LISTEN TO THE CHRIS THOMPSON CONFERENCE CALL WITH THE MEDIA

In the fifth round, with the 154th overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Washington Redskins selected RB Chris Thompson from Florida State. He's a solidly built player -- about 5'7" and 190 pounds. He's a speedster, clocking in at 4.4 in the 40, which is very fast for a running back. He was having a good season for the Seminoles when he blew out his left knee on October 20 and required arthroscopic surgery to repair his ACL. Prior to the injury he rushed for 687 yards and 5 TD and averaged 7.5 yards per carry doing it. 

It wasn't the first serious injury for Thompson. His 2011 season was cut short after he broke a vertebrae in his back. He's worked his way back from one serious injury and now we'll find out if he can work his way back from another. His knee rehab is reportedly ahead of schedule, but they all say that five months before the season. 

The NFL player Thompson reminds me of the most is Darren Sproles, who is also very fast, small, and very good out of the backfield as a receiver. 

Here is the NFL scouting report on Thompson: 

STRENGTHS

 Dangerous runner/receiver combination in the backfield able to make the big play. Comfortable behind a fullback in I-formation, follows off tackle the cuts back inside. Capable swing pass receiver, looks the catch into hands, and utilizes a quick move to make a tackler miss in space. Definitely at his bets in the open field. Makes things happen if untouched at the second level, open footwork and makes tacklers miss with nice burst. Very patient on screen passes but tends to drift to the sideline. If the lane is there, he is a very decisive runner. Gives good effort when attempting to pickup blitzer, dives at inside leg.

Here is a look at Thompson from last season before his knee injury.

In the fourth round of the 2013 NFL draft, the 119th pick overall, the Washington Redskins selected safety Phillip Thomas of Fresno State. Like David Amerson, the cornerback the Redskins took in the second round of this draft, Thomas is a ballhawking defensive back with pretty good size. 

Thomas led the nation with 8 interceptions last year, returning three of them for touchdowns. Thomas also recorded 82 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, four passes broken up and four forced fumbles.

"That is a great pick for the Redskins," said Mike Mayock of the NFL Network.  "One of the best ballhawking free safeties in this draft... This kid, as a 4th round pick, has an opportunity to come in and start." 

Thomas grew up as a Redskins fan even though he was raised in California. His favorite player: the late Sean Taylor, of course.

ESPN writes this about Phillip Thomas: 

The following is from a Mike Shanahan press conference after round 3 of the 2013 NFL Draft.

CB DAVID AMERSON [2nd Round Pick]

“I thought Amerson really played well. The last couple of years he’s really done a good job of getting interceptions. He’s a guy we think can play in off coverage and in bump coverage. He’s got the speed that you look for. He’s got some length. He’s just a guy we thought would fit into our system very well. Very sharp player, very smart player." 

On Amerson's tendency to gamble in coverage: “We don't really worry about that. We're going to coach him the way we want to coach him. He's going to fit into our system, and we do think he's got the athletic ability to make plays. And anytime you're in that 4.4 range and you've got length in that six-foot area, and you have the ability to play off-coverage and bump... We do a lot of different things with our secondary. We think we can give him opportunities he hasn't had in the past and we're just looking forward to working with him. I had dinner with him when he came into town. He's a nice person, fit in really well with our staff. We're happy he was there.”

Amerson at CB or S: “We’ll have to see when he gets here. The first thing we want to do is see if he can play outside, because that’s the toughest position to play. If you can find that guy, you are in pretty good shape. I think he can play nickel, but we are looking at him as an outside corner and we’ll adjust some other players on the inside.”

TE JORDAN REED [3rd Round pick]

“We took a look at Reed. He was a guy that had a great ability to make people miss. When he has the ball in his hands, he can do things with the ball that are very athletic. That is something that a lot of tight ends can’t do. We weren’t necessarily looking for a tight end, but when he was there we couldn’t pass him up.” ...

“What you do is you watch a lot of film. You have some guys ranked and some guys you think are going to go in the first or second round. Sometimes they last until the third round. Sometimes you have guys projected in the second and third round that are gone. When he was there with our pick, we felt it was a value we couldn’t pass up. We think he brings a lot to our football team that we didn’t have.” ...

“Usually your best player is a quarterback in high school. It happens a lot, for a quarterback to come in, sometimes you see him as a tight end, sometimes he'll be an offensive lineman. [Former Redskins defensive lineman] Phillip Daniels, very impressed when he came out. He could just do some things a lot of tight ends couldn't do, send people up, so you look for that type of athlete and we feel like we got one in Reed.” ...

“He can go outside or inside and he’s got the athletic ability to do those types of things.” ...

“We had him as a top receiving tight end and that’s one of the reasons why we drafted him. We feel like he’s got those intangibles you look for, a lot like [New England Patriot tight end Aaron] Hernandez. I’m not sure if Hernandez is that fast, but he’s got the ability to beat linebackers and defensive backs because he knows how to run routes and this guy is very similar.”

Reed's Benching at the Sugar Bowl for "attitude" problems: “We checked that out. We talk with different coaches before we draft somebody. You have to check all those stories out and we feel very good about him.” 

CB or S DeANGELO HALL

“The great thing about D-Hall is that he has the ability to play any position on your team. He can play outside or he can play inside. He gives you some advantages, especially with what offenses are doing today. He can play free safety. He can play strong safety, which a lot of people can’t play because they don’t have the skills or they don’t want to hit, and D-Hall is not afraid to hit and he is very bright. He gives us a lot of flexibility. You have to have the depth at the corner position, and now we feel like we have that.”

TE NILES PAUL

“Niles has done a great job. I think it’s always tough to go from a wide receiver to a tight. The transition is usually in the first year. I expect him to do a lot better. The thing you can do offensively when you have a lot of tight ends is you are flexible and can put a lot of pressure on the defense. You can go five wides for a game or four tight ends; a guy that can go either direction. It helps you on special teams and gives you the ability to do things normally an offense can’t do and a defense has to prepare for. And some of the things we did last year, we think he compliments what we do; a guy that can not only act as a tight end but can run routes like a wide receiver.”

2013 DRAFT QB

“Well, you never know what a quarterback is going to do until he gets into a system and does it. I hate to talk about any quarterback until he actually goes out there and you see what he can do. There’s always a lot of speculation and a lot of pressure on the quarterback because you expect a lot out of him and a lot of it has to do with the supporting cast as well. We will find out here in due time.”

The Redskins will be busy on Saturday with five total selections in rounds four through seven.

I like the pick of NC State defensive back David Amerson as he has potential at both corner and free safety and fits nicely since the team seems confused on which position is a bigger need. Amerson was destroyed by the stud receivers at Clemson and Tennessee, but two were drafted in first round, another in second and a fourth projects as a first rounder next season. I really like defensive end Margus Hunt of SMU who went two picks later to Cincinnati, but Amerson fills a much larger position of need.

Jordan Reed is athletic enough to have served as the wildcat quarterback at Florida the year after Tebow left. Reed is a "joker" tight end, not an in-line blocker, but one that will be put in motion on nearly every play. Why did the Redskins take a tight end after bringing back Fred Davis? Because Davis is gone after this season. Davis will either have a big year and be too expensive, or struggle in his recovery from injury and be let go. UNC offensive tackle Brennan Williams went four picks later to Houston and may have filled the RT spot long term.

Who is left? Fortunately, this is an extremely deep draft with lots of talent remaining on the board. These are some of the players I would be targeting, some will go early in round three, others later in the proceedings.

QB Matt Scott Arizona- Nice fit for system, could stash for '14 and beyond when Grossman departs.

RB Andre Ellington Clemson- Fast, fast, fast and should go early Saturday afternoon.

RB Kenjon Barner Oregon- Can turn the corner and be found in later rounds.

FB Zach Line SMU- Could be Peyton Hillis type "big back" at next level.

WR Da'Rick Rogers Tennessee Tech- As much potential as the two Vols WR's chosen early.

WR Denard Robinson Michigan- Why not take a chance late on "shoelace"?

OL Barrett Jones Alabama- Can fill at C,G or T, eventually starting at a high level.

OL Khaled Holmes USC- Grab a center as Wil Montgomerry's eventual replacement?

OL Earl Watford James Madison- If a Duke is gonna be an NFL player, should be with Skins.

OL David Quisenberry San Jose State- Underrated tackle, lost in the shuffle.

DL Devin Taylor South Carolina- I like the potential of the 6'8" DE/OLB.

DL Jesse Williams Alabama- What a handful, surprised he is still on the board.

LB Chase Thomas Stanford- Talented and steady, will be a battle for backup jobs at OLB.

LB Jelani Jenkins Florida- My sleeper of the later rounds, homegrown DC high school star.

LB Kevin Reddick UNC- Best inside linebacker left, potential Fletcher replacement?

DB B.W.Webb William & Mary- Solid corner, would be great fourth round selection.

DB Jordan Poyer Oregon State- Not many mocks had him falling out of the second round.

DB Steve Williams California- Fastest DB left on the board, perhaps fastest player left at any position.

DB Phillip Thomas Fresno State- A favorite of many Skins fans and mocks.

DB Bacarri Rambo Georgia- If the Skins are going to take another safety and I hope they are, I hope its Rambo.

DB Zeke Motta Notre Dame- Bigger, faster Reed Doughty with upside.

P   Brad Wing LSU- Former Australian Rules football star is a game changer.

In the third round, with the 85th overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Washington Redskins selected TE Jordan Reed of the University of Florida. 

Safety is a major need for the Redskins and players like Phillip Thomas and Earl Wolff were there to be taken, but the Redskins passed them up in favor of Reed. 

Reed is a smaller tight end, at 6'3" and 236 pounds, but he's a very good athlete. I like his upside because he's got good hands, quick feet and has superior body control. He can be lined up all over the field -- in the slot, wide or in the backfield -- and be a threat at all times. 

Due to his size, don't expect Reed to be a road-grading blocker. Reed is more of a "move" blocker, meaning he gets into open space and takes on defenders there, relying on his speed and athleticism to get the better of those matchups. 

Here is video of Reed's NFL Draft profile. Below that is ESPN's take on Reed. 

Here is what ESPN has to say about Reed: 

Good take off speed and impressive natural athleticism for the position. Has a lot of upside in this area because of his natural athleticism and experience at QB. Fluid hips. Does not need to gear down when changing course. Flashes a good feel for working back to QB after initial play breaks down. But does still need polish as a route runner. Too many routes with wasted steps. Will round off and telegraph some routes. Also has a tendency to get head turned around late on certain routes (usually out, post and post-corner).

Confident pass catcher. Attacks ball away from his body. Shows ability to pluck on the run. Has made some tough catches with defenders draped on him. Does a nice job of looking the ball in and immediately securing it. Does not appear to have great leaping ability but does show good body control and ability to contort body while in the air. Also consistently catches ball thrown over his head.

Versatile athlete. Can line him up all over the field, including in the backfield and as a Wildcat triggerman. Very good athlete for the position. Shows good burst off the line and can get down the seam quickly. Shows good initial burst after the catch. A legitimate weapon with ball in hand. Has quickness, change-of-direction skills, field vision and second gear to turn short completion into big gain.

Wants the ball in his hands and is very competitive. Has a lot of confidence in his ability. Will lay it on the line as a receiver and runner. Fumbled on final play of loss to Georgia in 2012 (attempting to leap into end zone over defender trailing by one score). Not the first guy to look for a defender to hit when another teammate makes a catch. Can be a buffet blocker down the field. Gets frustrated by lack of targets in UF's run-heavy offense.

Prototypical 'Joker' or 'F' type TE. Can be an effective 'move' blocker. Has shown improved strength and technique in this area. Can execute assignment when he is in position and has an angle. Solid effort as a blocker. But has limited size/strength to matchup inline. Has tendency to dip his head prior to contact, which leads to off-target contact and occasional whiffs. Falls off too many blocks. Struggles to sustain when blocking head-up. Tries to stay low and drive legs after initial contact but frequently overmatched at point of attack.

The Nationals pitching staff has struggled this year -- against all expectations -- but Jordan Zimmerman hasn't missed a beat from last year. In fact, he looks even better. Tonight, he thrilled the home field fans at National Park by throwing a 1-hit shutout to lead the Nats to a 1-0 win over the visiting Cincinnati Reds. The win, Zimmerman's fourth of the season against only one loss, improves Washington's record to 12-11. The Nats have now won two in a row, both against the Reds. 

Nats bats have been silent for much of this season and that was mostly the case again tonight, as Cincy's Homer Bailey pitched a gem of his own, giving up only 1 run and five hits over 7 innings, striking out 6 and walking none. He was very good. But Washington's pitcher was better. Zimmerman threw a complete game, giving up one hit, walking one, throwing 4 strikeouts and lowering his ERA to 2.00. 

The Nats got their only run after Steve Lombardozzi led off the fourth inning by grounding out to second base. Bryce Harper came up and did what Harper does -- he made something happen. Harper smacked a Bailey pitch to deep right field and didn't stop running until he reached third base. Jayson Werth followed that up with a single to right-center field, plating Harper -- all the real offense either team would produce in this game. 

With their first pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the 51st pick overall, the Washington Redskins selected CB David Amerson of North Carolina State. Amerson is 6'1' and 205 lbs. so he's got the size teams are now looking for in the secondary. He has long arms and big hands, making him the ideal sort of defensive back for picking off passes. 

Indeed, Amerson set an ACC record in 2011 with 13 interceptions, but his performance tailed off last year, though he still picked off five passes. Amerson gambled far too much last season and, consequently, got burned for big plays far too often. If the Redskins get the 2011 David Amerson, the Skins got a terrific cornerback who should start for years. If they got the 2012 Amerson, Washington has not yet begun to solve its problems in the secondary. He was a top defensive back in 2011, but last year he had big problems with consistency and bit on a ton of double moves. 

Amerson played a lot of zone and off-coverage in college and he needs to work on his press-coverage to be a quality starter for the Redskins. 

Obviously, the Redskins believe Amerson's flaws are correctable and they can turn him into a solid NFL cover corner. 

He ran a 4.4 at the Combine, but it does not look like he plays that fast on tape, meaning his instincts in coverage leave something to be desired. 

Amerson was a starter his final two years at NC State and played in every game of his college career. The good news is that he has never had a serious injury, so he appears to be the hardy, durable type. 

The announcement was made by former Redskins OLB Lavar Arrington, who the team took with the second overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft. 

Below is a 4-minute video of Amerson produced by the NFL.

I was a guest on NewsTalk with Bruce DePuyt on News Channel 8 today to discuss the NFL Draft, the Redskins in the Draft and also a bit about the Capitals pushing into the NHL playoffs and the early struggles of the 2013 Washington Nationals. Check it out below. 

First, the Redskins & NFL Draft. 

Finally, some more Redskins and Draft stuff, but also the Capitals and Nationals. 

The Washington Redskins and their top cornerback, Josh Wilson, have agreed to restructure Wilson's contract to create more flexibility for the team. This story was first reported by Zac Boyer of the Free-Lance Star. 

The Redskins have restructured the contracts of WR Santana Moss, SS Brandon Meriweather and DE Adam Carriker already this offseason. In those cases, the players had salary converted into performance incentives, essentially a pay cut with the chance to win the cut money back if they played well enough. Frequently, restructuring a contract involves cutting the player's salary for the upcoming year in return for a fat new signing bonus and extending the years on the contract to lower the immediate cap cost. 

Prior to this restructuring, Wilson had one of the larger cap hits on the roster for the 2013 season, at $5.3 million. Under this new deal, Wilson's salary was cut from $3.9 million to $2 million -- almost in half -- and he received no additional years on the contract. Wilson is scheduled to become a free agent in 2014, at the same time as DeAngelo Hall and EJ Biggers, the other two top corners on the team.

This method of reducing costs -- forcing players to take pay cuts rather than extending their contracts and pushing "dead money" into future years -- should pay off big dividends for the Redskins down the road. This is hardball negotiating, with the team, player and player's agent all understanding that the front office is holding all the cards right now. The Redskins may have threatened to cut Wilson and Wilson, seeing the tiny contracts other free agent cornerbacks have been getting -- decided it was better to stay put and take the deal. It's possible the recent visit of free agent CB Quentin Jammer to Redskins Park was part of a negotiating tactic to put pressure on Wilson.

Wilson put the best face on the situation, texting the media the following statement: 

Josh Wilson, via text, on re-structuring his deal: "We're here to win championships & sacrifices have to be made to achieve that." #Redskins

— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) April 26, 2013

The restructuring creates $2 million of additional cap space for the Redskins, giving them a total of $2.03 million in space. They will need that money, and more, to sign their draft picks -- once they have some. 

Want to see tomorrow's basketball stars this weekend? The 40th annual Capital Classic All-Star games are Sunday at the beautifully renovated TC Williams High School in Alexandria.

2 pm District All-Stars vs. Suburban All-Stars
4 pm Capital All-Stars vs. US All-Stars

Lots of great players are Capital Classic alumni, including Lebron and Carmelo. Tickets are available at the door, or can be purchased online www.dcbasketball.com

Capital All-Stars: Coach Gary Hall (Herndon HS, VA)

Aquille Carr, Princeton Day
BeeJay Anya, DeMatha (NC State)
Josh Hart, Sidwell Friends (Villanova)
Ishmail Wainright, Montrose Christian (Baylor)
Marquis Wright, North Point (Loyola)
Nigel Johnson, Riverdale Baptist (Kansas State)
Junior Etou, Bishop O’Connell
Nick Griffin, Magruder (George Washington)
Will Ferguson
David Kadiri, Coolidge
Nate Britt, Oak Hill/Gonzaga (UNC)

U.S. All-Stars: Coach Jamie Ross (Vaux HS, PA)

Rysheed Jordan, Vaux Roberts, (St. John’s)
Brandon Austin, Imhotep, (Providence)
B.J. Johnson, Lower Merion, (Syracuse)
Moses Kingsley, Huntington Prep, (Arkansas)
Rodney Bullock, Kecoughtan, (Providence)
Mike Young, St. Benedict’s, (Pittsburgh)
Stanford Robinson, Findlay Prep, (Indiana)
Kameron Williams, Mt. St. Joe’s, (Ohio State)
Xavier Rathan-Mayes, Huntington Prep, (Florida State)

Rosters courtesy i95ballerz