Lorenzo's job next year?

Red_One43 · Post by **Red_One43** » Mon May 30, 2011 9:52 am

fredp45 wrote:I also like Zo but let's be honest here..are we overvaluing him? As fans we do that a lot. I would love to have him back as a ST guy and backup linebacker, or 6 OL on the goal line play. I can't see him being a starter for us. If we want to take a jump to the next level --that is, playoffs, we need to have more studs on our team -- wouldn't it be nice to have two guys like Fletcher at both Inside linebacker positions, not ok players that are super guys.

Don't take this as bashing Zo, he is a great guy and good player, I just know we all (me included) over value guys we have on our team -- because we know them...

Well put, Fred. Zo probably wasn't as good as an OLB than I thought he was. Probably the coaches felt the same as they prioritized drafting Kerrigan to fill that OLB slot. Perhaps, Zo is more valuable as a utility man than as a starter.

I couldn't help but notice, on the radio link posted by 1niksder, that Zo said that he is down to 255 and he may play inside. It seems that a high motor guy, with his lateral speed, tenacity, and size would be a perfect fit for ILB. One thing I haven't mentioned is pass coverage skills as an ILB and that is the unknown for us fans. With his speed, I think that he can learn to the cover skills. In that radio interview, he said that he is working out with a a regime that LaVar gave him. He also said that his goal is to start. I think that Zo could give us two London Fletcher guys inside. I like Perry Riley, but like Shanny, I like competition. Hoping to see Zo play inside this year if not as a starter as least as one of his utility positions.

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Tue May 31, 2011 10:33 am

Zo should be a Skin for life. He is willing to play (or learn how to play) whatever position is asked of him. He has heart, seems to be a natural leader, and he'll demolish you on special teams.

Love this guy, hope we keep him till he retires IMO.

CanesSkins26 · Post by **CanesSkins26** » Tue May 31, 2011 12:01 pm

I also like Zo but let's be honest here..are we overvaluing him?

Yes. In all honesty the guy doesn't really have a position and should be a ST/reserve player.

Paralis · Post by **Paralis** » Tue May 31, 2011 11:35 pm

He's basically the Skins' Dan Klecko. Great guy and everybody hopes he finds a spot where he can stick, but his arms aren't long enough to play G, he doesn't have the explosion to play DE or OLB, not strong enough at the point of attach to play DT and probably doesn't have the range to play ILB--fast guys are fast and slow guys are slow, and going up or down 15 or 20 pounds isn't going to make that much of a difference.

But he's a beast on special teams and there's holes in the depth chart everywhere, so why not hope for the best? If desire were all it took to succeed in the NFL, the guy would be an all-pro.

The Hogster · Post by **The Hogster** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 12:02 pm

Call me crazy, but given his size and stature, if I were Jim Haslett, I would have asked him to bulk up and play Nose Tackle.

He was 6'1 280 when Jim got here. He had been an O Lineman and an D Lineman before moving to Outside LB. In my view, he has the mentality to be a NT in the mold of Casey Hampton.

It's also easier to add size and strength than it is to lose weight and add speed and athleticism.

2009 Lorenzo Alexander 6-1 285

Casey Hampton 6-1, 325.

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 8:55 am

The Hogster wrote:Call me crazy, but given his size and stature, if I were Jim Haslett, I would have asked him to bulk up and play Nose Tackle.

He was 6'1 280 when Jim got here. He had been an O Lineman and an D Lineman before moving to Outside LB. In my view, he has the mentality to be a NT in the mold of Casey Hampton.

The Hogster · Post by **The Hogster** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 9:03 am

He's a great Special Teamer, but his best spot is along the defensive line. He's powerful, strong, uses good leverage and is quick in short areas. To me, asking him to gain 30 lbs to play Nose would have been an easier task than losing 30lbs and playing in space.

He is also a selfless, high motor, do-what-it-takes player who wouldn't mind occupying people.

Just my opinion though.

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 9:09 am

The Hogster wrote:He's a great Special Teamer, but his best spot is along the defensive line. He's powerful, strong, uses good leverage and is quick in short areas. To me, asking him to gain 30 lbs to play Nose would have been an easier task than losing 30lbs and playing in space.

He is also a selfless, high motor, do-what-it-takes player who wouldn't mind occupying people.

Just my opinion though.

Agreed 100,000%.. that would be great to have him up there causing trouble.

The Hogster · Post by **The Hogster** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 9:39 am

langleyparkjoe wrote:
The Hogster wrote:He's a great Special Teamer, but his best spot is along the defensive line. He's powerful, strong, uses good leverage and is quick in short areas. To me, asking him to gain 30 lbs to play Nose would have been an easier task than losing 30lbs and playing in space.

He is also a selfless, high motor, do-what-it-takes player who wouldn't mind occupying people.

Just my opinion though.
Agreed 100,000%.. that would be great to have him up there causing trouble.

From what I hear, he's down to 255 lbs, so we might have missed our chance. But, I think it would have been a spot where he could be a standout player. He's just not a standout linebacker.

1niksder · Post by **1niksder** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 12:02 pm

Alexander learning yet another position
By Mike Jones
It appears that the One Man Gang is trying to become even more versatile.

Most recently an outside linebacker for the Washington Redskins, Lorenzo Alexander spent time during last week’s player-led minicamp developing his skills as an inside linebacker.

Alexander took snaps at the left outside linebacker spot, where he started 12 games last season. But at other times, he slid over to inside linebacker, next to defensive captain London Fletcher, and allowed rookie Ryan Kerrigan — who Washington drafted to play left outside linebacker — to line up on the the edge.

Alexander has spent the bulk of the offseason improving his skills as an outside linebacker and doesn’t plan to hand the starting job to Kerrigan. But in an attempt to increase his value to the team, he also is preparing to play inside linebacker if the need arises. Fletcher is firmly entrenched at one of the inside spots, but Rocky McIntosh is a free agent. McIntosh has said he wants to return, but Alexander wants to be ready.

“You’ve got to in this league,” laughed Alexander, who also is the team’s special teams captain. “They’re always trying to replace me, so I figure I’ve got to learn everything to make it as hard on them as possible.”

If Alexander – nicknamed “One Man Gang” because of his versatility – does end up contributing at inside linebacker, it would be the eighth position he has played in his NFL career.

When he first joined the Redskins in 2006, Alexander was a member of the practice squad as an offensive guard and defensive tackle. After making the 53-man roster, Alexander lined up on special teams, at guard, defensive tackle, tight end, fullback and defensive end before converting to outside linebacker in the 3-4 defense that Jim Haslett installed last season.

Alexander dropped 20 pounds during his transitions from tackle to end and then outside linebacker, and he has lost another 15 pounds this offseason in an attempt to improve his speed and quickness to become a better pass-rusher, and better in pass coverage.

Last week he displayed that improved quickness while covering tight end Fred Davis. On one play, Davis had a step or two on Alexander and turned his head to catch a Rex Grossman pass as he ran down the center of the field. Alexander found another burst, managed to get a hand up and knocked the ball away.

“Covering guys like Cooley and Freddy D., it doesn’t get any better than that. It’s just helped me work on some of my weaknesses as far as pass coverage goes,” Alexander said. “It also helped working on inside linebacker with Fletch and Rocky at my disposal, being able to go through some of the calls and things like that.”

Lorenzo Alexander of the Redskins is nothing if not versatile.

After trying out firefighting earlier this offseason, he’s back to doing what he does best: Trying out new positions on the football field. A starter at outside linebacker for 12 games last year, Alexander sees the writing on the wall after the team drafted Ryan Kerrigan to play on the outside.

So Alexander has decided practice on his inside linebacker skills to give him more flexibility for 2011.

“They’re always trying to replace me, so I figure I’ve got to learn everything to make it as hard on them as possible,” Alexander told Mike Jones of the Washington Post.

Alexander is the team’s special teams captain. He’s also played (offensive) guard, defensive tackle, tight end, fullback and defensive end since joining the Redskins in 2006.

The ability to anticipate what the Redskins may need from season to season and change his game to help makes Alexander one of the more unique players in the league.

Paralis · Post by **Paralis** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 9:57 pm

The Hogster wrote:He is also a selfless, high motor, do-what-it-takes player who wouldn't mind occupying people.

Just my opinion though.

The problem is that that also describes Kedric Gholston, who's a better DE/DT to boot.

Alexander lost the weight because he wouldn't have made the roster at DL last year, same as Jarmon. He'd be at best #8 in the DL rotation, and that's too many bodies for a 3-4 team.

Even one carrying dead-enders like Kemo, Daniels, Haynesworth and Holliday on the roster.

The Hogster · Post by **The Hogster** » Mon Jun 06, 2011 9:03 am

Paralis wrote:
The Hogster wrote:He is also a selfless, high motor, do-what-it-takes player who wouldn't mind occupying people.

Just my opinion though.
The problem is that that also describes Kedric Gholston, who's a better DE/DT to boot.

Alexander lost the weight because he wouldn't have made the roster at DL last year, same as Jarmon. He'd be at best #8 in the DL rotation, and that's too many bodies for a 3-4 team.

Even one carrying dead-enders like Kemo, Daniels, Haynesworth and Holliday on the roster.

Agreed. Kedric Golston is 6 foot 4 though. A lot of the successful Nose Tackles are shorter, tree-trunk-like guys.

Red_One43 · Post by **Red_One43** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 12:45 pm

With Rocky back, does Lorenzo go back outside?

Late last night, Kelli Johnson of Comcast SportsNet broke the story that linebacker Rocky McIntosh will be returning to the Washington Redskins on a one-year deal.

A little later this morning I will take a full look at the depth chart at linebacker in light of McIntosh's return. But the immediate question to ponder is if Lorenzo Alexander will move back to outside linebacker.

The Redskins kept four inside linebackers last year. Now they have starter London Fletcher, Perry Riley and McIntosh competing for the job at the Jack position, the recently-resigned Horatio Blades, and Robert Henson. Even without Alexander that's a crowded picture.

The picture at outside linebacker is considerably different. The Redskins are likely to keep five players there and right now the players behind starters Ryan Kerrigan, a rookie who has missed most of practice so far with a knee injury, and Brian Orakpo are rookie Markus White and fourth-year player Rob Jackson. It certainly seems that Alexander is more needed on the outside, where he started 12 games in 2010.

This is something that bears watching over the next few days.

http://www.realredskins.com/rich-tandle ... tside.html