First and foremost, you have to write off the late first quarter and almost the entire second quarter of this game. Washington pulled its starters after one drive apiece, sat a lot of key players, and had a reserve kick returner fumble the ball in the endzone resulting in one of Jacksonville’s touchdowns.
The first-team defense allowed a field goal before it vacated the field. The first team offense looked good on its possession, marching deep before Antwaan Randle El dropped a beautiful Jason Campbell pass that was a sure touchdown, leading to a Hunter Smith directional punt. Then, the fumble, sending Jacksonville up 10-0. Before halftime, Garrard and co. would march over the Redskins reserves for another TD, two point conversion and field goal.
When Jaguars Coach Jack Del Rio finally saw fit to sit his starters in the second half, the Redskins ran all over the Jags, outscoring them 17-3 in the preseason’s final two quarters.
So forget the team results here. The most important thing is: who stays, and who goes?
The team has already announced that QB Colt Brennan is heading for the injured reserve with a hamstring. Sounds to me like they like Brennan, don’t think he’s ready to play in any games this year, so they’ll “hide†him on injured reserve with a hamstring problem. Smart, really.
ESPN is also reporting that August QB extraordinaire Chase Daniel isn’t likely to make the team or the practice squad, meaning the team will go with two QBs for the regular season. Not smart, really. Give Daniel a taxi squad spot coach; you’ll want the extra arm for practice. What happens if Campbell can’t practice one day? You’re going to make Collins take all the reps?
The running back situation is the most convoluted. The team will keep three or four RBs, and one of them will be named Clinton Portis.
Ladell Betts will probably keep the second, though he’s been seriously challenged by Marcus Mason for two seasons now. Neither RB plays special teams, and it’s very unlikely the team will keep more than one backup back who doesn’t play special teams.
Rock Cartwright has held down the third spot for several years now, though he’s no lock. While he’s a great special teams player, he’s not much of a runner and doesn’t give the team any new dimensions.
Dominique Dorsey has earned himself a spot. He can return kicks, punts, carry and catch. He can be a gunner on punt coverage and run down on kickoffs, too. In addition, he adds a slash and dash dimension to the backfield that’s been missing for years; the team has been notoriously heavy on the between the tackles runners.
Anthony Alridge, he of the fumbled kick return against Jacksonville, showed a lot in the last two preseason games, and the pair might be enough to unseat Cartwright. Alridge is a good returner and has shown the slash and dash that Dorsey has done. The team could envision Alridge as the kick returner, Dorsey as the punt returner and two speedy gunners on the return units, plus a pair of change of pace backs behind Portis and Betts/Mason. If not, one will probably make it, the other to the practice squad.
In other areas, expect to see another year of kicker Shawn Suisham. While Suisham didn’t look particularly good this preseason, neither did Rayner, and Suisham’s kicks have a bit more pop and accuracy, especially on the all-important extra points. Rayner has an extra yard or two on kickoffs, but that’s about it. As for punter, the team only has one and he’s damned good (Hunter Smith).
When the preseason started, WR Marko Mitchell looked destined for the practice squad. But the tall 2009 seventh round pick scored four preseason touchdowns and looked almost every bit as good as Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly. No doubt he’s locked up the fifth receiver spot. If the team keeps a sixth receiver (unlikely), it won’t be D.J. Hackett. He doesn’t play special teams. Keith Eloi may have secured himself a practice squad spot with a good play against Jacksonville.
The tight ends will be Chris Cooley, Fred Davis and Todd Yoder. But I could have told you that in April.
Tackle Mike Williams showed that he is not ready to block first teamers yet, but looked pretty good against the second team. Given his size and the overall lack of depth on the offensive line, expect this experiment to continue for at least a few more weeks. As for the rest of the backup o-line, Will Montgomery may have locked up the backup center spot. Chad Rinehart got the starting nod for Randy Thomas against the Jags and he’s a 2008 3rd round pick, so he’s in. Jeremy Bridges didn’t win the starting right tackle job, but he got enough time and looked decent. The team may keep a 10th o-lineman, but I doubt it.
CB Justin Tryon may have secured the fifth cornerback spot behind Hall, Smoot, Rogers and Barnes with his interception late in the game against the Jaguars. While Tryon has looked lost in coverage during the preseason, he is a 2008 fourth round choice who was around all of last year and the team may not want to give up on him just yet. This may give them the excuse they need to keep him around for a while. Byron Westbrook will find himself back on the practice squad by virtue of his versatility.
It’s anyone’s guess who will take the safety spots behind LaRon Landry, Chris Horton and Reed Doughty. The team may opt to keep extra corners since they’ve experimented with Fred Smoot and others at the spots.
It’s a dead-heat at the linebacker spots, which are deep thanks to drafting three in 2009. Locks are LB/DE Brian Orakpo, London Fletcher, Rocky MacIntosh and H.B. Blades. LB/DE Chris Wilson, Orakpo’s backup, showed enough development, particularly against Jacksonville, to have secured that spot, leaving the team with probably two more slots for four players. Expect to see veteran Robert Thomas, since he has experience and can play all three positions and one of the two draft picks in Cody Glenn and Robert Henson. Expect the other draft pick on the practice squad.
The locks on the deep d-line are as follows: Albert Haynesworth, Cornelius Griffin, Andre Carter, Phillip Daniels, Renaldo Wynn, Jeremy Jarmon and Anthony Montgomery. That’s three ends and three tackles, with Orakpo occasionally coming in to play end from the strongside LB spot. Meaning: one more end, one more tackle, most likely. The tackles will likely be either Lorenzo Alexander or Kendric Golston. As for the end, probably Alex Buzbee, but don’t rule out Rob Jackson.
Cuts are due later today, and there’s always a surprise or two. The team has already surprised by choosing neither QB in the 3rd string derby; what will be next?
