Cerrato Out, Allen In

When I woke up today, I thought it was going to be an ordinary day. But as soon as I turned on the TV, I found that Redskins executive vice-president of player personnel Vinny Cerrato had resigned from his position.

I couldn't believe it.

It's been obvious that the 'Skins were ready to make big changes, but it always seemed Cerrato would be in the plans. He is close with owner Dan Snyder, and seemed to have a long leash in terms of what he could do with the team.

And now, before the season is even over, Cerrato is out.

Less than an hour after hearing this, I found out Snyder has already hired a replacement: Bruce Allen.

Allen was the GM of the Buccaneers after their Super Bowl run, helping them to two AFC South Championships. He’s also the son of former Redskins head coach George Allen, seen only a step below Joe Gibbs by the Redskins community, which adds a bit of familiarity to the fan base.

Other than that though, where is this hire coming from?

I don’t think we’ve seen the whole story yet. This was a very quick turn around, and it doesn’t appear Snyder had any other candidates. I’m interested to see if we get more comments from him.

Hello everyone!

Hello to all my loyal readers, but I'm sorry to bring you a bit of sad news.

A new semester has started, and I just don't have enough time for the Redskins blog right now, and will have to go on hiatus for sometime, which I know is even more saddening since the season just started.

But you're in luck! I have received somewhat of a promotion and have started a blog about the NFC for Towson University's website. If you want to follow me there, follow this little trail of crumbs I've left for you.

Thanks everyone for reading and let's hope for a great season!

Hail.

Predicting 16

The 'Skins season kicks off this Sunday with a fierce rival from the NFC East, the New York Giants. But before this game initiates the beginning of a long, grueling season, I've gotta take a stab at the 'Skins schedule.

Week One: @ Giants (0-0)
The Giants are one of the best teams in the NFL, and games in the NFC are especially competitive, so the edge has to go to the home team. Giants in a close one, 20-17.

Week Two: VS Rams (0-1)
The 'Skins will be looking to bounce back after this week, and with first year head coach Steve Spagnuolo, who was the Giants defensive coordinator the past two years, the defense should be ready for what the 'Skins have to offer, but the defense is going to take this one over. 'Skins win 24-6.

Week Three: @ Lions (1-1)
With a chance to go above a .500 record in week three while playing the worst team from last year should be an easy win for the 'Skins, but they better not take this game lightly. They found themselves in the loss column with a similar game against the Rams last year, and they came to regret it at the end of the season. This team will remember that game, however, and blowout a young Lions team, 27-10.

Week Four: VS Buccaneers (2-1)
The 'Skins come home week four to play their third rookie head coach in a row. The Buccaneers are in a rebuilding season, and with a roster filled with youngsters, the Redskins should overmatch them greatly. Veterans like Ronde Barber, however, will prevent the 'Skins passing attack from taking off, and the game will be a little closer. 20-13.

Week Five: @ Panthers (3-1)
This game should be the biggest challenge the 'Skins have had since the season opener against the Giants. The Panthers have a fierce running attack and always put a solid defense on the field. The 'Skins lose in a close one, 21-17.

Week Six: VS Chiefs (3-2)
Wanting to stay above .500 and frustrated about the close loss to the Panthers, the 'Skins will dominate a young Chiefs team. Matt Cassel will throw a lot to stay in this one, and will get picked off a few times, but with a porous defense, the Chiefs won't be able to keep up. 'Skins win easily, 34-17.

Week Seven: VS Eagles (4-2)
Mike Vick makes his first appearance at FedEx Field and causes a stir. The focus will be on him coming to town and not on the team, and they will thrive. This will still be a battle in the East, but the Eagles will still be getting used to using Vick, so the 'Skins steal one, 24-21.

Week Eight: BYE WEEK (5-2 and feeling good)

Week Nine: @ Falcons (5-2)
Coming off the bye week, the 'Skins are fully rested, ready to play some football again, but are shocked by Matt Ryan and the fantastic Falcons. 'Skins lose, 24-10.

Week Ten: VS Broncos (5-3)
Once again on edge after a loss, the 'Skins come back ready to face the team that almost had a hand in sending Jason Campbell out of town. Campbell has a big day, throwing three TD's. 'Skins win handily, 31-13.

Week Eleven: @ Cowboys (6-3)
It's finally the biggest rivalry of the season, and the 'Skins first trip to Jerry Jones' Palace. It's a close one between these two rivals, and after a delay where Shawn Suisham breaks the Jerry's big screen TV over the stadium, the 'Skins blow it in the fourth quarter as Marion Barber runs all over them, 24-13.

Week Twelve: @ Eagles (6-4)
The Eagles have figured out their offense, and the defense has hit their midseason stride. This is a close game, but it doesn't show on the scoreboard. Eagles win, 27-14.

Week Thirteen: VS Saints (6-5)
Hitting their first two game skid of the season, the 'Skins look to bounce back at home verse their old defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams. The Redskins current coordinator, Greg Blatche, worked for several years with Williams, and the 'Skins offense practices against pretty much the same defensive scheme every day, they will take this one, but not without Saints quarterback Drew Brees putting a few nice scoring drives together. Redskins, 31-21.

Week Fourteen: @ Raiders (7-5)
The Raiders recently traded a first round pick in 2011 for a 29 year old defensive end who has only played 16 games two times in his eight year NFL career. Do I need to say more to how much disarray this organization is in? 'Skins crush, 35-9.

Week Fifteen: VS Giants (8-5)
Entering their toughest home stretch of the season, the 'Skins beat a banged up Giants team, but it's an ugly one. 14-10.

Week Sixteen: VS Cowboys (9-5)
The rivalry comes home and with the playoffs on the line for the both teams, the home team prevails in another slugfest. Redskins win, 17-16.

Week Seventeen: @ Chargers (10-5)
It comes down to the last game of the season, but the Chargers have already clinched their division and their hearts aren't in the game as much as the 'Skins are. The 'Skins win this one from the beginning, 21-17.

The 'Skins finish 11-5 with a wildcard spot in the NFC. It's going to be tough, and a lot of this depends on the team staying healthy, but I think it should shake out like this. What does everyone else think?

Two DeMatha Alumni Make Final 53

It's always fun to see local players make your favorite sports teams, and this year the Redskins gave me that pleasure by keeping Byron Westbrook and Edwin Williams, who attended my high school, DeMatha Catholic HS in Hyattsville, MD.

Westbrook, '02, made the team and should see a lot of playing time on special teams. He really had to fight for his roster spot this year, and it paid off in the end.

Keeping Westbrook "was kind of an easy decision," said Redskins executive vice-president of player personnel Vinny Cerrato. "He played well on special teams and he played well in the secondary...That was kind of an easy decision."

Cerrato thought heading into camp that Westbrook really needed a strong showing to make the team, and he did just that. He noted that when the ball was on the ground, Westbrook would get it and make some plays, and that in the end, he earned his right to be on the team.

Williams, '04, walked the halls with me for two years at DeMatha, and he was a pretty big guy then; I can't imagine how big he is now. He came into camp as a center, but the coaching staff loves versatility in their linemen, so they put him in at guard also, and Williams was up to the task.

Cerrato said he was pleased to find Williams, an undrafted rookie lineman who could play several positions and get better each week. That's how he earned his spot.

It's good to see these guys on the team, and I'll definitely be watching to see how they progress. It seems to me like Westbrook is the 53rd man on the roster, however, so if injuries come up and someone has to go, it could be him. He'll just have to show up every week like he's fighting for his job; they both should.

Redskins Set Final Roster

Saturday night, the Washington Redskins decided who would be on the final roster, and of course, there were a few surprises.

The biggest surprises for me were on the offensive side with the decision to cut offensive lineman Jeremy Bridges as well as undrafted rookie quarterback Chase Daniel in order to keep young offensive linemen D'Anthony Batiste and Edwin Williams.

I thought for sure Bridges would make the final cut, with the lack of a veteran lineman to jump in if any injuries were to occur, but the team decided to get younger at the position (which the needed to) and keep two younger guys instead. The cutting of Daniel was a risk, as the team seemed to greatly desire him on the practice squad, but he has already signed to the New Orleans Saints practice squad and is probably forever out of the Redskins system.

On the defensive side, linebacker Robert Thomas was cut in favor of cornerback Byron Westbrook. Thomas seemed a good candidate for the team because he was a veteran player who would contribute on special teams. Vinny Cerrato, however, felt Westbrook played his tail off in the preseason, could perform on special teams, and deserved a spot.

So the 53 are set, and all that's left is the season to start this Sunday against the Giants of New York at 4:15. Should be a great one.

Roster Down to 53 Today

With the start of the season only a week away, the Redskins finally have to decide who is coming into the season with them, and who is going to get sent packing.

There were several people fighting for their jobs throughout training camp, but it seems like it's fairly obvious what the team is going to look like. There are always surprises, and I'm by no means an expert on this stuff at all, but this is what I think it's going to look like.

3 Spots: Special Teamers (50 left) The easiest spots to give away are the special teamers. Punter Hunter Smith and long snapper Ethan Albright had their spots locked up when training camp started, but the kickers had to fight for it. The fight was clinched Friday night by Shawn Suisham when he nailed 48 yard field goal against the Jaguars. Hopefully he can keep it up all season.

On the offensive side, I used some detective skills to find out from Jason Reid that Vinny Cerrato plans to keep 25 plays on offense. That makes choosing these guys a little less difficult.

3 Spots: Quarterback (47 left) Jason Campbell will start for his second full year in Jim Zorn's offense, and Todd Collins will be right behind him if anything unfortunate were to happen to him. Colt Brennan and Chase Daniel have been slugging it out all offseason, but with growing concerns over injuries and erratic play in the red zone, Brennan will be on the outside looking in. He may be kept on the team, however, if they decide to put him on the injured reserve list, which would end his season.

4 Spots: Running Back (43 left) Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts are going to have to work together real well for this team to go anywhere, but they're the one-two punch for this team; atleast for now. Marcus Mason should be kept on the team, and could challenge Betts for playing time as the season progresses. Rock Cartwright will be returning as well as a key contributor on special teams.

1 Spot: Full Back (42 left) Mike Sellers, enough said.

5 Spots: Wide Receiver (37 left) It looks like Santana Moss and Malcolm Kelly will be the starters, and with good reason. Moss is a beast, and Kelly has shown that he is determined to get in the starting spot and keep it. Randle El will work the slot, and Devin Thomas should be a big deep threat. The fifth spot goes to my man Marko Mitchell, who I've been watching all offseason. He's shown up in all the preseason games, but he'll have to keep working hard to have it carry over to the regular season.

3 Spots: Tight End (34 left) Chris Cooley should be making another trip to the Pro Bowl this year. Fred Davis has performed well during the preseason, but still makes mental errors. Todd Yoder is a consummate professional and will help this teams a lot on special teams.

9 Spots: Offensive Line (25 left for defense) The starting unit is set (from left to right): Chris Samuels, Derrick Dockery, Casey Rabach, Randy Thomas, Stephon Heyer. There were a lot of questions about this unit entering the season, and they came out and performed above expectations. The big concern now is what happens if any of these guys go down. The primary backup will be Jeremy Bridges, with Chad Rhinehart right behind him. The last two spots I struggled with, but it'll probably be Will Montgomery and Mike Williams. Montgomery has shown the ability to play center and guard, something line coach, Joe Bugel, loves. Williams is on, well, because there's really no one else.

4 Spots: Safety (21 left) The team didn't bring anyone new in to challenge for these spots because they are stacked as it is. Laron Landry and Chris Horton will be the starters, but Reed Doughty and Kareem Moore should see plenty of playing time since the team loves playing three safeties.

5 Spots: Cornerback (16 left) This unit could make or break the defense. DeAngelo Hall and Carlos Rogers will be the starters, but after them there are several big question marks. Fred Smoot isn't getting any younger, but Justin Tryon and rookie Kevin Barnes may be too young. These three will have to step up their games with the season finally here, or pass happy offenses will pick right through them.

9 Spots: Defensive Line (7 Left) The starters upfront will undoubtedly be Phillip Daniels, Albert Haynesworth, Cornelius Griffin and Andre Carter. These guys should be monsters this season, especially since they can stay fresh while defensive coordinator Greg Blatche rotates several proven players off the bench. Renaldo Wynn, Kedric Golston, Anthony Montgomery, Lorenzo Alexander and rookie Jeremy Jarmon make up that list, and should all be ready for plenty of playing time.

2 Spots: DE/LB Hybrid (5 Left) I wasn't sure where to put either of these guys, so they get their own category. Rookie Brian Orakpo is going to dominate from defensive end, and he seems to be making strides at linebacker so expect him to be on the field a lot this season. Chris Wilson also made the switch from defensive end to linebacker, and has made the switch look easy. He's still extremely fast off the edge, and has the speed and agility to stay with players in coverage.

5 Spots: Linebacker (Can I have your playbook?) London Fletcher and Rocky McIntosh will be on the field the most, starting along side Brian Orakpo. H.B. Blades is very reliable, and will be the first guy off the bench if anyone needs a breather. Robert Thomas will stay on the team as a trusted veteran. The last spot will go to a rookie linebacker, and the other the team will try to add to the practice squad, but I think they keep Chris Henson. He's shown up on special teams, and the team needs help there.

Alright, that's what I've got. What does everyone else think?

My man Jason Reid of the Washington Post recently made his prediction on the 'Skins 53 man roster, and I thought I should weigh in.

For the most part, Reid is spot on. The big problem I have with his roster is Brennan making the roster as the third quarterback. I don't know how Zorn could keep the kid after throwing two picks in the redzone during preseasongames. Interceptions are going to happen, but they can't happen in the redzone. After the first one, Brennan should have learned his lesson and tightened up near the endzone, but he repeated the gaffe the following week.

This spot should go to Chase Daniel. The kid has looked solid in his few opportunities. He seems to have caught up to Brennan, even though Brennan's been here for a year. Zorn said he's looking at players long term potential, and with more work Daniel seems like he could be far better than Brennan.

I haven't gotten to watch the two battle it out as much as Reid has, but what happens in the games matters a lot for these cuts, and Daniel definitely outperformed Brennan.

Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself...

Hello everyone and welcome to the place to read anything and everything about the Washington Redskins.

For those of you who are new (which is probably anyone reading this), my name is Colin and I've been writing this blog since January. I write about the Redskins because I love football and have followed the 'Skins, through thick in the thin, for long time.

Taking my second journalism class should help make me a more proficient writer. I need to improve a lot with my writing, so I want to take a big step with that this semester. I also want to learn more about the different programs we'll be using. Last year I had to look through directions for assignments all the time, so I want it to be more from memory this year.

'Skins Fall to Patriots

It was a close game Friday night, and even though they lost on the scoreboard, the 'Skins should feel good about their performance.

Jason Campbell had a solid performance. He moved around in the pocket well, took some big hits, all while putting 17 points on the board in the first half against a Patriots defense that is always ready to go.

Campbell still missed some open passes, but he made plenty more good plays than bad. He spread the ball around, threw no interceptions, and even ran one in for a touchdown. I'm still in Jason's corner, and I think this is just a taste of what we'll get the whole season.

The defense was solid, but had no answer for Randy Moss. He could hit whatever route he wanted to whenever he wanted. Covering big wide receivers could now be the biggest weapon for the defense, and teams will look to exploit it. No receiver will have Moss's combination of size and speed, but size could be all you need.

Also impressive were the wide receivers. They played physical, and ran some real quick routes. With so many options, they should tear up secondaries this season.

More to come on this game if I get to watch anymore of it, work needs to stop getting in the way of important stuff...like Redskins football.

Next Up: Steelers

The Redskins will play in their second preseason game Saturday against the Steelers, and here are three things I'll be watching out for:

Albert Haynesworth
The $100 million man makes his debut in the burgundy and gold, and let's hope it goes smoothly. fans will be looking for him to get a big push up the middle, but what they really need is for him to come out healthy. There's a lot riding on this guy being here for the majority of the season, and I don't even mean monetarily.

Offensive Line
The group looked solid in their first outing and I expect nothing less this time. They'll be facing a 3-4 defense that loves to blitz, so this will be a great test for the team. Randy Thomas should be seeing his first game which will allow the unit to get used to playing with the actual starting five.

Wide Receivers
There's a race for the number two receiver, and Malcolm Kelly put his name in the running with his strong performance last week. Devin Thomas and Antwaan Randle El are not backing down from the challenge, however, and should put on strong showings in the game as well. This battle will come down to the last game, so every game will count.

Backup Quarterback Really a Race?

While the 'Skins got pounded by an aggressive Ravens defense Thursday, it was apparent which quarterback was up to the task: veteran Todd Collins.

Collins completed eight of eleven passes for 70 yards. Though he didn't get any points on the board, he still played a clean game, free of interceptions or sacks.

Colt Brennan didn't look as crisp. Brennan was being pressured constantly, forcing him to get rid of the ball quicker than he would have liked. This led to only four completions on 12 attempts for 43 yards. He was also sacked three times and threw one pick.

As Brennan challenges for the backup spot, performances like that cannot happen. Collins looked way ahead of Brennan, and should probably have the spot in the end.

Redskins' Bombed During Battle of the Beltway

The Redskins fell to the hands of Ravens Thursday night, getting shut out 23-0. Talk about a great start to the season.

I understand that it's the first game of the season and there's still some time to go until the games really count, but getting shut out is never a good thing. The offense stalled in the middle of the field several times and never even entered the kickers field goal range.

Aside from the shortcomings in points, the game wasn't too horrible. The first team offense proved they'd be able to protect Jason Campbell, but also had trouble opening holes for running back Ladell Betts. I still think they will be the key to the season, and they're going to have to show more improvement as preseason continues.

The best part of the game was watching second year safety Kareem Moore flying around the field, laying crunching hits left and right. He seemed real comfortable in the defense, which allowed him to make several plays.

The team still has a lot to work on, but it's a start. It's better to get all the mistakes out of the way during the preseason, learn from them and go in to the season ready for everything. The team will get better as preseason continues, let's just hope they find the end zone sooner than later

Defense Sets Tone at Practices

As training camp has progressed, it has become obvious that the defense is ahead of the offense.

Many players have said this is normal. The defense always starts fast, and the offense will catch up, nothing to worry about. Though the offense isn't worried, opponents probably should be.

Last season, the defense ranked fourth overall but had trouble getting pressure on the quarterback and creating turnovers. To change this, the team added defensive linemen Albert Haynesworth, Brian Orakpo, Phillip Daniels and Renaldo Wynn, and it's definitely evident that there is a difference.

During drills at camp, these guys were all over the place. They seemed to beat our line with ease on just about every play. Good thing for Campbell there's no hitting the quarterback during drills, or he'd be in a world of pain.

The secondary is the youngest unit on the team, with the oldest starter, Laron Landry, only 24. There are four players entering their second season with the team, and with a full offseason with the team they should show a lot of improvement. Knowing their assignments will allow the players to go out and play and not have to think.

At linebacker, the team will use draft choice Brian Orakpo as a speed rusher. This role had been lost with the injuries to Marcus Washington for several years, and the team believes Orakpo will resurrect this position. The man is fast and strong, and any lineman will have his hands full playing against him.

This defense has the potential to be one of the best in Redskins' history. They have a great mix of veterans and youngsters, and if they can stay healthy, they can do a lot of damage every week.

Dodgeball at Practice!

One of the most important skills a quarterback has to have is being able to avoid pressure from defenders, even by making a small move at the last second. Zorn, the genius he is, knows the best way to teach this is with some good old fashioned dodgeball.

In this drill, three quarterbacks and Zorn would form a square around the fourth quarterback, throwing balls the size of linemen at him. The drill concentrated on making quick moves while staying the middle of the square. This helps quarterbacks stay in the pocket instead of running around, possibly into another opponent.

Another important part of the drills was keeping two hands on the ball at all times, which seasoned vets Jason Campbell and Todd Collins did extremely well. Youngsters Colt Brennan and Chase Daniel on the other hand had significant problems with this.

If a ball came close to them, they would sometimes jump and spread their hands a part. Exposing the ball like that in a game could allow a defensive player to strip the ball easily. Every time I see guys going for the quarterback, they are going for that ball first. With the ball out there for the taking, they won't hesitate to get it.

This drill just showed me the big differences between veterans and the young guys. It's the little things like keeping two hands on the ball that lead to victories, or least take them away from you.

New Face at Wide Receiver

The Redskins shook up the race for the fifth wide receiver position Wednesday with the addition of D.J. Hackett.

After Roydell Williams suffered a broken finger, it was important for Vinny Cerrato to bring in a replacement quick. Cerrato had previously looked at Hackett, and this was finally the time to bring him in.

Hackett, 28, is well versed in the West Coast offense, playing in the system during Jim Zorn's last three years in Seattle. This gives him a huge upper hand over his competition, two rookies (one undrafted) who are just learning the offense, all the while adjusting to the speed of the NFL.

With this advantage, Hackett should push for a roster spot. He looked quick at camp, and made some solid catches, even in the rain. He feels at home in this system, which should allow him to relax, go out, and show his stuff.

Backup Quarterback Competition Continues

I got off my couch again on Tuesday to go to another session of Redskins training camp, and was lucky to see one of head coach Jim Zorn's inventive QB drills.

Zorn used a piece of netting with three squares cut in it to work on the quarterbacks accuracy while throwing wide receiver screens. The quarterbacks would snap the ball, and Zorn would instruct them "Left," "Right," or "Center," and the quarterback would have to hit the target.

Of the players vying for the backup position, Colt Brennan by far hit the most targets. He wasn't perfect, but the ones he did miss were only off by a small margin.

Todd Collins had a solid outing, but did little to separate himself from Brennan. He was accurate with the ball, but still hit less targets than Brennan.

Chase Daniel, on the other hand, struggled with this drill. He seldom landed one in a box, and on a few throws missed the net completely.

Zorn seemed to make it clear the rest of practice that Daniel is trailing in the competition, giving him zero snaps during 11 on 11 work. Zorn has praised his work, but it is still clear he has a ways to go.

Who Will Backup Campbell?

As most fans know, this off season brought a lot of turmoil for starting quarterback Jason Campbell. The team tried to replace him twice, giving fans more reason to doubt the quarterback's ability (myself not included). For these nonbelievers, their favorite player to talk about will undoubtedly be Campbell's backup.

Todd Collins is the currently holds this spot, but his position will surely be challenged by youngsters Colt Brennan and Chase Daniel. Saturday, Collins was very precise while executing the offense, but moved noticeably slower than Campbell.

Brennan, who is entering his second season, looked the best of the bunch. He took quick drops, released the ball quickly and was very accurate. Undrafted rookie Daniel seems to have caught on quickly, and was very accurate.

It seems like Brennan could be putting himself in a position to supplant Collins for the spot, but this is still early in camp. Nothing will be decided until head coach Jim Zorn sees them in live action when the bullets are really flying. It will be interesting to see how Zorn splits up snaps the rest of camp, there could definitely be reason to give Brennan a few more reps.

Wide Receivers Battling for 5th Spot

As training camp starts to really get going, there a few positions with some roster spots open. A position where a younger guy stands a chance at earning the spot is as the fifth wide out.

After the release of James Thrash this off season, a huge hole was left and the team brought in several players to challenge for the spot. From what I saw at camp Saturday, rookies Marko Mitchell and Keith Eloi, along with four year veteran Roydell Williams look like they are leading for the spot.

Of this group, Eloi stood apart from the others. He held on to one throw while he was falling, and seemed to run his routes with a little more speed than the others.

This will be a competition worth watching. Last year Vinny Cerrato kept all of his draft choices, so it would seem Mitchell has the inside track to a roster spot, but if Eloi keeps making catches like he did Saturday, they're going to have to take a long look at him.

First Trip to Training Camp

On Saturday, I made my first trip to Ashburn, VA to check out training camp, and I was not disappointed.

It was the first day in full pads, and the players did not hold back. Along the line, players were throwing aggressive blocks, making sure to show their stuff every chance they got. It was good to see Derrick Dockery out with the team again. He looked like his old self, dishing out some of the biggest hits of the day

The most encouraging performance of the day came from Malcolm Kelly, who was bothered by injuries the majority of last season. The second year player made several impressive grabs, including a deep pass from Colt Brennan where Kelly had to twist his body while falling out of bounds to catch the ball. Kelly also used his size to his advantage, leaping for balls during red zone drills.

Overall, I think the team looked crisp. They wasted little time during a practice that lasted over two hours, moving quickly through the drills. The coaches and players seemed very focused, but seemed to go through everything very naturally.

The offense still has a ways to go, but it's only the first day with pads on and they should show progress each day. I'll have more up here as I go to more practices, but expect more in the next few days even if I don't make it out to practice. Lot's of exciting stuff going on, let's hope it turns out well. Until next time...

Hail

Any Shot at the Super Bowl?

So is this finally the year? Will the Redskins finally make the trip fans have been longing to see for so many years? Is the Super Bowl even in their sights?

Well, everyone has a chance at the beginning of the season, so why no the 'Skins? But if they're going to do it, these three things have to happen.

#3 Jason Campbell will have to show improvement

Jason Campbell is entering his second season as the starter under head coach Jim Zorn's version of the West Coast Offense. This will be the first time Campbell will be in the same offense as the starter for two years in a row, and should be ready for a much improved season.

Campbell already knows the offense, allowing him to play and react rather than think everything through. The progress of second year receivers Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas will also be critical to his success, having few reliable receiving options last season.

#2 The defensive has to dominate, especially in the trenches

The saying goes, "Defense wins championships," and Vinny Cerrato has seemingly upgraded a defense that ranked 4th in the league last season. He replaced two injury riddled veterans, Sean Springs and Marcus Washington, with the two highest draft choices the team had.

The defensive line is deeper than it's ever been, with free agents Albert Haynesworth and Renaldo Wynn joining an already formidle group including Andre Carter, Cornelius Griffin, Anothony Montgomery and Kedric Golston. Returning to this group is Phillip Daniels and draft choices Brian Orakpo and Jeremy Jarmon.

With these players rotating in throughout the game, it will be very different for opposing lines to stop them from reaching the quarterback. This will create sacks and turnovers, which could slot this defense at the top of the league.

#1 Clinton Portis and the offensive line have to stay healthy and hungry

With the addition of Derrick Dockery, the left side of the line should definitely be the strength. When Dock last played next to Pro Bowl tackle Chris Samuels, Clinton Portis had had his highest yardage total as a Redskin.

The key for these guys is making it through the season. Playing along the line, injuries are going to happen, but the line slowed down in the second half of last season. They seemed to lose their edge; their hunger. The big guys up front know what happened last year, and seem determined to prove they are better than they appeared last season.

If the 'Skins can pound the ball, and Campbell keeps his throws between 20 and 25 times a game, they could be in a position to any game they enter.

More on Jarmon Addition

So as I'm sure you've heard, especially if you read this blog, the 'Skins selected defensive end Jeremy Jarmon in the third round of the NFL's supplemental draft last week.

This was a really good move for them, and in one off season, Vinny Cerrato and the boys upstairs may have turned the fortune of the defensive line for years to come.

The additions of Jarmon, fellow rookie end Brian Orakpo and veteran tackle Albert Haynesworth should give the team three starters along the line for the next 5 or so years. Furthermore, they'll be getting all these guys under contract during the same year, allowing them to grow in the defense together.

It could take a few seasons before all three are starters, but it appears there is finally a plan for the future. Every year, whether it's been a Bruce Smith or a Jason Taylor, a new lineman enters camp on the last leg of their careers and don't look like their old selves. After a few years, they are out the door and management is looking to make the same old moves.

Now the 'Skins find themselves with several options along the line, young and old, to grow from, and the trio of Haynesworth, Jarmon, and Orakpo should be leading the pack. These guys could grow into one of the most feared lines in the league. But then again, we are talking about the Redskins, so it could just be a bust.

Redskins Make Selection in Supplemental Draft

The Redskins selected University of Kentucky defensive end Jeremy Jarmon in the third round of the NFL supplemental draft.

The supplemental draft is for players entering the NFL after the the draft in April. If a team makes a selection, they lose that rounds pick in the next draft.

Jarmon, 21, entered the supplement draft after losing his eligibility to play his senior season after it was discovered he took a banned dietary substance.

The Redskins identified the defensive line as an area of need at the beginning of the off-season, and adding Jarmon to the mix will bring both youth and size. With his size, he will play on the left side of the line behind veterans Phillip Daniels and Renaldo Wynn.

Receiver's Competition

Hello all. Sorry for my absence the past couple of weeks. I have just returned from a trip to Greece, and was away from all the action.

Luckily, nothing really happened while I was gone. I halfway expected coming back to headlines of trades or big signings, but the boys in the front office failed me.

The 'Skins are still in the news, finding themselves in a clip on NFL Network's premier show, Total Access, where Antwaan Randle El hosted a catching competition for a few young wide outs, and one player stuck out to me.

Rookie seventh round draft choice Marko Mitchell caught all six of his passes, the only receiver to do so. Not only were his hands impressive, but his great size was evident while standing next to Randle El, listed at 5'10, and Mitchell was a full head taller than him.

Not sure if a little clip like this can say much about him as a player, but this kid is now someone I'll definitely be following through training camp.

Orakpo: LB or DE?

OTA's came to a close Friday, and with the releases of Jon Jansen and wide receiver James Thrash, questions about the offenses direction were answered. On the defensive side, however, there are still some decisions that have to be made, and probably the most important is which position number one draft choice Brian Orakpo will play at.

Orakpo was drafted because of his relentless play off the edge as a defensive end in college. He racked up 11 sacks during his senior year at the University of Texas, and was viewed as a great fit as a defensive end in the a 4-3 system, which the Redskins run. So in his first practices as a professional football player, the Redskins made the obvious decision of playing him at strong side linebacker.

Come on guys. Really?

The Redskins have long been awaiting a dominant defensive end, and when they draft a kid who has the potential to do it for years to come, they want to switch his position? That's just ridiculous. Especially since he'd be playing next to one of the biggest forces at defensive tackle, Albert Haynesworth, who will boost his game even further without having to face double teams.

Maybe they're just trying to get see how he does at OLB so they don't have to use time doing it in training camp...and let's hope that's all it is. To win in this league, and definitely in the NFC East, you need a superb pass rush, and Orakpo might be the best shot at getting that.

Back in Action

To all my loyal readers (Hi Mom!), I want to apologize for my lack of posts the past month. It's been a busy time for me, and it's been hard to get my thoughts down. Things should still be slow as training camp approaches, but I'm going to try to get posts up with a little more regularity.

On that note, there has been some action at Redskins Park as of late. The biggest move has been the release of longtime right tackle Jon Jansen.

This move has been speculated over for sometime, but the timing was a bit of a surprise. It seemed like the team was committed to letting him challenge for a starting spot. If that didn't happen, he would have had the opportunity to be the main backup up at essentially all positions across the line.

As the OTA's progressed, coaches noticed that Jansen had not made any improvement since last season and it was in the best interest of the team for the two to part ways.

Jansen has been a fighter for this organization for a long time, but it was his time to go. He's be a mainstay of this line for the past decade, and it will be difficult to fill his shoes. He was a leader in the locker room and was a consummate 'Redskin'.

The release of Jansen will allow younger players to step in and get his reps along the line, but more importantly clears up the competition for starting right tackle. The players going after the position will now be Jeremy Bridges, Stephon Heyer and Mike Williams. This competition, however, should not show a true front runner until the pads are on, but it's probably between Bridges and Heyer as Williams battles to get his weight down and back into football shape.

Vick to the 'Skins?

Things have been rather slow at Redskins Park since the draft. The roster is essentially set for the training camp, and the players are preparing themselves for the upcoming season.

It's kind of nice to see things quiet around there for once, but fans want to stir the pot by throwing Mike Vick's out as a possible addition to the roster.

I say let's do it!

I mean, obviously, it would be a great addition to the team. Jason Campbell needs to be pushed, and bringing in Vick, who was just released from a 23-month jail term, would be great for that. I mean, he's had two years off from football, that's gotta be good for his legs.

I can see where you might say he maybe hasn't thrown a football during his time in the joint, or at least to an NFL caliber receiver, but who cares?! Vick was an elite passer during his 6-year career, posting a phenomenal 53.8 completion percentage over his career. Since the West Coast offense needs an accurate passer, this should be an upgrade from Campbell's lousy career numbers.

Vick may be most known for his passing abilities, but he also has the ability to break long runs at any moment. He should be poised for a breakout season after resting his legs for so long, there should be no problems there either.

Pretty much, this is a no brainer. Amazing arm, big play potential, and I didn't even have to touch on his leadership qualities. I would not be surprised if the team contacted Vick as soon as he's reinstated to the league. He's the quarterback we've been waiting so long for.

Positional Analysis: Running Backs

Starter: No doubt about half back, it'll be Clinton Portis. If anyone on the team is safe with their starting position, it's Portis. He's ruthless on the field, especially when pass blocking. He tries to pay back defenders for hits they've put on him. He gives everything he has while he's on the field. It's a great way to play, but also a great way to get injuries, which he usually plays through.

He's slowed down over the years, and doesn't break long runs. Upgrades on the O-line will help him get longer runs, but he has to make some stuff happen on his own. He also has to be willing to share the load so he can last the whole season.

Mike Sellers will be starting at fullback. He's feared as a run blocker and is an effective receiver. His biggest problem is taking care of the ball once he gets it, fumbling in a late game last year. He will hopefully be used more in the offense this year, but if the line is struggling blocking, he'll have to stay in to block more often.

Reserves: Ladell Betts will be the primary backup to Portis. Every year, the coaching staff talks about getting Betts more involved in the offense, but it never happens. I'm thinking this could be Betts last season with the team. He is effective as a pass catcher out of the backfield, but is getting older, losing speed, and becoming a less effective compliment to Portis.

Rock Cartwright is the third running back on the roster, but is really just a special teamer. After an injury to Betts, it looked like Cartwright's number would get called, but the 'Skins opted to bring in Sean Alexander instead. This was mid-season too after no one had wanted to come close to him previously. Alexander is now gone, but Cartwright does have a familiar challenger returning to battle him for the roster spot.

Marcus Mason was signed by the 'Skins after the draft after being released by the Jets. He has spent the last two off seasons with the Redskins and is familiar with the system. He has experience on special teams, and should pose a large threat to Cartwright.

At fullback, there usually hasn't bee backup on the roster, so the backup will probably land on the practice squad. Fighting for the spot are Jonathan Evans and rookie Eddie Williams. Both are very raw players and will have to learn and adjust to the system quickly. My gut would be to see Williams winning the spot merely because he was a draft choice. Last season, Vinny Cerrato kept all ten of his draft choices, even though some seemed to be beaten out. It will be interesting to see if he treats this draft class the same way.

Draft: Orakpo is First Selection

The draft has finally come and gone, and with their first selection the Redskins selected University of Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo.

PHEW!!!

Going into the draft, the 'Skins had been rumored to be in the mix to trade up so they could draft USC quarterback Mark Sanchez. Though Sanchez has a great chance at being a top performer at this level, taking him would have set the Redskins back several years. They would have traded future draft picks and most of their picks of value this year, not to mention probably driving Jason Campbell to request a trade. But...they didn't...so let's just be thankful for that.

Instead, they got extremely lucky with Orakpo landing at the 13th pick. He was the elite pass rusher in this years class, but he brings much more than physical gifts to this team. At his introductory press conference Monday, he showed that his head hasn't ballooned with all the draft coverage he's been getting.

"It's a dream come true," Orakpo said. "Basically it's a great defense that I'll be a part of...these guys have been winning games without me. I just want to come in and help and keep this train rolling."

"I just want to show Redskins Nation that I am a guy who's here ready to work, come in humble, compete, and most importantly win." he said. "That's the most important thing."

And that's exactly what you want to hear from a rookie. He's a very skilled player who should shoot into the starting lineup, but to come in and think anything is guaranteed would be a mistake. The Redskins have a welcoming locker room, as long as you come in with the right attitude, and it seems like Orakpo should fit in just fine.

Positional Analysis: Pass Catchers

Starters: At wide receiver, Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El should be the starters, who alone will have trouble making any damage. Moss is a great receiver, but he's not a number one guy. He doesn't have the size to dominate larger corners or in the red zone. He is still very quick and can ruin a team down field if they forget about him, but since he's the only threat down field, they have him pointed out before every play.

Randle El is still a solid player, but he's most effective when playing in the slot, but as the number two receiver, he'll see a lot of time on the outside. He has trouble gaining separating and is no longer the deep threat he was when he was younger. He may be entering his last season as a starter in this offense with several young draft picks nipping at his heels.

Pro Bowler Chris Cooley will be the starter at tight end. He plays tough every down, always fighting for the extra yards, and does his part to get teammates open while blocking down field. He is probably the 'Skins biggest threat in the red zone, which teams are aware of, only allowing him one touchdown last year. Other players are going to have to step up this year to take away all the double coverage that goes Cooley's way.

Reserves: The 'Skins have a several young, raw pass catchers who have to prove themselves this year. Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly, both 22, were second round draft choices last year at wide receiver and both rarely saw the field last year.

Of the pair, Thomas saw the field more, but had little impact as he struggled with the playbook. Kelly was impressive during training camp last season, but missed eleven games because of injury, finishing the season with only three catches. Both players need to come in to training camp in peak condition prepared to make an impact this season, which is desperately needed.

In addition to the two receivers, tight end Fred Davis was selected in the second round of last years draft. His work ethic has been questioned, and he struggled to see the field last year. He is going to have to make big improvements this year to see more playing time.

There are two veterans that the youngsters will have to outperfrom in training camp in order to see the field. James Thrash, 33, has more experience in the West Coast offense than the other wide receivers. He blocks well down field and plays well on special teams.

The other veteran is tight end Todd Yoder. Yoder's name doesn't show up on the scorecard too often, but his role is mainly on blocking downs and special teams, and he does a heck of a job in that role. He doesn't worry about not getting receptions and does what the team needs him to to win.

Draft: Don't look for the 'Skins to use any draft picks at these positions. They used several picks for them last year, and it would be foolish not to use valuable picks on other positions that really need to get younger.

Positional Analysis: Offensive Tackle

Starters: Chris Samuels is the only sure starter at the left tackle position. He posted another great season last year, but started to wear down as the season went on. He seemed to have several nagging injuries that didn't allow him to perform to his highest capabilities as the season went on, even forcing him to sit out four games, including the last three. Samuels will be looking to prove that he is still a Pro Bowl player, and should come into the season in peak physical condition so he can make it through the whole season.

The right tackle starting spot should be a competition between incumbent starter Jon Jansen and Stephon Heyer. Jansen will be entering his eleventh season and has a lot of experience, but can't put a full season together anymore. He was solid in the first half of last season, but seemed to slow down in the second half. Heyer, 25, won the starting job during training camp last season, but lost it because of an injury during week 3. He should have a chance to win the starting job back this training camp as well.

Reserves: The main reserve will be whoever loses the battle between Jansen and Heyer. If Samuels goes down, expect Heyer to start at left tackle and Jansen to be on the right side. Heyer is a little quicker than Jansen, and would be better suited on the left side.

Also, look for the team to address this position in the draft. There are a number of prospects that could jump in and start for this team, and if the right person is available when the 'Skins are on the clock, this could definitely be a position they address.

Positional Analysis: Guards and Center

Starters: The starter at center will be Casey Rabach. He has become one of the most consistent players along the line, often blocking opposing defensive tackles one on one with considerable success. He still has decent mobility, but his greatest asset is the ability to make the proper protection changes before the snap. Though Jason Campbell took over some of those responsibilities last year, Rabach is still savvy enough to realise mistakes and point teammates in the right direction. If he goes down with an injury, the 'Skins could find themselves in a heap of trouble.

At left guard, newly signed Derrick Dockery will be starting. Dockery, who was originally drafted by the Redskins but spent the last two years with the Buffalo Bills, is hitting the prime of his career as he enters his eighth year in the league. He's a durable player, starting every game for the past 5 years, and staying healthy on this line is very important. He is great while run blocking, and should help sustain a running attack that tailed off as the season wore on last season.

Randy Thomas enters his seventh season as the starting right guard. He has noticeably started to deteriorate over the past few years, especially after a 2006 season where he was injured nearly the entire season. He has lost burst off the snap, but can still get the job done. He's only got a year or two left in his system, so the 'Skins better being looking for a youngster to groom behind him.

Reserves: The Redskins list all their reserves on the offensive line as "offensive lineman" since each could fill several different roles. A priority this off season should be grooming last years third round pick Chad Rinehart into a capable backup at the guard position. When he was drafted, he was projected to play either guard or tackle, but the coaching staff never had enough faith in him to give him a shot during a regular season game. With the left guard spot locked up for years to come, Rinehart's best option is probably to be groomed as the eventual replacement to Thomas on the right side.

Behind Rinehart are a bunch of no-name youngsters with limited NFL experience. This leads me to believe that the 'Skins are still looking to sign a veteran lineman. Joe Bugel, the offensive line coach, places great value on veteran players who can play several positions along the line, so securing a veteran for him could be key.

Last years starter at left guard, Pete Kendall, is still a free agent and the team has expressed interest in him. He has performed well at the left guard spot over the last couple seasons, but has started at center during his career, and the 'Skins currently don't have a player on the roster with experience at center. The solution currently would be to move right tackle Jon Jansen to center, which would make pretty nervous since he hasn't played there during his NFL career. This just puts more weight on the importance of Rabach staying healthy for all 16 games, or disaster could ensue.

Positional Analysis: Safeties

Starters: Laron Landry will be the only unquestioned starter, playing free safety. He has improved over his first two years in the league, even while playing away from the position he was drafted for, strong safety. He has the ability to drop back in to coverage and play center field while landing punishing hits on receivers who dare to go across the center of the field.

The starter at strong safety will be a close competition between 4-year veteran Reed Doughty and second year pro Chris Horton. Doughty entered last season as the starter, but his season was cut short with an injury, allowing Horton to step in to the starting role, in which he performed at a much higher level than expected. Both players play the run well, but can be exploited in coverage. Play during preseason games should decide the starter, but the other will be sure to see playing time with Greg Blatche's creative scheming.

Reserves: Kareem Moore will be the primary backup for Landry. Moore, a sixth round draft choice by the team last year, didn't see the field much last year as he had trouble grasping the playbook. His playing time should increase this year, but he will also be a solid contributor on special teams.

As training camp approaches, I wouldn't be surprised to see the team add a veteran to this group. Last year they added Mike Green to the mix, and he made good contributions while injuries were keeping players off the field. This is the youngest group on the team and there is no reason for them to address it during the draft.

Redskins 2009 Schedule Released

It's finally here, the 2009 schedule!

There's nothing to complain about this schedule, unlike last years when they played all their road division games in the first five weeks.

There's only on time where they have to play consecutive road games, which happens to be against NFC East rivals Philadelphia and Dallas. On the upside, the team plays back to back home games twice throughout the year.

The toughest stretch will be the last three games, playing the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys at home, and the San Diego Chargers on the road. If the 'Skins accidentally find themselves in playoff contention at the end of the year, they will inevitably have to get several wins at the end to clinch, and all three teams will present considerable challenges.

The easiest stretch (if there is such a thing) may be weeks two and three when they play the St. Louis Rams, a team that surprised them last year with a heartbreaking loss, and the Detroit Lions, who set an NFL record with 16 losses last year. This could also be the hardest stretch if the 'Skins go into these games underestimating these teams, and find themselves in the loss column like they did last year.

Another perk in the schedule is that all the primetime games will be played at home, and against division opponents. The intensity is always kicked up a few notches for night games, and the 'Skins will need all the help they can get against the NFC East.

Positional Analysis: Cornerbacks

This off season began with a major signing to bolster the cornerback unit. DeAngelo Hall, who finished the second half of last season with the 'Skins, signed a long term contract to stay with the team during the first minutes of free agency. Hall, 25, has long been viewed as a big time playmaker, and that's exactly what this unit needs. He has a knack for finding the football, and even taking interceptions back for touchdowns.

Hopefully his counterpart, Carlos Rogers, will be able to learn from his example. Rogers has performed well as a cover corner, showing great strides last year after coming off a major knee injury, but has had trouble creating turnovers. The 'Skins ranked at the bottom of the league last year in turnovers, and if they want to make improvements, Rogers, 27, will have to be a big part of that. Rogersis set to be a free agent after this season, and if he is going to get the kind of contract he desires, he'll have to step up his game.

Behind the two starters, things are looking pretty grim. The veteran leader of the unit will be Fred Smoot, who is entering his 7th year with the team. He will be the nickle corner, but has very little experience playing this position which has much different techniques than playing on the outside. He can be easily exposed by defenses while playing on the slot, and could be a major weakness for the defense.

As if things couldn't get worse, behind Smoot there are no proven players. Justin Tryon, a draft choice last year, barely saw the field last year, and will be depended on a lot this year. It's only going to take one injury for this kids playing time to spike dramatically, and things could be scary if that happens. He has been critiqued for his lack of size and physicality, both qualities a nickle corner needs.

The fifth corner on the roster is Byron Westbrook, a graduate of local DeMatha Catholic High School. Westbrook has been on the practice squad the past two years, and should challenge Tryon for the fourth corner spot. It seems inevitable that he will make the team this year with the lack of players at this position right now. Westbrook is also undersized, but is a hard worker and will put the time in needed to get better.

With a huge lack of picks in the draft this year, it could be difficult for the 'Skins to address this position during the draft. They need players at this position, but there are much greater concerns to be addressed first. If there are a slue of injuries to this position, however, the team could find themselves in a hot mess trying to cover pass happy team.

Positional Analysis: Linebackers

At the linebacker position, the Redskins find themselves with a mix of veteran leadership as well as young, unproven players.

The leader of this unit, as well as the entire defense, is 12-year veteran middle linebacker London Fletcher. Fletcher, 33, lead the team in tackles last year and should be poised for a similar performance this year. He is viewed as an extension of the coaches while being on the field, making sure players are in the right places and on top of their assignments.

Starting at weak outside linebacker will be Rocky McIntosh. McIntosh, 26, is still young and improving. He took strides in the defense last year, finishing second on the team with tackles, but needs to find a way to make more impact plays for a defense that was at the bottom of the league in forced turnovers.

The starting strong side linebacker position is still up in the air. For now, it appears there will be a three way battle during training camp between H.B. Blades, Alfred Fincher, and newly signed Robert Thomas.

All three fit about the same mold: undersized big hitters who don't particularly fit the strong side too well. Blades and Fincher have a step up on Thomas having been in the system before, but Thomas is a veteran and will have every opportunity to challenge for the spot. However, these may not be the only players competing for the spot. With the draft around the corner, the Redskins could take a linebacker with one of their early picks to come in and challenge for the job.

Positional Analysis: Defensive End

Defensive end has long been a problematic position for the Redskins, and this season will be no different.

Andre Carter is returning to start at right end, and hopefully will have a greater impact with the addition of Albert Haynesworth in the middle. Carter is supposed to be the best pass rusher along the line, but only got three sacks last season. A bigger push up the middle and less double teams sent his way should up that total, but he is not the real concern along the line.

The starter at right end will have to be decided during training camp. After the 'Skins failed to re-sign Demetric Evans, who led the team in sacks last year, and releasing Jason Taylor, there was a huge void left.

Vinny Cerrato's plan to fill the empty spots? Sign two veterans familiar with the organization and defensive coordinator Greg Blatche's scheme, but both well out of their prime: Phillip Daniels and Renaldo Wynn.

Daniels, 35, and Wynn, 34, both signed one year contracts close to the veteran minimum. Both fit the same mold of large, run-stopping ends with little ability to pressure the quarterback, and should split snaps. Blatche loves to rotate his linemen, and the rotation with these two will be monitored closely. Both are old and injury prone, and there aren't many reliable players behind them who can go in.

Backing up the starters is a group of unproven youngsters. Two players who fit essentially the same mold are Chris Wilson, 26, and Rob Jackson, 23. Both are undersized speed rushers that can easily be taken advantage of in running situations. Since they fit the same mold, the team will probably have to choose one to keep on the roster for the season.

Another youngster is Alex Buzbee, 23, who was out the entire season last year with an Achilles Tendon injury. He is still raw and unproven, and will have to fight for a roster spot.

With the draft coming up, look for the Redskins to target an end with either their first pick, 13th overall, or their third round choice, 80th overall. They have long needed to get younger at this position, and the time to do it is now.

Positional Analysis: Defensive Tackle

After all the madness with Jason Campbell, it's time to get back to reviewing the roster. Let's start with the big boys up front, the defensive tackles.

Heading in to free agency, the Redskins had been rumored to have interest in what many experts believed was the best player available, Albert Haynesworth. The Redskins signed him in the opening hours of free agency, and he adds to a group that is now arguably the deepest position on the defense.

Starting alongside Haynesworth will be 10-year veteran Cornelious Griffin. Griffin has been solid when healthy, but has his fair share of injuries over the past few years, though he often played through them. With Haynesworth now taking on the double teams, Griffin should be freed up more to be the playmaker he looked like when the 'Skins first signed him.

Backing up the two starters will be youngsters Anthony Montgomery and Kedric Golston, both 25. They both have seen a lot of playing time since being drafted four years ago, and I wouldn't expect to see a large decrease in their playing time with the addition of Haynesworth. Defensive coordinator Greg Blatche loves to rotate his linemen to keep them fresh, and he trusts both players to perform. Both, however, may be battling for a long-term starting position with the team, as Griffin gets in to the last years of his career.

The addition of Haynesworth has made the defensive tackle position better, but should also enhance other positions play. With a great push up the middle, defensive ends will get to the quarterback quicker, causing them to throw the ball sooner. Now, the corners won't have to cover their receivers all day, allowing them to make plays on the ball. The tackles will also eat up blockers on run plays, freeing linebackers to make more plays at the line of scrimmage. The upgrade at tackle was a shrewd move, and shoould prove beneficial right away.