ESPN's training camp preview: Washington Redskins

[Redskins_P]

Washington Redskins
Key veteran additions: LB Brian Allen; TE Billy Baber; S Tony Dixon; WR Kevin Dyson; WR Jimmy Farris; RB Brock Forsey; CB Artrell Hawkins; LB Warrick Holdman; WR Santana Moss; WR David Patten; S Pierson Prioleau; C Casey Rabach.

Key veteran departures: WR Laveranues Coles; DT Jermaine Haley; QB Tim Hasselbeck; PK Ola Kimrin; RB-KR Chad Morton; OT Vaughn Parker; LB Antonio Pierce; RB John Simon; CB Fred Smoot.

Most significant changes: The losses of MLB Pierce and CB Smoot leave two positions in doubt one year after the team made tremendous strides on defense under the guidance of Gregg Williams. With injuries and question marks among players looking to fill the voids there, one has to wonder if the team can still be a top-10 defense. On offense, look for Joe Gibbs to alter his running game some to take advantage of Clinton Portis' strengths; that means more stretch plays and straight-ahead runs and fewer counters and traps. The shotgun, which Gibbs shunned for years, also could be featured.
Reasons for optimism: The offensive line appears much stronger at right tackle and center with Jon Jansen back from injury and Rabach on board. That will allow better run-blocking (Portis averaged a disappointing 3.8 yards per carry) and pass protection (38 sacks allowed). Williams has been an inventive and creative coach in the past, and he should be able to conjure up something to keep his unit competitive.

Cause for concern: QB Patrick Ramsey has a major-league fastball, but his control (read: accuracy) remains a question. The reports on him in mini-camp were good, but he always has been a good practice performer. Ramsey must harness his good skills and improve his decision making for this team to win. With first-round pick Jason Campbell breathing down his neck, can Ramsey handle the pressure? It also remains to be seen how several smallish receivers factor in together, which could be difficult if teams blitz Ramsey and force him to make tough, tight passes to his hot reads on short routes.

Battle to watch: Middle linebacker is a country-mile wide open. The candidates: Mike Barrow, Lemar Marshall, Brandon Barnes, Robert McCune and Clifton Smith. And don't rule out Holdman … or Jared Newberry. It's anyone's guess right now who will end up starting, and it's highly unlikely given the injury histories and relative inexperience of some of the group that there will be one starter for 16 games this season.
Don't be surprised if … LaVar Arrington and the Redskins -- still embroiled in a contract grievance over a $6.5 million bonus payment -- kiss and make up during camp. The two sides need each other, and the matter has gone on long enough to hurt the reputations of both.


Looks like the most interesting position battle is MLB. As always they're questioning our small receivers and the losses of Pierce and Smoot.

[mooby]

eh, we'll just have to see how it plays out.

[MTK]

I'll still never understand why the losses of Smoot and Pierce are supposedly so damaging when we played most of the season with so many key injuries (Arrington, Daniels, Bowen, Barrow) and still had a top defensive unit.

Oh well.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Me neither. AND we supposedly have high quality backups for Pierce and hopefully an even better starter for Smoot.

[SmootSmack]

And I like Pierce but I don't get how he became Mike Singletary all of a sudden.

Outside of the Redskins community, Pierce was basically a no-name at this time last year. And he blew up, so why can't the same happen this time around with someone like LeMar Marshall or Clifton Smith.

What if, just what if, Smith gets the starting job and he's even better than Pierce? Then what will they all say?

[TheMalcolmConnection]

I REALLY REALLY REALLY feel like Pierce won't have NEARLY the banner year he had here last year in the Giants D. I hate downplaying his accomplishments here last year, but I just don't feel like he has the system we have in place. I would say last year it was 60% him and 40% the system.

[NM Redskin]

I think greg williams can plug in players at will, we'll be top ten. I think they were accurate about Ramsey though.

[JoeRedskin]

Yeah. The whole Smoot/Pierce thing has been so overplayed. Not only had no one heard of Pierce going into last year, the media was also questioning Smoot's ability to step it up b/c Champ was gone.

Both Smoot and Pierce were talented and it was a shame to lose them, but neither were gamebreakers last year.

The media could easily take the position that this year's defense could be even better than last year's despite the loss of Smoot and Peirce because:

- Although the defense has some question marks (just like last year - including CB and MLB), Williams demonstrated his ability to plug players into his system and get star quality team defense from less than star quality players.

- The defense has injured stars returning.

- No matter who starts, last year's injuries gave great experience to players who will be back ups this year - giving this year's defense incredible depth.

- The entire defense will be playing the same system for the second consecutive year for the first time in ages.

- Solid competition exists for the spots vacated by Pierce and Smoot.

But Noooooooooo.

Despite Williams' demonstrated ability to find players, the return of quality players from injuries, the increased depth, and the experience within the system - the loss of Smoot and Pierce cause the talking heads "to wonder if the team can still be a top-10 defense". At best, Williams' creativity "should be able to conjure up something to keep his unit competitive".

Apparently, it is impossible for the experts to consider the possibility that this defense could actually improve and be even MORE dominant.

Hog - f'ing - wash.

[memphisskin]

We had the same questions at mlb last year before Pierce stepped up, I have no doubt that GW will find a way to have the defense perform at a high level again this year. Plus the addition of a healthy Arrington will add some spice we didn't get to see last year.

I think Ramsey will hit his stride this year and have a big year for us.

[Kope]

Bla, bla, bla... Nothing new in this. Has no one seen what we have done for our coverage and return units? Almost to a man everybody we brought in has good ST history.

That is going to wins a game or two this year as opposed to losing two or three for us.

[That Guy]

yeah kope, that's what i've been saying, last year we settled defense, this year it was special teams' turn... still not sure on offense, but we literally couldn't get much worse and the Oline is definately better, so we'll see.

[dblanch66]

I agree with all of you. Pierce was the beneficiary of the system and I don't see him having the same impact this year. The Giants overpaid for him.. as did the Vikes with Freddy S. Liked them, but they are gone...
Special teams - This could be a major area of improvement with Pierson P., new young linebackers and 2 solid and exciting return men in Moss and Antonio Brown. That in itself can help our defense by pinning other teams deep, and help or offense by getting solid yardage on returns.

[offiss]

Originally Posted by NM Redskin

I think greg williams can plug in players at will, we'll be top ten. I think they were accurate about Ramsey though.

I agree with you on Williams NM, but I do disagree with their assesment on Ramsey, what kind of a practice player was he last year? He was so good he was beat out by a struggling Brunell who really did nothing in the pre-season to establish himself as a starter and proved it the first half of the season, Ramsey needs players and a continuity around him, I truly believe if Ramsey was in new england and Brady was here we would be saying the same things about Ramsey that we say about Brady, but we probably wouldn't be so high on Brady because he's less physically gifted than Ramsey.

I said it before and I will say it again, Ramsey is an elite NFL QB if he just gets some help from the rest of the team, and that includes the coaches. He is the perfect Gibbs type QB whether Gibbs realizes it yet or not.

[GoSkins!]

How 'bout this:

From the GoSkins! archive:

The Skins defense will be much improved this year thanks the offseason recoverys of several key players. Arrington, Bowen, and Danials come back healthy and should make an immediate impact. While Antonio Pierce filled in admirally for the injured Barrow at MLB, the Skins were able to land thier first choice from last year - Warwick Holdman and, with some good draft day selections, picked up some solid depth for years to come in the middle.
Walt Harris appears completely recovered from the injuries that slowed him last year and his physical play fits in well with Greg Williams agressive defensive style. Still, don't count out Carlos Rogers the Skins top pick CB out of Auburn. Rogers toughness has already been praised by Williams in camp and his playmaking abilities should help the Skins D do the one thing they stuggled with last year: score on defense.
Couple these with Sean Taylor entering his second season and the overachieving d-line returning to take tops in run defense again and you will see a group poised to make a ligitamate run at the number 1 defense again.

The offense addressed it's problems from last year by adding the top two available long ball threat wideouts available in free agency. Moss, Patten, and the emerging Jacobs should be able to stretch defenses for the yardage "chunks" Gibbs so often missed last year. This, in turn, will Portis who will be facing fewer men in the box (and don't forget the addition of Rabach and the return of Jansen).
Ramsey looked comfortable in Gibbs system by the end of the season and figures to have a break out season.

Prediction: Finally an upset of the Eagles from inside the division and challenging the birds for first place in the NFC East.

[Redskins_P]

Originally Posted by GoSkins!

How 'bout this:

From the GoSkins! archive:

The Skins defense will be much improved this year thanks the offseason recoverys of several key players. Arrington, Bowen, and Danials come back healthy and should make an immediate impact. While Antonio Pierce filled in admirally for the injured Barrow at MLB, the Skins were able to land thier first choice from last year - Warwick Holdman and, with some good draft day selections, picked up some solid depth for years to come in the middle.
Walt Harris appears completely recovered from the injuries that slowed him last year and his physical play fits in well with Greg Williams agressive defensive style. Still, don't count out Carlos Rogers the Skins top pick CB out of Auburn. Rogers toughness has already been praised by Williams in camp and his playmaking abilities should help the Skins D do the one thing they stuggled with last year: score on defense.
Couple these with Sean Taylor entering his second season and the overachieving d-line returning to take tops in run defense again and you will see a group poised to make a ligitamate run at the number 1 defense again.

The offense addressed it's problems from last year by adding the top two available long ball threat wideouts available in free agency. Moss, Patten, and the emerging Jacobs should be able to stretch defenses for the yardage "chunks" Gibbs so often missed last year. This, in turn, will Portis who will be facing fewer men in the box (and don't forget the addition of Rabach and the return of Jansen).
Ramsey looked comfortable in Gibbs system by the end of the season and figures to have a break out season.

Prediction: Finally an upset of the Eagles from inside the division and challenging the birds for first place in the NFC East.

Just a tad bit biased.......don't you think?

But I like it!