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Josh LeRibeus, 6'2", 315 lbs.
Southern Methodist University - Guard/Center
2nd Season with the Redskins
Key Career Stats:
3rd Round Pick in 2012(71st overall)
2012 Stats: 5 games on the active roster
Twitter handle: @JLeRibeus
2012 Highlight: Despite playing guard in college, LeRibeus started his career with the Redskins as a backup to center Will Montgomery in training camp. He was later moved back to the guard position and was not activated until Week 9 in a matchup against the Panthers. Serving as a backup to left guard Kory Lichtensteiger, he mostly saw time on special teams. His personal highlight was, most likely, the playoff game against Seattle, in which he saw his most extensive playing time on the line because of Lichtensteiger's ankle injury. He played the last 48 snaps of that game, and it is safe to say he performed serviceably.
2012 Lowlight: Most of his season was somewhat underwhelming for a third round pick. Many draft experts were surprised the Redskins took him in the third round, and many did not even have him on their radar as a highly rated NFL prospect. Before the draft, Sports Illustrated stated he was "occasionally late getting his hands into defenders" and he lacked "the classic height for an interior blocker". They projected he would be would be a seventh round pick or rookie free agent. His lack of playing time seemed to support that analysis.
What is coming in 2013: The team is bringing back their entire starting offensive line from 2012. While this is a good thing for continuity, it is not a good sign for LeRibeus, who is not a member of that starting line. With Kory Lichtensteiger locked up on a new five year contract and Will Montgomery and Chris Chester entrenched at center and right guard, prospectively, it appears LeRibeus will continue to play a back up role in 2013. Heading into the draft, Mike Shanahan and the Redskins' scouts obviously saw something in the young guard that not many others did not. At a minimum, it would be nice to see him make the active roster on a weekly basis and possibly press for more playing time. Outside of another injury to someone on the interior of the line, however, he should have another full season to sit on the sideline and further improve his craft.