Redskins young OL will be strength next year

Willie Smith encouraged by showing against Jason Pierre-Paul - The Insider - The Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider/post/willie-smith-encouraged-by-showing-against-jason-pierre-paul/2011/12/18/gIQAr0z72O_blog.html#pagebreak)

The Redskins young OL is looking very promising and by next year should be very good. I love Willie Smith, Hurt and Polumbus are also doing a very good job and are adding depth to the line. The OL that looked to be a weakness after Buffalo game all of a sudden is making a resurgence. Next year I would make these guys my starters:

LT Williams
LG Lichtensteiger
C Montgomery
RG Chester
RT Smith

Reserves:
Polumbus
Hurt
Draft a C and T

Cut:
Brown
Locklear

If those guys pan out in whole or at least in part, it should help to create some quality depth by those displaced.....very encouraging

I love this tidbit I found on Smith:

Overview

A two-year starter at left tackle, Smith is a remarkable athlete with a lot of upside. He earned All-Conference USA honors each of the past two seasons, and might have a higher ceiling than any tackle prospect in the 2011 NFL Draft.

At this point in his development, Smith is too raw and inconsistent to project as a rookie starter in the NFL. Some offensive line coach is likely to be convinced he can coach Smith to block like Walter Jones every play, not just in spurts, and his draft status will reflect that potential of a probably Pro Bowler in two to three years.

Analysis

Positives: Excellent lateral agility, slide and ability to pull, trap and seal. Very quick, can bend knees, sink hips, anchor and generate power. Ideal frame for the NFL left tackle position properly proportioned with long arms and strong hands. Can look like Walter Jones for possessions when he uses proper technique, but not full games. Smart in the classroom. Healthy and durable.

Negatives: Former defensive lineman has less than three years experience playing offensive line. Has a tendency to resort to bad habits, most recently in the second half against Maryland in the Military Bowl, including getting too high, waist bending, being late off the snap and occasionally clearly missing an assignment. Too many times allowed the defensive end to get under his outside shoulder on wide rushes. Hand placement is inconsistent, but improving.

Id really like to know the grades on Hurt, Smith, and Polumbus the last couple games. Smith has probably been the best of the 3. Christopher Polumbus missed bad on a couple pass blocks today but he was going against Tuck most the day.

Ive noticed our inside running game has been substantially more effective the last couple games. Maybe cause its the new Oline guys? Dunno

Id really like to know the grades on Hurt, Smith, and Polumbus the last couple games. Smith has probably been the best of the 3. Christopher Polumbus missed bad on a couple pass blocks today but he was going against Tuck most the day.

Ive noticed our inside running game has been substantially more effective the last couple games. Maybe cause its the new Oline guys? Dunno

I would give Smith a B+, Hurt and Polumbus a B-.

All starts up front, now QB and we are ok

Not sure I am ready to cede the starting role to Lichtensteiger without serious competition come training camp. Both Hurt and Polumbus have played well at guard in his absence. I would make him earn back the starting spot...

Christopher Polumbus, funny. I say with the development of Hurt, Smith, and aquisition of proven Polumbus, there's no need to draft-overhaul the OL. This effectively could afford the Skins to make a move up the draft board to select a much needed QB. I'm all for winning the remainder of games and worrying about draft position when the time comes.

I'd still be looking at QB, CB, OT in the draft and consider signing OG grubbs. they played better for sure, but that wasn't the super awesome version of the giants pass rush and we still couldn't run for ish.

This is the way that good teams build depth. Drafting players, developing them, getting them experience. While we could probably use one more starter along the o-line, the whole notion of overhauling the line is vastly overstated.