HB Blades or Stephon Heyer?

Really the question going into the draft is who are the Redskins most comfortable going into the season with as a starter. Redskins.com did profiles on both players within the last week:

Blades article- In Third Season, Blades Could Emerge As a Starter (http://www.redskins.com/gen/articles/In_Third_Season__Blades_Could_Emerge_As_a_Starter_ 33382.jsp)

Heyer article- Heyer Enters Offseason With a Higher Purpose (http://www.redskins.com/gen/articles/Heyer_Enters_Offseason_With_a_Higher_Purpose_33251 .jsp)

If you were on the coaching staff or in the FO, with the likelihood we aren't going to get starters at RT, SLB and DE (we're likely going to go with the Daniels/Wynn/Buzbee/Jackson rotation) from the draft, who are you more comfortable going into 2009 as a starter? (Mods-can we poll this?)

I'd lean towards Heyer. He's got 12 starts already in his 2 years and has come a long way. This is how you get the most value out of available players, find a player who fits what you do and coach him in the way you want things done. Buges loves him and he seems to have a nice upside. RT is a key position in pass protection and I've been pretty consistent in saying that I'm wary about drafting a LT at #13 and then changing his position immediately. While we need to think long term about replacing Samuels, do we need to address it in this draft when we either have a RT on the roster already or we can draft a T in the 3rd or 4th round and develop him?

Blades worries me because of his lack of size on the outside. I'm afraid he's going to get exposed vs. the pass all season. He's built for the middle, where I think he can be very solid once Fletcher retires but he's a liability outside.

Good question. We can put up a poll...but what about Jansen at RT?

I'm less uncomfortable with Heyer/Jansen at RT than Blades at LB. I like Blades but more in spot duty as a versatile backup. I guess I'm just not sold on him yet as a starter.

All that said, if Oher is available at 13 I'd still take him. Because I don't know how often we'll get an opportunity to get an OT like that.

I think Blades but thats mainly because we'll have that tank lining up in the middle for 12 to 14 games next year. Still I think we should go for a guy like Tryone McKenzie or Marcus Freeman in the third to shore things up.

Of course one of the best scenarios would be to see Heyer and Rhinehart develop into consitent starters that could dominate at the POA. However Rhinehart might be a year or two away if that and Heyer, for some reason can't stay consitent. I wonder though how good he is if he learns to bend his knees properly. In that case maybe he could eventually be a starting RT for us while our hopeful 1st round pick eventually replaces Samuals at LT.

I would go in the opposite direction. The improvements on the D-line will free up the LB's to make more plays. Any LB pass rushers should have better gaps to shoot if Haynesworth in taking on double teams, and LB's in coverage will hopefully have shorter times to work.

Good question. We can put up a poll...but what about Jansen at RT?

I'm less uncomfortable with Heyer/Jansen at RT than Blades at LB. I like Blades but more in spot duty as a versatile backup. I guess I'm just not sold on him yet as a starter.

All that said, if Oher is available at 13 I'd still take him. Because I don't know how often we'll get an opportunity to get an OT like that.

Well since Heyer won the job out of camp last year, Buges and Cerrato both were effusive in their praise of him this offseason I am operating under the assumption that he is the starter going into camp (unless a T is drafted). I think if it were not cap prohibitive, Jansen would have already been cut.

I think Blades but thats mainly because we'll have that tank lining up in the middle for 12 to 14 games next year. Still I think we should go for a guy like Tryone McKenzie or Marcus Freeman in the third to shore things up.

Of course one of the best scenarios would be to see Heyer and Rhinehart develop into consitent starters that could dominate at the POA. However Rhinehart might be a year or two away if that and Heyer, for some reason can't stay consitent. I wonder though how good he is if he learns to bend his knees properly. In that case maybe he could eventually be a starting RT for us while our hopeful 1st round pick eventually replaces Samuals at LT.
That speaks to my other issue with drafting a T at #13. We're either drafting one to change positions or to be a backup? We've got other needs that have to be addressed.

Im more comfortable with Blades than Heyer. But really, Im not totally uncomfortable with either. It's Jansen that kills me. However, if we stay pat at 13 -- I want an OT (unless Bj Raji falls).

Good question. Of course, it also has to do with what players are available at #13. I actually think that Heyer and Blades are fairly similar in that they both have shown some potential but both also have liabilities. I'd actually say that I was more comfortable with H.B. Blades if you held me to it. I think his liabilities are mostly due to his lack of size whereas Heyer's are due in part to a lack of ability/athleticism. So what I am saying is that I think Blades is a better football player of the two. Very close though.

To me it would come down to the players available. If it is between Oher and Cushing I'd go with Oher because he is a much better player and I don't like Cushing (more than whether I feel more comfortable with Blades or Heyer). If it is Oher or Everette Brown, now you are making it tough. Bottom line, though, if Oher is there is SHOULD be the pick. It is in a doomsday scenario where all four OT's go in the top 10 that things start getting tricky. Mayock's latest mock top 10 actually had an interesting scenario. He had all four OTs going in the top 9 and Crabtree falling out of the top 10. Imagine a scenario where you had none of the OTs, Everette Brown, Aaron Maybin, and Michael Crabtree. Wonder what Cerratto would do.

Well since Heyer won the job out of camp last year, Buges and Cerrato both were effusive in their praise of him this offseason I am operating under the assumption that he is the starter going into camp (unless a T is drafted). I think if it were not cap prohibitive, Jansen would have already been cut.

NFL News Feed: Zorn Says He and Portis Are 'Solid' - The League at washingtonpost.com (http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/02/zorn-says-he-and-portis-are-solid.html)

In an interview this morning with a couple Washington-area reporters, Zorn said that Jon Jansen will be considered the incumbent starter in the competition with Stephon Heyer for the team's right tackle job.

"Jon ended up as the starter at the end of the season," Zorn said. "That hasn't changed. Stephon Heyer is very competitive and so is Jon. It'll be a battle there. But Jon, right now he's our starting right tackle."

Good question. Of course, it also has to do with what players are available at #13. I actually think that Heyer and Blades are fairly similar in that they both have shown some potential but both also have liabilities. I'd actually say that I was more comfortable with H.B. Blades if you held me to it. I think his liabilities are mostly due to his lack of size whereas Heyer's are due in part to a lack of ability/athleticism. So what I am saying is that I think Blades is a better football player of the two. Very close though.

To me it would come down to the players available. If it is between Oher and Cushing I'd go with Oher because he is a much better player and I don't like Cushing (more than whether I feel more comfortable with Blades or Heyer). If it is Oher or Everette Brown, now you are making it tough. Bottom line, though, if Oher is there is SHOULD be the pick. It is in a doomsday scenario where all four OT's go in the top 10 that things start getting tricky. Mayock's latest mock top 10 actually had an interesting scenario. He had all four OTs going in the top 9 and Crabtree falling out of the top 10. Imagine a scenario where you had none of the OTs, Everette Brown, Aaron Maybin, and Michael Crabtree. Wonder what Cerratto would do.

Yes, it depends on who's available. It's possible that if Everette Brown, Robert Ayers, or Tyson Jackson are available, which one will be, we could jump on the DE. Wynn and Daniels can play inside as well so maybe DE. I'm not comfortable w/ Heyer at RT. Who knows what will happen. I will say that VC normally does a good job drafting 1 round picks for us. Damn, i just complimented VC, thats a first. I've heard on NFL Network, Ayres, Jackson, Everette Brown should be able to step right into a starting lineup at DE. I wouldn't be upset w/ that or OL.