The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

The “changing of the guard” happens faster in the NFL than in any other sport. In a five-year-span, a player can go from backup, to quality starter to team leader to a role player, and then all of a sudden the fan base wants him replaced.

It’s the main reason that so many people find football the toughest sport to prognosticate. Do you think Ohioian’s are more confident in Travis Hafner’s ability to bounce back right now, or about Rudi Johnson’s? They both struggled mightily in 2007, but an Indian’s fan probably expects Hafner to rebound. Is anyone confident that Johnson will ever regain his old form? Such is the way in football.

Because most players on a roster are at or past their primes, the natural trend of a football franchise is downward. This creates a parity effect. The only way to counteract the natural trend of a football team is to consistently add talent, sometimes in the form of a free agent, but usually through the draft. Most free agents tend to be on the downside of their careers, but they almost always replace inferior players in the lineup, creating a net gain. Think of London Fletcher replacing Lemar Marshall.

The Redskins are the oldest team in the NFL, so it is critical that they get a bunch of players to break out in order to keep the team in the running for the playoffs. Here are five guys who I think will be a lot better in 2008 than they were in 2007:

LaRon Landry

Simply speaking, it is between the first and second seasons where players grow the most in a single off-season. This is the first major improvement a player will make over his career, and every player will make it. For Landry, the signs of a massive improvement already manifested themselves at the end of last season. In the final four games, after Landry moved to free safety, he not only delievered highlight reel hits every week, but also started picking off passes, intercepting Matt Hasselbeck twice in the fourth quarter of the playoff game.

The mistakes were still there at the end of last season: discipline issues for one thing, as Landry netted 15 yard penalties in back to back weeks. However, as his coverage gets naturally more fluid, and he becomes more and more aggressive, we could be looking at one of the greatest safeties to ever play the game before too long.

Anthony Montgomery

After Landry, Montgomery’s development is by far the most critical, both on the team level and a personal level. He’s going to be playing the nose position again this year on defense, and he’s surrounded on defense by the following:

3 players who are contributors, but past their prime (Springs, Fletcher, Daniels)
2 players on the back end of their primes (Washington, Griffin)
2 players in their prime, but are coming off career years (Carter, Smoot)
2 players who are young and largely unproven (Doughty, McIntosh)
LaRon Landry

You could throw Montgomery in the young and unproven group, but he’s proven himself, at least at his current role of anchoring at the point of attack. That’s good enough to hold his job. However, if the Redskins are to avoid a collapse of the front seven, they will need the young guy, Montgomery, to improve his game into other areas. He’s got the skills to be a decent pass rusher, and the Redskins need to see that. Otherwise, it’s all about consistency with Montgomery. Can he be an every down player? Or will Phillip Daniels need to spell him on passing downs. He’s in a (restricted) contract year, so 1.5 million dollars depends on it.

Demetric Evans

Evans is a guy who has done very well in limited time, but has never really had a solid chance to make an impact. With a shortage of able bodies on the defensive line, he should get his chance this season. He’s 28, and very easily could beat out Phillip Daniels for the starting Left End job. Because of guys like Evans and Alex Buzbee, the Redskins did not feel that defensive end was a critical area of need this offseason.

Rocky McIntosh

Coming off injury, McIntosh seems poised to have a breakout year at linebacker. His knee might hold him back, even successful ACL surgeries are no laughing matter. McIntosh really needs to have a good year with Fletcher and Washington aging at linebacker. Look for Rocky Mac to start racking up the INTs starting this fall.

Stephon Heyer

Heyer will be back in the starting lineup as soon as Jon Jansen hits the injury report. He showed impressive feet in pass blocking last season, and though he was prone to allowing a sack every now and then, that should change with age. As he matures, he should develop into Jansen’s successor and Jason Campbell’s best friend. If he can open up holes in the outside running game this year, he will be a very valuable player if, of course, he even has to play.

Bob 0119 wrote:Chris ey has made some noise about Reed Daughty making a splash this year. With Reed's family now healthy, and his concentration back where it belongs I'd say ey's not just blowing smoke here. We may see a great safety emerge out of nowhere with him.

I'm not so sure on Rocky. After seeing what happened to Lavar, it's become apparent that players with torn MCL/ACL's rarely recover to 100% and are higher risk or reinjuring the same ligament. Rocky was doing great last year, so we'll see.

Heyer may get the chance to start this year for Randy. If he can't get that arm healthy, he may be done in the NFL.

yupchagee wrote:

Bob 0119 wrote:Chris ey has made some noise about Reed Daughty making a splash this year. With Reed's family now healthy, and his concentration back where it belongs I'd say ey's not just blowing smoke here. We may see a great safety emerge out of nowhere with him.

I'm not so sure on Rocky. After seeing what happened to Lavar, it's become apparent that players with torn MCL/ACL's rarely recover to 100% and are higher risk or reinjuring the same ligament. Rocky was doing great last year, so we'll see.

Heyer may get the chance to start this year for Randy. If he can't get that arm healthy, he may be done in the NFL.

My understanding is that Rocky just had an ACL. Rogers had the combo. I agree about Reed. Evans rurns 29 at the beginning of the season. Kind of late for a breakout yr.

yupchagee wrote:

Bob 0119 wrote:Chris ey has made some noise about Reed Daughty making a splash this year. With Reed's family now healthy, and his concentration back where it belongs I'd say ey's not just blowing smoke here. We may see a great safety emerge out of nowhere with him.

I'm not so sure on Rocky. After seeing what happened to Lavar, it's become apparent that players with torn MCL/ACL's rarely recover to 100% and are higher risk or reinjuring the same ligament. Rocky was doing great last year, so we'll see.

Heyer may get the chance to start this year for Randy. If he can't get that arm healthy, he may be done in the NFL.

My understanding is that Rocky just had an ACL. Rogers had the combo. I agree about Reed. Evans rurns 29 at the beginning of the season. Kind of late for a breakout yr.

HardDawg wrote:Rock was our best LB draft pick since Levar. His ACL injury could be the end of him....although I'm miffed to have to admit it.

Fletcher could play for another 5 years at this rate...not worried at all.

Washington hasn't been the same since the arm injury. He needs to pick it up. Replaced by Sinclair or Blades?

Golston? No mention????

Montgomery is good to go.

Evens is a joke....Put Chris Wilson or Buzbee in...alternate them on passing downs.

tribeofjudah wrote:
Yeah yeah..... I want to see a fresh crop and the bench warmers step up and play solid this year.

John Manfreda wrote:Laron Laundry, I think he is gonna be a monster this year.

USAFSkinFan wrote:I love what Chris Wilson did when he got opportunities last year... even though he's a little smallish, he's got a great motor and has the best foot work of any of our defensive ends...

yupchagee wrote:

USAFSkinFan wrote:I love what Chris Wilson did when he got opportunities last year... even though he's a little smallish, he's got a great motor and has the best foot work of any of our defensive ends...

He needs to either
A) gain 20 lbs
or
B) move to OLB.

USAFSkinFan wrote:

yupchagee wrote:

USAFSkinFan wrote:I love what Chris Wilson did when he got opportunities last year... even though he's a little smallish, he's got a great motor and has the best foot work of any of our defensive ends...

He needs to either
A) gain 20 lbs
or
B) move to OLB.

I understand what you're saying, but I'm not entirely sold on this size "requirement" for defensive ends... he's not a big tall guy, he's stout... I think some guys get looked over a bit when they don't fit a certain mold... bottom line for me is he had 5 sacks and a forced fumble in a limited number of plays... even our giggest D Linemen got swallowed up from time to time so i think he'll get even more opportunity this year...

Laron Laundry, I think he is gonna be a monster this year.

John Manfreda wrote:Laron Laundry, I think he is gonna be a monster this year.

USAFSkinFan wrote:

yupchagee wrote:

USAFSkinFan wrote:I love what Chris Wilson did when he got opportunities last year... even though he's a little smallish, he's got a great motor and has the best foot work of any of our defensive ends...

He needs to either
A) gain 20 lbs
or
B) move to OLB.

I understand what you're saying, but I'm not entirely sold on this size "requirement" for defensive ends... he's not a big tall guy, he's stout... I think some guys get looked over a bit when they don't fit a certain mold... bottom line for me is he had 5 sacks and a forced fumble in a limited number of plays... even our giggest D Linemen got swallowed up from time to time so i think he'll get even more opportunity this year...

tribeofjudah wrote:

USAFSkinFan wrote:

yupchagee wrote:

USAFSkinFan wrote:I love what Chris Wilson did when he got opportunities last year... even though he's a little smallish, he's got a great motor and has the best foot work of any of our defensive ends...

He needs to either
A) gain 20 lbs
or
B) move to OLB.

I understand what you're saying, but I'm not entirely sold on this size "requirement" for defensive ends... he's not a big tall guy, he's stout... I think some guys get looked over a bit when they don't fit a certain mold... bottom line for me is he had 5 sacks and a forced fumble in a limited number of plays... even our giggest D Linemen got swallowed up from time to time so i think he'll get even more opportunity this year...

I like Chris and I think he will continue to improve and prove himself worthy of more playing time. He is not that much smaller than Andre Carter.

99 Carter, Andre DE 6-4 252 7 California 05-12-1979
95 Wilson, Chris DE 6-4 240 1 Northwood University 07-10-1982

Chris has a long ways to go to be like AC but he is a solid player and a straight up Ball Hawk.......

CanesSkins26 wrote:

USAFSkinFan wrote:

yupchagee wrote:

USAFSkinFan wrote:I love what Chris Wilson did when he got opportunities last year... even though he's a little smallish, he's got a great motor and has the best foot work of any of our defensive ends...

He needs to either
A) gain 20 lbs
or
B) move to OLB.

I understand what you're saying, but I'm not entirely sold on this size "requirement" for defensive ends... he's not a big tall guy, he's stout... I think some guys get looked over a bit when they don't fit a certain mold... bottom line for me is he had 5 sacks and a forced fumble in a limited number of plays... even our giggest D Linemen got swallowed up from time to time so i think he'll get even more opportunity this year...

It was 4 sacks, not 5. He also isn't credited with the forced fumble that you refer to. At 6'4, 240lbs, he weighs 5lbs less than London Fletcher, despite being 6 inches taller. Marcus Washington weighs about 8lbs more than Wilson. It would be extremely difficult for Wilson to be an every down defensive end at his weight, especially considering that Andre Carter, at 252lbs, is already on the small side for the position.