Boom and Bust: 'Skins
It's hard to believe, but it's already that time of the year again. All the players are looking to make the 53-man roster, the coaches are looking at new talent, and fans are still wondering why and how this happened. Oh well, it's the Eagles' loss... This year can Redskin fans can all be really excited for the first time in years as they finally have a team that can make a run at the division, or at least a wildcard spot. I've been looking at some key players on all 32 teams and have been trying to predict which players will have a big or bigger impact than last year, and then which players could have a down or disappointing season. After doing this for 3 teams, it's now the Redskins' turn:
BOOM! - WR Devin Thomas

Devin Thomas has drawn comparisons to receivers like Falcons' Roddy White. An early second round pick by the 'Skins in 2008, Thomas hasn't yet had a breakout year; his last year was his best of the two with only 25 catches for 325 yards and 3 TDs. However, with the acquisition of Donovan McNabb, and the aging of Santana Moss, Thomas could become a big target this year. He stands at 6'2" and runs a 4.40s 40 yard dash, making him a viable deep threat for McNabb. It's about time for Thomas to show what he can do in what will presumably be a pass first offense. Numbers around 50-60 catches, 800 yards, and at least 6 TDs are definitely possible with his potential. I strongly believe that Thomas is going to breakout this year, and can be a big part of this offense alongside Chris Cooley.
Bust... - LB Andre Carter

A lot of things become finer with age. However, football players aren't one of those things. Andre Carter is 31 and is on the downhill part of his career. Despite coming off of arguably his best season, some changes in the defense and a complete revamp of the coaching staff could attribute to Carter's lack of success in addition to his age. Carter is going to have to adjust to the new 3-4 scheme that Shanahan is changing to. In the words of an ESPN analyst, "The shift to the 3-4 hurts Carter as much as it helps a guy like Brian Orakpo. Carter can expect more attention from the opposing O-line while Orakpo freely darts in from outside. To be fair, he's coming off his best year in Washington but temper expectations somewhat due to this new unfavorable role." And since there will only be 3 linemen, offensive linemen will be able to take on Carter more easily. It'd be hard to see him get more than 50 tackles and 5 sacks this upcoming season unfortunately, especially with Orakpo essentially taking over for Carter.
Along with Cooley, McNabb, and Orakpo, Thomas should have a great year. And along with Willie Parker and Joey Galloway, expect Carter to have a down year. Now you can tell me if I happened to miss anyone, go ahead and let me know. And if you care to know, the next team up is the Kansas City Chiefs.
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With the emergence of Lorenzo Alexander
I’d love to see the Redskins trade Andre and get a draft pick back…I’d take anything from 4th round up.
Hogs Haven. On Twitter. And Facebook.
Yeah
I had always hoped we’d snag Shawne Merriman, but we have no picks and he isn’t worth anything big. I really worry about Carter’s transition, and with Chris Wilson, Lorenzo Alexander, and Jeremy Jarmon, I think someone out of that group will be a good enough OLB. I just don’t see Carter as a 3-4 OLB. He is a really good 4-3 DE, Lots of tackles for losses, very physical, good rush, but unless we put him on the line a lot, I think he’ll struggle.
Agree with you assessment of Thomas.
But I disagree with you on Carter. With three linemen and if haynesworth is one of the linemen. I think that Carter will have a good year. Our line should take up most of the offensive line. Where he could get exposed is in coverage if they ask him to do that.
The thing that scares me the most is
how our OLBs will fare in short coverage against RBs and TEs. We could get dinked and dunked to death.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Andre can cover the flat but...
I think if they have him cover the TE in quick outs and slants is where I think that he could get in trouble.
It's definitely important that
we try to limit the OLBs to zone coverage. They’d be total liabilities in man with about anyone. We need to blitz them, or put them in a zone.
by BigOLinemen on Jul 28, 2010 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm assuming, but still hoping
That Haslett is a competent enough coach to realize that our OLBs would be liabilities while playing man defense. I still have nightmares of Orakpo being burnt by that TE on the Panthers… the TE who I never even heard of before.
I can't wait to see if our D gets better
Our D was so conservative last year. I don’t like comparing last years D to the new Defense because it will be completely different.
I think the TE that you are talking about is Jeff King # 47 unless he was out and a back up came in then I have no idea.
Yeah, it was King
Hopefully I’ll no longer have to have any nightmares where one of our LBs/DEs is chasing down a TE streaking to the end zone this year.
And that's just one of many
I still see oppents’ WRs running wild all over the field in my nightmares. Couple that with our receivers never got open…sheesh!
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
And let's not forget
The play in the opening game against the Giants where virtually our entire defense decided they were on strike from tackling opponents, and let Mario Manningham score an easy TD.
No more of this negative talk
Refill your kool-aid please :)
Kool-aid is very nice
I will have a full pitcher of Kool-aid for the first redskins preseason game.
I really can’t wait for the season to start. This is going to be a exciting year.
It seems like your analysis of Carter
assumes he will be a lineman in the 3-4. I think that’s what the ESPN analyst was assuming anyway. I’m pretty sure there’s been no question that he’ll be working as an OLB this season. I still think his year will be down from last year, but I don’t think it’ll be because of added OL attention. He and Orakpo will both be “darting in from the outside.” But Carter isn’t equipped (or at least he wasn’t in 2004 in SF) to rush from a 2-point stance.

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