Redskins 2007 Pro Bowl Selections

Holding the line

Nine Redskins in all were named to the 2008 Pro Bowl, three to the principal roster.

The team sent only one starter: free safety Sean Taylor.

Two players were named as reserves, left tackle Chris Samuels and tight end Chris Cooley. After sitting out the entire preseason with a sprain of the medial collateral ligament in his right knee and weathering the standard is he done talk a 30 year old football player starts to hear, Chris has gone on to be the best thing on the Redskins 2007 offensive line. Left guard Pete Kendall has done well though he was not on the preseason roster. Center Casey Rabach is closest to Chris Samuels' performance while the the right guard and right tackle are season long replacements.

Chris Cooley signed a long term deal back in September and despite a weak offensive line that has required him frequently to stay home to block and my concerns that the big money deal would cause him essentially to take the year off Chris has consistently been a Redskins quarterback's best friend: 60 catches, seven touchdowns and nearly 12 yards per catch. When Todd Collins stepped in to replace Jason Campbell this portion of the offense did not miss a beat, in the two games with Todd Chris has caught seven passes for 127 yards. It will be nice to have Chris around for a while.

One player was named a first alternate, fullback Mike Sellers. It is an odd position these days in the NFL, there are not many true fullbacks in the lead man through the hole sense. Mike's position is a hybrid of tailback, blocking back and tight end and 2007 has been his breakout season. He has more carries than ever in his career and is on pace for the most catches. He has several crushing coming through hits including a devastator on Kenoy Kennedy in the Lions game and at least two memorable hurdles of opponents, one against the Cowboys and one against the Giants this past week.

Two players were named second alternates, rick return specialist Rock Cartwright and tailback Clinton Portis. Rock is also having a breakout year, he is in the top ten for return average and is number two in the league with 39 returns of 20 yards or more. He is due a long one for a score here any day. His problem is being behind Devin Hester. Everyone that returns kicks in the NFC is behind Devin Hester this year. I also read Rock's performance this season has kicked in contract escalators that void the remainder of his contract. He has expressed interest in signing a long term deal to stay with the team and I hope Rock and the team can work out a number and he stays.

Clinton has become the working man on this Redskins team. After playing exactly zero downs in the preseason due to tendinitis in his knees and even having a little meltdown right before the season opener he has been emblematic of the 2007 Redskins' insistence on sticking with the run, even when it wasn't producing. In 14 games Clinton has rushed for 100 yards only three times and averaged over four yards per carry only seven times. Yet he is over 1000 yards, has not missed a game and continues to go into the hole even when the hole is not there. He has become a star of a different sort this season.

Two players were named third alternates, middle linebacker London Fletcher and rookie safety LaRon Landry. London was the Redskins only major free agent acquisition this offseason and has been worth the investment. As the saying goes, London is as London does, he leads the team in tackles as he has done nearly every year of his career. He is the heart of the defense and Gregg Williams' presence on field.

And while I was not in favor of the team's selection of LaRon with the sixth overall pick this past April, even outside the context of the loss of Sean Taylor it is obvious that he has worked out for the Redskins. He is a fierce hitter and can close quickly on the play. He was asked to switch positions to the Sean Taylor center field position and he has yet to be tested in coverage and is in the process of making those mistakes a high profile rookie with a penchant for the big hit is wont to make with personal fouls against the Jets, Bears and Giants and he is turning into an outstanding player.

Conflatulations to the Redskins all pros. Later today Curly R will look at the achieving Redskins players that deserved Pro Bowl consideration.



Chris Samuels: uncredited image from here.