Shanahan signs Center/Guard

[TeeterSalad]

The Redskins signed Kory Lichtensteiger - A 4th round Broncos pick in 2008 http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/01/14/shanahan-signs-former-draft-pick/

I like where is head is at already, working on the O-Line out of the gate.

[spudstr04]

http://blog.redskins.com/2010/01/14/redskins-sign-an-offensive-lineman/#continued

Apparently this guy is a beast and has that mean streak in him that all OL need to succeed in the NFL. Also, the blog states that he is a zone-blocking OL, should fit right in! Glad to see that Shanny is already working on the OL.

[RedskinTexan]

The Redskins begin the change to the zone blocking scheme that Shanahan and Turner love. Watch if the Raiders fire Cable, he would be an excellent zbs offensive line coach for Washington.

[riggofan]

I like where is head is at already, working on the O-Line out of the gate.

Yep I thought the exact same thing when I read that. Love to see Coach making these kinds of moves right off the bat!

[BossHog]

One !

[ATX_Skins]

I smell offseason superbowl champs!

[Gibbs4Life]

Looking at this guy he's a Center in our division.

Casey has competition.

We're gonna go Center, RG, RT and keep Samuels and Dock.

[MDSKINSFAN]

Good pickup at an obvious position of need. Supposedly this guy is really good in a ZBS. Good way to start off an important offseason.

[TeeterSalad]

Good pickup all around, I think Shanahan is showing that he knows what he is doing in building a franchise. When was the last time Vinny found young talent to fit a specific system like this? Especially at a position that we desperately needed help in.

[Deadskins]

I'm not convinced. He was cut by the Broncos and Vikings after all. Still it's good to see us working on the OL already.

[CanesSkins26]

I agree with Deadskins. It's nice to see us starting to add some pieces to the offensive line, but the guy has never started an NFL game and didn't play in a regular season game in 2009, so no reason to get too excited about the move. On the other hand, he apparently fits in the zone blocking scheme that MS likes to run, so in that sense it's a smart move by the Skins.

[Countertrey]

I think this guy represents 2 things... a fiery competitor who will push others... and someone who already has an understanding of the zone blocking schemes, who can help to model technique and teach others.

If he wins a position in the process, good for him.

[BossHog]

Umm... did you guys see our offensive line this year?



I think the guy definitely has a chance to catch on with the team as it stands right now - we need depth almost as badly as we need starters. People told me I was crazy that Levi Jones would catch on because he'd been cut by the Lions - but he played decent in his limited action.

Not making the Vikings really doesn't phase me - they have arguably the best run-blocking line in the NFL. I could run behind McKinnie and Hutchinson.

[Paralis]

He also didn't make the Broncos. Under Shanahan.

The good news is that he probably won't be the worst guy on the depth chart going into training camp, and that even really borderline players can surprise (consider one Jeremy Bridges, current starting LT in Arizona).

But expecting him to be anything more than Richard Bartel-grade depth isn't warranted by anything he's done in the league so far.

[BossHog]

He also didn't make the Broncos. Under Shanahan.

The good news is that he probably won't be the worst guy on the depth chart going into training camp, and that even really borderline players can surprise (consider one Jeremy Bridges, current starting LT in Arizona).

But expecting him to be anything more than Richard Bartel-grade depth isn't warranted by anything he's done in the league so far.

Actually he DID make the Broncos underr Shanahan - he just didn't make the Broncos under Josh McDaniels.

[Paralis]

Correct. I thought he'd been cut earlier in the year, but he made it through camp.

He was drafted as a project (basically, to inherit Nalen's job), and it's never a great sign when a team pulls the plug that quickly.

Still, I don't think there's any reason to believe he's not a better center than D'Anthony Batiste is a tackle, so I'm sure the Skins can find a place for him through the summer, at least.

[BossHog]

Still, I don't think there's any reason to believe he's not a better center than D'Anthony Batiste is a tackle, so I'm sure the Skins can find a place for him through the summer, at least.

That's all that I was saying... that right now, he's quite possibly better than guys like Rinehart, the two Williams' and Batiste... especially in a zone blocking scheme. He might also be aided by the fact that we don't really have a back-up for Casey Rabach at all.

You're right though - they did give up on him fairly quickly. I'm not sure that means much, as it was likely Shanhan's project, but it could be a sign that he wasn't progressing very well. It could just mean that McDaniels saw other needs, and felt secure in his existing o-line.

[yupchagee]

Still, I don't think there's any reason to believe he's not a better center than D'Anthony Batiste is a tackle, so I'm sure the Skins can find a place for him through the summer, at least.

That's all that I was saying... that right now, he's quite possibly better than guys like Rinehart, the two Williams' and Batiste... especially in a zone blocking scheme. He might also be aided by the fact that we don't really have a back-up for Casey Rabach at all.

You're right though - they did give up on him fairly quickly. I'm not sure that means much, as it was likely Shanhan's project, but it could be a sign that he wasn't progressing very well. It could just mean that McDaniels saw other needs, and felt secure in his existing o-line.

Batiste is already gone. M. Williams & Rinehart play different positions. The candidates behing Rabach are W. Montgomery & Edw Williams. I think he'll be an upgrade.

[BossHog]

I wasn't saying they played the same position... was just talking about overall line depth. Mike Williams played guard more than he played tackle this year anyway... but I did forget to include Will Montgomery in my list.

[ferryrich]

He was only dumped by the Broncos when they changed blocking schemes under McDaniels. To me, that shows that he's a 100% ZBS guy who couldn't adjust when man blocking came in.

For us, it's a fit, it's a start and it's very probably a BIG improvemnt even if he is just in for depth, pushing others and helping teach others the nuances of the ZBS.

[Chris Luva Luva]

Jeeez nobody is saying the guy is a probowler...

Do people recognize the amount of holes we have, we better grab anything and everything we can that looks at least halfway decent and let it sort itself out.

We are IN NO POSITION to be picky right now. We need depth and we need offensive linemen.

- Shanny knows him
- This guy knows the system
- He's young and hungry
- He plays two positions so even if he DOES NOT start, he's key depth


How is this a bad thing?

[Deadskins]

Jeeez nobody is saying the guy is a probowler...

Do people recognize the amount of holes we have, we better grab anything and everything we can that looks at least halfway decent and let it sort itself out.

We are IN NO POSITION to be picky right now. We need depth and we need offensive linemen.

- Shanny knows him
- This guy knows the system
- He's young and hungry
- He plays two positions so even if he DOES NOT start, he's key depth


How is this a bad thing?

Never said it was a bad thing. I was just tempering some of the enthusiasm the first few posters were exhibiting. Seems like they were saying this guy was the second coming of Russ Grimm.

[frankcal20]

It's a guy who knows MS's blocking scheme. That's it. Another body in training camp. He's a guard/center so he's going to compete with a lot of guys. It only makes him more valuable b/c he can play two positions. But of course, he's got to show the coaches he can do it again.

[CanesSkins26]

It's a guy who knows MS's blocking scheme. That's it. Another body in training camp. He's a guard/center so he's going to compete with a lot of guys. It only makes him more valuable b/c he can play two positions. But of course, he's got to show the coaches he can do it again.

I'm not convinced that Shanahan is going to go with a zone blocking system here. There have been reports that Shanahan asked Bugel to stay on as the oline coach, which if that's the case, at least raises some doubts as to whether Shanahan is 100% set on going with zone blocking. I could be wrong, but I don't think that Bugel has ever coached on a team that primarily zone blocks.

[langleyparkjoe]

I'm just thrilled Shanahan did something.. I hope this guy pans out