Been Busy, Update

I've been very busy lately, hence the lack of posts. Hope to get back into a rhythm before too long.

To note, Demetrius (Demetress? Apparently?) Bell signed today with the Eagles, in light of Jason Peters' injury. His contract is 5 years, 35 mil, with a team option after year 1.

David Hawthorne has also been signed, by the Saints. Contract unknown.

Steinbach has been linked to the Seahawks and Bears, but no deal anywhere.

No new updates with Franklin, Rogers, McNeil, or Atogwe,

Team supposedly still wants both Fletcher and Hightower back, but nothing new to report.

Good free agency fits for the Redskins

OG:
Carl Nicks
Evan Mathis
Ben Grubbs

C:
Chris Meyers

My first priority in free agency is offensive guard. We need at least one guard and a tackle, and there aren't many tackles on the market, but there are some great guards. If we could get Carl Nicks, Ben Grubbs, or Evan Mathis, it would be huge. Nicks and Grubbs are a lot bigger than the typical ZBS Shanahan offensive linemen, but good enough and athletic enough despite that (especially Nicks) to excel anyway. Mathis, at just over 300, is an even better fit, though he is older and less proven. Still, any of the three would be an immediate and huge upgrade for our offensive line. I mention Meyers since he's the only center that interests me. It's not as big a need with Montgomery (and Lichtensteiger being a fit at center too), but Meyers is such a fit for the ZBS, which he has been playing in in Houston, that I felt the need to list him. I doubt it would happen since we just re-signed Montgomery, but if it did, he'd still help us out.

CB:
Brandon Carr
Courtland Finnegan
Brent Grimes

I've been harping for quite a while on how much the Skins need to upgrade at corner. With Stanford Routt off the market and Lardarius Webb a restricted free agent, that leaves these three. Grimes is older and very likely to get tagged if Atlanta doesn't reach a long-term deal with him first, so he's less likely and less of an interest, even though he had a stellar year. Brandon Carr is my top pick, both because he's good and because he's young (26). The Cowboys are closely linked to Carr. Finnegan (28) would also be a player I'd be very happy for us to get. If we can't get any of those guys, luckily the draft is actually very well-stocked with promising corners, but I'd feel good about having one less thing to focus on in the draft (if we trade up for RG3, who knows what picks and how many we'll have left?) and having corner filled with a proven commodity.

Notable impressive combine performances

Just gonna keep a sort of running tab of combine performances which really catch my eye and/or are likely to help the participant's stock a lot:

Wide Receiver
Stephen Hill (6'4, 215): 4.36 40 yard dash, 39.5" vertical leap, 14 reps of 225, 133" broad jump, 6.88 3 cone, 4.48 20 yard shuttle, 4.43 60 yd shuttle
Tommy Streeter (6'5, 219): 4.40 40, 33" vert, 17 reps, 125" broad jump, 7.08 3 cone
Chris Owusu (6', 196): 4.36 40, 40.5" vert, 19 reps, 129" broad jump, 6.85 3 cone, 4.11 20 shuttle, 11.22 60 shuttle
AJ Jenkins (6', 190): 4.39 40, 38.5" vert, 12 reps, 124" broad
Ryan Broyles (5'10, 190): 21 reps
Junior Hemingway (6'1, 225): 4.53 40, 35.5" vert, 21 reps, 124" broad, 6.59 3 cone, 3.98 20 shuttle, 11.16 60 shuttle
Kashif Moore (5'9, 180): 4.42 40, 43.5" vert, 19 reps, 126" broad, 6.82 3 cone, 4.05 20 shuttle
Jerrell Jackson (6', 192): 4.62 40, 41" vert, 22 reps, 127" broad, 6.82 3 cone, 4.11 20 shuttle, 11.08 60 shuttle
Devin Wylie (5'9, 187: 4.39, 39"v, 17 reps, 123"b

Quarterback
Robert Griffin III (6'2.5, 223): 4.41 40, 39" vert, 120" broad
Andrew Luck (6'4, 234):  4.67, 36"v, 124"b, 6.80 3c,  4.28 20s, 
Russell Wilson (5'11, 204): 4.55, 34"v, 118"b, 6.97 3c, 4.09 20s
Jacory Harris (6'3, 203): 4.72, 37"v, 113"b, 7.10 3c, 4.40 20s
Jordan Jefferson (6'4, 223): 4.65, 36.5"v, 14 reps, 116"b, 6.81 3c, 4.06 20s

Offensive Line
Donald Stephenson, OT (6'6, 312): 4.94 40, 35.5" vert, 19 reps, 114" broad jump, 7.52 3 cone, 4.78 20 shuttle
Adam Gettis, G (6'2, 293): 5.00, 31.5", 112" broad, 7.99 3 cone, 4.65 20 shuttle
David Molk, G (6'1, 298): 41 reps
David Decastro, G (6'5, 316): 5.43, 29.5" v, 34 reps, 98" b, 7.30 3c, 4.56 20s
Cordy Glenn, T/G (6'5, 345): 5.15, 23.5"v, 31 reps, 93" b, 8.13 3c, 5.00 20s
Matt Kalil, OT (6'7, 306): 4.99, 27"v, 30 reps, 7.33 3c, 4.65 20s

Defensive Tackles
Dontari Poe, NT (6'4, 346): 4.98 40, 29.5" vert, 44 reps, 105" broad, 7.90 c3, 4.56 20s
Loni Fangupo, DT (6'1, 323): 5.18, 31.5"v, 36 reps, 99"b, 7.94 3c, 4.62 20s 
Mike Martin, DT (6'1, 306): 4.88, 33.5"v, 36 reps, 119"b, 7.19 3c, 4.15 20s
Kenall Reyes, DT (6'4, 299): 4.95, 34.5"v, 36 reps, 113"b, 7.13 3c, 4.53 20s
Brandon Thompson, DT (6'2, 314): 31"v, 35 reps, 100"b, 7.97 3c, 4.71 20s
Fletcher Cox, DT (6'4, 298): 4.79, 26"v, 30 reps, 103"b, 7.07 3c, 4.53 20s

Defensive Ends

Bruce Irvin, DE (6'3, 245): 4.50, 33.5"v, 23 reps, 123"b, 6.70 3c, 4.03 20s
Nick Perry, DE (6'3, 271): 4.64, 38.5"v, 35 reps, 124"b, 7.25 3c, 4.66 20s
Jake Bequette, DE (6'5, 274): 4.82, 34"v, 113"b, 6.90 3c, 4.07 20s 
Whitney Mercilus, DE (6'4, 261): 4.68, 32"v, 27 reps, 118"b, 7.17 3c, 4.53 20s
Shea McClellin, DE (6'3, 260): 4.63, 31.5"v, 19 reps, 118"b, 7.07 3c, 4.33 20s

Linebacker
Zach Brown, OLB (6'1, 244): 4.44 40, 33.5" vert, 116" broad
Ronnell Lewis, OLB (6'2, 253): 4.68 40, 31" vert, 36 reps, 112" broad, 7.09 3c, 4.4 20s
Nigel Bradham, OLB (6'2, 241): 4.64, 37"v, 24 reps, 121"b, 7.18 3c, 4.37 20s
Demario Davis, OLB (6'2, 235): 4.61, 38.5"v, 32 reps, 124"b, 7.19 3c, 4.28 20s, 11.65 60s
Mychal Kendricks, OLB (6', 240 ): 4.47, 39.5"v, 24 reps, 127"b, 4.19 20s
Lavonte David, OLB (6'1, 233): 4.65, 31.5"v, 19 reps, 119"b, 7.28 3c, 4.22 20s
Miles Burris, OLB (6'2, 246):  37.5"v, 31 reps, 121"b
Tank Carder, ILB (6'2, 236): 4.69, 34.5"v, 19 reps, 121"b, 6.89 3c, 4.18 20s, 11.53 60s
Luke Kuechly, ILB (6'3, 242): 4.58, 38"v, 27 reps, 123"b, 6.92 3c, 4.12 20s, 11.43 60s


Cornerback
Josh Robinson, CB (5'10, 199): 4.33 40, 38.5" vert, 17 reps, 133" broad jump, 6.55 3 cone, 3.97 20 yard shuttle, 11.65 60 shuttle
Jamell Fleming, CB (5'11, 206): 4.53, 34"v, 23 reps, 125" broad, 6.71 3c, 3.97 20s, 10.75 60s
Stephon Gilmore, CB (6', 190): 4.40, 46"v, 15 reps, 123"b, 6.61 3c, 3.94 20s, 11.15 60s
Coty Sensabaugh, CB (5'11, 189): 4.42, 37"v, 14 reps, 122"b, 6.60 3c, 4.06 20s
Coryell Judie, CB (6', 194): 4.48, 37"v, 126"b, 7.33 3c, 4.25 20s
Justin Bethel, CB (6', 200): 4.58, 39.5"v, 19 reps, 131"b, 6.79 3c, 4.30 20s
Ron Brooks, CB (5'10, 190): 4.37, 38"v, 12 reps, 120"b
Casey Hayward, CB (5'11, 185): 4.57, 34"v, 19 reps, 119"b, 6.76 3c, 3.90 20s, 11.10 60s

Safeties
Christian Thompson, FS (6', 211): 4.50, 31.5"v, 18 reps, 122"b, 7.33 3c, 4.13 20s, 11.72 60s 
George Iloka, FS (6'4, 225): 4.66, 34.5"v, 20 reps, 124"b, 7.03 3c, 4.03 20s, 11.75 60s
Corey White, SS (5'11, 206): 4.55, 37.5"v, 15 reps, 126"b, 6.72 3c, 4.22 20s
Eddie Pleasant, SS (5'10, 211): 4.63, 33.5"v, 22 reps, 116"b, 7.12 3c, 4.28 20s
Sean Richardson, SS (6'2, 216): 4.52, 38.5"v, 22 reps, 128"b, 7.01 3c, 4.44 20s

Runningbacks
Lamar Hill (5'11, 212): 4.40 40, 33"v
Ronnie Hillman, (5'9, 200): 4.45, 37"v, 17 reps
LaMichael James, (5'8, 194): 4.45, 35"v, 15 reps, 123" broad, 6.88 3 cone, 4.12 20 yard shuttle
Chris Rainey (5'8, 180): 4.45, 36.5"v, 16 reps, 120"b, 6.50 3c, 3.93 20s, 11.06 60s
David Wilson (5'10, 206): 4.49, 41"v, 132"b, 7.09 3c, 4.12 20s, 11.59 60s
Doug Martin (5'9, 223): 4.55, 36"v, 28 reps, 120"b, 6.79 3c, 4.16 20s, 11.29 60s
Robert Turbin (5'10, 222): 4.50, 36"v, 28 reps, 122"b, 7.16 3c, 4.31 20s

Tight Ends
James Hanna (6'4, 252): 4.49, 36" vert, 24 reps, 122" broad, 6.76 3 cone, 4.11 20 shuttle, 11.43 60 shuttle
Michael Egnew (6'5, 252): 4.62, 36"v, 21 reps, 131"b, 7.03 3c, 4.32 20s, 12.07 60s
Evan Rodriguez (6'1, 239): 4.58, 36"v,  18 reps, 119"b, 6.94 3c, 4.28 20s, 11.43 60s
Drake Dunsmore (6'2, 241): 4.64, 35.5"v, 21 reps, 117"b, 6.73 3c, 4.03 20s, 11.47 60s
Orson Charles (6'2, 251): 35 reps
Ladarius Green (6'6, 238): 4.53, 34.5"v, 16 reps, 124"b, 7.12 3c, 4.47 20s, 12.08 60s


I think the list is pretty complete now. If you find any performances impressive that I have omitted, post them in the comments for me to consider, but the drills are all done and I have all the positions (no ST specialists did anything impressive in this regard), so enjoy.

Uploaded pictures

Handful of the  pictures I've taken at a few Skins games over the last couple years, in the slideshows to the right and bottom. Most of them aren't really edited like the Hankerson photo at the top of the page, but happy to have them accessible on here now. Check 'em out.

Quick LaRon Landry update

I know I haven't posted much recently. Partially that's due to news and updates to the Redskins, draft prospects, and the NFL in general being slower since the season ended, giving me less to talk about, and partially that's due to my being busy. I've seen a couple articles, though, dealing with Landry recently about an interview he gave, and I wanted to make note; in the past I've said I very adamantly think that the Skins should re-sign Landry but that his apparent refusal to get surgery is a huge red flag, and that it was a situation which I felt must have some more undisclosed information because it did not make sense. Well, more information has come out.

According to Landry, though the initial exam did lead to a doctor recommending surgery, second opinions had some doctors saying that it wasn't necessarily the best bet. Landry said he's opting for PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma treatment, which he had on his shoulder last year) and something I know nothing of called biological matrix to heal his Achilles. Landry says that he doesn't want to get surgery because it can require up to a year and a half of healing and doesn't necessarily ever result in full range of motion returning.

A look at the Redskins Free Agents this offseason

This is a look at impending Redskins free agents with the approximate grade I would give them on their value and as players.

LB London Fletcher: A-. Grade-wise, this one is tricky. Fletcher gets an A+ as a player/team-mate. One of the smartest, most well-respected guys in the league, and incredibly productive and effective in his own right. More like a B- in value, though, because he'll be 37 before next season. Seems to have a bit left in the tank, and is tied with Ronde Barber for the longest active playing streak, having never missed a game, but his age has to catch up to him before too long. Much more valuable to the Skins, and wants to come back.

SS LaRon Landry: A- Absolute stud at SS, dominant player, game-changer when playing. A bit of a blockhead and sometimes not focused on what he needs to do which allows him to get burnt in coverage even though he has the physical ability to stay with and challenge any wide receiver, tight end, or running back in the league. Still young, raw potential to be a HoFer, but the last 2 years there have been big injury concerns. Last year he was the DPOTY through the first half but then couldn't play the second half of the season, and this year he was extremely impactful when he played but was hobbled much of his time on the field and missed more than half the season. Great player but something of a gamble with health and brain. Definitely a SS, not a FS.

TE Fred Davis: B+ Totally outstanding receiving TE who is very physically impressive and excelled despite our offensive mess. Very fast, very strong. Sometimes effective but inconsistent as a blocker. His value is hurt by the fact that he's on thin ice with drug suspensions, but helped by the fact that he's a good guy, not a head case, and is very young.