(photo by Brian Murphy)

Whenever I’ve done these power rankings in the past, the formula has always remained the same. I start by listing the top 10 members of the Washington Redskins who have risen to the challenge and made a strong impression, and then wrap things up with five players who need to step up their game.

Unfortunately, that’s not realistic at the moment. A once-promising season has completely spiraled out of control over the last month and the Redskins are clearly getting worse – not better – with each passing game.

I’ve got a better chance of becoming a big-time Hollywood actor than identifying 10 Redskins players worthy of praise during this dreadful four-game losing streak, so we’ll flip the script and name five players who are getting it done and 10 guys who need to take a serious look in the mirror before getting on the plane for Miami.

As always, these rankings are completely subjective, biased and, ultimately, meaningless. They simply represent one person’s take on the current state of the franchise. If you see things differently and/or feel like I’m forgetting someone, that’s okay. Feel free to leave a comment and share your thoughts on the subject.

1. London Fletcher, middle linebacker – The 36-year-old had 20 tackles against Buffalo and another 10 against San Francisco. If everyone wearing the burgundy and gold worked as hard as Fletcher, people wouldn’t still be wondering how and why this team peaked in Week 1.

2. Sav Rocca, punter – One member of the Redskins ranks statistically among the NFL’s best at his position. Too bad it’s the punter.

3. Ryan Kerrigan, outside linebacker – The rookie standout has three sacks, two forced fumbles and as many rushing touchdowns as Roy Helu and Ryan Torain combined.

4. Fred Davis, tight end – He’s the only player on his side of the ball who can even be remotely considered a weapon. That’s gotta count for something.

5. Brian Orakpo, outside linebacker – Take a look at his career stats and you’ll clearly see that Orakpo has always done well in the first half of a season. The question is – is this the year he finally puts together a memorable second half of a season?

On the flip side, here are 10  players need to step up their game sooner rather than later:

Continue reading this post

(photo by Brian Murphy)

Tonight the Washington Redskins take on the Indianapolis Colts in their second preseason game of the season. Once this game is in the books, we’ll be at the halfway point of the exhibition season and one step closer to the 53-man roster.

With that in mind, I humbly present to you my take at the top 10 Redskins players over the last seven days. For those who aren’t familiar, these are the players who have risen to the challenge and made a strong impression thus far.

And, as always, these rankings are completely subjective, biased and, ultimately, meaningless. They simply represent one person’s take during training camp. If you see things differently and/or feel like I’m forgetting someone, that’s okay. Feel free to leave a comment and share your thoughts on the subject.

1. Tim Hightower, running back – It’s insane to think that a guy who wasn’t even on the roster at the start of training camp could very well be the starting tailback Week 1 against the New York Giants.

It’s even crazier to think that the Redskins were able to acquire a potential starting running back for Vonnie Holiday, a past-his-prime defensive lineman who wasn’t even going to make the team this year.

2. Rex Grossman, quarterback – The Shanahans might have a ton of manlove for John Beck, but Sexy Rexy isn’t lying down without a fight. Grossman completed 19 or 26 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown (109.0 QB rating) against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and looked very comfortable in his third year running this offense.

The pressure is clearly on Beck to show he’s worthy of being in this quarterback competition when the Redskins take on the Colts tonight. A poor performance is only going to re-enforce the popular belief that it’s only a matter of time before Grossman is lining up behind center for Washington.

3. DeJon Gomes, safety – Seemingly everyone else at the safety position is either injured (LaRon Landry, Oshiomogho Atogwe and Kareem Moore) or struggling (Chris Horton). So all Gomes has to do is be healthy and not make any monumental mistakes and he’s in solid shape to make the cut.

Thus far, Gomes is doing even better. The fifth rounder picked up his first-career sack against Steelers quarterback Dennis Dixon and had three tackles for a loss for the night. Not bad for an unheralded rookie who most Redskins fans had never even heard of before draft day.

4. Jarvis Jenkins, defensive end – Dude still doesn’t look like a rookie out there on the football field.

5. Will Montgomery, center – Let’s just say that whenever Casey Rabach was asked to line up against someone as talented as Casey Hampton, he spent enough time in the backfield to warrant consideration as a backup running back.

Thankfully, Montgomery appears to be a much stronger option up the middle and if he continues to play at this level, Redskins quarterbacks might actually have time to look downfield rather than the dinks and dunks that passes for an offense last year.

Whether or not John Beck can complete a deep throw during live action is another question, but at least the Redskins starting center will give him a chance to make the play.

6. Evan Royster, running back – Roy Helu Jr. gets much more attention, but Royster was the rookie running back who Mike Shanahan opted to turn the football over to in the opener.

Royster finished with a game-high 15 carries for a game-high 66-yards rushing on the night, while Helu was limited to just 28 yards on eight carries. Whether or not it lasts remains to be seen, but as long as the Penn State standout makes plays like this, it’s going to be difficult for his coaches to ignore the rookie.

Continue reading this post

(photo by Brian Murphy)

Tonight marks the preseason debut of the 2011 Washington Redskins, as the burgundy and gold host the Pittsburgh Steelers. And while most teams are content to limit the starters to 10 plays or so, this is the perfect chance for fans to see Washington’s rookie and free agents in a Redskins jersey for the first time.

With that in mind, I humbly present to you my take at the top 10 Redskins players over the last seven days. For those who aren’t familiar, these are the players who have risen to the challenge and made a strong impression during the second week of training camp.

And, as always, these rankings are completely subjective, biased and, ultimately, meaningless. They simply represent one person’s take during training camp. If you see things differently and/or feel like I’m forgetting someone, that’s okay. Feel free to leave a comment and share your thoughts on the subject.

1. Barry Cofield, defensive tackle – Clearly, we’re in the honeymoon stage with Cofield, but it’s impossible not to be excited about his arrival. I mean, the guy flat out said he’d be devastated if the coaching staff didn’t let him play a ton in the preseason opener. Considering the drama that followed the nameless defensive lineman Cofield is replacing, that’s more than enough reason to rank him in the top spot.

2. Fred Davis, tight end – While Pro Bowler Chris Cooley has been sidelined with a knee injury, Davis has quietly stepped in and carried the load. Davis is noticeably slimmer this year – having dropped 15 lbs. since last season – and seems dead set on proving that at least one high draft pick from 2008 wasn’t a bust.

3. Jarvis Jenkins, defensive end – The only reason Jenkins drops from the top spot this week is because I’m trying to temper expectations for the rookie. He still continues to stand out for all the right reasons and is the player I’m most excited to see play during the preseason.*

*Even if he’s a Clemson player.

4. Trent Williams, left tackle – The Redskins quarterback situation is far from settled, but at least the left tackle spot is locked down. Williams, who will anchor the Redskins work-in-progress offensive line, remains highly motivated to build off of his up-and-down rookie campaign.

5. Tim Hightower, running back – I’m still terrified of how often he fumbles, but when Hightower is able to maintain possession of the football he’s looked good. With Ryan Torain injured and Roy Helu still learning the offense, the running back position is definitely there for the taking.

6. London Fletcher, linebacker – London Fletcher is good at football.

7. Anthony Armstrong, receiver – Since last season ended, the Redskins have selected three receivers in the NFL Draft, traded for Jabar Gaffney and signed Donte Stallworth. And yet, Armstrong continues to find a way to stand out and make plays on a consistent basis. He also remains the biggest deep threat in the wide out rotation.

Continue reading this post

(photo by Brian Murphy)

Now that the collective bargaining agreement has been ratified and football is back for another decade, it’s time to take a look back at the first full week of training camp for the Washington Redskins.

And since ‘Skins fans seemed to enjoy this exercise last year, I once again present to you my take at the top 10 Redskins players through Week 1. For those who aren’t familiar, these are the players who have risen to the challenge and made a strong impression through the first seven days of camp.

A quick reminder before we get started: these rankings are completely subjective, biased and, ultimately, meaningless. They simply represent one person’s take on the first week of training camp. If you see things differently and/or feel like I’m forgetting someone, that’s okay. Feel free to leave a comment and share your thoughts on the subject.

1. Jarvis Jenkins, defensive end – No Redskins player has received more praise this week and deservedly so. Defensive coordinator Jim Haslett calls Jenkins an “ideal fit” for this 3-4 scheme and the Clemson product has continued to impress every chance he’s been given. Out of all of the new guys, I’m most excited to see what he can do in his first preseason action.

2. Trent Williams, left tackle – While Jenkins has routinely taken the lunch money of whoever he’s lined up against during 1-on-1 drills, Williams has been the standout on the offensive side of the ball. Even when the defense tries to overload his side, Williams has looked at ease sealing off the blind side.

3. DeAngelo Hall, cornerback – No way around it – the guy has a nose for the ball. At least once a practice, Hall’s instincts will kick in, he’ll jump a route and take off in the other direction with a timely interception. You know it’s bad when he’s got the ball in his hands more often than some of the receivers in the lineup.

4. Leonard Hankerson, receiver – While the quarterback position continues to be Washington’s biggest question mark heading into the season, Hankerson is hoping to provide whoever ends up with the job a sure-handed target in the middle of the field. One week into his professional career and that’s exactly what he’s done.

5. Lorenzo Alexander, linebacker – There’s not much else I can say about Alexander, the man his teammates lovingly refer to as “The One Man Gang,” because of his amazing versatility. A guy who once played on the offensive line is now ready and willing to play either inside or outside linebacker. The Redskins are clearly lucky to have an ultimate team player like Alexander.

6. Jabar Gaffney, receiver – Upon seeing Gaffney practice once, Peter King boldly declared that he’ll finish the 2011 season with 76 catches. That’s a bold prediction, considering only two Redskins receivers – Santana Moss and Lavernues Coles – have posted as many catches during a season since 1990.

Continue reading this post

(photo by Brian Murphy)

The second week of training camp has come and gone and the Washington Redskins are a little more than 24 hours away from their first preseason game of the season.

With that in mind, here is the second edition of the Redskins power rankings. In case you missed last week’s offering, the concept is simple – 10 Redskins players who have risen to the challenge and made a strong impression during Week 2 of training camp, along with five guys who need to step it up.

And my disclaimer: these rankings are completely subjective, biased and, ultimately, meaningless. They simply represent one person’s take from the sidelines. If you see things differently and/or feel like I’m forgetting someone, that’s okay. Feel free to leave a comment and share your thoughts on the subject.

1. Donovan McNabb, quarterback – Ask anyone from Philadelphia capable of having a coherent conversation (which admittedly, doesn’t leave many options to choose from) – McLovin’ is a notoriously poor practice player. The guy has been a consistent winner throughout his NFL career, but that success rarely carries over to practice situations. And honestly, that’s fine.

Nothing against Taylor Jacobs, but I’d much rather have a top 10 talent who is a so-so practice player, than the opposite. But McNabb earns the top spot this week because he’s managed to put together a string of solid performances over the last seven days, which hopefully means he’s getting more comfortable in this new offense.

Either way, McNabb is making enough noise these days that the mere sight of his Redskins jersey is enough to make Andy Reid call for security.

2. Carlos Rogers, cornerback – I keep saying it and skeptics keep mocking me. This is going to be a career year for Rogers. With his good pal Fred Smoot no longer around to distract him, Rogers is spending more time focusing on the subtle nuances of playing one of football’s most challenging positions and less time smoking and joking.

3. Trent Williams, offensive lineman – He’s already solidified his place as the starting left tackle and his coaches continue to sing his praises. As soon as his head catches up with his natural athletic ability, this guy is going to be a stud for a long, long time.

4. Adam Carriker, defensive end – Carriker is starting to look very comfortable in Jim Haslett’s defense. Oh, and he’s got a healthy chip on his shoulder because he wants to prove St. Louis was foolish for giving up on him. Feel free to start getting excited over what a healthy and motivated Carriker can provide for this aggressive defense.

5. Andre Carter, linebacker – Folks kept telling me throughout the offseason that there wasn’t a place for Carter in a 3-4 defense, and that it was only a matter of time before he was either traded or let go. And I kept telling those people that they didn’t know what they were talking about and that not all 3-4 defenses are created equally. Once Carter fully recovered from offseason surgery to repair his torn bicep muscle [Editor's note: ouch.], he found himself below Lorenzo Alexander on the depth chart as he worked back to speed with the second teamers.

Carter never said a word. He simply kept a positive attitude and continued to do whatever was asked of him. In related news, Carter has leapfrogged Alexander and has spent the last week running with the starters.

6. Chris Cooley, tight end – He’s not fast. He’s not flashy. But dammit, you know what you’re getting with Chris Cooley. And for that reason alone, you’ve got to respect him. Cooley looked off the first week of training camp, with more than a few passes hitting him in the hands that he failed to secure. This past week though, Cooley has seemingly started to develop some chemistry with McNabb and looks much more like the Pro Bowler fans love to love. Let’s put it this way – it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Cooley was the team leader in receptions this season.

Continue reading this post

(photo by Brian Murphy)

With the first week of training camp in the books for the Washington Redskins, I figured I’d try something new. With that in mind, I present to you my first stab at the top 10 Redskins players through Week 1. These are the players who have risen to the challenge and managed to make a strong impression through the first seven days of camp.

One quick note before we dive in – these rankings are completely subjective, biased and, ultimately, meaningless. They simply represent one person’s take on the first week of training camp. If you see things differently and/or feel like I’m forgetting someone, that’s okay. Feel free to leave a comment and share your thoughts on the subject.

1. Kareem Moore, safety – No player has done more to turn heads in the last week than Moore. Don’t believe me? Consider this: in the last two days, Moore has three interceptions. He’s rapidly turning into a ball hawk and appears to be developing more and more confidence every day he takes the field. In fact, he’s looking so comfortable that I’d go as far as to say it’s officially his position to lose.

2. Fred Davis, tight end – Chris Cooley is the man. I’ve got no problem saying it and neither does Davis. But the offensive star throughout this entire offseason has easily been Freddie Delight. The days of oversleeping practice and/or looking lost on the football field are long gone. These days, the third-year pro is automatic – especially when running a seam route. If a quarterback can get the ball near him, Davis has had no problem catching the ball in stride and blowing by defenders. If he can improve his blocking, Davis is going to be a force in this league.

3. Carlos Rogers, cornerback – Before training camp began, I boldly predicted Rogers would set a new career high for interceptions in 2010. After seven days, I’m feeling even more confident in the Auburn product. I’ve heard from a player or two that the cornerbacks under Jerry Gray spent too much time goofing off and cracking jokes. Although Gray was very good at his job, some wonder if he made a mistake trying to be buddy buddy with guys like Rogers and Fred Smoot. With those distractions gone and hopes of a long-term contract in front of him, Rogers has more than enough incentive to come out strong this season.

4. Larry Johnson, running back – There’s no way this is the same guy who half of Kansas City despises. He’s been an absolute model citizen on and off the field for Washington and has managed to stand out in a very crowded backfield. Clinton Portis will likely be the primary ball carrier, but Johnson brings a physical presence this offense needs. At this point, I’m genuinely excited at the prospect of him being the goal-line back this season.

5. Trent Williams, left tackle – Before training camp began and before the highly-touted rookie even signed his contract, I suggested that at some point this season Williams might be swapped with right tackle Jammal Brown. Well, if he continues to play like this, that’s not going to be an option. Williams is exactly the athletic offensive lineman that thrives in a Mike Shanahan-led attack and he’s already managing to hold his own against linebacker Brian Orakpo when the two square off. I can’t help but think he’s still playing mostly on pure instincts which means he’ll likely improve once he fully grasps everything the coaches are throwing at him. If that’s the case, Williams is going to be protecting the blind side for the foreseeable future.

Continue reading this post