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2014 Mason/Brennan Hype! Awards: Preseason Week 1 Edition

Who got the most hype from Week 1's glorified scrimmage against the Patriots?

By Scott Jennings
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

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.

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Mason/Brennan Awards: Offseason Edition

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Mason/Brennan Hype! Awards: Training Camp Week 1

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Mason/Brennan Awards: Offseason Edition Mason/Brennan Hype! Awards: Training Camp Week 1

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 25% of the vote

2nd Place: Ryan Grant with 18% of the vote

The Nominees:

1. Akeem Davis, S - Akeem Davis' hype has slowly been building since OTAs, and now we got to see him in action last night.  We all know that he's got to kill it on special teams to earn his spot, and that's exactly what he did last night.  Raheem Morris and Jay Gruden love the guy, and I'm sure if we could understand Ben Kotwica's grunts he would say the same thing.

2. Trenton Robinson, S - Robinson joined the Redskins last year to try to fix their broken special teams unit.  His most memorable play was tackling the galloping Nick Foles, but he did work on special teams too.  Now he's fighting for a spot with 2013 Mason/Brennan winner Bacarri Rambo, and fellow 2014 nominee Akeem Davis.  Can Davis and Robinson both stick, and force Rambo out?

3. Will Compton, ILB - He was getting some hype last season, but didn't make the final cut, and was place on the practice squad.  He got pulled up to the main roster after Nick Barnett was injured, and now he's looking for a full-time spot.  Last year, someone infamously asked, "Who's that white safety that's everywhere on the field?"  Well that guy was ILB Will Compton, and he was everywhere on the field last night too.  He forced a fumble on special teams that was called back due to a penalty, but it was awesome.

4. Ryan Grant, WR - If you haven't gotten on the Ryan Grant hype train you're living under a rock.  He has already been declared this week's winner in the comments section 312 times this week, and that was before he ever played in his first game.  The other RGIII on the team has been growing in legend after each and every practice.  It's almost a phenomenon at this point.  Grant added to that with a very solid game last night, and making catches like this.  Skins Fan 77 may finally get his wish this week.

5. Lache Seastrunk, RB - The Great Lache was falling down the hype rabbit hole, and we almost lost him, but he's baaackkk.  Seastrunk got a lot of action last night(12 rushes, 63 yards), and showed some of the explosiveness that people were waiting to see.  RGIII was seen smiling and stroking his chin on the sidelines.

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.

As long as Chase is on this team he will be eligible for the award, and he made some plays last night to keep his name in the hypelines.

7. 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.

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8. Ted Bolser, TE - The War Daddy has finally made it!  A TD in a preseason game for a 7th round TE will always get you some love here at the Mason/Brennan Hype! Awards.  People have been pushing for his nomination since he was tagged a War Daddy on special teams by Coach Gruden, but his hype wasn't there yet.  But did you see that TD?  Welcome Ted.

9. Zach Hocker, K - A kicker getting hype?  It's happening, and it started when the Redskins spent a draft pick on one which is usually not a good sign for the incumbent.  Forbath had a pretty bad night, and has been missing some kicks in camp, which kicks the door wide open for Mr. Hocker.  He was 2/2 last night on field goals, and showed his powerful leg on kickoffs.  What really elevated him to Mason/Brennan status was his lone tackle last night that will be added into Bacarri Rambo's instructional video this week.  Plus he had a pretty sweet haircut during training camp.

10. Rashad Ross, WR - There are two Rashads fighting it out in camp for the rights to the Rashad hypetrain, and Rashad Ross was the winner of that battle last night.  He had a 37 yard kickoff return to start the 2nd half, and then he had a beautiful 35 yard catch along the sidelines from Colt McCoy with two defenders around him.  There are a lot of WRs at the bottom of the depth chart looking to knock Santana Moss off of the roster.  Time to step that hype up next week Ross.

Removed:

Keenan Robinson - Back to back winner and a lock to make the team if he's healthy.  The people have spoken.
Chris Thompson - The other RBs stole the hype show this week.  Actions speak louder than words CT.
Courtney Bridget Jr. - A shoulder injury ended his rookie year, and his chances for glory in these awards.  We'll hold your spot open for next year.
Adrian Robinson - His hype has faded a little, and he got a little banged up in last night's game.  His forced fumble almost saved him, but there were just too many good candidates this week.
Cody Hoffman - I'm all for giving the tallest WR on the roster some hype, but camp

Tom Compton - I'm just not feeling it this week Tom.

Added:

Rashad Ross - One of the two Rashads.  He almost made it last week, but after last nights game he can't be denied.
Ted Bolser - Do I need to explain this one?

Zach Hocker - The first kicker to ever be nominated, congrats Mr. Hocker.

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Washington Redskins 2014 Training Camp

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