Redskins 2008 Depth Chart: Midseason Update

Stable and hurting in a few areas

Hewing to the schedule bands, the bye week marked the middle of the season, let us take a look at the Redskins depth chart, disclaimer this is my depth chart and may differ from any other outlet, thoughts welcome in comments.

Original Curly R Redskins 2008 depth chart here, official team depth chart here, Washington Post Redskins depth chart here, NFL Redskins depth chart here.

Quarterback
1. Jason Campbell
2. Todd Collins
3. Colt Brennan (R)

Notes: no change here, Jason Campbell has started and played through every game, he has proven to be durable this year as well as a better passer. Solid.


Tailback
1. Clinton Portis
2. Ladell Betts
3. Shaun Alexander (signed 14 October)
4. 3. Rock Cartwright

Notes: Clinton Portis has been a real stud, the past couple of games notwithstanding, the worry now is for Clinton wearing down. Ladell Betts hurt his knee in game six against the Rams and head coach Jim Zorn pulled the trigger on his old Seattle workhorse. Shaun Alexander has not made much of an impact and I tend to think will not. Solid but I just looked over my shoulder.


Fullback
1. Mike Sellers

Notes: for his size I still wish he could use his body better, that said the position is Solid.


Receiver
1. Santana Moss
2. Antwaan Randle El
3. James Thrash
4. Devin Thomas (R)
5. Malcolm Kelly (R)

Notes: no changes here, it is the same as it ever was for the Redskins, go back a decade and there has barely been room in Washington for two receivers let alone three so there is not a lot of work for the rookies which is good since they need improvement. Solid.


Tight end
1. Chris Cooley
2. Todd Yoder
3. Fred Davis (R)

Notes: unchanged here as well, Chris Cooley is having a terrific season, as of this writing he is the Redskins' leading receiver. Todd Yoder gets off now and then and coach Zorn was just quoted saying Fred Davis cannot run a route and cannot process a play in his head. As long as Chris stays healthy, Solid.


Left tackle
1. Chris Samuels
2. Stephon Heyer
2/3. Chad Rinehart (R)

Notes: after injuring his knee in game seven against the Browns Chris missed a game. He is back and clearly not playing at 100 percent. Jon Jansen's remotion to starting right tackle freed Stephon Heyer to back up either tackle spot. Rookie Chad Rinehart may have been listed as a backup early and may take practice reps at left tackle, if we see him on the field something is wrong, terribly terribly wrong. Nervous laughter.


Left guard
1. Pete Kendall
2. Chad Rinehart (R)

Notes: No change here, Pete Kendall is a solid veteran who does not miss games, I just wish he would pass block a little better. Nervous laughter.


Center
1. Casey Rabach
2. Justin Geisinger

Notes: no changes, I do not believe Casey has missed a snap. He does get in these bad stretches though. Washington could do worse. Nervous laughter.


Right guard
1. Randy Thomas
2. Jason Fabini

Notes: since missing all or parts of fifteen games last season Randy Thomas has not missed a snap this season. He is falling into the weak pass blocking black hole with the rest of the line. Nervous laughter.


Right tackle
1. 2. Jon Jansen
2. 1. Stephon Heyer

Notes: second year player Stephon Heyer was promoted to starting right tackle in training camp, hurt his shoulder in game three against the Cardinals and was replaced by former starter Jon Jansen, a consensus better run blocker. However the major problem has been pass blocking. Needs improvement.


Left defensive end
1. 2. Demetric Evans
2. 1. Jason Taylor
3. Rob Jackson (R)

Notes: Jason Taylor had emergency leg surgery after game three against the Cardinals (op. cit.) then it got infected and he has been mostly ineffective though is on the way back. Demetric Evans has played well as the Phillip Daniels run stopping end and the Redskins defense is in top form. Solid.


Left defensive tackle
1. Cornelius Griffin
2. Lorenzo Alexander

Notes: no changes here, the Redskins are getting as much production out of this position as they can. Solid.


Right defensive tackle
1. Kedric Golston
2. Anthony Montgomery

Notes: no changes here either, Kedric Golston has played well and though Anthony Montgomery has been dinged with an sore achilles lately the team is getting good production out of this position. Solid.


Right defensive end
1. Andre Carter
2. Chris Wilson
3. Erasmus James

Notes: No changes, the team seems to have settled on Chris Wilson as the primary backup to Andre Carter. Erasmus James is a project. Solid.


Weakside linebacker
1. Rocky McIntosh
2. Khary Campbell

Notes: Rocky McIntosh seems to have grown to twice his former size and there is no hint of his gruesome knee injury from last season. Solid.


Middle linebacker
1. London Fletcher
2. HB Blades
3. Khary Campbell

Notes: as it ever was so shall it be, London Fletcher never misses a play and always leads the team in tackles. If London does not make the Pro Bowl this year then well I'll do something to protest. Solid.


Strongside linebacker
1. Marcus Washington
2. Khary Campbell
3. Alfred Fincher

Notes: it has been kind of a bummer to see Marcus Washington break down, him, hamstring and now ankle, he just carries around lingering injuries, it is a bummer because when he is healthy and on the field he is a monster. Nervous laughter.


Cornerback
1. Shawn Springs
2. Carlos Rogers
3. Fred Smoot
4. DeAngelo Hall (signed 7 November)
4. Leigh Torrence (cut 8 November)
5. Justin Tryon

Notes: Shawn Springs has missed four games in a row and started three overall this season so he remains number one in name only. I question whether Shawn will be able to regain his early season form when he shut down Larry Fitzgerald and Terrell Owens. When the Redskins signed DeAngelo Hall then surprisingly cut Leigh Torrence I was uncertain how things would change. DeAngelo got off to a good start with an interception and good coverage on TO last week, if DeAngelo maintains that form he will get a deal from the Redskins in the offseason and move up the depth chart when Shawn Springs is gone next season. Solid.


Free safety
1. LaRon Landry
2. Kareem Moore (R)
3. Justin Hamilton (R) (released 14 October)

Notes: LaRon Landry plays most every down so Kareem Moore has time to learn and figure out if he fits with the team. Justin Hamilton was released last month. Solid.


Strong safety
1. 2. Chris Horton (R)
2. Mike Green (signed 14 October)
2. 1. Reed Doughty (placed on injured reserve 14 October)
3. Justin Hamilton (R) (released 14 October)

Notes: lots of drama at this position, Reed Doughty was by my estimation somewhat ineffective and replaced as a starter for game six against the Rams (op. cit.) by Chris Horton who by that point had already won an NFC Defensive Player of the Week award and an NFC Defensive Player of the Month award. Chris has been spectacular as a rookie, giving up the touchdown to fellow rookie Martellus Bennett Sunday night against the Cowboys aside. He is a great player and you can hear him in his own words here. Mike Green was signed for depth and when I have seen him on the field he has been solid. Solid.


Kicker
Shaun Suisham

Notes: good to go, I wish Shaun Suisham had hit that 46 yard field goal attempt Sunday night against the Cowboys, overall nothing to complain about, it seems like the Redskins have a real kicker. Solid.


Punter
Ryan Plackemeier (signed 14 October)
Durant Brooks (released/injured 14 October)

Notes: after beating out Derrick Frost for the starting job, Durant Brooks struggled mightily, averaging under forty yards per kick. He was released after game six against the Rams and the team signed Ryan Plackemeier, another former Seahawk along with Shaun Alexander and Mike Green. Unfortunately Ryan is averaging only two yards more per punt than Derrick did. This position needs some serious help. Poor.


Kickoff returns
Rock Cartwright

Notes: after being a top ten kick returner in 2007, Rock Cartwright has dropped to number 33. This may be due overall to the coverage and kicking, but Rock plays the position that gauges the unit's overall success. Rock still looks good, he is just off his pace from the past two years. Needs improvement.


Punt returner
Antwaan Randle El

Notes: lots of laughter about excited Redskins fans get when Antwaan Randle El runs forward after field a punt and in all seriousness there is something wrong here. Santana Moss has fielded one punt and took it back for a touchdown and perhaps DeAngelo Hall can make a difference here. Needs improvement.


Long snapper
Ethan Albright

Notes: he's the guy. Solid.


The depth chart will continue to be maintained under this label.



Pro football field dimensions from here.