Every season, a new class of draft picks and undrafted free agents are signed during the preseason. The majority of these players will never be on the roster for a regular season game, but there are always a few diamond in the rough late round/UDFA players who do bring hope to players and fans. That racetrack betting slip that you find on the floor that someone didn't scout properly.
Redskins fans are very familiar with the hype that comes with the offseason, especially over the last two decades of dreary seasons. Between the overpriced free agent signings, and the overhyped preseason performances by rookies, we were the perennial offseason champions. Names like Marko Mitchell, Marcus Mason, Brandon Banks, and everyone's favorite Colt Brennan became legendary in training camp and preseason, only to be relegated to the practice squad or the bowels of the depth chart, never to be heard from again.
The Mason/Brennan award has been given out unofficially by the fans for years to each preseason's most hyped players, but now we're going to make it official, and bring it to a vote. This week's vote will cover the offseason, draft and OTAs/mini-camps. Place your vote for who you feel has been the most hyped player up to this point, whether the hype is deserved or not.
Last year's preseason hero was the magic man, Heisenberg himself, Pat White. With RGIII not playing, and Kirk Cousins injured in preseason, the Pat White Show was on in full effect. He went on to win two out of four week's in the voting and was crowned the undeniable Mason/Brennan Hype Award winner for 2013. He actually made the final 53 man roster, but was cut after the first week to make room for a 2nd kicker... He is currently on the roster of the CFL's Edmonton Eskimos and was featured on the new show American Muscle. Last year's two other winners were Bacarri Rambo, and Brandon Jenkins. Rambo is on the roster bubble, and Brandon Jenkins was cut yesterday.
Hype is a very real, and a very exciting part of football in the preseason. We all read the daily training camp reports and get excited at the prospect of a late round pass rusher getting sack after sack on 3rd string offensive lineman, or a wide receiver catching everything thrown his way, or a running back who's not injured.
The Rules:
1. Player must have been drafted late or signed by the Redskins as an undrafted free agent. Players that have only been on other teams practice squads that are signed by the team are also eligible.
2. A player that has been on the team for several years is still eligible if most of that time has been spent on the practice squad, inactive, or with very limited productivity/time
3. The Pat White Rule: High draft picks(busts/out of the league) from other teams who have never completed an NFL pass, but can run the read option/wildcat are now eligible.
Last Week's Winner: Keenan Robinson with 38% of the vote
2nd Place: Lache Seastrunk with 19% of the vote
The Nominees:
1. Akeem Davis, S - Davis was signed by the Redskins in April. He was undrafted in 2013 and spent time with the Seattle Seahawks at their rookie mini-camp. Davis sent a thank you gift to Tanard Jackson which he promptly smoked. Davis' ticket onto the roster this year will be special teams. He has vocal supporters on Hogs Haven(ok one vocal supporter but that counts). Can he be this year's Jose Gumbs and make the roster?
Akeem Davis, S (6-0 1/4, 200) — Davis ran the 40-yard dash in 4.48 and 4.45 seconds. He had a 39 1/2-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot-6 broad jump. He did the short shuttle in 4.42 seconds and the three-cone drill in 7.53 seconds. He also had 19 lifts of 225 pounds on the bench press. Davis likely is a priority free-agent pickup following the 2013 NFL Draft.
2. Keenan Robinson, ILB - Including a 4th Round pick isn't the norm here at the Mason/Brennan Nomination Committee, but Robinson has been given an exemption due to his extensive injury history. Robinson was drafted 3 years ago to eventually take over for Living Legend London Fletcher when he hung up his cleats for good. He's been getting a healthy dose of hype from the fans, media, players and coaches all offseason. Robinson is the sexy choice for breakout player for the people that don't want to be mainstream and pick the popular choice(Jordan Reed).
Hype Nickname: Keenan the Barbarian
Twitter hype:
People in the NFL are going to start wondering who the hell is Keenan Robinson after a few games this season. #Redskins
— Redskins news (@Jsteelznskinz) July 25, 2014
3. Cody Hoffman, WR - A tall wide receiver! That's all you really need to be to get nominated for the Mason/Brennan around these parts. He is the Marko Mitchell of this offseason, and considering the Redskins tallest WR projected to start is only 6', there's reason to hope that he can stick to roster. Reports out of camp have been very positive...against the 2nd team. Time to crank up the hype machine.
Former BYU wide out Cody Hoffman has hauled in a couple of deep passes while running with the second string today.
— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikCSN) July 27, 2014
Cody Hoffman with the over the shoulder catch #Redskins pic.twitter.com/DymxNkuog7
— Paul Conner (@P_Hazard) July 26, 2014
4. Ryan Grant, WR - The Redskins 5th Round draft pick was a little bit of a surprise after the team double-dipped on WRs in free agency again this year. The team has a lot of decisions to make at WR, but Ryan Grant has been getting a lot of positive spin from practices(and taking the mandatory Pierre Garcon spin class). Coaches and players have been on the Grant hype train since the draft, and he is the personal favorite of Skins Fan 77.
Gruden says WR Ryan grant "plays like a 10-year veteran" w ability to play inside and outside.
— Mike Jones (@MikeJonesWaPo) May 17, 2014
DeSean Jackson says the receiver that he has noticed that we may not be seeing...Ryan Grant. He likes what he's doing. #Redskins
— Dianna Marie Russini (@NBCdianna) July 27, 2014
5. Lache Seastrunk, RB - Robert Griffin III was happy when the Redskins drafted Seastrunk. His hype has been tempered a little bit, but there are still reports from camp that talk about his flashes of ability. He is in a battle with fellow Mason/Brennan hype candidate Chris Thompson, and he will need to do something spectacular in camp to get his hype right.
Q: Did you get a scouting report from Robert Griffin III on Lache? Gruden: Ya, he was texting during the draft, I was trying to ignore my phone. He's a big fan of Lache, and they're obviously good friends and has a lot of good things to say about him. So I know Robert's happy and we're happy to have Lache.
Seastrunk is impressing me. He finds the holes and really blasts through them. I think he's gonna be good early. #redskins #httr #skinscamp
— Son of Washington (@SonofWashington) July 28, 2014
6. Chase Minnifield, CB - Chase Minninfield had the best year of his professional career in 2013. Not injured? Check. Made the Practice Squad? Check. Made the 53 man roster during the season? Check. Active on game day? Negative. No one can slight Minny for being injured at the beginning of his career. Losing in the Mason/Brennan voting last preseason has reportedly put a huge chip on his shoulder this offseason, and he will be working for your votes at Training Camp. Oh, and also, you know, actually playing in a regular season game finally, but first things first. Minnifield continues to be an aggressive CB who the receivers hate to play against in practice. Will that ever translate to making the active roster?
Chase Minnifield has been working on hyping up his MMA career and he is the leading candidate for the Michael Westbrook teamwork award.
Ted Bolser trucks Chase Minnifield. Next play, Minnifield holds Bolser down and starts swinging.
— michael phillips (@michaelpRTD) July 28, 2014
7. Courtney Bridget Jr, CB - Tall CB! Seattle Seahawks defense! Two girl names so he's got to be a tough guy after years of mocking in his formative years! Bridget is a longshot to make the roster, but the practice squad is calling his name to keep the dream alive for his fans. Reportedly has a shoulder injury from this morning's practice, will that derail his declining hype?
8. Silas Redd, RB - Redd was an unheralded signing after the draft after a disappointing college career that saw him getting injured and limiting his productivity and raising questions about his durability at the next level. Redd was getting very little hype during OTA's, but now that training camp has started, he is getting daily praise from fans and reporters. Redd is a long shot to make the final roster, but his hype is getting bigger by the practice.
Santana Moss most impressed by which player right now? Running back Silas Redd. The undrafted Free agent from USC #Trojans #redskins
— Dianna Marie Russini (@NBCdianna) June 19, 2014
Silas Redd consistently barreling through the defense. #Redskins
— Dianna Marie Russini (@NBCdianna) July 28, 2014
Jordan Reed describes Silas Redd as a BEAST. They are both friends from Connecticut. #Redskins
— Dianna Marie Russini (@NBCdianna) July 28, 2014
9. Chris Thompson, RB - RGIII hype can never, and will never be ignored by the Mason/Brennan nominating committee. We've been hearing the Darren Sproles or Warrick Dunn comparisons since he's been drafted, but as Coach Gruden loves to point out, he's been injured...a lot. Cliche time: You can't help the club from the tub, the best ability is availability, etc... He's healthy for the first time since being drafted and ready to excite us all.
"He's a dynamic, in space guy that can run between the tackles," quarterback Robert Griffin III said. "But if you really want him to go out there and do what he can do, we want him to be our Darren Sproles, to come out of the backfield and run routes, be a change-of-pace back for us. He's dynamically fast. I think everybody is gonna see that this year as opposed to last year. And he's got good hands, runs good routes. He's got confidence back in his body."
Chris Thompson with excellent block in pass pro drill against will Compton. Excellent
— John Keim (@john_keim) July 28, 2014
10. Adrian Robinson, OLB - Robinson has traveled around the NFL in his short professional career and is now looking to stick to the Skins roster. He didn't get any hype when he was signed, but is now impressing reporters and more importantly coaches. Coach Gruden mentioned his play during Brandon Jenkins execution, and Coach Brian Baker has consistently praised him in practices.
Guy who looked good today: Adrian Robinson. Nice job on angles on pass rush. Baker really praised...
— John Keim (@john_keim) July 27, 2014
11. Tom Compton, OT - Sometimes hype and hope get confused in football, and that was the case for a lot of Compton's career. The hope that someone, anyone will replace Tyler Polumbus has driven the hype of Tony Pashos, Jeremy Trueblood(ok that one is a stretch) and Tom Compton. Compton has been improving every year, and is now getting some legit hype for his play, not just his position. Will he be able to replace the lead singer of Tyler and the Turnstiles this season?