Redskins Offseason Report: Free Agents, Draft Analysis and Projected Depth Chart

Left to Right: Thomas, Thompson, Jenkins, Rambo, Jamison

Six weeks ago I wrote an article about how the salary cap penalty against the Redskins was unjust and has hampered our ability to compete to sign potential free agents. Which is true. However, Bruce Allen and Mike Shanahan deserve a lot of credit for navigating that sinkhole and restructuring contracts, releasing luxury players (Lorenzo Alexander, DeAngelo Hall), then resigning Hall, Fred Davis and Tyler Polumbo to 1 year deals. We also kept our offensive line in tact, remember this O-line paved the way for a rookie running back to finish 2nd in rushing and our team to finish #1 in rushing in the NFL. Overall, we are a young talent-laden team and our draft has supplemented the "new" Redskins philosophy of building through the draft.The Redskins had 9 picks last year, even with the RG3 trade and 7 picks in 2013.

There has been a lot of analysis on the Redskins draft picks, most "experts" grades are a B- or C+. Pretty average. My grade is much higher because of the Redskins offseason additions and how each player potentially fits into this football team. Football speed is rarely in straight lines, but how fast a player changes directions and explodes into full speed and their read-react times (see Reed and Thompson).  I give the Redskins is B+.

2013 Draft Class

RD.	POS.	PLAYER	COLLEGE
2 (51st pick)	CB	David Amerson	N.C. State
3 (85)	TE	Jordan Reed	Florida
4 (119)	S	Phillip Thomas	Fresno State
5 (154)	RB	Chris Thompson	Florida State
5 (162)	LB	Brandon Jenkins	Florida State
6 (191)	S	Baccari Rambo	Georgia
7 (228)	RB	Jawan Jamison	Rutgers

Pick by Pick summary:

1. David Amerson has size and speed, technique can be coached and we have a great secondary coach in Raheem Morris. Plus he had 18 interceptions in 2 years.
2. Jordan Reed can present Aaron Hernandez type mismatches in the 'Joker Y' position and provides another weapon for RG3 to utilize. He has the ability to run after the catch and his lateral quickness is deceptive for a TE.
3. Phillip Thomas is a great in the box safety and has a knack for forcing turnovers and getting sacks.
4. Chris Thompson projects as a 3rd down back and although he is coming off an ACL injury, he is a burner. He has rare speed and elusiveness that make him extremely tough to catch in the open field.   
5. Brandon Jenkins is the sleeper in this class, he is a top-50 pick but suffered a Lisfranc injury to his foot. With Orakpo suffering injuries the last 2 years and Rob Jackson suspended for the first 4 games, he has an opportunity to play significantly in his first year.
6. Bacarri Rambo used to be named Goo Fudge and changed it. Seriously. He has had multiple off-the-field issues and many teams took him off their draft board, which is why he dropped to the 6th round. Good size and speed plus he is a ballhawk. Redskins suffered from poor play at safety this year, if him and/or Thomas become solid starters, this class goes from good to great.
7. Jawan Jamison is a good fit for our scheme, but other than special teams, I'm not sure if he can make the team. He has Morris, Helu, Royster, and Thomas ahead of him on the depth chart. But with running backs you never know (A. Morris was a 6th round pick in 2012). 

FREE AGENT SIGNINGS

Marvin Burdette, LB (UAB) - Height: 5'9" Weight: 232lbs Speed: 4.7
Ricky Barnum, OG (Michigan) - Height: 6'2" Weight: 297lbs Speed: 5.56
Jason Thompson, WR (University of New Haven) - Height: 6'3" Weight: 190lbs Speed: 4.55
Jeremy Kimbrough, MLB (Appalachian State) - Height: 5'9" Weight: 235lbs Speed: 4.58
Xavier Nixon, OT (Florida) - Height: 6'6" Weight: 321lbs Speed: 5:23
Will Compton, LB (Nebraska) - Height: 6'1" Weight: 230lbs Speed: 4.63
Jacoby Ashworth, OL (Houston) - Height: 6'4" Weight: 305lbs Speed: 5.25
Kyle Wilborn, C (Troy) - Height: 6'3" Weight: 296lbs Speed: 5.26
Chip Reeves, WR (Troy) - Height: 5'11" Weight: 176lbs Speed: 4.60
Seth Thomas, CB (McNeese State) - Height: 5'8" Weight: 182lbs Speed: 4.73
Tevita Stevens, C (Utah) - Height: 6'1" Weight: 307lbs Speed: 5.31
Skye Dawson, WR (TCU) - Height: 5'9" Weight: 160lbs Speed: 4.4
Josh Jarboe, WR (Arkansas State) - Height: 6'3" Weight: 196lbs Speed: 4.55
Colby Walden, CB (Jacksonville) - Height: 5'9" Weight: 181lbs Speed: 4.64
Steve Greer, ILB (Virginia) - Height: 6'0" Weight: 231lbs Speed: 5.04
Emmanuel Ogbuehi, TE/FB (Georgia St.) - Height: 6'3" Weight: 235lbs Speed: 4.70
T'Sharvin Bell, CB (Auburn) - Height: 6'0" Weight: 187lbs Speed: 4.65
Nick Williams, WR (UConn) - Height: 5'9" Weight: 184lbs Speed: 4.62

However, I give our free agent signings an A-. WR’s Jason Thompson and Josh Jarboe, LB’s Will Compton and Jeremy Kimbrough, and OL’s Xavier Nixon, Kyle Wilborn and Jacoby Ashworth all offer intriguing possibilities. Especially Nixon (UF), who has the ability to start if he realizes his potential.

Our 2013 projected depth chart looks like this (w/out Tanard Jackson (S):

Pos	No	Player 1	No	Player 2	No	Player 3	No	Player 4	No	Player 5
Offense
LWR	15	Morgan, Josh U/SF	89	MOSS, SANTANA T/NYJ	19	Briscoe, Dezmon W/TB	00	Thompson, Jason CF13	00	Williams, Nick CF13
RWR	88	Garcon, Pierre U/Ind	85	Hankerson, Leonard 11/3	11	Robinson, Aldrick 11/6	00	Reeves, Chip CF13
LT	71	Williams, Trent 10/1	68	Compton, Tom 12/6		Xavier Nixon UFA
LG	78	Lichtensteiger, Kory SF10	79	Hurt, Maurice 11/7
C	63	MONTGOMERY, WILL SF08	67	LeRibeus, Josh 12/3	00	Stevens, Tevita CF13
RG	66	CHESTER, CHRIS U/Bal	73	Gettis, Adam 12/5
RT	74	Polumbus, Tyler SF11	69	TRUEBLOOD, JEREMY U/TB	77	PASHOS, TONY SF13
TE	83	Davis, Fred 08/2	82	Paulsen, Logan CF10	00	Reed, Jordan 13/3	84	Paul, Niles 11/5	87	Peterson, Deangelo SF12
QB	10	Griffin, Robert 12/1	12	Cousins, Kirk 12/4	8	GROSSMAN, REX U/Hou	5	White, Pat SF13
FB	36	Young, Darrel CF09	40	Kettani, Eric SF12	45	Boyce, Dorson SF12
RB	46	Morris, Alfred 12/6	22	Royster, Evan 11/6	29	Helu, Roy 11/4	00	Thompson, Chris 13/5	00	Jamison, Jawan 13/7
							25	Williams, Keiland CF10	38	Davis, Tristan SF11
Defense
LDE	94	Carriker, Adam T/SL	99	Jenkins, Jarvis 11/2	90	Worthington, Doug W/TB	76	Hamilton, Dominique SF12
NT	96	Cofield, Barry U/NYG	92	Baker, Chris SF11	95	Neild, Chris 11/7	97	Brace, Ron SF13	75	Anunoby, Chigbo SF12
RDE	72	Bowen, Stephen U/Dal	64	Golston, Kedric 06/6	93	Merling, Phillip SF13
LOLB	91	Kerrigan, Ryan 11/1	54	Tapp, Darryl U/Phi	58	So'oto, Vic P/GB
LILB	59	FLETCHER, LONDON U/Buf	53	Kehl, Bryan U/SL	52	Robinson, Keenan 12/4
RILB	56	Riley, Perry 10/4	55	Muckelroy, Roddrick SF12	00	Burdette, Marvin CF13
ROLB	98	Orakpo, Brian 09/1	50	Jackson, Rob 08/7	00	Jenkins, Brandon 13/5	51	Elmore, Ricky SF13
LCB	23	Hall, DeAngelo SF08	30	Biggers, EJ U/TB	45	Murphy, Jerome SF12
SS	31	Meriweather, Brandon U/Chi	00	Rambo, Bacarri 13/6	24	Gomes, DeJon 11/5	34	Holland, Devin SF13
FS	37	DOUGHTY, REED 06/6	00	Thomas, Phillip 13/4	32	Pugh, Jordan SF12	48	Bernstine, Jordan 12/7
RCB	26	Wilson, Josh U/Bal	00	Amerson, David 13/2	39	Crawford, Richard 12/7	25	Minnifield, Chase CF12
Special Teams
P	6	ROCCA, SAV U/Phi
PK	2	Forbath, Kai SF12

I anticipate that in 2014 we will draft an OL, TE, ILB to replace Fletcher. I believe we will sign an impact OL, WR, OLB and CB in plus a veteran backup QB in free agency where we will have around 47 million in salary cap space. I also believe we will release Merriweather, Fred Davis, DeAnglo Hall and trade Kirk Cousins for draft choice(s) to replace the 2014 1st round pick we gave up for RG3.

The future looks bright and 2014-2015 and beyond will be the time period the Redskins make a serious push for the Superbowl as RG3 matures and we add the right pieces around him plus marked improvement of our much maligned secondary. A realistic goal and natural progression for 2013-2014, with RG3 coming off a serious knee injury is to win the division and a playoff game.

Why every Redskins fan should be thanking Jerry Jones

Happy Easter readers! I'm in a jovial mood!

Tony Romo has received a monster contract extension from their teams. I couldn't be more delighted! The Cowboys were in an odd salary cap situation (16.8 million dollar hit on Dallas' salary cap) which forced them to make a long-term decision on Romo. I think they should have let him play the next year and then search for a QB of the future, but Jerry obviously disagreed and tried to prolong their mediocrity. I love me some Jerry.

As was widely reported, "all told, Romo now has a seven-year deal worth $119.5 million (55 million guaranteed). In the first year of the extension, Romo will make $26.5 million, and after two years, he will make $40 million. Romo's money over the first three years -- with the likelihood that Dallas keeps him the next three seasons -- will be $57 million." In addition, Romo is 34 years old. That means this extension carries him until he is 40. Or in a wheelchair. Hallelujah! That's Tom Brady, Drew Brees $$$! For a guy who spent the offseason in 2010 and 2011 trying to qualify for a US Open in GOLF. Keep working on those swing mechanics Tony, golf is easy! Sincerely, Redskins Nation.

Tony Romo has closed out games with big mistakes time and time again. From 2006-2010, Romo was regarded as the league's most talented choke artist. He has an 8-10 record in December/January which is when contenders generally peak. Romo has ONE playoff win to his name. ONE. His overall record as a starter is 55-38. He has 177 TDs and 91 ints/33 fumbles in his career, significantly less than a 2:1 TD/turnover ratio which is considered a barometer for elite quarterbacks. For a team with Superbowl or bust mentality on an annual basis, that record is mediocre at best. The case for him is that in the last 2 years, he has 9 game winning drives, yet their overall record is just 16-16.

Comparable player: Joe Flacco, 28 years old, has 9 playoff wins, a Superbowl win and Superbowl MVP, is making 3 million less per season than Tony 'OH NO.' Every other team in the NFL is getting younger and cutting expensive veterans, Dallas is signing them to record extensions. 

How bout dem Cowboys!

Why Redskins fans should be ANGRY at the NFL

During the 2013 free agency period, I've watched Seattle, Atlanta, Detroit, Denver and San Francisco make massive improvements to their teams. We cannot even afford to re-sign our own key free agents (see Fred Davis). We had to beg players to restructure their contracts so that we can sign our DRAFT CLASS for 2013. The only thing that is keeping me sane is up I-95 in Baltimore, players are defecting their team as if they have political asylum claims.

Here is a look at the 2010 total salary for top spending NFL teams:

1. Redskins:  $178.2 million.
2. Cowboys:  $166.5 million.
3. Saints:  $145.0 million.
4. Vikings:  $143.4 million.
5. Seahawks:  $138.8 million.

The NFL and the other 30 owners bullied the NFL Players Association into accepting a salary cap for 2010 in 2011. Yes that is correct. Instead of grandfathering us in, they applied a penalty to a rule that was created a year later. What is worse is that the other teams agreed to a higher cap for the Collective Bargaining Agreement rather than accept the uncapped year as an anomaly and accept a lower salary cap moving forward.

Year Applied:	2011
Salary Cap
2010	Uncapped (later changed to 152.2m)
2011	120m
2012	120.6m
2013	123m

Imagine if your team were being penalized for a rule that didn't exist. Welcome to our world. The NFL retroactively capped an uncapped year claiming the Redskins took advantage of an uncapped year in 2010 by shifting player bonuses to that year. Meanwhile other teams colluded to obey an "unwritten" cap but the other 30 teams that were not penalized (Dallas was penalized 10 million over 2 years) would be subject to legal action for collusion. In fact, although there was no signed agreement to limit the cap, the Cowboys and Redskins were penalized because "they should have known better."

Nothing illegal ever took place or can be proven by the NFL or the other owners. In fact, every move during the uncapped year in 2010 was APPROVED by the NFL! Suddenly, the NFL with the permission of the NFLPA and at the behest of the other 30 franchises levied the unlawful penalty of 36 million over 2 years before free agency last year.

Privately the Redskins are discussing their legal options and the NFLPA has agreed to join them in a lawsuit. Which is why they have no credibility. However, we have already lost out on potential free agents and the competitive landscape has changed significantly in 2013. The only hope is that a federal court will overturn this penalty and the Redskins will get some of the 36 million in cap room in the next few years. Don't hold your breath.

Miraculously we have managed to keep hold of critical components through a variety of maneuvers by the front office including salary reduction, cutting the fat on the roster (see DeAngelo Hall) and letting players who are fringe starters go via free agency (Lorenzo Alexander was a backup LB and can be replaced on special teams). Bruce Allen (GM) should be commended for the job he has done but none of this happens without RG3. He is the catalyst behind OTHER players willing to sacrifice money for potential playoff success. Unfortunately, for Redskins fans, even after a NFC East division win, Allen will have to wait until 2014 to surround RG3 with more talent unless we hit gold in the draft. In the meantime, we will be in the NFL equivalent of Old Navy, looking for that one shirt we can repeatedly abuse.

Redskins Draft Needs: Right Tackle

Current RT on the roster: Tyler Polumbo, Tom Compton, Maurice Hurt

Projected Contributors 2013: Tyler Polumbo, Tom Compton


There is nothing sexy about offensive lineman. Nothing. Watching them run the 40 yard dash makes me shiver. But they help you seal games late and win, especially in the playoffs when inclement weather conditions prevent pass-heavy teams from advancing. The Redskin's have a need at right tackle (RT) because Polumbo is an unrestricted free agent and oft-injured Jamaal Brown's contract was voided in mid-Feb 2013. Brown was supposedly our long-term solution at the position when we swapped our 3rd round pick for New Orleans 5th round pick in 2011.

Polumbo is 6'8 305 which is positive because he can reach out and move defenders faster in our zone-blocking scheme. The flip side of the coin is that on passing downs nimble-footed defensive ends can get past him due to his difficulty staying low.

Tom Compton was a 7th round pick in 2012 from South Dakota who did not play a snap. He spent the majority of last year as a practice squad player and he could have signed a more lucrative contract with another team but decided to take less money and fight for a spot on the 53-man roster (which was rewarded in Dec 2012). According to Mike Shanahan, the versatile 6'5" 308 lb player can play as a LT or RT and we [the Redskins] felt like he has earned the right to be on our football team and a part of our group. I think he has a big-time future with us."

Maurice Hurt is a guard who filled in as an emergency right tackle due to lack of depth. The smart move would be to resign Polumbo to a deal and utilize him as an experienced backup and then draft a talented rookie to eventually replace him.

In the Redskin's zone blocking scheme, agility is more important than size and power. In the 2012 draft, the top 5 Tackle selections were taken before the midway point in the 2nd round (50th pick). Unless one of the top prospects gets caught smoking dope with a prostitute the night before the draft and drops into our laps, we will have to look for a developmental prospect. Let's take a gander at one prospect that fits the Redskin's criteria for a right tackle and will most likely be available with a 3rd-6th round selection.

Player Highlight: Brennen Williams
School: North Carolina
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 318 lbs
Hand size: 10.5in
Reach: 34"
40 time: 5.15

Williams has the size and skills to immediately contribute as a right tackle. He is not athletic enough to protect a RG3's blindside according to most NFL scouts that is not to say he isn't mobile. He does "come off the ball hard and stays with run blocks throughout the play, moving his feet and extending, sometimes taking his man to the ground." He also is fast enough to attack linebackers and safeties on the second level which is important in a zone blocking scheme. The bad? His pass protection needs to improve and a serious shoulder injury kept him from competing in the combine. His father was an NFL defensive lineman for the Patriots so he is accustomed to the NFL lifestyle. Williams is projected as a late second round or early third round pick.

Redskins Draft Needs: Defensive End/Outside Linebacker

Redskins Defense Scheme: 3-4
Since: 2010 (represents when the Redskins started drafting players for a 3-4 instead of a 4-3)

Current DEs/OLBs on the roster: Adam Carriker, Brian Orakpo, Doug Worthington, Chris Wilson, Jarvis Jenkins, Rob Jackson

Projected Contributors 2013: Brian Orakpo, Jarvis Jenkins, Adam Carriker, Rob Jackson

The Redskins defensive was terrible last year. Although the secondary has gotten much of the blame, the defensive ends hardly got any pressure in our base 3-4 scheme. We had to blitz to get pressure which is a high risk-high reward strategy which is what makes defensive ends and shutdown corners so valuable. Lorenzo Alexander (our pro-bowler on special teams) was moved to inside linebacker before the 2012 season for depth (making him ineligible for consideration in this blog post).

The quarterbacks we played against routinely had their best games of the season against our defense because they were so comfortable. They might as well have had their legs up and a six-pack of bruski's prior to passing downfield. If we didn't have the #1 rushing offensive (time of possession advantage) and a superstar rookie QB, our defense would been on the field more than the referees. See my blog post on our secondary needs which highlights our draft needs after finishing 30th in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game.

In our defensive scheme we need an 3-4 outside linebacker who is tall, lean with speed, power and agility to get to the quarterback. There were some contributing factors to our poor pass rush. Brian Orakpo, our stud, went down with an injury early in the year. Adam Carriker another regular starter and talented player played only 2 games (ironically he was injured in St. Louis his former team). Therefore we were using the blitz to paper over cracks in our personnel. At the end of the 2012 regular season we still ranked 23rd in sacks.

Here is a quote detailing the Redskins 2013 war room strategy: "Our strategy is a cross-section of both need and best player available," he told Redskins Nation's Larry Michael. "I think maybe if we had two or three players rated at different positions at the same grade, you can go to a position that you feel that needs to be upgraded or improve the depth." The Redskins are confident Orakpo and Carriker will be healthy for the start of the 2013 season, therefore they don't need a panic buy in free agency (they are over the cap) and can pursue depth in a deep draft for pass rushers.


Player Highlight: Jamie Collins 
A 3-4 outside linebacker with tremendous measurables, Collins was originally a high school quarterback who led his team to back-to-back state championship games in his sophomore and junior seasons. He changed positions in college and capped of a stellar career with a senior campaign in which he tallied 92 tackles (20 for loss), 10 sacks, four forced fumbles, and five passes broken up. At the NFL combine he wowed scouts and NFL officials with an incredible 41.5in vertical as well as tremendous 40 time (4.64), 3 cone drill (7.10) and 20 yard shuttle (4.32). He is projected as a 3-4th round pick and represents great value if selected in that range.

Southern Miss– Senior
Height:		6’3"	Weight:	250
Projected 40 time:			4.64
Broad Jump:			139in
Bench:		19	Vertical:	41.5"
Year	Sacks		Tackles for Loss		Tackles
2012	10		20		92
2011	6.5		19.5		98
2010	2.5		3		76

Redskins Draft Needs: Secondary

I love the draft, including the combine, pro days and interviews, so why not share my opinions! I will breakdown each of my favorite players in our positions of need to give Redskins fans (and haters) a chance to see potential targets. 

The Redskins have seven selections in the draft. The Redskins need upgrades at corner, safety, right tackle and pass rush in that order. The Rams own their first pick, the 22nd overall, due to the Griffin trade last year. The exact placement of their second-round pick remains to be determined. They would be slotted at 54th under normal circumstances. However, that will improve by at least one slot because the Browns picked wide receiver Josh Gordon in the second round in last year’s supplemental draft so their forfeit their second rounder in this year’s regular draft.

And, as of now, the Saints are supposed to lose their second-round pick as part of their penalties for the bounty scandal. However, that penalty could be reduced to a lower pick or picks. So as of right now the Redskins have the 52nd pick but that would be bumped up to the 53rd if the Saints get their second-round pick back. The Redskins also have picks in the third round (about 32 picks after their second-round pick), the fourth, two in the fifth, the sixth, and seventh. The extra fifth is from the Patriots as a result of the Albert Haynesworth trade.

First order of business, either cut or negotiate a discounted contract for Deangelo Hall to remain on the team. The Redskins should be actively looking at a possible upgrade through the draft or free agency. He just isn't worth keeping at 7.5 million annually (and since his contract isn't guaranteed there is no penalty for cutting him). Josh Wilson can stay as the number 2 or cover the slot in nickel and dime packages where he will be less of a liability. With no chance of getting Trufant, Millner or Rhodes as they have established themselves as elite first round talents, we have to look at next best available for our second round selection. 

Player Highlight: David Amerson - David Amerson has impressive size, speed and ball skills, he led the FBS with 13 interceptions in 2011! In addition, he isn't afraid to mix it up with an average of 59 tackles over the course of the last 3 seasons. This would be a value pick many expected Amerson to go in the first round but due to the depth of secondary talent available this year he is the odd-man out.

David Amerson
NC State – Junior
Height:		6’1"	Weight:	205
Projected 40 time:			4.46
Combine 40 time:			4.44
Bench:		15	Vertical:	35.5"
Year	Pass Broken up		INTs		Tackles
2012	12		5		61
2011	5		13		59
2010			0		57

We have two safties under contract but one is injury prone (Brandon Merriweather) and Tanard Jackson who is serving a drug suspension.

Player Highlight: Tyron Mathieu - Affectionately known as the 'honey badger' this represents a high risk, high reward pick ( a la Randy Moss) except he may slip deep into the 5th-7th round. This kid is the best pure free safety (FS) in a deep draft for secondary personnel and he proved that during on-field drills at the combine. The bad? His height, average speed, bench press (couldn't do 5 reps at 225) and his baggage. But like a dilapidated house in a promising neighborhood, with some close monitoring he has major upside (think Dez Bryant) because he was a ball hawk (a disruptive force) at LSU and was considered a potential 1st round pick before his dismissal. 

There are similar cases such as Richard Sherman, widely considered the best cornerback in the NFL right now was selected by Seattle in the 5th round. Note: Ed Reed ran a 4.57 at the 2002 NFL Combine and was the 24th selection in the first round.

Tyrann Mathieu
LSU – Junior
Height:		5’9"	Weight:	186
Projected 40 time:			4.42
Combine 40 time:			4.50
Bench:		4	Vertical:	34"
Year	Pass Broken up		INTs		Tackles
2012
2011	9		2		76
2010	7		2		57