had to work harder to focus on the game itself rather than all of the questions - and subsequent circus – surrounding their quarterback and locker room.

The team marched on though through a 6-10 season trying their best to excel in brand new schemes, making the best of a couple of less-than-ideal situations.  While I never once heard anyone say anything like, “This is a really terrible situation here,” or “We’re struggling through this state of affairs,” I also never heard anyone say, “Oh yea! I’m loving life! Things couldn’t be better!”

So far, in 2011, I have heard nothing but positive things with regard to teammates, coaches, schemes, etc. from any Washington Redskins player I’ve spoken to.

Most of the excitement stems from two things: 1) being in the second year of the systems; and 2) upgrades/changes in personnel. The result of these circumstances is confidence among the fans, the players and even the coaching staff.

Asked his thoughts on how well he and Kerrigan were playing together, linebacker Brian Orakpo was unwaveringly positive.  There is an underlying theme of working for each other and doing what has to be done to help teammates do their part within the locker room. This will inevitably help each guy do his own thing better.

In discussing the impact that nose tackle Barry Cofield and lineman Stephen Bowen were having on the linebackers, Orakpo elaborated on what a plus the two big guys are.

“They [free us up by handling their] run responsibilities,” Orakpo said, “Not jumping out of gaps [and] playing what the defense calls upon them to do frees us up, gives us some one-on-ones, makes things happen on the edge or for the inside backers, makes things happen sideline-to-sideline [and] makes some big tackles and that’s what those guys do for us.”

Asked further about Kerrigan as a line mate, Orakpo was generous in his description of the rookie’s talents and impact on the line. “I’m very impressed,” the Pro Bowler said. “Man, he’s a guy that’s going to come in and help us a lot. As a rookie he’s already improved from day one and he’s just going to get better.”

All of the players are infinitely more relaxed in their roles. They have to think less and are just reacting.  Asked about being in this second year of the scheme, the linebacker expounded on the difference it’s made.

“It’s a vast improvement from last year, obviously,” he explained. “You guys can tell that.  [We] added a lot of key positions on the defense. We can only get better. We’ve got so many starters out that we haven’t really gone as a full unit yet and I can’t wait for everybody to be healthy, strap it up and continue to build on what we’ve got so far.”

Orakpo gave a great example of the difference seen in previous years to now and how the defense has come out and dominated in these last two games defensively.

“[It’s been very satisfying,” he began with. “We’re not used to it...” But then he caught himself saying instead, “Well, I’m not saying we’re not used to it but it’s a vast improvement from where we were last year. Guys are getting more familiar with the defense, being able to go out there and react and not think so much. Guys are just able to play their game and that’s the most important thing.”

While running back Ryan Torain, rehabbing from surgery on his hand, is only just getting back onto the field, he’s not blind and he has been able to see the improvement of the Redskins offensive line. He is certainly in a unique position to assess how much better they are this year and has witnessed the successes of fellow running backs Tim Hightower, Keiland Williams, Roy Helu, Jr. and Evan Royster because of it.

“Competition makes us great,” the back said this past week. “We’re all going to push one another to be better and we just gotta stay together as a team.

“I see we’re a better team than we were last year. We’re jelling well together and the offensive line is doing good things this year so we’re excited.”

Safety Oshiomogho Atogwe is another veteran who is only just getting onto the field after suffering with a hamstring injury.  This week he offered his evaluation of how the defense has performed so far.

“They’ve done great,” the former St. Louis Ram said. “They’ve been an active defense, they’re flying around, eliminating teams in the run and in the passing game so, we’re all excited about what we’ve done thus far and we’ll just continue to work hard and get better.

“Like I’ve been saying throughout, they work hard, they play hard and their very aggressive and that’s exciting for me to join.”

Grossman and Beck both played well in the first two preseason games. Grossman completed 19 of 26 passes for 207 yards against the Pittsburg Steelers and Beck completed 14 of 17 passes for 140 yards against the Indianapolis Colts. Beck was sacked three times but, for not having played in an NFL game since 2007, he looked polished.  A member of the media asked tight end Fred Davis about what he thought the differences were between Grossman’s and Beck’s games.

“[Beck] went in there right away and took care of business,” Davis said without hesitation. “These guys both know what they’re doing in this offense. [They’re] both smart and savvy guys. John went in there and did what he had to do too and, I’m just glad I don’t have to make that decision [of who will be the starting quarterback].”

These players like what they see in each other and they are more comfortable within their squad’s systems. This means they can go out on the field, each man doing his part, knowing that his teammates are going to do theirs – and simply do their best. That is an important component of the formula for winning.

Orakpo pretty much summed up how many of the players appear to feel about the team as a whole when he described how he sees the defensive line so far.

“Feels good man,” he said. “Were coming together well, the whole defensive front. Guys are getting after the quarterback, getting hits on them, fulfilling their run responsibilities. The first two preseason [games] we looked very clean out there so we’ll continue to improve and be consistent.”

Maybe it takes something like an earthquake to make you appreciate what you have. In the case of the Washington Redskins though, I think not. I think they just know they’ve got something special going on, which is basically what Mike Shanahan said today at the Welcome Home Luncheon. The confidence that this 2011 team has is going to be important in the coming season. Combined with their talent, hopefully it will serve them well.

Hail.

Washington Redskins: Shanahan’s Reformation Includes Veteran Mike Sellers

Human beings have a need to quantify and label. It makes things neater and easier to analyze.  Since the beginning of the 2011 NFL season, fans and media have used the term “rebuild” to describe what head Coach Mike Shanahan is doing with the Washington Redskins. But after seeing the cuts that he made to the team yesterday to reduce the roster to 53 men, I’m not sure “rebuild” is an accurate way to describe what he is doing.

Rebuild: to make extensive repairs: reconstruct <as in: rebuild a war-torn city>; to build again <”He planned to rebuild after the fire.”>

One could say that extensive repairs have been made to this Redskins team. It is not as if there wasn’t a lot to repair with the damage caused by position-depth neglect and dysfunctional management. But, the repair was actually made the minute owner Dan Snyder hired General Manager Bruce Allen and then stepped out of the way.

Allen continued the repair of the team by hiring Executive Vice President/Head Coach Mike Shanahan as soon as the 2009 season was over. Shanahan immediately went to work to make the team his own after inheriting an organization loaded with older players, not a lot of depth along both lines and divas like defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth.

When I think back on the moves Shanahan made last year, I see a coach doing what he could to remove some of the elements that were left over from the Cerrato/Snyder era without totally incapacitating the team. No disrespect intended to the guys he released. He was just putting his stamp on the Washington Redskins.

Consider some of these events/moves from 2010:  1) releasing older former head coach Joe Gibbs guys like wide receiver Antwaan Randel El, cornerback Fred Smoot and defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin; 2) bringing in quarterback Donovan McNabb and ultimately benching him because he wasn’t the right fit; 3)the battle of wills with Haynesworth and 4) replacing decent players like offensive guard Derrick Dockery with his own guys – in this case Kory Lichtensteiger –  one of Shanahan’s 2008 draft picks in Denver.

I don’t know if Shanahan sat down and said to himself, “If I do this is 2010, then I can do this is 2011” but he might have.  He obviously has a long-term plan. But I don’t really think he is rebuilding the Washington Redskins so much as he is reforming them.

Reform: to put or change into an improved form or condition; to amend or improve by change of form or removal of faults or abuses (or the intransitive verb definition: to become changed for the better)

A lot of us who watch the Redskins closely felt that the team would be very young when cut-down day came and it is. Thanks to Gary Fitzgerald of Redskins.com for doing the math so I don’t have to break out my calculator, we know that the average age of this roster is 25.58 years and this includes 25 players with less than three years of experience.  On the opposite side of the age line, there are 11 guys that are 30-years old or more. These geriatrics are FS Oshiomogho Atogwe (30), QB John Beck (30), OT Jammal Brown (30), LB London Fletcher (36), WR Jabar Gaffney (30), QB Rex Grossman (31), OG Sean Locklear (30), WR Santana Moss (32), P Sav Rocca (37), TE/FB Mike Sellers (36) and WR Donté Stallworth (30).

The current roster will likely change but so far, Shanahan’s reformation includes veterans.

Speaking of veterans, Mike Sellers is one guy that many predicted would be gone by now and yet he is not. A source early in training camp indicated that Sellers might be released but that was before tight end Chris Cooley was injured.  Sellers, the team’s longest tenured player, has always been valuable as a special teams player, blocker and at the fullback position. For now, he is valuable at tight end because of the situation with Cooley’s knee. Also, his value to the team as a leader in the locker room should not be underestimated.

While he’s had his share of issues, both with the Redskins and without, Sellers has been to the Pro Bowl (after the 2008 season), continues to be a top special teams return tackler and was special teams co-captain for Washington in 2009.  Former Redskins’ coaches Joe Gibbs and Jim Zorn both held him in high regard.

“Mike is really a team guy,” former Redskins head coach Jim Zorn said in 2009 after Sellers had landed his current contract. “He’s been very vocal about pulling guys together and holding guys accountable.

“He’s done a great job at the point of attack,” he went on. “When he gets there, he’s bringing all of his [273 pounds]. He just knows the offense like he’s read the book five times. … He’s just been playing free. You can run at a higher speed when you know what you’re doing.”

Back in 2007, when Gibbs was head coach for the team, Sellers was dealing with an injury (back) that Gibbs feared might keep him from playing in a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. At the time, the Bucs were leading their NFC South division and the Redskins were batting .500. Sellers was running back Clinton Portis’ lead blocker as well as a pass-catcher out of the backfield and had become a guy Gibbs counted on.

"He plays a big role for us,” Gibbs said at the time. “It will be real important for us to get him back as quick as possible.

No doubt, after reviewing game tape of an earlier contest against the Detroit Lions that season, the Hall of Fame coach would have wanted Sellers back. In that game, the jack-of-all-trades player had a big day, scoring a key touchdown and, in one catch-and-run play, laying a hit on Lions’ safety Kenoy Kennedy that flattened him and left teammates scratching their heads in amazement.

"It's unbelievable," Chris Cooley said after the game. "I mean, he just puts his shoulder down, but what else can he do? He's too big to do anything else. It's not like he's going to make a move."

Listed at 280+ lbs. at the time, after a 24-yard catch the veteran did lower his shoulder and basically ran over Kennedy “with all the subtlety of a runaway dump truck” as Dan Steinberg delightfully described it in the Washington Post.

"Just one man's opinion, but I think he's probably the most underrated football player on our team, certainly offensively," then offensive coordinator Al Saunders said. "He plays more roles than any other player in our offense, and it's probably the most difficult position. . . . He plays tight end, he plays fullback, he plays the slot inside, he plays wide receiver and he plays running back. That's five positions."

Mike Sellers is now four years older and his body has seen a bit more action. He arrived in the District of Columbia in 1998 as a free agent from the Canadian Football League and, except for a one-year stint with the Cleveland Browns and two years away from the NFL, he has been a Washington Redskin. In his NFL lifetime, Sellers has appeared in 161 games with 63 starts at fullback, H-back and at tight end. He has made 21 touchdowns. It would be difficult to overestimate his value to the Redskins at fullback - at least in the past - because in seven of his ten seasons with the Redskins, he has blocked for three 1,000-yard running backs (in a single-season): Stephen Davis in 1999 and 2000, Clinton Portis in 2004-05 and 2007-08 and Ladell Betts in 2006.

Asked about Sellers during his press conference Monday, Shanahan made a point about the type of value Sellers brings to the team.

“He helped himself by having the mindset to go in there and not be disappointed that Darrel Young was getting a shot to be the starting fullback," the coach said. "Mike is a pretty strong guy mentally. It’s always tough as you get older to go and work as a third and fourth-team tight end. He never wavered and worked hard at both the Y and Tiger position. He still backed up the fullback position. When he played in the game against Tampa Bay, he played well at the fullback position. And he can play special teams. He’s a guy that can help us in a number of different ways and I appreciate how hard he’s been working.”

With Mike Shanahan moving the Redskins to a younger state, it was a surprise for some to see Sellers stay on the 53-man roster. If Shanahan was rebuilding the team, I would be surprised myself. In looking at what he has done – and not done – the head coach has definitely changed this team and brought it to a better place.  This includes keeping guys around who add value not only in their talent but in their experience, focus and motivation. Look again at some of the veterans on the team: Atogwe, Brown, Fletcher, Gaffney, Moss, Sellers and Stallworth. These are guys that can bring along the rookies and young players, mentor them and teach them how to do “it” right.

Donte Stallworth congratulates Brandon Banks after his TD return against the Bucs

There is something special going on with this team right now and the players will tell you it is so. It can be seen in the locker room, on the practice field and so far, in the preseason games.

Shanahan’s discipline, drive and confidence combined with youth and experience is a combination will not allow a losing mentality. It is a combination that does not allow for the entitlement of a few or individual drama. It is an equation that results unity and purpose.  It is definitely in an “improved form or condition” over the last ten years.

Reform.

Hail.

Washington Redskins: An Observation Concerning the Win Against the Giants

Redskins' tight end Fred Davis (#83) had a great game
against the Giants.

The Washington Redskins beat the New York Giants this past Sunday, 28-14, in a pretty convincing manner (on what was also the emotional 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks). The Redskins offense stuck to their rushing attack even while not always wildly successful and quarterback Rex Grossman spread the ball around in the air, completing 21 of 34 passing attempts. The Washington defense sacked Giants' quarterback Eli Manning four times, shut out the Giants in the second half, caused Manning to fumble the ball (which linebacker London Fletcher recovered) and rookie defensive end/linebacker Ryan Kerrigan made a huge play by tipping a pass, catching the tipped ball and running it in for a touchdown.

It was a good day for Redskins fans.

I commented to linebacker Lorenzo Alexander Monday in the locker room that the defense, even after facing a lot of adversity in the first half of the game, sure played with a vengeance in the second half. I asked him what, if any, adjustments defensive coordinator Jim Haslett might have made in the locker room during half-time to facilitate this amazing play. Alexander told me that none were made at all.

“There were no game-plan adjustments,” he offered. “We [had given] them one touchdown with a big play, mental errors and bad tackling. You take those away and who knows? They might have [ended up with] seven points at the most. We just started executing better and had an attitude. I think it was a mind-set.

“We’ve got guys that we brought in from different teams,” the linebacker elaborated. “Young guys that don’t know the history of the Redskins, the way we’ve been playing – at least for the last six-or-so years - and who are not accustomed to losing. So they’re not expecting, ‘OK… well, same old Redskins. Here goes the same old thing.’ Instead of that, there’s more confidence. ‘OK, we’re about to battle through this and win this game – some way, somehow.’

“We weren’t going to wait for something to happen,” Alexander finished. “We were going to make something happen.”

Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan, offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan and Haslett have brought a new system and a new culture into Redskins Park. But probably more than anything – at least according to the players I’ve spoken to about it – the attitude, or change in attitude, of which Alexander speaks, comes because there just are not enough guys left on the team from past years to sustain a losing mentality. There is a fresh perspective coming from the new guys – guys who have won recently and who therefore expect it from this team.

Without going too much into numbers and statistics, just take a look:

Purdue University did not have a winning record in the 2010 season but Ryan Kerrigan did. Without going into too many of the statistics let’s just say that, even with his college team’s losing record, the Purdue football team co-captain tied for a Big Ten record with 14 fumbles forced and 33.5 sacks. He received the team's Most Valuable Player Award for defense and was named first team All-America by the American Football Coaches Association, The Walter Camp Football Foundation, the Football Writers Association of America, the Associated Press and The Sporting News.

That’s a lot to achieve and that isn’t even everything Kerrigan accomplished.

Washington’s rookie nose tackle Chris Neild’s West Virginia Mountaineers had a good season in 2010, winning nine out of 13 games (5-2 in the Big East). They shared the conference title with Connecticut and Pittsburgh and were invited to the Champ Sports Bowl. Neild himself was named all-Big East Preseason First Team by Phil Steele’s, Athlon Sports, Yahoo! Sports and Sporting News.

There are three rookies on the team now that were drafted from Nebraska: running back Roy Helu, Jr., wide out/returner Niles Paul and defensive back DeJon Gomes.

In 2010, the Cornhuskers won 10 of 12 regular season games, were 6-2 in the Big 12 conference and were Big 12 North Division Co-champions (with Missouri) and were invited to the Holiday Bowl for the second consecutive season.

Helu had an impact on the Cornhuskers successes during his tenure there with 3,404 career rushing yards. In the game against Missouri as a senior, he set a single game rushing record of 307 yards, three touchdowns (the shortest being 53 yards) and he was the first Nebraska player to rush for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons since former Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders; Green Bay Packers running back Calvin Jones, who accomplished the feat in 1992 and 1993. These are just a few of Helu’s stats.

In his senior year, Niles Paul caught 39 passes for a team-high 516 yards, including one touchdown. Ranking among the Big 12 leaders in punt and kickoff returns, he had the longest kickoff return by a Cornhusker in more than a half-century, going 100 yards for a touchdown against Oklahoma State. Again, this is only a portion of Paul’s many accomplishments.

Gomes, according to the Nebraska website was “arguably Nebraska’s most versatile defender in 2010” and was described as a “ball-hawk” who played a defensive back-linebacker hybrid role (this could certainly explain some of his appeal to Shanahan and Haslett). During his senior year he had a sack and four tackles for loss, along with seven pass breakups as well as three intercepted passes and a fumble recovery, forcing two others. Again, there are awards, etc. that I have not mentioned.

Rookie wide out Leonard Hankerson hails from “The U.” Anyone who knows anything about professional football knows the reputation that the University of Miami has for producing good football players.

In 2010, Hankerson’s alma mater (also receiver Santana Moss’ and linebacker Rocky McIntosh’s) won only seven of 13 games but they did win most of the important ones, coming away with a 5-3 record within their conference. Hankerson ranked 12th in the nation in total receiving yards in his senior year and made 13 touchdowns (setting a Miami record and breaking Hall of Fame wide out Michael Irvin's mark of 11 set in 1986) and his average yards-per-game was almost 90 yards.

Last year, Hankerson received a 2010 SI.com All American ALL-American Honorable Mention and was 2010 All-ACC First Team. He won the 2010 Jack Harding Award, was the Miami Team MVP, team captain and received the 2010 College Football Performance Awards Elite Wide Receiver Trophy.

None of this information is by any means complete but it is still impressive. I mention it here to illustrate that a notable portion the current - albeit younger - Washington Redskins roster is used to winning, used to achieving and seems to not consider losing an option.

I remember at the end of the 4-12 2009 season, hearing first-round draft pick linebacker Brian Orakpo - who incidentally won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy while at the University of Texas - say how hard that season had been, in part, because he was not used to losing. He came from a successful football program with the Longhorns (their record was 12-1 in 2008, Orakpo’s senior year) and he was very frustrated after every Redskins loss. After 12 losses, he was beyond bothered.

Even last year, after Shanahan’s arrival, as the team was looking like they would end up with another losing record after falling in a sloppily played game to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17-16, Orakpo was obviously frustrated. After being blatantly held (recall Shanahan’s comment, “He wasn’t held… he was mugged”) while the Bucs scored a two point conversion to go ahead in the score, it was very obvious that the linebacker was tired of the failure.

"Man, we've lost in every fashion you can think of throughout the whole year,” the Pro Bowler said at the time. “It's something that's really tough to swallow."

The interesting thing about that Tampa Bay loss was that, as sloppy as it was, at least two of the better performances were made by players new to the team that year. This would validate the idea that if you have guys used to winning on the team, adversity will not change the way they play, no matter what they encounter during the game.

In that Buccaneers game, running back Ryan Torain gained 172 yards and then-quarterback Donovan McNabb put together some nice drives, one of which was 75 yards wherein he completed 8 of 12 passes and ended with a touchdown pass to wide out Santana Moss. The problem came at the end of the drive with a botched extra point. This became the losing margin for the Redskins because of Tampa Bay’s two-point conversion. Orakpo hit Bucs QB Josh Freeman three times in that contest.

Remember, Torain and McNabb were in their first year with the Redskins and Orakpo had only been there one year. That’s not enough time to learn how to lose, not enough time to make losing a habit.

Of the starters on the current Redskins roster, only 14 were on the team when Shanahan was named coach. The majority of this team does not have losing as an option in their psyche. If the team is having problems, the point is to do something about it - turn the tide and win the game.

On Sunday, the Giants had the ball for seven series in the second half. In most of those series, the Redskins’ defense made huge plays to end the series. They weren’t just series in which the Giants didn’t convert on third down… these were big plays.

It went like this:

1st series – Ryan Kerrigan tips quarterback Eli Manning’s pass, the pops pretty high up, Kerrigan locates it, catches it and runs it in for a touchdown.

2nd series – The Giants get the ball and run their first play. Chris Neild then sacks Eli Manning on second-down-and-nine for a loss of six yards so that New York has a third-and-long (15 yards). Manning throws a short pass to Ahmad Bradshaw who is stopped by Rocky McIntosh and O.J. Atogwe before making any yards after the catch. Bradshaw only gets 10 yards and they punt

3rd series – the Giants do convert on second-down-and-two-yards once but are stopped at the Washington 37 when they try to convert a fourth-and-one at the Washington 31 yard-line. Big Redskins stop led by London Fletcher and Josh Wilson.

4th series – I love this series because when the Giants get the ball, it is after Redskins QB Rex Grossman has been sacked twice in a row, first for a loss of seven yards and then for a loss of 16 yards. That could have really deflated the team. But the defense comes right in and makes a play. Eli Manning fumbles the ball on his first possession of the drive after being sacked by Neild and Fletcher so that it’s second-and-18. They punt after two unsuccessful attempts to move the ball.

5th series – Getting a Grossman fumble recovery at their 41-yard-line, the Giants move the ball to the Washington 20-yard line and try for a field goal. It is blocked by Orakpo and picked up by Fletcher who runs it out to the Washington 30-yard-line. Washington scores on the ensuing drive.

6th series – Giants convert on second down, get a delay-of-game penalty and on the next play (which is now second-and-15) Manning is sacked by Steven Bowen for a seven-yard loss so that it’s third-down-and-22-yards. They punt after Manning’s pass to Mario Manningham is incomplete.

7th (and last) series – with 01:06 to go, the Giants start the drive and get a first down on a Manning pass to receiver Domenik Hixon for 14 yards. The Giants quarterback throws another complete pass for eight yards but on first-and-10 at their 39-yard-line, he is sacked by defensive lineman Adam Carriker and that’s the end of the game.

After the game when asked about the new attitude of this team, London Fletcher probably spoke for a lot of the 14 guys still on the roster that were on those 2009 and 2010 losing teams.

“This was the feeling I felt back in training camp,” the Pro Bowler said addressing the media. “We cleaned out a lot of negativity that’s been around this place - this building, this team - for a number of years.”

There is definitely a new feeling in that locker room. It’s different. It’s energetic, optimistic, it’s focused. There is no 'losing' mentality left... in the building or anywhere else.

Like Alexander said yesterday about some of the adversity that the team faced during the Giants Sunday. It would have sent them into a tail spin and, “We would have lost that game.”

Not this year.

Meet your 2011 Washington Redskins.

Hail.

POLL: Which Free Agents Should the Washington Redskins Re-Sign?

The NFL is going to be open for business soon. When it does, there will be a condensed and hectic free agency period while teams scramble to get rosters together in time for training camps.

Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan and General Manager Bruce Allen managed to save owner Dan Snyder some money last season and Allen has said the team will be "aggressive" in free agency.


As usual, there is much speculation about what players Washington will sign to the team in the coming weeks.  But what of the 11 Redskins free agents?

Will quarterback Rex Grossman return and compete for the starting job against self-proclaimed starter John Beck?  Will cornerback Carlos Rogers walk, signing with whatever team shows him the money?  Will right tackle Jammal Brown continue to improve in Shanahan's complicated offensive system, having benefited physically from the time off?  Will the Redskins re-sign converted linebackers Chris Wilson and Rocky McIntosh as they go into their second year of the 3-4 defense?

Who do you think the team should re-sign for the 2011 season? Feel free to add a comment supporting your vote - or lack of one.

Hail.

Reiteration: Washington Redskins in Free Agency - Having It Both Ways

I recently wrote about the tendency that Washington Redskins’ owner Daniel Snyder has had to go a little nuts during free agency; spending huge sums of money signing big-name players rather than hanging on to good, stable players and/or building the team from within via the draft.  This was a problem for both fans and the media and Snyder was criticized often for it.

Popular opinion today is that the Redskins have so many glaring needs on the roster that they need to go out and get fill-in-the-blank-with-big-name-free-agent to make the team competitive.

Do fans really want the Redskins to spend a bunch of money on free agents or do they want the team to build from within?

It would be nice if it was a black and white proposition but it’s not. Perhaps there’s a way to do both.

The first thing the Redskins need to do is decide whose job it is to lose at the quarterback position and announce it. Over-simplified, once this is done, people can stop wondering whether or not John Beck IS “the man” and then other positions can be addressed while the signal-calling situation  plays itself out (pun intended).  For purposes of this discussion, I’ll leave this topic right there.

The Redskins actually have a decent roster right now except for needing depth at a couple of positions. They have several players that are going to be free agents and if any of those players do not re-sign, the team will need to replace them. But if the team brings them back, it’s likely they’ll improve as head coach Mike Shanahan continues what he started last season.

Will owner Dan Snyder encourage his head coach to replace Washington’s free agents with big-name players?

Washington desperately needs a bona fide nose tackle (don’t look for Albert Haynesworth’s name here). They need major play-makers on the defensive line to improve the defense and offset the lack of a franchise quarterback. They need depth at corner and depth on the offensive line. This doesn’t mean there’s no talent at those positions on the team right now though.  Every player that struggled at any position last year should get somewhat of a pass because they were 1) playing in entirely new systems; 2) coming off of catastrophic injuries or 3) young.

The team will be into its second year in new offensive and defensive systems and one has to expect improvement if the same players are around. But this lockout has kept teammates from formally practicing together and cohesiveness is important to game-day success. Bringing in a bunch of new players is not going to help this with so little time available before the season begins.

Wide out Santana Moss, quarterback Rex Grossman, right tackle Jammal Brown, offensive lineman Stephon Heyer, defensive lineman Kedric Golston, linebackers Rocky McIntosh, Chris Wilson and H.B. Blades, cornerbacks Carlos Rogers and Phillip Buchanon; and safety Reed Doughty are all free agents.

Are the Redskins going to pull the same old thing once this lockout is over and let these guys all get signed away so that Dan Snyder can play ‘Fantasy Football’ with the big-name free agents that are out there?  Will the team go after wide receivers Braylon Edwards? Santonio Holmes? Randy Moss? Plaxico Burress? Is it important to win the off-season-big-name-sweepstakes?

Santana Moss needs no one to sing his praises. He is a number one receiver and the Redskins would be smart to re-sign him. He was extremely productive in the slot in Shanahan’s system and had a career year in 2010. Starting all 16 games, he gained 1115 yards off of 93 receptions and logged six touchdowns. Barring injury, one would assume that playing for a second year of the same system would only make him more productive - given that he has even a half-way decent quarterback throwing to him.

Consider that Moss has caught passes from six starting quarterbacks since coming to Washington (Patrick Ramsey, Mark Brunell, Jason Campbell, Todd Collins, Donovan McNabb and Rex Grossman). He has shown that he can do his “thing” regardless of who is throwing to him.  The popular thinking is that Washington needs a tall receiver on the team but the fact that Moss is not seven feet tall should not keep the Redskins from bringing him back.

Fourth year receiver Malcolm Kelly, 6’4” is healthy and eager to show the team what he can do. Whether or not he is a play-maker in the NFL is yet to be seen. He was one at Oklahoma, snatching passes out of the air while being covered by defensive backs like a blanket.

Kelly has a lot to prove to be sure. College talent doesn’t always translate into success in the NFL. But he has great hands and is tall. He started 10 games in 2009 and in those games, averaged 13 yards-per-reception. While on IR last season for a severe hamstring injury, he spent his time studying and working out and needs to prove to Shanahan that he deserved to be kept on the team as well as why he was worthy of being a second-round draft pick in 2008.  Hunger is a good motivator.  If Kelly can stay healthy, he could be a huge part of this offense.

Wide out Anthony Armstrong started 11 games last season and averaged 19.8 yards-per-reception. He made some key plays for the Redskins in 2010 including a 48-yard touchdown reception against Green Bay snagging the ball from over the head of defensive back Charlie Peprah.

Shanahan needs to give Armstrong and Kelly a chance before he signs an Edwards, a Holmes, a (Randy) Moss or a Burress.

Right tackle Jammal Brown was acquired by Mike Shanahan last year in a trade that involved quarterback Donovan McNabb and some fairly complicated result-oriented circumstances that will affect future third and fourth-round draft picks. The former New Orleans Saint was coming off of hip and sports hernia injuries that kept him out the entire 2009 season and his play early in 2010 wasn’t very impressive. But he got better despite the fact that he would rather play left tackle.  The team should re-sign Brown. Shanahan’s offensive system is complicated and the offensive lineman knows how it works.

I would love to see the Redskins bring Carlos Rogers back. He’s a good corner.  Show him the money.  I don’t think that Washington has ever paid him what Rogers feels he is worth but they can afford it now.

IF Rogers goes to another team, then going after Oakland Raider’s free agent cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha - or perhaps the Baltimore Raven's Chris Carr - to compliment Pro Bowl cornerback DeAngelo Hall is a good idea. But that’s only if Rogers leaves.  In 2010, Rogers played and started in 12 games. He had two interceptions for 43 yards, one forced fumble, 43 tackles with 11 assists and 12 passes defended. Asomugha started in 14 of 14 games played, no sacks, 17 tackles with 2 assists and 6 passes defended. Who would you rather have in your secondary? Especially in this shortened off-season.

Heyer played in twelve games last year, starting five.  Golston had 17 tackles last year. McIntosh had 73 tackles and two sacks.  Buchanon had 40 tackles and two interceptions. Wilson had two forced fumbles. Doughty had a sack and 45 tackles. Blades played against the Tennessee Titans last season when McIntosh came out due to injury and did well. He is an important member of Washington’s special teams.

These guys are productive, contributing teammates. It’s not that the Redskins couldn’t go out and get free agents that would not be even more so… given time. But, again, in this shortened 2011 off-season, with the record of bad free agent signings that the owner has, wouldn’t it be better to reward the guys that have stuck around throughout the bad decisions and resulting drama? For instance, the defensive guys have done everything they’ve been asked to do in making the transition last year from what was a successful 4-3 defense to the 3-4 without complaint. The Redskins should pay them enough to keep them here and continue moving forward.

This year, Mike Shanahan had a great draft, bringing in defensive (Ryan Kerrigan, Chris Neild and Jarvis Jenkins) and offensive (Leonard Hankerson, Niles Paul and Aldrick Robinson) play-makers. But it’s a lot to ask for these rookies to be ready by game-day with the lack of access to coaching thus far. Washington has a good group of core guys on the roster and others waiting to be re-signed. I’m not suggesting that the head coach not bring in any free agents where positions are thin or where competition would be helpful. Returning to the need for a nose tackle, targeting the Jenkins brothers, Green Bay Packers’ defensive end Cullen and New York Jets’ nose tackle Kris is smart.

Depth on the offensive line is needed and word is that the team could target one of the Ravens’ offensive linemen (Jared Gaither or Marshal Yanda). But Shanahan should not just go out and “be aggressive” in free agency simply to snag a big name. The ‘old' Snyder would have loved to make a big splash with one of the afore-mentioned big-name receivers... especially since the team can afford to.  But just once, wouldn’t it be nice if the Redskins grew their OWN big name? Wouldn’t it be great if, at the end of this season, the guys on the NFL Network were talking about how smart the Redskins were to take a chance on developing “that” young guy? Perhaps the Redskins have a huge play-maker already on the team and just don’t know it yet.

For all the people screaming that this team has no talent and that wide out Sidney Rice must be grabbed off of the free agent market, what about all that “Do like the Pittsburgh Steelers do and build from the draft” business?

With this condensed off-season, every snap the players take together will be extremely important, whether it is during training camp or in a preseason game.  Granted, competition is important and the staff needs to have enough players on hand to provide that competition. I just hope that some of those players competing are already on the team.

Is Shanahan truly the magician that can develop the unproven player?  Can he bring some talented free agents on board to provide true competition without spending a fortune ?

I’m going with the hope that he has the finesse to do both.

Hail.

Washington Redskins In Free Agency: Learning From History

Here’s some original thought. Professional football is a business. Guys get cut, traded or are lost to other teams through free agency. Guys get hurt. Guys have bad luck. It’s the way of the world in the NFL.

When talented or popular players become free agents, teams can’t just keep them because they are talented or are popular. To even make it to the NFL, you must have talent. But most fans are pretty smart and there’s a reason these players are popular. Yes, much of the time, they are fan-favorites because of their personalities. But much of the time, they are fan-favorites because they have intangibles that make them special and knowledgeable fans recognize this.

When a player is metaphorically booted (cut, traded or allowed to get picked up after contract expiration) or, in one way or another unrewarded for their loyalty by management so that the team can go out and sign a big-name free agent, it’s bad.

While we always want to see people we care about succeed, it is maddening to see a guy that once wore The Burgundy & Gold endure the aforementioned booting and then, once with their new team, flourish. By the same token, it’s been maddening to watch the Redskins sign some big-name free agent only to see them don The Colors and then flop. While not always, there have been times when “getting paid’ has led to getting lazy.

Anyone in particular come to mind here?

Losing a hard-working, long-time member of a team can cause locker-room chemistry to suffer and players to become disenchanted and wary to see that hard work taken for granted.

Cornerback Champ Bailey was a fan-favorite when he was here in Washington. He went to the Pro Bowl for four consecutive years while with the Redskins and was traded to the Denver Broncos in 2004 for Pro Bowl running back Clinton Portis (signed to an eight-year contract worth $50.5 million) and a second-round draft pick. Bailey went to the Pro Bowl another four consecutive years while with Denver as well as going First Team All-Pro for three of them, including the first year he was in the Mile High City.

While losing Champ Bailey – basically a shut-down corner - bothered many, Portis made an immediate positive impact. In his first year here (his third in the league), he gained 1,550 yards-from-scrimmage (rushing and receiving), topped 100+ yards in five of 15 games that he started and eventually became one of the faces of the franchise. He not only brought his talent to the team, some maintain that he brought his heart and soul. He gave us Thursday costumes, an exciting rushing attack and blocking that rivaled many in the league. He helped the city through the death of much beloved safety Sean Taylor with grace, courage and maturity.

But he also brought a mentality suggesting entitlement that bothered people; making his own rules, bypassing coaches to get to the owner and a general lack of discipline.

Former Redskins safety Ryan Clark’s story is one that is particularly painful for me. Clark came to the Redskins prior to the 2004 season after being signed as an undrafted free agent to the New York Giants in 2002. It has been well-documented that Clark was a steadying influence on fellow safety, (the late, great) Sean Taylor, who’d had a rocky first few years in the league. Clark was a solid safety himself and the tandem was formidable. Although Taylor was freakishly athletic, Clark was a hard-hitting, dependable, complimentary talent to his young friend on the field. The year Clark joined Washington he played in 15 games, starting 11. He led Redskins defensive backs with 81 tackles (65 solo), ranking eighth in that category in the league.

In 2005, he played in 13 games, logged 58 (48 solo) tackles, and had three interceptions and a forced fumble.

After the 2005 season, Clark’s contract with the Redskins expired and, rather than coughing up the money it would take to re-sign him, they allowed him to be signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Washington brought in safety Adam Archuleta for $30 million over six, years plus a $10 million signing bonus. Hmmmm. Do you suppose Clark would have stayed for that?

At the end of an article from the Associated Press back then, it quietly states:

"The Redskins also lost free agent safety Ryan Clark, who signed a four-year contract with Pittsburgh. Clark became expendable when Washington signed Adam Archuleta on Monday.”

Taylor was not happy about losing his friend and mentor for reasons easy to understand. Not only did the team lose a good safety, Archuleta did nothing to prove he was worth the money. In 2006, he started in only seven of 16 games, logged one sack, one pass defended and 49 tackles for the Redskins.

One of the things that made the situation so bad was that, after paying Archuleta upwards of $30 million, he became the highest paid bench-warmer in the NFL. In his defense, the safety was asked to play press man coverage, which he wasn’t very good at. He eventually found himself replaced by safety Troy Vincent very early in the season and the relationship between he, the coaching staff and the media deteriorated from there.

Had Ryan Clark been offered that $30 million, the only discussion of safeties would likely have been about how good the Redskins’ were.

While Archuleta was warming the pine here in Washington, in Pittsburgh Clark was starting 12 games, getting an interception, defending four passes, recovering three fumbles and logging 48 solo tackles while assisting in 24. Pittsburgh had themselves a good starting safety pair in Clark and Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu.

In a March 2006 online forum, a fan summed up well how many Redskins fans were feeling at the time – before we knew what a bust Archuleta would be:

“Honestly, I would have just resigned Ryan Clark.

Archuleta is probably a marginal upgrade, but Clark really wanted to play here, with this team, with these guys, with these coaches. Until I hear otherwise, in my mind Archuleta came here because we held out the most money.

I think there's a lot to be said for chemistry, and I think Ryan Clark brought a lot of that to our locker room. He will certainly be missed...

Hopefully Arch can bring that same attitude.”

As happens with many players not put in the best position to win, once he left Washington, Archuleta went on to play for the Chicago Bears and logged 54 tackles, two sacks, one interception, forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

That same season, Washington also wooed and signed defensive lineman Andre Carter, wide receiver Antwaan Randel El and perennial back-up quarterback Todd Collins. In the press, there were stories of limousine rides, expensive dinners and Wizards basketball games in luxury seats.

"At 6:30 p.m. yesterday, a caravan of four limousines lined up in front of Redskins Park to shuttle top Redskins personnel and free agent receiver Antwaan Randle El, defensive end Andre Carter, safety Adam Archuleta and quarterback Todd Collins to dinner and the Washington Wizards-Detroit Pistons game.

“Owner Daniel Snyder, Coach Joe Gibbs, player personnel director Vinny Cerrato, offensive coordinator Don Breaux, assistant head coach-defense Gregg Williams and H-back Chris Cooley were joined by Carter, Archuleta and Collins.”

During the same timeframe, the Redskins authored one of the biggest free agent signing busts when wide receiver Brandon Lloyd was brought in from the San Francisco 49ers. The most disappointing of the free agents signed that year; Lloyd caught only 23 passes for 365 yards in 2006.

Lloyd was not only unproductive, he was a locker room diva who had some notable temper tantrums during two games that season: once during a 24-14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons where he threw a helmet and again during a 36-22 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. During the Colts’ game, there was shouting on the sidelines and teammates stepped in to calm him down. Then head-coach Joe Gibbs benched the receiver and scrambled to assure the media that he would be returning the following year as head coach. Lloyd did not last long in Washington.

After he left the Redskins, the receiver made a quick stop in Chicago resulting in similar stats with the Bears as he’d had here. But, to return to the point of players leaving the team only to go elsewhere and blossom; he ended up in Denver and last year he made the Pro Bowl. He closed out the 2010 season with 77 receptions for 1,448 yards and 11 touchdowns. Not too shabby.

The season following the handing out of contracts worth six-years, $30 million (Carter); seven-years, $31 million including a $10 million signing bonus and a $1.5 million roster bonus (Randel El); and a six-year, $30 million contract with $10 million guaranteed (Lloyd); a really loyal and dynamite player for the Redskins became a victim of politics. Defensive tackle/linebacker LaVar Arrington was forced out of the organization and ended up joining former Redskins middle linebacker Antonio Pierce with the NFC East rival, New York Giants.

Pierce had been a popular, talented Redskin that was released by the team even after he led the Redskins with 112 tackles (85 of which were solo) and was named an alternate to the Pro Bowl. He also recorded two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, with one sack and a pair of fumble recoveries. Signing with the Giants, he went on to log an incredible 109 solo tackles and went to the Pro Bowl in that first year in New York.

Arrington’s situation, however, was some of the worst handling of a player I’ve witnessed in my many years as a Redskins fan. As a long-time supporter/worshipper of Joe Gibbs, I was extremely disappointed as once again, the team was losing another favorite because the organization could not or would not do the right thing. The fact that Gibbs seemed powerless or unwilling to do anything about it bothered a lot of long-time supporters of the Hall-of-Fame coach. First we lost Bailey, then Clark and Pierce and now Arrington was embroiled in a situation that could not possibly end well. Gibbs was saying some of the right things some of the time.

"We're making an all-out effort to take care of our guys first," Gibbs had said in an interview back then, before learning that Pierce was leaving for a divisional rival. "And then if there's someone out there who we think can help the ball club, we'll pursue that."

But like all coaches, Gibbs gave his fair share of non-answers. For reasons given publicly that would have rivaled current head coach Mike Shanahan’s first and second explanations of why QB Donovan McNabb was benched last year, Arrington was relegated to “spot” duty in the early games of the season and, according to him, not told why. The press was given partial or convoluted reasons for it from Arrington's slow recovery from knee surgery to problems in practice to his hit-or-miss playing style.

Arrington is a man known to speak his mind and, given the fact that his immediate coordinator was the infamous Gregg Williams, it should be no surprise that the relationship between the linebacker and the team was always “interesting.” By October of 2005, between the contract issues that had come between Arrington and management (Arrington said that his contract was rushed through missing a $6.8 million bonus verbally agreed upon in order to make the signing deadline), knee injuries and what Williams said was Arrington needing “to practice better,” things came to a head. Arrington had seen little playing time by then wasn’t shy about letting people know how he felt about it.

"Coach Williams says I've got to show them in practice," Arrington said at one point. "Well, in practice, give me some reps so you can see what I can do. If you're not going to play me, then don't play me. Just don't make things up about why I'm not playing. I'm healthy. I'm of sound mind and body. Don't try to slander me. It's being insinuated that I'm not smart enough to play this defense. That's absurd."

Arrington ended up buying out his contract with the Redskins in the end and joined Pierce in New York, showing that, while the knee injuries had done some damage, he had enough left in the tank to be of value to a team.

The way Bailey, Clark and Arrington were treated became a blue-print of Snyder’s affinity for making a free agency splash and looking for the big name free agent rather than keeping the guys who have faithfully contributed to this team.

There have been other free agent signings that didn't work out so well for the team (Can you say “Deion Sanders”?) but also trades and signings that have – like wide out Santana Moss for Laveranues Coles in 2005. Coles was/is a very good receiver but Moss became the “Cowboy Killer” here in Washington because of an innate ability to make huge plays during Cowboys – Redskins games. There isn't a much more complimentary nickname for a Redskin. The former Miami Hurricane went to the Pro Bowl the first year he was here and has been a hugely productive receiver for the team.

Andre Carter was a great teammate, a hard-worker and talented defensive end. Two of his five years here, he posted double-digit sack numbers. The veteran was cut last season, however, after not transitioning to the 3-4 defense as well as management had envisioned.

When this lockout is over and there is finally a free agency period, the Redskins are going to have to figure out what they are going to do about several players that have become free agents this season. Wide out Santana Moss, quarterback Rex Grossman, right tackle Jammal Brown, offensive lineman Stephon Heyer, defensive lineman Kedric Golston, linebackers Rocky McIntosh, Chris Wilson and H.B. Blades, cornerbacks Carlos Rogers and Phillip Buchanon and safety Reed Doughty are all free agents of one type or another.

Most of these guys – in fact, all but Grossman, Brown and Buchanon – have been popular, contributing members of the team for several years. Will management go after the big names in free agency (like cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha) rather than trying to woo back a player like Carlos Rogers by paying him what he’s worth?

So much goes into whether or not a player succeeds in any given system. The point is, that if all of the talented Redskins free agents are let go with no chance to even compete, only to be replaced by big names at big money, we’ll know that some things never change and we are likely to see history repeat itself here in Washington - again.

Hail.

Washington Redskins: Thank You, Al Davis

Al Davis might have made my day. I’ve been tweeting about what a great birthday present it would be for me (it’s coming up soon) for the Washington Redskins to sign Oakland Raiders’ free agent (FA) cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha once the lockout is over. Reading Rich Langford’s piece on the Silver & Black Pride  reiterating why the owner of the Raiders may not be re-signing Asomugha just made me all the more optimistic that it could happen.

I like Carlos Rogers. He doesn’t get enough credit. Playing opposite Redskins Pro Bowl cornerback DeAngelo Hall last season, Rogers had trouble getting his hands on a few sure interceptions. But he covers well, breaks up a lot of passes and presses his receivers. In 2010, he started and played in 12 games and had 2 interceptions for 43 yards. He defended 12 passes, forced one fumble and had 43 tackles while assisting in an additional 11. Unfortunately, his days in Washington appear to be over based on what he said recently to the media about becoming a Philadelphia Eagle and playing against the Redskins. You never know what a nice monetary offer might do to change somebody’s attitude though. Defensive coordinator Jim Haslett could do worse despite Rogers’ comment.

The Redskins have other DBs on the team besides Hall, who holds the number one spot at the position. As well as Hall, there is 6’1”, 190 lbs. Kevin Barnes, 5’11”, 190 lbs. Phillip Buchanon (if he is re-signed) and 5’10”, 201 lbs. Byron Westbrook plus the un-signed rookie defensive backs, 5’11”, 200 lbs. DeJon Gomes (who played safety and linebacker as well at Nebraska) and 5’10”, 188 lbs. Brandyn Thompson.

Once a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is in place and Free Agency begins, things are going to move quickly. Rather than the typical couple of months, teams will more than likely have about two weeks to fill in their rosters for training camp. Word is that the new CBA might change unrestricted FA requirements back to four years rather than current six which means the 2011 FA class will be huge. Redskins General Manager Bruce Allen has said that the team will be aggressive in free agency and head coach Mike Shanahan will probably bring in some corners to compete for Rogers’ vacated starting position. Nnamdi Asomugha is the most talented of the free agent cornerbacks out there so why wouldn’t the team look at brining him in?

A lot of teams will be vying for Asomugha’s services and it’s possible that the Redskins will miss out on him depending on whether Shanahan is willing to beat the highest offer. Even if he is, the player might simply choose to go somewhere besides Washington.

The Redskins could go after the former Cincinnati Bengals’ Johnathan Joseph – a very talented defensive back who, at 27, is still young. The Atlanta Falcons’ Brent Grimes will be available if not resigned. And the New York Jets’ Antonio Cromartie is a free agent. But the Bengals, Falcons and Jets all use a 4-3 defense and Haslett doesn’t need 4-3 personnel when the team is trying to solidify the 3-4 in its second year. Both of the Baltimore Ravens’ FA cornerbacks Chris Carr or Josh Wilson could work for the Skins because the Ravens play a hybrid defense. Pittsburgh Steelers’ Ike Taylor will be available from the Steelers who run the 3-4 defense as well.

Chris Carr, 27, started all 16 games last year. The 5’10”, 180 lbs. back logged 2 sacks, no interceptions, no touchdowns, 8 passes defended, forced three fumbles, and made 54 tackles.

Josh Wilson, 25, played in 14 games, starting 9. This 5’9”, 189 lbs. cornerback had 9 interceptions, one touchdown, 14 passes defended, one fumble recovery and 34 tackles.

Ike Taylor, 31, played in 16 games, starting 15. The 6’1”, 191 lbs. back had one sack, two interceptions, and no touchdowns. He defended 10 passes, forced one fumble and made 46 tackles. However, the Redskins need to continue to get younger.

Asomugha’s stats last year were not his best although he did go to the Pro Bowl and made First Team All-Pro (for the second time). The Raider FA started in 14 of 14 games played in 2010 but it wasn’t his most productive year.  With 17 (solo) tackles, no forced or recovered fumbles, no interceptions and no touchdowns, one would have to go back in time a bit to see how talented he is.  In 2006, he played in all but one game, had 50 tackles, 48 of which were solo, 1 sack, 8 interceptions for 59 yards, 1 touchdown and 19 pass breakups. Compare that to one of the most productive cornerbacks in the league – New England Patriots’ Devin McCourty. In 2010 he logged 60 tackles, had 7 interceptions for 110 yards, 2 forced fumbles and 17 passes defended.

The Redskins would do well to have any one of the aforementioned cornerbacks come to Washington and compete with Barnes, Buchanon and Westbrook. I am not saying that these current Redskins are not good enough to start opposite Hall. But, like quarterback John Beck, we have not seen enough of them to really know. Actually, I’d like to see them do really well in training camp. Team chemistry is important and they were all on the squad last season. It would be nice to see the team already in place stay together and do well.  Kevin Barnes has shown some real talent.

In 2010, Barnes, 24, played in 10 games, starting two (one at safety) after Rogers was injured. Barnes grabbed an interception off of a pressured David Garrard pass and the Redskins ended up beating the Jacksonville Jaguars. Barnes also broke up 5 passes and logged 14 tackles. The former Bruin played well at the end of last year and believes he can start for Washington.

Byron Westbrook, 24, played in 16 games but did not start any. He made four tackles and picked up a fumble. The DB played primarily on special teams, returning a couple of kicks. We don’t really know what he’s capable of at cornerback full-time.

Phillip Buchanon, 30, is the oldest of the three. He played in every game in 2010, starting five and having a productive year for not being a regular starter (though he did start for Oakland in 2004 and Tampa Bay in 2008). The DB had two interceptions for 51 yards (the longest was 43 yards), two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He made 40 tackles and was involved in eight more.

Given the type of play that results from good competition, and knowing how hungry this Redskins team is to win, I am going to send a big thanks to Al Davis for not having the good sense to see what he has and hang on to it… something that Washington has had problems with in the past (can you say, “Champ Bailey” or “Ryan Clark”?).  Asomugha would add talent, experience and depth to the cornerback position if the Redskins were to sign him. In my opinion, he has the right character to enhance the locker room. According to Langford, Asomugha is not aggressive enough on the field and so Davis, in having to choose to re-sign Asomugha or just keep defensive lineman Richard Seymour, might choose to keep only the latter. Langford describes the cornerback as “…the ultimate professional. He is well-prepared; he keeps himself in shape; he is a student of the game; he is courteous with his time with the press, and he helps tutor the younger players.”

I hope that Shanahan makes a good move and gets the cornerback signed, sealed and delivered to Redskins Park in time for training camp and some fierce competition. Maybe then I’ll get something else I’ve wanted for my birthday (which occurs during the offseason) for a while now… the prospect of a Burgundy & Gold secondary that strikes fear into the heart of opponents’ offenses – every offense, every time.

Hail.