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

The Redskins’ depth chart started to take some shape after the preseason game against the Steelers. Here is a look at the two-deep offensive chart with the defense coming later.

Quarterback

Starter: Rex Grossman
Backup: John Beck

Beck should get his shot at showing what he can do on Friday against the Colts. Grossman’s solid performance against the Steelers certainly put the pressure on Beck. We will get a better idea as to who might start the key third preseason game, when most of the starters will play well into the second half, after Beck gets his chance. Kellen Clemens played well in the second half against Pittsburgh when both sides had reserves and rookies in the lineup. Matt Gutierrez might get a shot to unseat Clemens as the third QB.

Running back

Starter: Tim Hightower
Backup: Roy Helu/Evan Royster

Even if Ryan Torain’s injured hand gets better quickly—and he does not have a reputation for being a fast healer—he might have a tough time unseating Hightower as the starter. Royster played better against the Steelers but Helu has flashed more in practice. This likely will not be settled until the final preseason game and if the team carries just three running backs a roster spot could be on the line. By the way, James Davis, who raised some hopes when he signed at midseason last year, did not play a snap against Pittsburgh. He did not show up for practice on Monday and Mike Shanahan said that his absence was unexcused.

Per Ryan O'Halloran of CSNWashington -- our go-to guy on these sort of things -- the Redskins featured Mike Sellers prominantly on special teams, though virtually never on the offensive side of the football. Combined with Chris Cooley's knee injury, we may be looking at Sellers as a roster lock, even though he may only ever appear in an offensive huddle while on the goal line.

Sellers was featured on the kickoff return, punt coverage, and kickoff coverage teams. This means he was used as liberally as Darrel Young (kickoff return, punt coverage, punt return), the man who would be replacing him on offense, and Keiland Williams (kick coverage, punt return, and kick return).

It is likely that the Redskins will end up keeping three guys on this roster who have played fullback under Kyle Shanahan. Darrel Young clearly has the inside track to be the starter, but Williams has the versatility to be the team's third down back if Tim Hightower ascends to starter, and so while many of us have questioned Mike Sellers role on this team, you can imagine that the Redskins may have to tie special teams coach Danny Smith up and lock him in a closet if they are going to take away a player this useful on special teams.

All in all, here are the players who played special teams for the Redskins in the first half, and how many different units they appeared on:

- Horatio Blades: all 4
- Lorenzo Alexander: all 4
- Mike Sellers: 3
- Darrel Young: 3
- Keiland Williams: 3
- Byron Westbrook: 3
- Perry Riley: 3
- Brandon Banks: 2 (both return teams)
- Terrence Austin: 2 (both coverage teams)
- Reed Doughty: 2 (punt cover and kick return)
- Rob Jackson: 2 (kick cover and punt return)
- Chris Horton: 2 (both coverage teams)
- Fred Davis: 2 (both return teams)
- Niles Paul: 1 (punt return)
- Phillip Buchanon: 1 (punt return)
- Logan Paulsen: 1 (kick return)
- Rocky McIntosh: 1 (kick return)
- Nick Sundberg (long snapper)
- Graham Gano (kickoff specialist)
- Sav Rocca (punter)

Two other incredibly interesting things. First: Tim Hightower did not appear on any special teams unit as I presupposed he would. Hightower may have directly been brought in to replace Ryan Torain in the offense. One thing appears for sure: Between Hightower, Helu, Torain, Royster, and Shaun Draughn, there will be no more than three RBs on this team. Perhaps there will be only two with Keiland Williams functioning as the third. And if you lock in Tim Hightower to one of those spots, it becomes clear that there's just not much left there at the position to be had.

The other thing is: did you think of Horatio Blades as a core special teamer? Well, I did not, but lookie there. He might not be percieved as anything more than a backup LB who is behind others on the depth chart, but he's clearly safer than Keyaron Fox, Perry Riley, or Rocky McIntosh are. I can only see two out of those three listed making the team, and Fox has a hand up on being a defensive starter based on his performance with the first unit on Friday, and that to me means that there's only one spot for Rocky McIntosh and Perry Riley. But with Riley on three teams...I just don't see where Rocky McIntosh fits into this team. Blades is as much a core member of this team as Lorenzo Alexander is.

At this point, we can put the players who were on three or more ST units as the "core Danny Smith guys", who end up on the roster just because of their special teams contributions. This will also include the return specialists and kicking specialists.

The Danny Smith Roster Locks

Sav Rocca
Graham Gano
Nick Sundberg
Brandon Banks
Horatio Blades
Lorenzo Alexander
Mike Sellers
Darrel Young
Keiland Williams
Byron Westbrook
Perry Riley

It would seem like everyone else is going to need to make this team on offense or on defense. The other thing is that it would certainly appear as if the Redskins are going to need to either carry 2 RBs or QBs for most of the season if they don't plan on carrying 26 offensive players for most of the year. Then again, that would probably make the most sense at this point.

Here are my roster projections for the 2011 Redskins, with some players that are on the bubble and could make it with a well-timed injury:

Quarterbacks (3): Rex Grossman, John Beck, Kellen Clemens (On the bubble: none) [Practice squad: Ben Chappel]
Running Backs (3): Tim Hightower, Roy Helu, Evan Royster (On the bubble: Ryan Torain) [Practice squad: Shaun Draughn] {Picked up on waivers by other teams: Torain}
Fullbacks (2): Darrel Young, Keiland Williams
Wide Receivers (6): Jabar Gaffney, Anthony Armstrong, Santana Moss, Terrence Austin, Leonard Hankerson, Brandon Banks (On the bubble: Niles Paul, Donte Stallworth) [Practice squad: Aldrick Robinson] {Picked up on waivers by other teams: Malcolm Kelly, Stallworth, Paul}
Tight Ends (4): Fred Davis, Chris Cooley, Logan Paulsen, Mike Sellers (On the bubble: none)
Offensive Tackles (3): Trent Williams, Jammal Brown, Sean Locklear (On the bubble: Willie Smith) [Practice squad: Smith]
Offensive Guards (4): Kory Lichtensteiger, Chris Chester, Artis Hicks, Erik Cook (On the bubble: Maurice Hurt) [Practice squad: Hurt]
Centers (1): Will Montgomery (On the bubble: none)

Nose Tackles (2): Barry Cofield, Anthony Bryant (On the bubble: Chris Neild) [Practice squad: Neild]
Defensive Ends (4): Adam Carriker, Stephen Bowen, Jarvis Jenkins, Doug Worthington (On the bubble: Darrion Scott, Kedric Golston)
Outside Linebackers (5): Brian Orakpo, Rob Jackson, Ryan Kerrigan, Edgar Jones, Lorenzo Alexander (ILB) (On the bubble: Markus White) [Practice squad: White]
Inside Linebackers (4): London Fletcher, Keyaron Fox, Perry Riley, HB Blades (On the bubble: Rocky McIntosh)
Cornerbacks (5): DeAngelo Hall, Josh Wilson, Kevin Barnes, Phillip Buchanon (suspended wks 1-4), Byron Westbrook, Reggie Jones (On the bubble: Jones, as of wk 5) [Practice squad: Dante Barnes]
Safeties (4): LaRon Landry, O.J. Atogwe, Reed Doughty, DeJon Gomes (On the bubble: Chris Horton)

Kicker (1): Graham Gano

frankcal20 wrote:I'm not quite so sure that he will be based on durability.

Chris Luva Luva wrote:

frankcal20 wrote:I'm not quite so sure that he will be based on durability.

If Kelly gets the time that he has with Mike, Torrain will get some string. The boy is a monster. Arguably he runs harder the Hightower and that's saying something. The ground game will be our bread and butter and we need proven guys.

frankcal20 wrote:

Chris Luva Luva wrote:

frankcal20 wrote:I'm not quite so sure that he will be based on durability.

If Kelly gets the time that he has with Mike, Torrain will get some string. The boy is a monster. Arguably he runs harder the Hightower and that's saying something. The ground game will be our bread and butter and we need proven guys.

And that's the problem. Do you chance loosing most likely Royster to keep Torain on the team who will most likely not play the first couple games b/c of his hand and then only be here for a few after that or do you keep two young RBs to back up a quality starter. Keep in mind that Royster holds the rushing record at Penn St. He probably isn't Marshall Faulk but I have to say that he's more dependable for the 16 weeks than Torrain. But I have to say that I do like Torrain, his running style, etc but I don't like how he can't stay healthy. Same goes for Kelly.

If I'm Shanny, I would put Torrain on the PUP list. He'd be out the first 6 weeks but that gives you plenty of time to figure out how the other two are going to work. But I wouldn't do that until I had to which is after week 3 of preseason.

Chris Luva Luva wrote:[quote="frankcal20"
If I'm Shanny, I would put Torrain on the PUP list. He'd be out the first 6 weeks but that gives you plenty of time to figure out how the other two are going to work. But I wouldn't do that until I had to which is after week 3 of preseason.

I dont think u can go on PUP after you've practiced with the team.... I think... Either that or after you've played a game.

Either way, our young RB's would be safe on the practice squad IMO.

Red_One43 wrote: I agree with both of you in likeing Torain. He runs harder than any back with have, but Hightower runs hard and much faster and read cuts back better than Torain. I think we all agree who is that starter. I say Helu is the favored back up and not Royster. Helu is much quicker than Royster. Royster to the PS. Torain is not eligible for the PUP. Here is why we probably will not keep him. As the author said Keiland Williams can function as the third tailback which would allow an extra spot at another position.

Hightower - Starter - Speed
Helu - Back Up - Speed
Williams - Versatility
Royster - PS - Average back at best - average speed - not a power guy

What to do with Torain? Try to trade him if there is a partner - NE? If not, don't cut him, keep him and go with 4 backs as usual.

frankcal20 wrote:

Chris Luva Luva wrote:

frankcal20 wrote:I'm not quite so sure that he will be based on durability.

If Kelly gets the time that he has with Mike, Torrain will get some string. The boy is a monster. Arguably he runs harder the Hightower and that's saying something. The ground game will be our bread and butter and we need proven guys.

And that's the problem. Do you chance loosing most likely Royster to keep Torain on the team who will most likely not play the first couple games b/c of his hand and then only be here for a few after that or do you keep two young RBs to back up a quality starter. Keep in mind that Royster holds the rushing record at Penn St. He probably isn't Marshall Faulk but I have to say that he's more dependable for the 16 weeks than Torrain. But I have to say that I do like Torrain, his running style, etc but I don't like how he can't stay healthy. Same goes for Kelly.

If I'm Shanny, I would put Torrain on the PUP list. He'd be out the first 6 weeks but that gives you plenty of time to figure out how the other two are going to work. But I wouldn't do that until I had to which is after week 3 of preseason.

Evan Royster, RB, Penn State
Royster is a good, but not great running back prospect out of Penn State. His biggest strength is that he has no weaknesses but he lacks elite speed, elusiveness and power. Royster is a little taller than the average back, but he does all the little things well. Straight line speed is an issue and he lacks a strong burst through the line of scrimmage (Saw this in the Steeler game). The thing to keep in mind about any running back is that they are born, not coached. It's just a natural ability when it all comes together.
He's a tough back who plays hard and is a great competitor. But NFL coaches will be looking for measurements such as 40 time or the agility drills for him to standout. He's NFL-ready in that he's a good pass blocker, he can diagnose defenses quickly and uses his vision to break off long runs. There are no serious durability issues. He could be a workhorse back, but fits best in a tandem as he's never had more than 205 carries in a season.

Royster projects as a late 2nd round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.

Chris Luva Luva wrote:

Red_One43 wrote: I agree with both of you in likeing Torain. He runs harder than any back with have, but Hightower runs hard and much faster and read cuts back better than Torain. I think we all agree who is that starter. I say Helu is the favored back up and not Royster. Helu is much quicker than Royster. Royster to the PS. Torain is not eligible for the PUP. Here is why we probably will not keep him. As the author said Keiland Williams can function as the third tailback which would allow an extra spot at another position.

Hightower - Starter - Speed
Helu - Back Up - Speed
Williams - Versatility
Royster - PS - Average back at best - average speed - not a power guy

What to do with Torain? Try to trade him if there is a partner - NE? If not, don't cut him, keep him and go with 4 backs as usual.

#1 - Hightower
#2 - Torrain
#3 - It's really a toss up

Torrain is who you want on the goal-line. With our small o-line, u need a guy who's going to break necks and batter through whatever sliver of a crevice is available. This is a 2 back league now and you need 2 legit guys. Helu is not legit yet... Not after one preseason game. IMO, let Torrain heal up and run him and Tim. By running them both you decrease Torrains probability of injury.

Chris Luva Luva wrote:Mike's stretchy zone system makes average backs look better than they are. Tim was good as a Cardinal and Torrain was just damn beastly last year. He was just knocking the living snot out of players on defense.

The rooks have been able to get some yardage, terrific... It's been against a mix of 1's and 2's. Torrain and Tim have done it against the real deal.

skinsfan#33 wrote:I heard reports that Royster hurt his chances with his performance against the Steelers and it was mainly due to his abysmal performance in pass protection. Apparently he was REALLY bad. More of a case for him sliding through to the PS.

It wouldn't shock me if Torain was cut. Remember he was cut last year. I think the most likely options are in order of likelihood: he will make the team, or placed on IR, or cut, a trade would be wishful thinking.

Why do you need to keep K Williams as a backup FB of you're keeping Sellers as a backup TE?

langleyparkjoe wrote:I thought we were fazing out old man Sellars? He can't block a dag gone pillow, what's the point in keeping him here? (remember the game CP got smashed.. oops.. remember the games CP got smashed cause Sellars plainly didn't know what he was doing?)

yupchagee wrote:If Torain isn't 100% healthy, I think he goes on IR.

KazooSkinsFan wrote:

yupchagee wrote:If Torain isn't 100% healthy, I think he goes on IR.

Unless it's a long term heal I'm with Hogster. Torain is an excellent 2 in a 1-2 with Hightower as 1. If he's available he's going to be on the team

yupchagee wrote:

KazooSkinsFan wrote:

yupchagee wrote:If Torain isn't 100% healthy, I think he goes on IR.

Unless it's a long term heal I'm with Hogster. Torain is an excellent 2 in a 1-2 with Hightower as 1. If he's available he's going to be on the team

For him, it seems everything takes a long time to heal.