The First tremor registered high on the Richter scale. The selection of Oklahoma’s Trent Williams sent Shock and Awe throughout Redskins Nation. This is the pick we needed, maybe not necessarily the one we wanted, as some seemed to be in favor of Oklahoma State offensive Tackle Russell Okung, but regardless, it was in a position of great need for the Redskins. Measurement 8.5.
Then came the waiting, and waiting, and waiting. Anticipation of a trade involving a high profile current Redskin player came and went like a cold Saturday in February; not much excitement. Jason Campbell, still a Redskin. Albert Haynsworth, still a Redskin. Rocky McIntosh, Carlos Rogers, Andre Carter, LaRon Landry, all still Redskins.
With high expectations and great players still available in the fourth round, the Redskins were finally on the clock. Would we go with a change-of-pace, dynamic young running back, or another offensive linemen that happened to slip a bit in the draft? Maybe a free safety to complement Landry would be the pick. Nope. Perry Riley, outside linebacker from LSU. Slightly less of a tremor felt this time throughout Redskins Nation. Measurement 4.0.
Well, we at least have a fifth rounder, whom, with some good scouting, could be a contributor on our football team. Time comes for the pick; Skins are ready and poised to make a splash. Some big names remain on the board, especially at offensive tackle. Then it hits you like a wet towel on bare skin; TRADE. What just happened? Really? For what?
Well, a sixth and extra seventh is what. Now people are starting to get restless. We are not the Eagles here are we? The staff couldn’t possibly feel that a sixth and two seventh round draft picks could really help this team? What was going on?
It turned out the sixth we got, was the one we sent to Miami for Jason Taylor. That alone should make Redskins fans feel better. And now, without further ado, our sixth round pick……..drum roll please; drum roll! Drdrdrdrdumumumum………..the Redskins select tight end Dennis Morris. Bang! The drummer just fell off the stage. No balloons, no confetti, just silence. Tight end is the last thing we need on this team. Measurement 1.0.
How could this be? The Shanaplan is a joke. What are these guys thinking! Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse, we trade another pick. This time a seventh rounder, in order for us to move back a few spots and pick up an additional seventh round pick. Wow, is all I could say. Measurement 0.5.
Our seventh round is what it is; a seventh round. Mostly guys you have never heard of. Some developmental players, some projects, some potential special teams guys; the regular status quo. But wait, a linemen has just been selected, and he’s a center/guard. Good, we needed that. And wait, another linemen. This time an offensive tackle who played on the right side, who was All-Big East, and was a three year starter for a pretty good team. Selvish Capers was a name many Redskins fans are familiar with, and we just got him in the seventh round! The Shanaplan is back! Measurement 7.0
Well, the dust has finally settled, and the wreckage is being cleared. Another draft has come and gone. The massive, ground shattering earthquake that was to be the Redskins 2010 Draft, came and went with much less force than originally expected; or did it.
Looking back on this draft, the Redskins filled a bunch of needs, with very limited picks. We did a few thing great, and a bunch of things well.
For starters, we didn’t give up any future draft picks to move up in any round. Grade A. We didn’t overlook our offensive line problem, selecting Trent Williams, Erik Cook and Selvish Capers. Grade B+. We did select a tight end, but that tight end will end up playing fullback/H-back, and should eventually be the replacement for Mike Sellers. Grade B(this could jump much higher). And that linebacker that not many of us heard of, Perry Riley, may just become the replacement for London Fletcher next year. Grade B. We did manage to find a home for Jason Campbell via trade to the Raiders, yet it only yielded us a fourth round pick in 2012. Grade C-. The pick of Terrence Austin provides speed to the wide receiver corps, and should help add a spark to the return game. Grade C-.
Overall, the Redskins did a nice job of filling needs with little to work with, and although we didn’t see the big splash that so many had expected, it was a workman like effort that could amount to much larger endeavors for the future of the franchise.