Redskins Round Table: Preseason week 2
There is no doubt that the most popular feature article at DC Pro Sports Report is the Redskins Round Table. It's something you don't get anywhere else and we're proud to bring it to you. The only complaints we ever get about Redskins Round Table is that it's not long enough and doesn't happen more often. As always we went to the most insightful sources of Redskins knowledge to find out what's going with everyone's favorite local football team.
It's preseason and that means people want to know who is making the team, who isn't and how are things progressing for the start of the regular season. Some of the biggest questions on this Redskins team have been about kick/punt return duties -- the team parted ways with last year's return specialists -- as well as turnover running back and wide receiver. We addressed those questions right away, putting them to our panel of experts. Here is our panel:
Rick Snider, TheRickSniderReport.com and WashingtonExaminer.com
Rick is a long-time reporter and columnist in the D.C. area and is one of the foremost experts on the Redskins. Like me he's a D.C. native who graduated from the University of Maryland, but unlike me he's been covering sports here since 1978. You should read what he writes.
Michael Hoffman, Washington Examiner
Michael writes about the Washington Redskins and the Washington Capitals and has been with the Examiner since 2008. He's new to our Round Table, but he comes highly recommended so we're looking forward to his commentary.
Clinton Yates, Sports Editor of The Express
Another D.C. native [I'm starting to think there may be a few of us], Clinton is the Sports Editor for The Washington Post Express and a news anchor at WPFW. He's been at our Round Table before and we will keep asking him back. I first "met" him on a local podcast and he's a seriously smart guy.
He's run the Real Redskins blog since 2004 and he also works as a Redskins beat reporter for Comcast Sports. He's the author of The Redskins Chronicle, a history of the team from 1937 to 2008 and, my Lord, is a recognized authority on tailgating food. If you wanted to publish an unauthorized biography of the franchise, this is the man you'd hire.
John Keim, Washington Examiner
As hard-working a beat reporter as you'll find in the D.C. area, Keim has covered the Redskins since 1994, as well as writing for Pro Football Weekly and Warpath Confidential. I think he's been a part of every single one of our Round Tables and if you've read them before, you know why.
Ryan O'Halloran, CSN Washington
After covering the Redskins as a beat reporter for the Washington Times, O'Halloran moved on to CSN Washington, where he writes about the Redskins every day. If you're not reading his Redskins End Zone blog, you're not as informed as you should be.
As always, their answers are presented in the order they were received. Now, on with the show...
1. Who do you think will return punts and kicks in week 1?
RICK SNIDER: As much as everyone loves a feel good story, Brandon Banks only makes the team if he can score another touchdown. Then it would be hard to ignore than 5-foot-7 returner. So let’s figure he’s not on the roster. I’ll guess Devin Thomas returns kickoffs and Phillip Buchanon returns punts, though that one definitely could change when late preseason cuts may make someone available.
MICHAEL HOFFMAN: Devin Thomas will return kicks in week one, but I think the team may eventually put Terrance Austin in this spot. I believe Brandon Banks will win out in the competition to return punts.
CLINTON YATES: After one game, it's easy to say that Devin Thomas' initial troubles will just be a bump in the road and there's no way the Redskins go with an untested rookie in Brandon Banks at such critical positions. But let's look at this more basically. Thomas, a guy who has frankly underachieved his whole career thus far, not only botched the initial kickoff in the Bills game,he let it fly directly over his head like it was the first time he'd ever done it. Banks muffed a punt, but if you think back to Santana Moss' and Antwaan Randle-El's performances last year, is a muffed punt really that much of a problem? To me, special teams is not a situation in which practice play is more important than game performance and right now Banks is miles ahead of Thomas. I don't consider Phillip Buchanon a legit option here and the bottom line is that Banks is a faster, more exciting player than anyone else up for the job. Which is exactly what a return man is supposed to be.
RICH TANDLER: I hate to wimp out on questions like this, but I have no idea. Nobody has even a tenuous grip on either spot. Brandon Banks is the popular choice for punt returner but he probably has to show that he can contribute something on offense if he's going to make the team. Shanahan keeps on talking about Phillip Buchanon knowing how to do it but he has returned just four punts since 2007. Devin Thomas could well be the kickoff returner but he hasn't made much of a splash there. Terrence Austin could take either job. Both spots are totally up for grabs.
JOHN KEIM: I think punt returns will be a mix with [Phillip] Buchanon and [Brandon] Banks. Devin [Thomas] and [Byron] Westbrook will handle kick returns.
RYAN O'HALLORAN: Devin Thomas returns kicks and Phillip Buchanon returns punts. Sure, Brandon Banks made a splash in the preseason opener and has good potential as a returner but it’s only a 53-man roster and he will lose out on a numbers crunch and hopefully for Redskins fans, head to the practice squad for more seasoning. Thomas returns kickoffs to start the season by default.
2. Which wide receivers will make the team and which two will start week 1?
RICK SNIDER: Starters are Santana Moss and . . . Joey Galloway. The Redskins are hurting here if Galloway can start. Anthony Armstrong and Thomas make it. I’ll say Malcolm Kelly, too, because things are so weak. That leaves one opening for someone not on the roster right now.
MICHAEL HOFFMAN: I believe the Redskins WR starters week 1 will be Santana Moss and Devin Thomas. Bobby Wade, Roydell Williams and of course Malcolm Kelly will also make the team. I think the Redskins will also look to find a spot for Terrance Austin because he has potential as a punt returner.
CLINTON YATES: That being said, I think Moss and Thomas will be the starting two receivers in Week 1. Thomas plays far better at home than on the road (which helps against Dallas, a game that theoretically could decide the division) and Moss is the only player in the corps with any legitimate NFL starter pedigree at this point. Malcolm Kelly didn't necessarily deserve to make the team going into camp in my opinion, and having basically not played at all, I don't see any reason for that to change. Joey Galloway will probably sneak in because everyone else he's competing with is super-inexperienced. On the cut list for me: Kelly, Austin, Furrey, Hodge, Wade. In: Moss, Thomas, Galloway, Williams, Banks, Armstrong.
RICH TANDLER: Moss will make it and start Week 1. That's all we know for sure. I'm going to take a stab at the other receivers being Thomas, Malcolm Kelly (yes, I think he'll recover from the hammy in time to make an impression), Joey Galloway, and Austin. If they keep six I'll go with Roydell Williams. Thomas starts alongside Moss vs. Dallas.
JOHN KEIM: Moss, Thomas, Galloway, Armstrong, Kelly (only if healthy, a big If) and Banks (but strictly as a returner). Austin to the practice squad. Obviously Moss will start and based on nothing but a hunch, I'll say Thomas. But it'll probably a rotation of guys. Thomas has been inconsistent, but Galloway hasn't done a whole lot and Armstrong is still more of a good story than a budding star. Thomas has a lot more talent, but I like that they're not handing the spot to him. And I like that Thomas isn't pouting about where he's at on the depth chart. Honestly, really don't know but that's my hunch.
RYAN O'HALLORAN: Who makes the team – Moss, Galloway, Thomas, Armstrong and Kelly. I can’t believe I’m saying Kelly because he hasn’t practiced save for the opening day of camp and because I had him off my projected 53-man roster earlier this summer. But you can’t ignore his height. As for the starters, I’ll go with Moss (no brainer) and Thomas (who edges out Galloway).
3. Which running backs will make the team?
RICK SNIDER: Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson, Ryan Torain and Mike Sellers. But, if Willie Parker has a big outing in the third preseason game, I might add him. Torain will stay irregardless.
MICHAEL HOFFMAN: Everything will play out as expected except for the 3RB spot. I believe Ryan Torain will make the team over Willie Parker.
CLINTON YATES: Clinton Portis and Larry Johnson are the only running backs I see as locks to make the team. It's almost laughable to think that people used to call Willie Parker 'fast' back in the day, but this Ravens game coming up will clearly decide not only his future with the Redskins, but also potentially in the NFL altogether. Darrell Young and Keiland Williams haven't made the requisite splashes necessary to make the roster coming from so far back.
RICH TANDLER: I've been saying since May that Willie Parker won't make it and I've seen nothing to change my mind. Fast Willie just isn't very fast any more. Portis, LJ, Torain are in, Keiland Williams probably is on the practice squad but he could make a case for keeping a fourth running back.
JOHN KEIM: Portis, Johnson and Ryan Torain. The Redskins can't afford to have two of their top three backs be poor pass protectors and if Parker makes the team that's what they would have. The backs will be more involved in pass protection so this is important.
RYAN O'HALLORAN: Running backs who make the team – Portis, L. Johnson and K. Williams. If it’s clear that Parker is third on the depth chart, do him a solid and cut him so he can latch on to another team as a No. 2 back. I’ll take Williams over Ryan Torain because he gives opponents a little different look.
4. Which veteran do you see getting cut and which new guy will surprise us by making the team or practice squad?
RICK SNIDER: With so many veterans cut over the offseason, there are not too many left for a surprise release. Willie Parker is vulnerable. So are Stephon Heyer, H.B. Blades, Jeremy Jarmon and Phillip Daniels. I’ll say Jarmon goes. As for surprise newcomers, Banks would definitely be if making the team, but I’ll say Darion Scott.
MICHAEL HOFFMAN: At the play-making positions on offense, I think there are a number of veterans currently on the roster that will no longer be there once the season starts. I think (or at least hope) that the Redskins will cut Joey Galloway. I also think Willie Parker will be a somewhat surprising cut. Say goodbye to Mike Furrey too. I expect Ryan Torain to make the team. He has a lot of speed and potential and this may be the year that he shows the league why Shanahan drafted him in 2008.
CLINTON YATES: The one caveat to the Willie Parker situation is Ryan Torain. Again, this is all after one game, but I really like what I've seen from him so far. Br1an Westbrook heading to San Francisco didn't hurt his cause and it also obviously doesn't hurt that Shanahan already liked something in him when he picked Torain in 2008. I'm not entirely sure that him making the team or the practice squad would be a 'suprise' to most people who follow/cover the team, but to a casual fan it might be unexpected.
RICH TANDLER: It's difficult for me to see both Jeremy Jarmon and Vonnie Holiday making it; it's close but I'll say Holiday goes. Keiland Williams could be the surprise newcomer as could fullback Darrel Young.
JOHN KEIM: Couple choices: Justin Tryon; Willie Parker; Chris Draft; Malcolm Kelly (if he's not healthy), Bobby Wade (couple inches shy of his listed height of 5-foot-10). New guy surprise to make the team: Darrion Scott, Brandon Banks.
RYAN O'HALLORAN: Who makes the team – Moss, Galloway, Thomas, Armstrong and Kelly. I can’t believe I’m saying Kelly because he hasn’t practiced save for the opening day of camp and because I had him off my projected 53-man roster earlier this summer. But you can’t ignore his height. As for the starters, I’ll go with Moss (no brainer) and Thomas (who edges out Galloway).
Well, that's it for this latest edition of Redskins Round Table, but it will return before long. I want to thank John Keim, Rich Tandler, Clinton Yates, Michael Hoffman, Rick Snider and Ryan O'Halloran for generously giving us some of their precious time to answer our questions. Thanks again, fellas -- and you'll be hearing from us again soon.
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