Hankerson

Hankerson

Monday, September 3, 2012

The Final Roster is Announced! Thoughts and Depth Chart Predictions

I was thinking of writing up a projected roster, but it didn't make much sense to do so when the last game was only a couple days away from the announcement, I didn't bother. Anyway, it was announced with a few surprises.

You can see the full roster (as well as IR, PUP, and now practice squad) at the now-updated official site.

There were a few surprises: Tim Hightower got cut, for instance. The noteworthy cuts include Hightower, WRs Anthony Armstrong and Terrence Austin, ILB Brian Kehl, OLB  Markus White, DE Darrion Scott, and OT Willie Smith.

The only draft pick that was placed on the practice squad was tackle Tom Compton

FS Tanard Jackson, unfortunately, was suspended indefinitely, to be reviewed no sooner than 2013 for substance policy violations.

CB Kevin Barnes was traded to the Dolphins for an undisclosed draft pick (I'd guess around a 5th)

A trade was in the works moving Armstrong to Miami in exchange for HB Steve Slaton. It fell through, but the Dolphins claimed Armstrong and cut Slaton, so it could still effectively happen.

The Redskins also claimed CB Crezdon Butler off waivers from Arizona. Even with Butler's addition, the Redskins have only 5 cornerbacks, with Hall supposedly playing some safety this year, and Cedric Griffin being somewhat of a CB/FS hybrid (as well as very bad, judging by this pre-season).

It's looking like Josh Wilson is the only player in our secondary who is going to be really good this year. Maybe Brandon Merriweather as well if we get lucky and he has something of a renaissance.

That is especially disappointing as our front seven, particularly the linebackers, should be very impressive, both in terms of the starters and depth.

The Redskins just released a new depth chart but that isn't a guarantee, especially for Mike Shanahan, who is known for being secretive in that regard. Here is how I predict it shaking out to start with or soon into the season:

QB: Robert Griffin III
QB2: Rex Grossman
QB3: Kirk Cousins
HB1: Evan Royster (to start the season, this will probably rotate)
HB2: Roy Helu
HB3: Alfred Morris
FB: Darrel Young
WR1: Pierre Garcon
WR2: Leonard Hankerson
WR3(slot): Santana Moss
WR4: Josh Morgan
WR5: Aldrick Robinson
WR5: Dezmon Briscoe
WR6: Brandon Banks
TE1: Fred Davis
TE2: Niles Paul
TE3: Logan Paulsen
LT: Trent Williams
LT2: Maurice Hurt (listed here, but it wouldn't surprise me if he were the pick to replace/stand in for Lichtensteiger if necessary too)
LG: Kory Lichtensteiger
LG2: Josh LaRibeus
C: Will Montgomery (if Montgomery were hurt, Lichtensteiger would move in, and he'd be replaced at guard)
RG: Chris Chester
RG2: Adam Gettis
RT: Tyler Polombus
RT2: Jordan Black

LDE: Adam Carriker
LDE2: Jarvis Jenkins
NT: Barry Cofield
NT2: Chris Baker
RDE: Stephen Bowen
RDE2: Kedric Golston
LOLB: Ryan Kerrigan
LOLB2: Chris Wilson
LILB: London Fletcher
LILB2: Lorenzo Alexander
RILB: Perry Riley
RILB2: Keenan Robinson
ROLB: Brian Orakpo
ROLB2: Rob Jackson (note: given their skillsets, I think it would actually make more sence to switch Jackson and Wilson)
CB1: Josh Wilson (may list it as D.Hall, but Wilson is our ace)
CB2: DeAngelo Hall
CB3: Cedric Griffin (Hall will probably man the slot with Griffin taking his outside spot in the nickel)
CB4: Richard Crawford
CB5: Crezdon Butler
FS: Madieu Williams (bleh)
FS2: DeJon Gomes
SS: Brandon Merriweather
SS2: Reed Doughty
SS3: Jordan Bernstine

K/KO: Billy Cundiff
P: Sav Rocca
KR: Brandon Banks
KR2: Niles Paul
KR3: Aldrick Robinson
PR: Brandon Banks
PR2: Santana Moss
PR3: Aldrick Robinson
LS: Nick Sundberg

Bold indicates my prediction for the game-day active 46. Of the inactives, the player that seems most likely to be active would be Logan Paulsen to function as a blocking specialist. If he were, it would probably be at the expense of Alfred Morris, whichever of Josh Morgan or Leonard Hankerson isn't starting (the present official depth chart indicates Morgan as the starter, but I expect Hankerson to, at least most of the time), or Richard Crawford. If they want to use Dezmon Briscoe, he could also be activated in place of Morgan/Hankerson, but I think he's the most likely odd man out. Backup offensive linemen are hard to predict as well, but Black is pretty definite as a swing tackle, and I think with his experience playing last year and some tackle/guard flexibility (since Lichtensteiger would most likely move to center if Montgomery went down, Hurt is likely as well. That said, both LeRibeus and Gettis have been learning Center as well as their natural Guard, so they could be active instead of Hurt (between the two, I'd probably put my money on Gettis, despite LeRibeus being drafted much higher)