Redskins 2009 Depth Chart

Xs and Os

Your team is ready. Final cuts are in, the roster is set, the 2009 Redskins are here. The season opener, a daytime repeat of last year's prime time opener at the NFC Beast rival New York Giants, is two days away. Let us get some idea of what to expect from this team by walking the Redskins 2009 depth chart, as ever these are my thoughts, the Redskins official site depth chart is here, the Washington Post's depth chart is here and the NFL's Redskins depth chart is here.

Quarterback
1. Jason Campbell
2. Todd Collins
3. Andre Woodson (practice squad)

Notes: This is firmly Jason Campbell's team, all handwringing and worrywarting before last season, including mine own, that Jason could not run a West Coast Offense have turned out to be bunk, mainly because the Redskins do not really run a WCO, that is simply what they call an NFL offense when certain guys run it. This is still a Redskins offense. Jason made a huge leap last year, improving his mechanics, ball handling and decision making, according to Football Outsiders via Brian Murphy, Jason was one of the most accurate passers in the league last season and his decline in the second half of the season is a factor of the offensive line and receivers dropping passes. I have no insignificant measure of manlove for our quarterback Jason Campbell.

Todd Collins, our own pride of Walpole, is back as number two, he looked accurate in preseason, he remains the type of backup that can get you through three to five games, more than that though and things trend downward. Andre Woodson is a recent addition with the departure of Chase Daniel and the mystery of Colt Brennan's placement on injured reserve, as much as I love the notion that signing Andre gets under the skin of the Giants and their fans, Andre is not in a position to play in a game, so the Redskins functionally have only two quarterbacks, Jason it is all on you dude.


Tailback
1. Clinton Portis
2. Ladell Betts
3. Marcus Mason
4. Rock Cartwright

Notes: The diva that he is Clinton only played a little in preseason, at this point he is so familiar we know what to expect, he will be durable and will keep the offensive moving, he is past his prime but still fully capable of carrying the ball 25 times a game. Which he likely will not as Ladell Betts assumes a more active role on third down. I am not sure I like this idea, Ladell is a north south runner and the third down guy needs to be shifty. This may not work out so well.

As far as the bottom of the chart here, the Redskins only keeping two quarterbacks on the roster opened a spot for Marcus Mason, in his third year of camping with the team. There is no question he is a great ball carrier and has improved his blocking skills to the point where the team could rationalize keeping him. In terms of regular play he will be the third tailback and likely inactive if Ladell and Clinton are healthy, Rock Cartwright is still a tailback in name only and transitions to fuill time special teams ace, Rock will play on every special teams down and is apparently not taking the functional end of his ball carrying days very well.

Clinton could become the Redskins all time leading rusher this year, he is only 1370 yards behind John Riggins, and although the two are not very mutually respectful, if you have not already adjusted your attitude, please keep in mind this year we are still active audience to the player likely to be statistically the greatest Redskins ball carrier of all time.


Fullback
1. Mike Sellers
2. Eddie Williams (R, practice squad)

Notes: Mike is 34 years old and still looks like he is cut from stone, in many ways Mike is a good fullback, at times he seems to play smaller than his body, he drops passes and tends to fall over at early contact. The solution is to use him correctly and not say, go to him at the goal line to try and win a game. Still, a keeper, with an insurance policy on the practice squad.


Receiver
1. Santana Moss
2. Malcolm Kelly
2. Antwaan Randle El
4. Devin Thomas
5. Marko Mitchell (R)

Notes: The ordinals are slightly deceiving at the top of the chart here, Santana Moss is unquestionably still the guy through whom the offense goes downfield, the past three seasons Antwaan Randle El has been the unquestioned number two, mainly due to lack of another big play receiver. Second year man Malcolm Kelly earned the wideout spot opposite Santana, allowing Antwaan to move back to his natural position in the slot. Fellow second year Devin Thomas was improved and will get lots of playing time and rookie Marko Mitchell, a tall seventh round draft pick, elbowed his way into this group with a stellar training camp.

Whether Malcolm's position is called the quote number two unquote receiver spot or not, I still expect Antwaan to be the real number two, hope I am pleasantly surprised. No matter how you cut it though, Washington's receiving corps looks to be better this year than at any time in the past five years.


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

Notes: Chris Cooley should come back in fine form, he has been stellar every year for the Redskins, hopefully he can score a few more points that in 2008 when he only caught one touchdown pass. After three years in Washington it is not fair to call Todd Yoder a journeyman anymore, he is the main blocking end and is always good for one score each season. Second year man Fred Davis was sucked into the backdraft of effusive praise for all three second year pass catchers, last season the coaches did not even think Fred could remember a route, whether he has what it takes to get more time on a field already crowded with skill position players remains to be seen but with better receivers that like to block I can envision some interesting two tight end sets.


Left tackle
1. Chris Samuels
2/3. Stephon Heyer
2/3. D'Anthony Batiste

Notes: Ten year Redskin Chris Samuels is coming back from a torn triceps suffered tangling with Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs, a major disappointment this offseason was the team's reluctance to take care of or plan for the future of the tackle positions, Chris can still be his Pro Bowl self or so one would hope. D'Anthony Batiste will step in for spot duty to spell Chris in game, if Chris were to miss a series of games due to injury, Stephon Heyer would move from right tackle to left tackle.

Left guard
1. Derrick Dockery
2/3. Edwin Williams (R)
2/3. Will Montgomery

Notes: Derrick Dockery came back to Washington where his heart always was which is good, Pete Kendall held this position admirably over two seasons so this spot continues to be taken care of. Pete was very durable and we never needed to see his backup, it was thin then and is still thin, Edwin Williams is an undrafted rookie free agent. Will Montgomery is mainly the backup center but can also fill in at left guard as needed, god help us if he is needed.


Center
1. Casey Rabach
2. Will Montgomery

Notes: Casey Rabach is a steady if streaky player, he is anonymous much of the time as the center should be and is prone to getting pushed around or losing focus and committing strings of penalties, the team could do worse, third year man Will Montgomery backs up, he is a natural center, unlike Casey's previous two backups, Justin Geisinger and Mike Pucillo.


Right guard
1. Randy Thomas
2. Chad Rinehart

Notes: Randy had neck surgery in the offseason and apparently there is great concern he will not be able to go sixteen games, when he is on the field he can still play though he is clearly in career decline at age 33. His backup is Chad Rinehart, a 2008 third round pick who the coaches would not have put on the field on a dare last season, let us hope a) Chad has improved and b) we do not need to see him.


Right tackle
1. Stephon Heyer
2. Mike Williams

Notes: With Jon Jansen released and sadly a memory it is finally time for Stephon Heyer, a rising third year undrafted player, to become a starting tackle in the NFL. I have been hot and cold on Stephon, he has the body and the strength, Joe Bugel has said Stephon took a major leap since last year in maturity, coordination and attitude but then again Joe loves all his guys. The team brought in Jeremy Bridges and former 400 pound man Mike Williams to challenge for the right tackle spot, Jeremy was not able to hang on and was let go, Mike becomes the backup, the so called competition for this position did not fill me with confidence, Mike will spell Stephon in game as well as replace him were Stephon to be injured move to left tackle to replace Chris Samuels. I hope Stephon surprises me.

All in all the offensive line is the 2009 Redskins weakest unit.


Left defensive end
1. Phillip Daniels
2/3. Renaldo Wynn
2/3. Jeremy Jarmon

Notes: All three depth players at this position last year are gone, Jason Taylor, Demetric Evans and Rob Jackson, though Rob was signed back to the practice squad. Phillip Daniels has had a remarkable comeback from a torn ACL and at 36 years old looks like he is cut from stone, it will be nice to have a real run stuffer back on the line. Renaldo Wynn, himself an NFL old man at 35, is back after two years with other teams, he will be a fill in player if supplemental draft pick Jeremy Jarmon does what the team thinks he can do, it looks like there might actually be a succession plan at this position.


Left defensive tackle
1. Cornelius Griffin
2. Kedric Golston

Notes: Cornelius is getting up there at 32 though is still steady and a great run stopper, he should have a better season alongside his old mate Phillip Daniels and new arrival Albert Haynesworth. Kedic Golston, a starter off and on the past three seasons, takes a back seat, the line is not as strong with Kedric in there, though Kedric has earned his spot in the NFL.


Right defensive tackle
1. Albert Haynesworth
2. Anthony Montgomery

Notes: The prize of the 2009 free agent class, Albert Haynesworth now anchors what must be considered one of the better defensive lines in the NFL. Assuming Albert is not hurt that is. Or in a spasm of rage hurts an opponent or teammate. Or gets in an altercation off the field or crashes up a bunch of cars. Or as some opponents believe, just gets tired and cannot finish games. There is much hope assigned to Albert's arrival and the success or lack thereof of this unit will be attributed to him. Anthony Montgomery, like Kedric Golston a former starter, takes a back seat, also like Kedric Anthony is a hard worker and has paid his dues along the line.


Right defensive end
1. Andre Carter
2. Lorenzo Alexander

Notes: Another chart that is somewhat misleading, Andre Carter is no question the speed rusher for this team and should have a better year with the improved defensive line. Lorenzo Alexander aka Scarface, the Redskins jack of all trades, is not so much speed pass rusher backing up Andre as he is the situational guy that will be in there playing what is essentially an extra defensive tackle on running downs.


Weakside linebacker
1. Rocky McIntosh
2. Robert Henson (R)
3. HB Blades

Notes: There is precious little depth on the weak side this season, Rocky McIntosh is poised to have a great season after fading in 2008 which I attributed largely to his miraculous comeback from his devastating 2007 knee injuries, he was just not fully back. If Rocky can resume his ways from the early parts of the 2007 and 2008 season we may have a Pro Bowler on our hands, if he needs a spell or gets hurt rookie wildman Robert Henson is penciled in as the backup though HB Blades has also played that position.


Middle linebacker
1. London Fletcher
2. HB Blades
3. Robert Henson (R)

Notes: Once again the Iron Man of the defense, London Fletcher, is in charge, he never misses games or even plays so if HB Blades is going to get in there it will have to be at the coaches' discretion. I assume London will once again lead the team in tackles and maybe, just maybe this year he will make a Pro Bowl, he really is the Susan Lucci of the NFL. Rookie wildman Robert Henson is penciled in as number three here, but only because he is a rookie and is still not settled on a spot at the professional level.


Strongside linebacker
1. Brian Orakpo
2. Chris Wilson
3. Robert Henson (R)

Notes: As with the left defensive end position, all three depth players at this spot from last season, Marcus Washington, Khary Campbell and Alfred Fincher are gone, given that Alfred showed some spark it must convey well the progress of Brian Orakpo in the conversion to the hybrid defensive endbacker position. As rookie Brian will not take all snaps and will rotate with fellow hybridized defensive endbacker Chris Wilson, who looked undersized as a defensive end but like a giant as a linebacker, Chris has adapted very well to his new position, that's a football player. Once again, Robert Henson pencils in at the bottom of this list as a rookie, he is big and mean and might make a good strongside linebacker some day.


Man to man cornerback
1. DeAngelo Hall
2. Justin Tryon
3. Kevin Barnes (R)

Notes: Traditionally we simply listed the corners in order of skill and assignment to the opponents' top receivers. This season, with so many cornerbacks on the roster, and all with a chance to play, we broke the corners into two lists, the man corner and the zone corner, the players break down very well along these lines. The man corners play tight, give less of a cushion and roam with receivers. They are higher risk higher reward and do better at frustrating the receiver, they are the lone wolves of the defense. DeAngelo Hall moves into the top man corner spot in place of the depahted Shawn Springs, DeAngelo is highly motivated to continue at last season's level of play, to justify his salary and to show that his knucklehead days in Atlanta and Oakland are behind him, he may be the big benefactor of the improved pass rush. DeAngelo will always be matched to the opponent's best receiver. Second year Justin Tryon, who has improved since last year, will likely not replace DeAngelo when he needs a blow, but rather will play in additional defensive back situations where a cover man is needed. Kevin Barnes gets to back this group up, mainly playing dime back and getting this season to watch, practice and learn.


Zone ornerback
1. Carlos Rogers
2. Fred Smoot
3. Byron Westbrook

Notes: If the man corner plays tight and frustrates the receiver, the zone corner plays off and frustrates the quarterback. Zone corners give a larger cushion at the line of scrimmage and are therefore susceptible to the quick outs, slants and screens for short yardage. Needing to cover an area of the field as opposed to a player, savvy playcallers and quarterbacks can exploit zone corners to find seams. Zone corners excel in situations where they can work with safeties and linebacker to funnel the play to a stop or incomplete. Carlos Rogers is the team's top zone corner and I am hoping his left calf is ready for Sunday, a strain caused him to miss three of four preseason games and at least a half dozen days of practice. Fred Smoot, who so far looks like a different player this season compared with the last two, playing physical and on the ball, will be a fine replacement if Carlos is hobbled or cannot go. Byron Westbrook, who I frankly am surprised made the cut, like Justin Tryon on the man side will likely not get a lot of time lined up as a wide corner but rather will play in situations where the team needs addition zone coverage.


Free safety
1. LaRon Landry
2. Kareem Moore

Notes: LaRon Landry is back and ready for some hitting, he might even be looking for Brandon Jacobs this year, LaRon will continue to play the center field position, checking the quarterback's direction and disrupting long pass plays. Second year man Kareem Moore has shown flashes, was nicked in camp but looks good, I would not be surprised at times to see Kareem in deep with LaRon cheating up toward the line to sneak a few plays a la strong safety.


Strong safety
1. Chris Horton
2. Reed Doughty

Notes: Almost like a smaller, more agile linebacker, the strong safety gets to stay near the line, read the run and go after the play near the line. Reed Doughty and Chris Horton have flipflopped since this time last season, I look for Chris to continue his progress and damn if Reed does not look 100% better than last season, when a back injury slowed him and left him lagging the play. I expect to see both, with Reed also contributing on special teams.


Kicker
Shaun Suisham

Notes: Unlike last season when Shaun Suisham had no competition, the team brought in Dave Rayner to challenge for kicker, there were not a lot of opportunities in games to kick so most of this competition played out on the practice field. In the end neither was particularly distinguished so the team decided to go with the kicker it knew. I have concerns about the kicking game.


Punter
Hunter Smith

Notes: What a difference a year makes, last season the team drafted Durant Brooks with a sixth rounder, sabotaged and released incumbent punter Derrick Frost then cut Durant by midseason to be replaced by Ryan Plackemeier who also failed to distinguish. This season the team went out and got a REAL PUNTER. Hunter the Punter Smith can boot it, and when you combine a better defense with a better punting game you get poor field position for the opponents.


Kickoff returns
1. Rock Cartwright
2. Devin Thomas

Notes: Rock Cartwright will likely continue as a premier kick returner, though he has some competition from Devin Thomas, which is a good thing for the team, Devin returned kicks in preseason game three against the Patriots and looked good doing it.


Punt returns
Antwaan Randle El

Notes: Antwaan Randle El had a frustrating year in 2008 as punt returner, we groaned every time he took one of his 60 fair catches. To make matters worse the first time Santana Moss stepped in last season to return a punt in game eight against the Lions he took it eighty yards for a touchdown. However you will note I do not have Santana in the punt returns depth chart, I believe Santana's health needs to be conserved at receiver. Perhaps if Antwaan does not improve from last season the team will work in one of the younger players. I have concerns at this position.


Long snapper
Ethan Albright

Notes: The guy has been with the team for like 100 years.


Previous Curly R depth charts: 2008 2007



Pro football field dimensions from here.