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

Redskins Release Fox, Two D-Linemen
By Gary Fitzgerald
Redskins.com
August 24, 2008

The Redskins released veteran safety Vernon Fox and a pair of backup defensive lineman on Sunday, as the team begins to trim its roster.

Also released was defensive end Dorian Smith and defensive tackle Babatunde Oshinowo.

The Redskins must release two more players by Tuesday to comply with the league roster limit of 75.

Fox, a seven-year NFL veteran, had emerged as a special teams standout for the Redskins the last two seasons. He started six games at strong safety for the Redskins in 2006.

Fox struggled with injuries last season, and he had suffered a wrist injury in Saturday's preseason game against Carolina.

But the Redskins drafted a pair of rookie safeties in Kareem Moore and Chris Horton. They both have impressed in preseason, with Moore assuming a starting role at free safety each of the last two games as LaRon Landry rehabs an injury.

http://redskins.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=38022

That probably means that Hamilton will make the team. I think he & Fox were competing for the 5th safety spot.

The only reason I saw Fox making the team is b/c Landry is now the "veteran" safety. Other than that, I saw no reason to keep him and I'm glad he's cut.

On the note of safeties, Reed looked horrible on Sat nite. He's not improved nowhere near the level of establishing himself as a starter in for us this year except by being the least worst.

VetSkinsFan wrote:The only reason I saw Fox making the team is b/c Landry is now the "veteran" safety. Other than that, I saw no reason to keep him and I'm glad he's cut.

On the note of safeties, Reed looked horrible on Sat nite. He's not improved nowhere near the level of establishing himself as a starter in for us this year except by being the least worst.

Agreed! I think since Landry can play either position, Blache should consider a combination of Landry and Moore/Horton.

LOSTHOG wrote:

VetSkinsFan wrote:The only reason I saw Fox making the team is b/c Landry is now the "veteran" safety. Other than that, I saw no reason to keep him and I'm glad he's cut.

On the note of safeties, Reed looked horrible on Sat nite. He's not improved nowhere near the level of establishing himself as a starter in for us this year except by being the least worst.

Agreed! I think since Landry can play either position, Blache should consider a combination of Landry and Moore/Horton.

I'm sure there's going to be a lot of rotating at safety.

Wow, we're weak at safety IMO.

The new nickname for Doughty after Saturday's performance could be 'toast'. I don't think I need to explain...

Pinning our depth on a couple of rookies seems pretty risky to me - at least Fox was a known commodity. I don't know how serious the wrist injury was, but I think it's kind of a surprising move considering that Horton or Moore could easily be slid on to the practice squad for added depth, and be pretty safe there... after all, they're 6th and 7th round picks.

I mean, Reed Doughty is now our most 'seasoned' safety on the roster - think about that... he's the ONLY one that isn't in his first or second year ( he's in his third).

We're one injury away from trouble, two from disaster IMO. If Landry AND Doughty were to do down over the season, we'd now be pinning our secondary hopes on guys that have never played a SINGLE down of NFL football.

We need to scour the waiver wires from now until September and hope that we can find some better depth. Paging Omar Stoutmire...

BossHog wrote:Wow, we're weak at safety IMO.

The new nickname for Doughty after Saturday's performance could be 'toast'. I don't think I need to explain...

Pinning our depth on a couple of rookies seems pretty risky to me - at least Fox was a known commodity. I don't know how serious the wrist injury was, but I think it's kind of a surprising move considering that Horton or Moore could easily be slid on to the practice squad for added depth, and be pretty safe there... after all, they're 6th and 7th round picks.

I mean, Reed Doughty is now our most 'seasoned' safety on the roster - think about that... he's the ONLY one that isn't in his first or second year ( he's in his third).

We're one injury away from trouble, two from disaster IMO. If Landry AND Doughty were to do down over the season, we'd now be pinning our secondary hopes on guys that have never played a SINGLE down of NFL football.

We need to scour the waiver wires from now until September and hope that we can find some better depth. Paging Omar Stoutmire...

Is John Lynch still available?
Even bad options are better than no options.

BossHog wrote:We need to scour the waiver wires from now until September and hope that we can find some better depth. Paging Omar Stoutmire...

Maybe that's what Fox lost out to. Not the rookies, the waiver wire. I don't object to any of the safeties we're likely to keep, but to your point it seems inconcievable we'd start the season w/o a single real vet.

GSPODS wrote:Is John Lynch still available?
Even bad options are better than no options.

Lynch went to the Pats a few weeks ago.

http://www.reuters.com/article/sportsNe ... 3520080815

I'm sure we'll have to wait for the cut down to 53 to see anybody that MIGHT be better than what's currently on our roster

I can see the Redskins wanting Fox to get a chance to catch on with someone...

... but it seems to me that with our current injury status and our lack of depth that keeping Fox until we get through pre-season might have been more prudent... one of the rookies could get hurt... Landry could struggle to return...

BossHog wrote:

GSPODS wrote:Is John Lynch still available?
Even bad options are better than no options.

Lynch went to the Pats a few weeks ago.

http://www.reuters.com/article/sportsNe ... 3520080815

I'm sure we'll have to wait for the cut down to 53 to see anybody that MIGHT be better than what's currently on our roster

Figures. They love their geezers in New England. I think players have to be at least 35 to start on the Pats defense, so Lynch fits right in. I was attempting sarcasm at the Lynch suggestion. Bringing Vernon Fox back would be a better idea, as would Omar Stoutmire, as would any number of other career journeymen / backups / special teamers. Lynch is not only past his prime, he's passed a few other primes as well.

My poorly attempted sarcasm was to make the point that I hope things aren't so bad that the Skins have to start looking at players like John Lynch.

but I think it's kind of a surprising move considering that Horton or Moore could easily be slid on to the practice squad for added depth, and be pretty safe there... after all, they're 6th and 7th round picks.

I don't think they'll sit on the PS very long. They've done some good things in pre-season and I think we'll lose 'em before long out there for anyone to pick up.

VetSkinsFan wrote:

but I think it's kind of a surprising move considering that Horton or Moore could easily be slid on to the practice squad for added depth, and be pretty safe there... after all, they're 6th and 7th round picks.

I don't think they'll sit on the PS very long. They've done some good things in pre-season and I think we'll lose 'em before long out there for anyone to pick up.

I don't think the Redskins have enough bodies, nevermind talent, at the safety position to move Horton or Moore to the practice squad. By cutting Fox and releasing every veteran backup earlier this off-season, the Redskins all but guaranteed they would have either free agents or rookies at the safety position. I don't see any free agents, so ...

GSPODS wrote:

VetSkinsFan wrote:

but I think it's kind of a surprising move considering that Horton or Moore could easily be slid on to the practice squad for added depth, and be pretty safe there... after all, they're 6th and 7th round picks.

I don't think they'll sit on the PS very long. They've done some good things in pre-season and I think we'll lose 'em before long out there for anyone to pick up.

I don't think the Redskins have enough bodies, nevermind talent, at the safety position to move Horton or Moore to the practice squad. By cutting Fox and releasing every veteran backup earlier this off-season, the Redskins all but guaranteed they would have either free agents or rookies at the safety position. I don't see any free agents, so ...

The cuts on the 30th will give teams a lot of depth options...

I just meant that if you kept Fox and still wanted to keep both rookies that one could likely be on the PS. Maybe a bad example considering that right now it looks like they both have a shot at the 53 man roster.

In a way, I'm not surprised Fox was released. I'd rather see the rookies on the roster anyway. We have seen some good things from the rookies, but after reading a few posts here, I agree the release of Fox at this time is a risky move.

As many know here, even though I like Doughty the person, I've never been sold on his as a starter. I know he was thrown in the fire with the loss of Taylor, but his less than desirable display last Saturday and during the course of this entire preseason shows me Doughty hasn't progressed to the level anticipated. He's a serious liability in the secondary.

With the release of Fox, I sure hope Moore and Horton get up to speed expeditiously and are quick learners. Fox, at the very least, was an insurance policy with experience. I will also be watching to see if they look to sign a vet off the waivers.

BossHog wrote:I just meant that if you kept Fox and still wanted to keep both rookies that one could likely be on the PS. Maybe a bad example considering that right now it looks like they both have a shot at the 53 man roster.

More than a shot. I will be shocked if both do not make the roster.

yupchagee wrote:

BossHog wrote:I just meant that if you kept Fox and still wanted to keep both rookies that one could likely be on the PS. Maybe a bad example considering that right now it looks like they both have a shot at the 53 man roster.

More than a shot. I will be shocked if both do not make the roster.

I agree. Both will make the Redskins roster, or the roster of another team. Safety talent and depth isn't plentiful. There aren't even a handful of capable veterans available. It's active roster or in a few years we can add these names to the ever-growing list of Redskins draft picks that performed elsewhere. MUTT