2011 Draft Results and the effect on the roster

[backwardsk]

The Redskins traded down a bunch this draft and came away with 12 players which, I believe is more than the past two years combined. No QB was taken and little was done to upgrade the line. I like the draft strategy, and like what I've read about some of the players. I doubt all make the 53 man roster, but there is definitely a new youth movement in Ashburn.

QB: Beck, Grossman. McNabb is most likely traded. Despite drafting QBs, Tennessee and Minnesota may look for a veteran. Also, Miami could be in play.

RB: Drafted Helo and Royster. They join Torain, Williams, James Davis, and Andre Brown. Brown showed up to the player-led camp a couple of weeks ago. At most, four of the six will make the team.

FB: Sellers and Young return. Both play special teams and they'll most likely keep two FBs.

TE. Shocker, they didn't draft Kyle Rudolph in the first round.

WR. This could get interesting. Moss is a FA, but had a very productive year in Shanahan's offense. Armstrong emerged while Banks was a return stud and Austin caught some passes late in the season. Malcolm Kelly impressed in mini-camps, but got hurt...again. They drafted 3 receivers, Hankerson, Niles Paul, and Aldrick Robinson. With those 8 guys, I'd be shocked to see Roydell Williams in camp. If they go with only 2 QBs, they may have room for 4 RBs and 6 WRs. Shanahan has now brought in 6 receivers in two years via the draft and UFA.

O-Line. Maurice Hurt got busted for pot and fell in the draft. The guard competition should be up for grabs. You have Lichtensteiger, Cook, and Montgomery. I don't think Hicks and Mike Williams will be part of the 2011 squad. I look for them to address the line via FA. Hopefully Robert Gallery for LG.

D-Line. Jenkins and Neild have been added to a thin D-Line which had the old Daniels and Holliday. I'm looking forward to these guys. Jenkins can play all three positions while Neild would be a NT. I wonder how much of Bowers' success at Clemson can be attributed to Jenkins. If Neild can play, that could be a steal of a pick. Would be nice to see production from a line of Carriker, Neild, and Jenkins with Jarmon rotating in.

LB. Kerrigan was such a great pick. He's going to allow Orakpo to develop by creating a presence on the other side. I like Alexander, but both he and the team will be better off with him not starting at OLB. He's still very valuable for depth and special teams. With the play of backups Rob Jackson and Chris Wilson, I don't know if there is a spot on the team for Markus White. I'm surprised they didn't do anything to address ILB with McIntosh not really fitting the system. This position is also primed for a FA acquisition. 2009 draft pick, Robert Henson, had a good pre-season last year, and I wouldn't be surprised if he can get a shot as a starter opposite of Fletcher.

CB. Drafted Thomas. Don't know if he'll make it. Sounds like a potential STer, but they have Westbrook.

Safety. Prior to signing Atogwe, the Skins depth chart at the position was lead by draftees Landry, Moore, Horton, Doughty. I have a hard time seeing Gomes cracking that group. Seemed like an odd pick.

[allstar1579]

I think Doughty and Moore are FA, I think they are both gone, and Gomes was brought in to be Landry's backup at SS.

I'm hoping they are going to address CB in FA, lord knows they need something else back there with Hall.

I find myself wondering if they won't slide Alexander to MLB to play next to Fletcher. I mean why not, he's played every other position on the team, and Rocky is a FA I think.

The two biggest questions for me are what they get for McNabb and Haynesworth, but addition by subtraction, they both have to go. I also think they sign a big name WR FA. There are a ton out there and younger than Moss (although I'd like to see him come back as a slot guy cheaper).

[JDubs]

WR. This could get interesting. Moss is a FA, but had a very productive year in Shanahan's offense. Armstrong emerged while Banks was a return stud and Austin caught some passes late in the season. Malcolm Kelly impressed in mini-camps, but got hurt...again. They drafted 3 receivers, Hankerson, Niles Paul, and Aldrick Robinson. With those 8 guys, I'd be shocked to see Roydell Williams in camp. If they go with only 2 QBs, they may have room for 4 RBs and 6 WRs. Shanahan has now brought in 6 receivers in two years via the draft and UFA.

It's worse than that...we currently have 12 WRs competing for 5 or 6 spots (if you include Moss)...Here are the current receivers on our roster:

Santana Moss
Anthony Armstrong
*Leonard Hankerson
*Niles Paul
*Aldrick Robinson
Brandon Banks

Terrence Austin
Mike Furrey
Taurus Johnson
Malcolm Kelly
Maurice Price
Roydell Williams
* Denotes Rookies

I have bolded the guys that I think we will keep--either on the active roster or practice squad. I agree with you that Roydell is likely gone. I think that we will re-sign Moss because we appear to want him here and he is on record as wanting to stay ("If it ain't broke, don't fix it"). I also think that Malcolm Kelly is gone unless he gives a reason that he should be kept. No more goodwill based on draft status. The big question mark for me now is whether we will keep Banks. I had 100% certainty that we would keep him at the end of last season, but with the kickoff rule change and the drafting of Niles Paul (who has kick return bona fides), I am now at about 70% certainty that we will keep him. Furrey will almost certainly be gone.

Any thoughts on what the WR depth chart will look like? It really seems up in the air at this point. Based on what I have above, any non-bolded players who are kept on the active squad will result in a bolded player being cut or put on the practice squad.

[OrioleMagic]

This is a partial quote from Schefter on ESPN Insider:

Q: Adam, enjoyed watching you during NFL draft coverage first off! I was wondering what you think Mike Shanahan and the Washington Redskins plan to do at QB? I've heard John Beck (hard to believe), Albert Haynesworth for Kyle Orton and even a possibility of Vince Young. Who will be Shanahan's franchise QB?

-- Brendan (N.C.)



A: For now, Brendan, it looks like Beck. But let's clear up some loose ends. Washington never seriously considered a quarterback in Round 1 and never was going to trade up for one in this draft. Ever. And with the Redskins passing up the chance to draft a quarterback, the signs now point to Beck as Washington's starting quarterback in 2011. For starters, the team is expected to try to trade Donovan McNabb, and Rex Grossman is scheduled to be a free agent, leaving Beck as the only veteran quarterback under contract. It's also worth pointing out that Beck had better stats as a senior at Brigham Young than the quarterbacks the Redskins could have drafted and didn't at the top of the draft. During his senior season, Beck threw 32 touchdown passes and only eight interceptions, while completing 69.3 percent of his passes. Plus, Washington likes Beck's sense of timing and the skills he demonstrated during his one year with the team. The Redskins didn't think that many of these young quarterbacks would leave them any better off than Beck would. They're big believers in Beck, a player they acquired last summer from Baltimore for cornerback Doug Dutch. So you might as well believe, Brendan. All signs now point to Beck as the opening-day starter.

[backwardsk]

I think Doughty and Moore are FA, I think they are both gone, and Gomes was brought in to be Landry's backup at SS.

I'm hoping they are going to address CB in FA, lord knows they need something else back there with Hall.

I find myself wondering if they won't slide Alexander to MLB to play next to Fletcher. I mean why not, he's played every other position on the team, and Rocky is a FA I think.

The two biggest questions for me are what they get for McNabb and Haynesworth, but addition by subtraction, they both have to go. I also think they sign a big name WR FA. There are a ton out there and younger than Moss (although I'd like to see him come back as a slot guy cheaper).

Yeah, with the labor uncertainty, it's hard to determine who will be free agents and how that all will work out. I agree with just about everything else you posted with the exception of WR. I guess, I'm assuming that Moss is brought back and Kelly can actually play.

I see Alexander as a a jack of all trades guy. Special teams ace, ILB backup, OLB depth, and can play D-line in nickel packages. --I think the other starting ILB will be acquired via FA. Barrett Ruud may be that guy.

As far as corner goes, I wouldn't be surprised if Joseph from CIN is the guy.

I also saw a blurb that Cullen Jenkins may not be brought back to Green Bay. He may be a little pricey for what you'll get from him, but hey, that hasn't stopped them before.

[JDubs]

Yeah, with the labor uncertainty, it's hard to determine who will be free agents and how that all will work out. I agree with just about everything else you posted with the exception of WR. I guess, I'm assuming that Moss is brought back and Kelly can actually play.

I see Alexander as a a jack of all trades guy. Special teams ace, ILB backup, OLB depth, and can play D-line in nickel packages. --I think the other starting ILB will be acquired via FA. Barrett Ruud may be that guy.

As far as corner goes, I wouldn't be surprised if Joseph from CIN is the guy.

I also saw a blurb that Cullen Jenkins may not be brought back to Green Bay. He may be a little pricey for what you'll get from him, but hey, that hasn't stopped them before.

I think it is nearly a certainty that we sign a QB, WR, OL, and CB--including the FA's we are trying to resign.

At QB it will be Grossman, VY, or both. Also, I hear Kyle Boller is still available and that he once threw a football threw the goal posts while sitting at the 50 yard line. This guy is going to be something special.

As for WR, I my certainty is a direct result of my belief that we will resign Moss. I'm not sure if it will be a good thing, that depends on the compensation, but both appear to want each other. If not Moss, then I do not think we sign a WR.

At OL, I think we resign Jamaal Brown. I'd like to see us make a play for RG Davin Joseph and possibly RT Ryan Harris (to battle with Brown--loser becomes backup).

At CB, we might resign Carlos Rogers. I am honestly a proponent of doing that, for the right price, regardless of his catching inabilities because we need a cover guy opposite DHall; however, the more that I think about it, the more I will be ok if we let him walk. If that happens, I hope we sniff Asomugha. If he is as expensive as expected, let him go. Then, I'd like to sign Jonathan Joseph, as Backwardsk suggests, and I'd do it with a smile. I hear that the coaches are high on former UMD CB Kevin Barnes, but I would be shocked if they would be willing to let him start on the other side of DHall. He seems like a good fit for the nickel.

[allstar1579]

Well, as I mentioned before, looks like I was right about Alexander, he's been working out at MLB. Made sense to me, they love Alexander, and have a hole to fill with Rocky being a FA. I think his game will play better as a MLB anyway, he's not much of a pass rusher, he's more a slow physical play the run kinda guy.

Now if they can just figure out what to do about CB, I might have a little more faith in our defense.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider

[backwardsk]

Well, as I mentioned before, looks like I was right about Alexander, he's been working out at MLB. Made sense to me, they love Alexander, and have a hole to fill with Rocky being a FA. I think his game will play better as a MLB anyway, he's not much of a pass rusher, he's more a slow physical play the run kinda guy.

Now if they can just figure out what to do about CB, I might have a little more faith in our defense.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider

With Kerrigan, Wilson, Jackson, and the FSU kid, Alexander will definitely help more at ILB. As you say, there are holes at that position. However I think they'll give Riley every chance to be a starter, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Henson win the job. That dude was all over the place in the preseason before he got hurt. I remember him getting great reviews. He may end up being one of Vinny's better mid-round picks.

[allstar1579]

With Kerrigan, Wilson, Jackson, and the FSU kid, Alexander will definitely help more at ILB. As you say, there are holes at that position. However I think they'll give Riley every chance to be a starter, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Henson win the job. That dude was all over the place in the preseason before he got hurt. I remember him getting great reviews. He may end up being one of Vinny's better mid-round picks.

Yeah, true that, I like both of the "little guys" as I call them. Riley and Henson are like defensive Rock Cartwrights. I just figured they are going to find someplace to play LA because I know they adore him. I've heard from people that have met him that he's just a REALLY great guy, you can't help but like him.

[coe76]

Re: OL and Robert Gallery of the Raiders. I follow the Iowa Hawkeyes boards closely and word is he is going to Seattle, as his old coach is now up there.

[JDubs]

Re: OL and Robert Gallery of the Raiders. I follow the Iowa Hawkeyes boards closely and word is he is going to Seattle, as his old coach is now up there.

We definitely need to upgrade [read: replace] the line and I'd like to have Gallery for the right price, but I expect Shanny to target some lesser named FAs who fit the system. He's pretty good at finding system OLmen.

I'd also like to add that my grandmother just retired and is looking for a hobby (quiet Moose!)...you know, in case the Skins are looking for someone that can play Center better than Rabach. MeeMaw can ball.