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Washington Redskins Column
By:
Dan Hannon
5/11/09
The Patriots. The Colts. The
Eagles. The Giants. The Chargers. The Steelers. What do all these teams have
in common? Well, two things stand out. 1) They usually play deep into the
playoffs. 2) They annually build their respective teams through the NFL draft.
Now, let's look at the Washington Redskins since Daniel Snyder purchased the
club prior to the 1999 season. Only two playoff berths, constant roster
turnover with more head coaches than false promises from Capitol Hill. And oh
yeah, Snyder believes championships are built from free agency instead of the
draft.
As the Steelers polish their second Lombardi trophy in four seasons, the
Redskins could start the 2009 season with 20 players of age 30 or older. That
translates to greater than one-third of the overall roster.
I'm not suggesting the older players lack heart or grit. However, championships
are won up front in the trenches. 32,29,32,33,?. Those four numbers and
question mark represent Chris Samuels, Derrick Dockery, Casey Rabach, Randy
Thomas and a HUGE vacancy at the starting Right Tackle spot.
You gotta think NFC East pass rushers Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora and DeMarcus
Ware are licking their chops to line up against that front five.
So entering the NFL draft, you would expect that the Redskins would have made an
early attempt to address the offensive line depth. Right? Hardly.
So let's examine the Redskins execution in the most recent draft:
Defensive Coordinator Greg Blache was smiling as the Redskins took only 30
seconds to grab a defensive playmaker with the 13th overall pick. Texas DE/OLB
Brian Orakpo addresses a need and gives the defense a legitimate pass rusher off
the edge. Orakpo represents the first Defensive Linemen drafted in Round One
since Kenard Lang was taken 17th overall in the 1997 draft. (Five head coaches
ago.)
In Round 3, the 'Skins drafted Maryland CB Kevin Barnes. Barnes gives veteran
Fred Smoot some competition at the 3rd CB spot. With the 80th pick in the
draft, you want a player who can make a weekly contribution in his rookie
season. A tall corner at 6-0, Barnes is capable of doing so.
Here are the remaining the Redskins draft selections:
Round 5 Cody Glenn, OLB Nebraska - A converted tailback, Glenn replaces veteran
Khary Campbell as a special teams LB.
Round 6 Robert Henson, ILB TCU - Linebacker was an obvious team need. Henson
bolsters special teams. At 6-0 244 lbs, he possesses the size to possibly
compete for significant playing time down the road at Inside Backer.
Round 7 Eddie Williams, FB Idaho - Had he not tore his ACL late in the season,
Williams would have been selected somewhere in the middle rounds. Williams is a
candidate to be stashed on the Injured Reserve this year. With Mike Sellers
fresh off a Pro Bowl appearance, Washington can practice patience with Williams.
Round 7 Marko Mitchell, WR Nevada - Mitchell could potentially be the sleeper
of the Redskins Day 2 selections. He doesn't possess top vertical speed, but he
looks like the jump ball threat this team has sorely lacked for years. Started
out at Mesa Community College. 6-3, 218 lbs with big hands. If Malcolm Kelly's
knee ailments persist, Mitchell could find his niche in Coach Jim Zorn's West
Coast Offense.
Key Rookie Free Agent Signing: Edwin Williams, C Maryland - Williams gives the
team a capable reserve behind Rabach. They targeted the local product late on
the second day of the draft. Projected anywhere from Round 5-7, Williams signed
his rookie contract a few hours following the completion of the draft.
Grade: C+
This grade serves not to attack the players selected but more about the lack of
2nd and 4th round picks. The bust that was DE Jason Taylor cost the team its
second round draft pick. Its fourth round pick was used to acquire departing
Left Guard Pete Kendall. Kendall started for two years and toughed it out with
arthritic knees.
However, the Taylor trade stings. The 44th overall selection should have netted
the Redskins an upgrade at Right Tackle, a rookie starter. Oklahoma OT Phil
Loadholt and Connecticut OT Will Beatty both were drafted after the Dolphins
used the Redskins pick to grab West Virginia QB Pat White. Loadholt and Beatty
both would provide Redskins fans with more peace of mind than either Stephon
Heyer or Jon Jansen.
Redskins Executive Vice President of Football Operations Vinny Cerrato might
play a mean game of racquetball, but he lacks the vision necessary to create a
consistent NFL winner. For this franchise to return to its glory days of George
Allen and Joe Gibbs 1.0, Snyder must finally hire a football man to manage the
front office.
For a team rich in history with a diehard fan base, the Redskins deserve a
position better than its current front office provides: Mediocrity.
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