DRAFT STRATEGY
After an uncharacteristically quiet free agency period — two visits and only one newcomer, former Texans KR/WR Jerome Mathis — the draft will be an unusually high priority for Washington.
While the Redskins' first turn doesn't come until the 21st overall pick, after having top 10 choices in 2004, '05 and '07, they have four selections in the first three rounds (picks 21, 51, 84 and 96) for the first time in six years.
Washington has changed head coaches with Jim Zorn replacing Joe Gibbs. And both coordinators — Sherman Smith and Greg Blache replacing associate coach Al Saunders and assistant head coach/defense Gregg Williams, who were fired — are new, too.
However, all 22 starters are back counting Fred Smoot, who's filling in until injured cornerback Carlos Rogers recovers from knee surgery, as is the entire core on special teams and most of the assistants (Blache was promoted from defensive line coach), leading to a good deal of stability.
At the same time, half of those 22 starters will be at least 30 before the end of this season. The need for an infusion of youth from the draft, though there isn't an immediate pressing need for a rookie starter, is evident.
The exception could be at safety where 2006 sixth-round pick Reed Doughty filled in capably down the stretch after Pro Bowl starter Sean Taylor was hurt and then shot to death. Blache needs to decide whether Doughty is the long-term answer next to LaRon Landry, the sixth choice overall in the 2007 draft, or whether the Redskins need to select a safety in the early rounds. Kenny Phillips, who followed Taylor at Miami (Fla.), is the only safety considered first-round material.
After being spurned by free agent D.J. Hackett, who had worked with Zorn in Seattle, the Redskins are still looking for a receiver to fit the new coach's West Coast offense because the top only three holdovers with a catch for Washington — Santana Moss, Antwaan Randle El and James Thrash — are all vertically challenged.
Fortunately for Washington, which didn't really succeed with first-round receivers in 1992 (Desmond Howard), 1995 (Michael Westbrook), 2001 (Rod Gardner), there are a number of excellent big targets in the draft. Oklahoma's Malcolm Kelly will likely be gone by the 21st pick, but Texas' Limas Sweed and Michigan State's Devin Thomas could be available.
Defensive line has been a position of need for years for the Redskins, but they haven't drafted a player there above the fifth round since taking Miami's Kenard Lang 17th overall in 1997. Funny thing that defensive end Calais Campbell had his best season for the Hurricanes as a sophomore when new Redskins defensive line boss John Palermo was his position coach.
The Redskins are likely also considering Clemson end Phillip Merling, the kind of high-motor guy that Blache loves. If Washington prefers to add big-time help inside, Southern Cal's Sedrick Ellis is a possibility.
Washington's five offensive line starters are all at least 30 as are top backups Jason Fabini and Todd Wade. So adding a top-flight young lineman to tackle Stephon Heyer, a rookie free agent in 2007, and former practice squad guard Lorenzo Alexander, is essential. If the Redskins decide to do so in an early round, Virginia guard Branden Albert could be the man. A backup to center Casey Rabach is a definite necessity since left guard Pete Kendall, 35, now holds that job.
Linebacker is another position where the Redskins need a backup, especially outside. Starters Marcus Washington and London Fletcher are both at least 30. Rocky McIntosh is just 25 but is coming off major knee surgery. Special-teamer Khary Campbell, 5-foot-10 H.B. Blades, a sixth-rounder in '07, and former practice squad member Matt Sinclair, are the only backups who've played a down for Washington.
NOTES, QUOTES
—Tight end Chrisey, Washington's biggest draft-day steal of the second Joe Gibbs era (third round, 2004), had a great time in his first Pro Bowl this winter.
"Initially, I was a little nervous because it was my first time and I didn't know what to expect,"
—Running back Clinton Portis said that late safety Sean Taylor, whose Redskin Park locker has been encased in glass since his shooting death last November, remains an inspiration for the players to give it their all.
"Sean's not here," Portis said. "You can talk to him, but he won't respond. You come to work with a different attitude. You don't have a day to waste. You come in every day and make the most of it."
—Left tackle Chris Samuels, coming off his third straight Pro Bowl and fifth in his eight years, has come up with a new training method thanks to right guard Randy Thomas.
"Randy is making me take this (rope) home," Samuels said. "He told me to start jumping rope after dinner for my cardio. He's always in shape and one of the strongest guys on the team even though he eats so much."
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We really haven't thought about that much. We're real pleased with FedEx Field. And the fans like it. We've done a lot of surveys. We've done so many improvements. We've worked really hard on the experience. I talk to the other owners and they tell me, 'Your stadium is awesome.' You hear that so much you realize that it really is." — Redskins owner Dan Snyder dismissing the idea of the team moving back to the District, its home from 1937-96.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
—G Rick DeMulling was signed in September, cut in November and re-signed in December. He played sparingly in six games and will only return with a minimum contract.
—LB Randall Godfrey signed in training camp because of his history with assistant head coach Gregg Williams. Godfrey was a solid run defender while starting four games because of injuries to Marcus Washington and Rocky McIntosh. Godfrey, who mulled retirement last year, will be 35 in April and might choose to follow Williams to Jacksonville rather than return to the Redskins.
—TE Brian Kozlowski played in at least parts of the past four years for the Redskins. He was signed during the season in 2006 and 2007. He had one catch in three games last year and with Joe Gibbs gone, maybe the 37-year-old Koz is finally gone for good, too.
—WR Keenan McCardell was the Redskins' 12th-round pick in 1991. He finally made his Washington debut in October 2007. McCardell caught 22 passes in 10 games and doesn't plan to retire at 38. He has experience in the West Coast offense so perhaps new coach Jim Zorn wants him back.
—S Pierson Prioleau rebounded from missing all but the opening kickoff of 2006 with a knee injury to play regularly in dime defenses in 2007. However, Prioleau is small and not very fast. Like Godfrey, he might be more inclined to rejoin mentor Williams with the Jaguars than return to Washington where youngster Reed Doughty seems to have nailed down the starting job previously occupied by the late Sean Taylor.
—C/G Mike Pucillo was the extra lineman in jumbo packages in 2006. However, Pucillo's surgically repaired back gave out in him in October and Lorenzo Alexander assumed his old role. Pucillo, who'll be 29 in July, will have to prove he's fully healthy to receive a new contract.
—S Omar Stoutmire played regularly as a backup in 2005 before signing with New Orleans where he started most of 2006. Stoutmire returned in 2007 but was cut and re-signed twice while playing sparingly in three games. Stoutmire will be 34 in July and is probably finished.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
—WR Jerome Mathis: Not tendered as RFA by Texans; terms unknown.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
—LS Ethan Albright: Potential UFA; terms unknown.
—DT Ryan Boschetti: UFA; terms unknown.
—RB Nehemiah Broughton: Not tendered as ERFA; terms unknown.
—RB/KR Rock Cartwright: UFA; $3.55M/3 yrs, $300,000 SB/$300,000 RB; $200,000 RB '09; 2008 cap: $705,000.
—QB Todd Collins: UFA; $9M/3 yrs, $3M SB.
—OT Jason Fabini: UFA; $870,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB; 2008 cap: $485,000.
—P Derrick Frost: UFA; $805,000/1 yr, $200,000 SB.
—K Shaun Suisham: ERFA; terms unknown.
PLAYERS LOST
—QB Mark Brunell: UFA Saints; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
—WR Reche Caldwell: UFA Rams; $645,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB.
—WR Brandon Lloyd (released; post-June 1 designation).
—CB David Macklin: UFA Rams; $770,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB.
—C Ross Tucker: UFA; retired.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football ... s/home.htm
