Of Pubic Bones and Stiff Limbs

Don't panic baby. Trust me.

It's time once again to herald the "Gahh! Redskins Injured, Signing Anyone" stories. So Clinton can't sleep on his dislocated arm. I don't think there's a lot of sleeping going on at the Clinton Crib anyway, so it's not a big deal. When he wakes up and says, "it's all stiff," it might not be the arm.

Shawn Springs is only out until mid-September/October with surgery on his pubic bone (ouch). Ade and Phillip Daniels are hurting and Ladell didn't even make the trip to Cincinnati. The cornerbacks are the walking wounded and guys are coming in off the street. Hell, I'll sign up for a couple game checks at the minimum.

This is all overblown. Injuries are a part of the game, and a concern to be sure, but no need to panic. If the Redskins are to go into January, they need a guy that can carry the ball there, and they need a shutdown corner. I really prefer if Clinton's Emmitt Moment, dragging the dead arm along like a sausage, bulling through defenders, didn't happen in September. Springs and Daniels will be productive, but going injured into the season, maybe not Pro Bowling. Trust Gregg Williams.

Of greater concern to me as a Redskins watcher is depth at the lines. Joe Gibbs has always lived on the notion that line play wins. Joe Bugel built the O-line and Ritchie Petitbon got everything he needed on the D-line. So when I open the paper and read this

...the [defensive] coaches were unimpressed by their second-line players in the first preseason game.

And this

Offensively, the Redskins coaches were disappointed with their second-unit line, long considered a potential trouble spot.

Depth is management. We'll be looking closely at the line play this weekend against the Jets.