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2005 Team Report: Washington Redskins
Quarterbacks
Starter: Patrick Ramsey
Starting QB: Patrick Ramsey enters the 2005 season as the Redskins starter, but his hold on the job is tenuous given the presence of a high-priced former starter (Mark Brunell) and a 1st round pick (Jason Campbell) coveted on draft day. Despite the presence of other able-bodied quarterbacks, Ramsey controls his own destiny. If Ramsey performs consistently in training camp and elevates his game in the early going, it's conceivable he could be this year's version of Drew Brees. Last year, his first playing for Joe Gibbs, Ramsey improved his accuracy (62%) but saw his yards per attempt fall for the third consecutive season (6.1 yards). With another year in the system, an improved offensive line, and a new cadre of pass catchers, Ramsey will be expected to improve his decision making as well as improve on his 33:28 career TD-to-INT ratio. To say this is a pivotal year for Ramsey would be an understatement, but there are too many uncertainties in play to consider him as anything but a backup fantasy option to start the year.
Backup QB: Many observers criticized the Redskins decision to sign Mark Brunell to a 7-year, $43 million contract last season because of his declining production as a starter in Jacksonville not to mention his disconcerting injury history. It took less than half a season in Washington for the critics to be proven accurate, as Brunell completed less than 50% of his passes, averaged a paltry 5.0 yards per attempt and threw a whopping seven touchdowns. In 2005, Brunell starts the year as Patrick Ramsey's backup and will probably fill that role for a few more years because of the salary cap implications of cutting him loose. In a surprise move, the Redskins traded up in the April draft to acquire Jason Campbell, the athletic and productive Auburn quarterback, with the 25th pick overall. Campbell, who displaced Tim Hasselbeck as the third-string QB this year, will be groomed as the eventual starter.
Running Backs
Starter: Clinton Portis
Starting RB: The good news is that Clinton Portis proved capable of carrying the load, finishing second in the NFC with 343 carries in 2004. He also finished third in the NFC with 1,315 yards. The bad news is that Portis' yards per carry plummeted to 3.8 after averaging 5.5 yards in his two years in Denver. His five rushing touchdowns paled in comparison to the 14.5 TDs per season he averaged as a Bronco. Critics will point to this as evidence that Portis was a product of the Broncos' system. But that unfairly looks past the utter lack of supporting talent and substandard line play that Portis dealt with last year. With tackle Jon Jansen back from injury, and a revamped receiving corps that the Redskins hope stretches opposing defenses, it's quite reasonable to expect Portis to rebound in 2005. Anyone that's seen him play knows that he's got a rare gift for finding a hole, however small, and breaking into the secondary without hesitation. Although Redskins fans and fantasy owners shouldn't expect 5.5 yards per carry this year, an improvement into the 4.0-4.5 range is hardly out of the question, nor is 1,400+ yards and 10+ touchdowns. Backup RBs: Ladell Betts, a fourth year player out of Iowa, was the only other running back to have a carry in 2004, averaging 4.1 yards on 90 attempts. He also caught 15 passes in limited action. With Chad Morton primarily used in the return game, and Nehemiah Broughton a more natural fit at fullback, Betts is once again the principal backup. Rock Cartwright reprises his role as a tertiary option. To say either is a downgrade from Clinton Portis would be an understatement, and neither are typical "change of pace" options. It's unlikely that either Cartwright or Betts are equipped to shoulder the load if Portis succumbs to injury.
Fullback: Joe Gibbs prefers to utilize an H-back much of the time in lieu of a traditional blocking fullback. Mike Sellers and rookie Manuel White are the primary candidates to fill that role (along with TE Chris Cooley), with White having the potential to be a dominant lead blocker, but whose main strengths in college were as a short yardage tailback and receiving option.
Wide Receivers
Starters: Santana Moss, David Patten
Starting WRs: It was clear that changes had to be made after the Redskins finished 30th and 31st in offensive yards and scoring, respectively. No unit has undergone a bigger makeover than the receiving corps. The team traded Laveranues Coles back to the New York Jets in exchange for diminutive yet explosive Santana Moss. Moss is capable of stretching the field and making plays after the catch provided he can stay healthy. Just two years ago he caught 74 passes for 1,105 yards and 10 touchdowns. Lining up opposite Moss will be David Patten, most recently of the Super Bowl Patriots. Patten, an eight-year veteran, enjoyed his best season as a pro in 2004, catching 44 passes for 800 yards and seven touchdowns. Ultimately, the team wants its receivers to provide a downfield threat in order to loosen up running lanes for Clinton Portis. The fact that Patten and Moss averaged 18.4 yards per reception last year versus Coles and Gardner (last year's starters) averaging 11.3 yards per catch, one can understand the reason for enthusiasm. Backup WRs: It was a foregone conclusion that Rod Gardner would be sent packing at some point, and that became a reality when he was traded to Carolina during training camp. Two of the three Redskins backups aren't surprising: Taylor Jacobs and James Thrash. It's the final roster spot which caused a bit of a stir. Rather than keeping incumbent Darnerian McCants or newly acquired veteran Kevin Dyson, the team opted to retain youngster Antonio Brown; who made the team as a return man primarily. Thrash and Jacobs combined for 33 receptions and 381 yards last season, but either could be called upon to play larger roles if needed. Thrash was a starter for several years in Philadelphia, Jacobs was a highly-touted prospect from the University of Florida several years ago.
Tight Ends
Starters: Chris Cooley
Chris Cooley acquitted himself well as a rookie, catching 37 passes and six touchdowns as a part-time starter. Cooley, who led all collegiate tight ends in receptions and yards in 2003, fills the role of pass-catching H-back in Joe Gibbs' motion offense. Meanwhile his blocking remains a work in progress, which is where Robert Royal, Jabari Holloway and Billy Baber come into play. Expect Cooley's role to expand in 2005, while the backup tight ends make their impact felt outside of the box score. Place Kicker John Hall, Nick Novak : When healthy, Hall is a fair kicker. His accuracy is average, but he has good range and is very good on kickoffs (holds the NFL record of 29 touchbacks in one season). Unfortunately he could not stay healthy last year so Ola Kimrin and then Jeff Chandler filled in. The Redskins kept Chandler as an insurance policy. He has struggled and bounced around the league for several years, but he looked OK in his three games with Washington (5 of 6 FGs, long of 49 yards, 6 of 6 PATs). Chandler was released in the first round of preseason cuts. Kick and Punt Returners Kick Returners: Ladell Betts, James Thrash Washingon has released return specialist RB Chad Morton, who never lived up to expectations and then tore his ACL midway thru last year. After Morton's injury, RB Ladell Betts (23 returns, 23.0 avg) and WR James Thrash (9 returns, 20.7 avg) returned kickoffs. WR Antonio Brown is an early favorite based on a single run late last year. He took his only KR for 66 yards. Punt Returners: Santana Moss, James Thrash After Chad Morton's injury, both his replacements fared better: Antonio Brown (10 returns, 8.9 avg) and James Trash (19 returns, 8.5 avg). The offseason acquisition of WR Santana Moss would appear to be the obvious answer for the PR position. Moss may not be heavily involved on PRs however for two reasons: the Redskins may want to keep him busy solely on offense and his return averages have been steadily declining the last three years (from 16.5 to 11.1 to 8.3). Joe Gibbs spoke very highly of Brown following minicamp. Offensive Line
Projected Starters: RT Jon Jansen, RG Randy Thomas, C Casey Rabach, LG Derrick Dockery, LT Chris Samuels
When healthy, the starting five offensive linemen for the Redskins could be outstanding. Both guards and tackle positions are locked up leaving only one real battle for training camp between three players at the center position. Incumbent Cory Raymer will have his hands full in a battle with newcomer Casey Rabach and Lennie Friedman. Rabach will be given every chance to win that job. Tackle Chris Samuels should be a Pro Bowler within a season or two thanks to his power, athletic prowess and technique. At the other tackle position, Jon Jansen is an aggressive run blocker who missed last season and must come back healthy. Jansen also must work on his pass blocking which has been ineffective at times. One guard spot goes to veteran Randy Thomas (who has had a nice career and has a motor that never quits) while the other is in the hands of Derrick Dockery (who has great size, power and surprisingly nimble feet). Look for a much stronger offensive season from the Redskins in 2005, and it will all start up front with the hogs. If injuries strike again in 2005, the Redskins still don't have the depth to effectively cover them. Team Defense When Joe Gibbs took over as the Redskins head coach, he didn't waste any time bringing in Gregg Williams to run his defense. Considered one of the brightest defensive minds in football, Williams has a track record of not just turning around defensive units, but turning them into the leagues elite. As a Defensive Coordinator in Tennessee (97-00), he guided the Titans to a top overall defensive ranking in 2000. As the head coach in Buffalo (01-03), the Bills rose as high as #2 overall, and last year, his first as Washington's defensive coordinator, the Redskins made a dramatic turnaround from a #25 ranking in 2003 to the leagues third best overall unit. The 81.5 yards per game that they allowed on the ground were second only to Pittsburgh's 81.2, and this is after Washington allowed 138.6 on the ground the year before. Gregg Williams definitely knows his defense. Defensive Line
Starters: DE Phillip Daniels, DE Andre Carter, DT Cornelius Griffin, DT Joe Salave'a
Starting DL: After missing all but five games in 2004, spending the majority of the season on IR with groin/wrist injuries, Phillip Daniels returned to play a full slate in '05, posting semi-productive numbers with 37 solo tackles and eight sacks. "Semi-productive" pretty much sums up his career, a 33 year old workout warrior who's a solid run defender with limited pass rush skills, never recording over nine sacks in any of his 10 NFL seasons. Defensive ends with Daniels' skill set are valuable in the NFL, but you need someone on the other end more capable of getting to the quarterback. Forced to look towards free-agency they found was Andre Carter, a pure pass rusher who's quick off of the edge with a 44 solo tackle/12 sack campaign to his credit. Unfortunately, that season was 2002 and Carter has posted just 13 sacks in the three seasons since. If nothing else, his presence outside should help open up the interior for Cornelius Griffin. Griffin enters his third season with the Washington Redskins as one of the most productive defensive tackles in the game. Since joining the Redskins he's been able to match his potential with production, an ability that was absent during his first four seasons with the New York Giants. He uses impressive quickness for a man his size (6'3 310) to wreak havoc in the offensive backfield. Lining up next to Griffin inside is Joe Salave'a, a 6'3 317 pound blogger whose role it is to tie-up blockers and create space for his teammates to make plays. A fantasy afterthought, Salave'a has averaged less than a solo tackle per contest in 87 career games with 7.5 sacks in seven seasons. That's not to say he doesn't do his job well as he is a main cog in the Redskins run defense. Backup DL: Demetric Evans re-signed with Washington after testing his options on the open market. A better run defender than pass rusher, Evans will provide depth at defensive end and, even tough he's a bit light in the pants at 6'3 285, he uses leverage effectively and can slide inside to tackle on occasion. Renaldo Wynn, a 32 year old entering his 10th season, remains part of the rotation. A starter for the past four seasons in Washington, Wynn has averaged just 27 solo tackles and two sacks in that time. He's recovering from a broken arm suffered in post-season play.
Linebackers
Starters: SLB Marcus Washington, MLB Lemar Marshall, WLB Chris Clemons
Starting LBs: The Washington Redskins have been a sleeper LB haven over the last few years, turning undrafted players into fantasy stars. In 2004 it was Antonio Pierce, 2005 gave us Lemar Marshall. This year, it looks like that player will come from a group of linebackers vying for the starting WLB job left open by LaVar Arrington. SLM Marcus Washington has been a gem since coming over from Indianapolis in 2004, averaging 78 solo tackles and six sacks while playing near every snap in 32 games. At 6'3 247, Washington possesses a great size/speed combo. He's a rock on the strongside who's relied on heavily as one the teams best pass rushers. Lemar Marshall returns for his second season as the Redskins starter in the middle after starting 14 games on the weakside during the 2004 season. One of the lighter linebackers in the league, listed at 6'2 227, Marshall led the Redskins with 96 tackles (77 solo) while adding in two sacks and four interceptions, showing an exceptionally well-rounded game for a player who's with his fourth franchise in seven years. A reserve during his first three seasons in the league, Chris Clemons could be in line for a significant increase in playing time. At 6'3 240, the backup WLB was often used as a 3rd down/pass rush specialist. He possesses good speed and tackling ability but needs to improve in pass coverage, an area that he lacks experience. A restricted free-agent, Clemons decided to stay in Washington because, with the departure of LaVar Arrington, the door may have swung wide open with a starting gig waiting on the other side. If Clemons isn't the answer, there's a group of others waiting their turn. Another possibility may be to return Lemar Marshall to the weakside, assuming they could find another capable middle linebacker through the draft or free-agency. Backup LBs: Among the group battling for the starting WLB job are Warrick Holdman, Jashon Sykes and Khary Campbell. Holdman, a seven year vet, started the seasons first seven games a year ago at WLB in place of Lavar Arrington. An unrestricted free agent, he resigned for the veterans minimum and will be Clemons’ main competition for the starting job. Sykes has been in a battle before, trying to replace John Mobley and Terry Pierce in Denver during the 03-04 seasons (started eight games in 2003). Considered a very raw prospect with exceptional measurables early on, a knee injury forced him to miss most of the 2004 season and he was waived, out of football entirely a year ago. Campbell is a special teams leader who's with his third team in five seasons. Robert McCune, a fifth round pick last year, spent his rookie season on special teams and has been released, signed to the Redskins practice squad.
Defensive Backs
Starters: CB Shawn Springs, CB Carlos Rogers, SS Adam Archuleta, FS Sean Taylor
Starting DBs: After experiencing a re-birth in Washington, posting 52 solo tackles, six sacks and five interceptions in 2004, becoming the third player in history to lead his team in sacks and picks, Shawn Springs slipped last year (43/0/1). He remains a savvy veteran who has the size and experience to work around his declining skills, although at 31 years of age his production last year should be a much better indication of his fantasy potential. Rookie Carlos Rogers, the ninth overall selection in last years draft, started five games and averaged almost six solo tackles per start with one interception. A complete package of size (6'0 192), speed, coverage ability and willingness in run support. An ankle injury cost him some training camp last year and a bicep injury forced him out of the seasons final three games. Injuries can be a concern because he's a guy who plays bigger than his actual size, but if he can remain healthy he should become a major impact player, fantasy or otherwise. Not long ago Adam Archuleta was considered among the NFL's top safeties, with the height of his success being the 2002 season in which he posted 94 solo tackles with 2.5 sacks and a pick. A converted college linebacker, Archuleta has an extreme blend of speed, strength and athleticism, but that couldn't help him avoid back injuries that hampered him during the 03-04 seasons, knocking down both his production and his perception around the league (even though he didn't miss a game in 2004, he wasn't making many plays). Last year, he was expected to move to free safety but that never transpired. A concussion knocked him out of three games and he ended the year with his lowest tackle output since 2001, his rookie season. After signing a free agent contract with Washington that makes him the richest safety in league history, Archuleta gets to line up with one of the few players who can match him in athletic ability, Sean Taylor. Archuleta's health will go a long way in determining the success of this duo. Taylor's legal woes may also have an impact, although it's looking less likely as each day passes. The fifth overall selection in the '04 draft, Taylor was considered a once in a generation athlete with linebacker size (6'2 231), cornerback coverage skills and 4.5 speed. Once/if he gets his off-field issues dealt with, Taylor should develop into one of the games top playmakers. Thus far, through two seasons, he's been a decent fantasy option though a bit of a disappointment as we wait for his production to match his potential. Backup DBs: The Redskins have good depth at cornerback with Kenny Wright and Ade Jimoh. Wright, a seven year vet who started all 16 games a year ago with Jacksonville, has great size (6'1 207) to match up against the divisions bigger wideouts and proven durability, having missed just two games during his career. He's been very productive when allowed to start over his career. Jimoh has been impressive with his development on defense over the last few years and, while he's not a starting option, he has become a solid #3-4 type cornerback who brings added value on special teams. Safety Pierson Prioleau has been a sub/starter for the past three seasons with Washington and Buffalo. A better player in run support than pass coverage, he's more fit to back up Archuleta but will likely be the top reserve at both SS and FS. Like many of the other Redskin reserves, Prioleau brings added value with his special team play.
Last modified: 2006-04-22 02:21:33
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