 }})
Burner’s Burning Questions – Training Camp Edition, Part One
The Redskins training camp for 2012 has been in full swing for two weeks now and the team continues to prepare for the upcoming season. In typical fashion, fans tend to choose camp favorites and these players are usually longshots to make the team or they choose to cheer for prized rookies who are looking to make an impact. Aging players are looking to keep their careers intact for at least another season. Younger players are eager to gain more experience and establish their long term employment prospects. The remaining athletes are “camp fodder” types who will have pro football careers that last no more than a few weeks or months. For the next month, BBQ will examine these players as the Redskins shape a roster of fifty-three souls and a practice squad.
The prized rookies:
Robert Griffin, III – He is the most obvious of prized rookies on the Redskins roster. On purpose, the defense has been allowed to pressure the young quarterback in the early days of training camp and they are not holding back in their schematic attacks. This will be very helpful as Griffin continues his learning curve at the most difficult position in football.
Jarvis Jenkins – Yes, Jenkins should receive consideration as a prized rookie this season. He missed the entire 2011 campaign with an ACL injury and was having a great training camp. He has picked up where he left off and is having another monstrous camp. In a manner of speaking, the Redskins gained a second round pick in the 2012 draft with the return of Jenkins.
Rookies to watch – Josh LeRibeus, Adam Gettis, Richard Crawford, Keenan Robinson, Alfred Morris, Tom Compton, Brian McNally.
With injuries occurring on the OL, look for LeRibeus, Gettis, and Compton to get extended looks in camp. Morris is looking like a lock to make the fifty-three man roster. Robinson could see plenty of action as a rookie. Crawford continues to have an impressive rookie showing in camp. McNally is still a longshot to make the team, but could be on the practice squad when the season opens.
Veterans looking to make positive strides in 2012 – Kevin Barnes, Cedric Griffin, DeAngelo Hall, Tanard Jackson, Brandon Meriweather, Graham Gano, Neil Rackers, Brian Orakpo, Perry Riley, Tyler Polumbus, Trent Williams, Tim Hightower, Fred Davis, Santana Moss.
Barnes, Griffin, Hall, Jackson, and Meriweather look to benefit from new coaching that emphasizes their individual strengths and the early reviews are good. Gano and Rackers are locked in a tight battle and both are producing solid results thus far. Orakpo is looking to bounce back from a subpar 2011 and Riley is looking to build on a stellar start to his career. Polumbus continues to build a very good resume at the RT position and could be the opening day starter. Williams and Davis appear to have put a sordid past behind them and both players are having a great training camp. Hightower looks to rebound from a knee injury and Moss is in the best shape he has been in many years.
Second year players looking to move forward – Maurice Hurt, Markus White, Chris Neild, Willie Smith, Roy Helu, Evan Royster, DeJon Gomes, Leonard Hankerson, Niles Paul, Aldrick Robinson, Chris Baker.
Hurt and Smith continue to solidify their positions as reliable backups and part time starters on the OL. Helu and Royster continue to progress and are now reliable options in the offensive backfield. Hankerson is on his way to becoming a star on offense and Paul will need time to adjust to a new position. Robinson will need to have an impressive preseason if he hopes to be on the opening day roster. White will get more reps in the preseason, but he could be a candidate for the practice squad once again. Baker will push Neild for a spot on the roster and Gomes should continue to provide quality minutes on passing downs.
Veterans who could be released – Anthony Armstrong, Terrence Austin, Brandon Banks, Kevin Barnes, Jordan Black, Jammal Brown, Erik Cook, Reed Doughty, Graham Gano, Neil Rackers, Tim Hightower, David Jones, Bryan Kehl, James Lee, Tony Moll, Richard Quinn, Darrion Scott, Morgan Trent, Chris Wilson, Doug Worthington.
These players face various obstacles such as age, injury, depth, and competition. Simply put, some have not lived up to the expectations that were expected while others were added for short term needs and purposes.
Rookies who may not make the team – Antwon Bailey, Jordan Bernstine, Lennon Creer, Grant Garner, Darius Hanks, Donnell Holt, Delvin Johnson, Samuel Kirkland, Lance Lewis, Monte Lewis, Nick Martinez, Brian McNally, Beau Reliford.
Many of these players will have the memory of being on a pro football roster for a few months and nothing more. Some will hope to catch on with another team and a fortunate one or two could make the practice squad.
Intriguing free agent additions – Dezmon Briscoe, Neil Rackers, Pierre Garcon, Tanard Jackson, Brandon Meriweather, Josh Morgan, Madieu Williams.
Garcon, Morgan, and Briscoe look to bolster a receiving corps that needed a major overhaul and upgrades. Garcon looks to be the real deal while Morgan is providing a steady veteran presence in camp thus far. Briscoe was added recently from Tampa Bay and could prove to be a huge steal this late in the offseason. The Redskins may elect to keep two placekickers if they want to have a kickoff specialist in Rackers and a field goal kicker in Graham Gano. Jackson, Meriweather, and Williams were added to bring new talent and depth to the defensive secondary. Meriweather is having a fine camp and is being utilized in a manner that maximizes his skillsets. Williams is having a better than expected camp as he seeks to revise his career. Jackson could prove to be a great bargain if he has overcome prior injury concerns.
Candidates for the practice squad – Jordan Bernstine, Tom Compton, Lennon Creer, Jonathan Crompton, Grant Garner, Darius Hanks, Donnell Holt, Delvin Johnson, Lance Lewis, Nick Martinez, Brian McNally, Beau Reliford, Aldrick Robinson.
These players hope to have a future in the game and continued hard work could pay off in upcoming seasons. For now, time on the practice squad is the next best option.
