MI_Buckeye
05-03-2011, 01:01 AM
Part Three of my 32-part series. Check back later tonight for my review of the Pittsburgh Steelers 2011 draft.
Washington Redskins
Where did the franchise stand before the draft:
Well, it appears pretty obvious Head Coach Mike Shanahan didn't think too much of the previous regime. Every step of the way in his inaugural season as head coach and primary decision maker, Shanahan seemed to undermine every move made by previous GM Vinny Cerratto and Head Coach Jim Zorn.
Not only did Shanny find little interest in previous franchise QB Jason Campbell, but he also did everything in his power to run $100 million man Albert Haynesworth out of town in an absurd game of chicken that brought embarrassment to the organization -- embarrassment that Shanny probably wanted as it indicated who the real boss in the nation's capital was.
Going into his second year as head coach and de facto GM, Shanny is left with an organization completely in shambles, most likely by design. Shanahan has been known by everyone who has ever worked for him as one of the most cut-throat people on the planet, and now that he has one of the most depleted rosters in the NFL (one that begs the question: Who is better, John Beck or Rex Grossman? To which the obvious answer is Andrew Luck.) we can now see what sort of genius Ole Shanny has in store for rebuilding one of the proudest franchises in the NFL.
Shanahan and nominal GM Bruce Allen have their work cut out for them though. The Skins have questions at nearly every position and one of the least talented rosters in the league. The biggest question going into the draft had to be at QB. Most felt that Shanahan would go the developmental route after the failed acquisition of Donovan McNabb. We would soon learn, however, that the truth is much more elusive.
The Picks
Round One, Pick 16 (from Jacksonville): Ryan Kerrigan, OLB, Purdue
One of the previous misgivings Shanahan appears to have had about the previous regime was their adherence to the Redskin-rich tradition of neglecting the draft, an approach that worked to much greater effect under George Allen and Joe Gibbs/Bobby Beathard and continued by zealous owner Daniel Snyder.
You can not blame Shanahan for wanting to change the organization's philosophical apporoach to the draft after the results it has left him with. For that reason, I don't think the Redskins decision to move down was anything personal against available prospects like Blaine Gabbert and Robert Quinn; rather this organization needed picks to develop the infrastrucutre of the organization and jumped at Jacksonville's offer for an extra second round pick.
.
As for Kerrigan, it is hard to imagine the Redskins taking him at ten, but at 16, his value was just about inline with what the league thought of him. Kerrigan is a high-motor sack artist whose ability I question to move from 4-3 DE to 3-4 OLB. He is not Brian Orakpo in terms of speed.
Kerrigan's energy as a pass rusher is less of a factor now that he is standing up, and I am not yet sure if he has the burst to throw lines off coming from a wider technique. Kerrigan's ability to play in coverage is an unknown and has to be considered, especially since it seems a tall order for him to compete with Orakpo as Washington's primary pass rusher. Still, Kerrigan should be an immediate upgrade over Lorenzo Alexander and Andre Carter opposite Orakpo on the left side.
I don't at all approve of passing up a franchise QB, but Washington is more justified than most in passing.
Round Two, Pick 41: Jarvis Jenkins, DL, Clemson
Crank that Bernie! OHHH OOHHH OH!
Although, Jenkins is projected by most as DE in the Skins' base 3-4 scheme; it is possible he could move inside to play the nose, a position left in disarray after Shanahan's public spat with Haynesworth.
Jenkins is a strong, high character player who I believe fits better in a 3-4, as he doesn't possess dynamic quickness but is willing to do the dirty work. In many ways, he is the anti-Haynesworth, and don't think that didn't have something to do with this pick.
In the top ten in the second round, Jenkins is a slight reach, but that is okay. he offers great versatility and should be a reliable team leader as Shanahan turns this organization in the direction he wants it to go.
Round Three, Pick 79 (from Miami): Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami
After trading the pick acquired from Jacksonville THREE TIMES in the second round, The Redskins did not pick again until the middle of the third, when they took one of the most accomplished WRs in the history of a school that has produced Michael Irvin, Andre Johnson, Brian Blades and current Redskin Snatana Moss.
Hankerson really drove his stock up after a great senior season and much better than expected workouts, which is why I was surprised to see him fall so far lsat Friday. Hank has strong hands and great ball skills. While his forty time (solidly in the 4.4s) might lead you to believe he is more than a possession receiver, most scouts and coaches don't believe he plays up to his measurables.
Hankerson is a try-hard guy who embraces the spirit of "Da U" in his practice habits. Given how thin the Redskins are at WR (even more so than most other positions) it will be a great disappointment if Hank doesn't beat out Anthony Armstrong and Roydell Williams for the No. 2 receiving role.
Round Four, Pick 105 (from Houston): Roy Helu Jr., RB, Nebraska
Shanahan has taken guys off the waiver wire and turned them into 1,000 yard backs, so for him to move up for a RB, he must really like what he sees.
Helu is a north-south runner with a great size-speed combo. He lacks the lateral agility to succeed in some schemes, but that shouldn't be a problem in this sytem. However, Helu does become a liability in the passing game as he has not proven to be an effective blocker or receiver.
Round Five, Pick 146 (from Miami): Dejon Gomes, S, Nebraska
Gomes is a feisty, well-schooled strong safety with severely limited range in coverage. Should not be a threat to beat out Reed Doughty for a starting spot but could offer value on special teams.
Round Five, Pick 155 (from New Orleans): Niles Paul, WR, Nebraska
The Redskins need to build depth along the WR corps and on special teams, and the last of the Husker troika should be a good pick to help on both counts. Paul is a thickly-built, strong-handed possession receiver with a little bit of wiggle after the catch. He will probably never be a starter, but he should contribute as a sub-package slot receiver. He could play in both kick coverage and as a spot kick returner.
Round Six, Pick 177: Evan Royster, RB, Penn State
Another back drafted for depth behind Ryan Torain. Royster is an ideal fit for this one-cut scheme and is in the rare position to translate some of his college production into NFL impact. Not the fastest or the strongest, Royster has an uphill battle to unseat Helu as Shanny's favorite rookie rusher.
Round Six, Pick 178 (from Houston): Aldrick Robinson, WR, SMU
Hmmm? I am beginning to think Shanahan doesn't like his WR corps. Robinson is a pet prospect of some and demonstrates some of the same qualities (speed, smoothness in and out of breaks) that helped make Emmanuel Sanders an effective option during the Steelers' Super Bowl run as a rookie. Coming from the June Jones system, Robinson is unrefined and must get stronger in order to compete for a consistent spot on the active roster.
Round Seven, Pick 213: Brandyn Thompson, CB, Boise State
Like most Boise State Broncos, Thompson comes with special teams value. He is better in run support than either man or zone coverage and might be too athletically limited to have any long-term upside in the NFL.
Round Seven, Pick 217 (from Miami): Maurice Hurt, OG, Florida
I was surprised he got drafted. I just didn't see anything from him to make me think he is an NFL lineman. Hurt was a liability on Florida's line and is probably a long shot to make the team.
Round Seven, Pick 224 (from Indianapolis): Markus White, OLB, Florida State
White really came on as a senior, but his overall body of work leaves a lot to be desired. He has all the raw athletic tools to play in the league, and it will be up to the coaching staff to get it out of him.
Round Seven, Pick 253: Chris Neild, NT, West Virginia
Every bit as tough as his name, position and school would lead you to believe. Neild is a short-armed, thick-necked brawler with obvious physical limitations but will have to be dragged off the field.
All in all:
I have to say, I love the fact that the Redskins are actually valuing the draft once and for all. Some of the trades were a little too cute by hat, and I don't know if anyone really needs eight picks in the final three rounds, but it used to take the Redskins three years to build up this many draft picks.
I am not a fan of passing up the potential franchise QB, but Shanny knows QBs, and if he didn't see a guy he liked enough to eschew an extra second round pick than I can't blame him for passing. It would have been interesting to see what the Skins would have done with Jake Locker on the board.
While I don't think a whole lot of these guys will have long-term impacts in the NFL, many of these guys are prototypical Shanahan players and might have more success in his system than any others. It is a quirky draft but one that cements the notion that Mike Shanahan is one in charge. Expect a drastic culture change now that many of the malcontents are likely gone.
Draft Grade: C
Washington Redskins
Where did the franchise stand before the draft:
Well, it appears pretty obvious Head Coach Mike Shanahan didn't think too much of the previous regime. Every step of the way in his inaugural season as head coach and primary decision maker, Shanahan seemed to undermine every move made by previous GM Vinny Cerratto and Head Coach Jim Zorn.
Not only did Shanny find little interest in previous franchise QB Jason Campbell, but he also did everything in his power to run $100 million man Albert Haynesworth out of town in an absurd game of chicken that brought embarrassment to the organization -- embarrassment that Shanny probably wanted as it indicated who the real boss in the nation's capital was.
Going into his second year as head coach and de facto GM, Shanny is left with an organization completely in shambles, most likely by design. Shanahan has been known by everyone who has ever worked for him as one of the most cut-throat people on the planet, and now that he has one of the most depleted rosters in the NFL (one that begs the question: Who is better, John Beck or Rex Grossman? To which the obvious answer is Andrew Luck.) we can now see what sort of genius Ole Shanny has in store for rebuilding one of the proudest franchises in the NFL.
Shanahan and nominal GM Bruce Allen have their work cut out for them though. The Skins have questions at nearly every position and one of the least talented rosters in the league. The biggest question going into the draft had to be at QB. Most felt that Shanahan would go the developmental route after the failed acquisition of Donovan McNabb. We would soon learn, however, that the truth is much more elusive.
The Picks
Round One, Pick 16 (from Jacksonville): Ryan Kerrigan, OLB, Purdue
One of the previous misgivings Shanahan appears to have had about the previous regime was their adherence to the Redskin-rich tradition of neglecting the draft, an approach that worked to much greater effect under George Allen and Joe Gibbs/Bobby Beathard and continued by zealous owner Daniel Snyder.
You can not blame Shanahan for wanting to change the organization's philosophical apporoach to the draft after the results it has left him with. For that reason, I don't think the Redskins decision to move down was anything personal against available prospects like Blaine Gabbert and Robert Quinn; rather this organization needed picks to develop the infrastrucutre of the organization and jumped at Jacksonville's offer for an extra second round pick.
.
As for Kerrigan, it is hard to imagine the Redskins taking him at ten, but at 16, his value was just about inline with what the league thought of him. Kerrigan is a high-motor sack artist whose ability I question to move from 4-3 DE to 3-4 OLB. He is not Brian Orakpo in terms of speed.
Kerrigan's energy as a pass rusher is less of a factor now that he is standing up, and I am not yet sure if he has the burst to throw lines off coming from a wider technique. Kerrigan's ability to play in coverage is an unknown and has to be considered, especially since it seems a tall order for him to compete with Orakpo as Washington's primary pass rusher. Still, Kerrigan should be an immediate upgrade over Lorenzo Alexander and Andre Carter opposite Orakpo on the left side.
I don't at all approve of passing up a franchise QB, but Washington is more justified than most in passing.
Round Two, Pick 41: Jarvis Jenkins, DL, Clemson
Crank that Bernie! OHHH OOHHH OH!
Although, Jenkins is projected by most as DE in the Skins' base 3-4 scheme; it is possible he could move inside to play the nose, a position left in disarray after Shanahan's public spat with Haynesworth.
Jenkins is a strong, high character player who I believe fits better in a 3-4, as he doesn't possess dynamic quickness but is willing to do the dirty work. In many ways, he is the anti-Haynesworth, and don't think that didn't have something to do with this pick.
In the top ten in the second round, Jenkins is a slight reach, but that is okay. he offers great versatility and should be a reliable team leader as Shanahan turns this organization in the direction he wants it to go.
Round Three, Pick 79 (from Miami): Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami
After trading the pick acquired from Jacksonville THREE TIMES in the second round, The Redskins did not pick again until the middle of the third, when they took one of the most accomplished WRs in the history of a school that has produced Michael Irvin, Andre Johnson, Brian Blades and current Redskin Snatana Moss.
Hankerson really drove his stock up after a great senior season and much better than expected workouts, which is why I was surprised to see him fall so far lsat Friday. Hank has strong hands and great ball skills. While his forty time (solidly in the 4.4s) might lead you to believe he is more than a possession receiver, most scouts and coaches don't believe he plays up to his measurables.
Hankerson is a try-hard guy who embraces the spirit of "Da U" in his practice habits. Given how thin the Redskins are at WR (even more so than most other positions) it will be a great disappointment if Hank doesn't beat out Anthony Armstrong and Roydell Williams for the No. 2 receiving role.
Round Four, Pick 105 (from Houston): Roy Helu Jr., RB, Nebraska
Shanahan has taken guys off the waiver wire and turned them into 1,000 yard backs, so for him to move up for a RB, he must really like what he sees.
Helu is a north-south runner with a great size-speed combo. He lacks the lateral agility to succeed in some schemes, but that shouldn't be a problem in this sytem. However, Helu does become a liability in the passing game as he has not proven to be an effective blocker or receiver.
Round Five, Pick 146 (from Miami): Dejon Gomes, S, Nebraska
Gomes is a feisty, well-schooled strong safety with severely limited range in coverage. Should not be a threat to beat out Reed Doughty for a starting spot but could offer value on special teams.
Round Five, Pick 155 (from New Orleans): Niles Paul, WR, Nebraska
The Redskins need to build depth along the WR corps and on special teams, and the last of the Husker troika should be a good pick to help on both counts. Paul is a thickly-built, strong-handed possession receiver with a little bit of wiggle after the catch. He will probably never be a starter, but he should contribute as a sub-package slot receiver. He could play in both kick coverage and as a spot kick returner.
Round Six, Pick 177: Evan Royster, RB, Penn State
Another back drafted for depth behind Ryan Torain. Royster is an ideal fit for this one-cut scheme and is in the rare position to translate some of his college production into NFL impact. Not the fastest or the strongest, Royster has an uphill battle to unseat Helu as Shanny's favorite rookie rusher.
Round Six, Pick 178 (from Houston): Aldrick Robinson, WR, SMU
Hmmm? I am beginning to think Shanahan doesn't like his WR corps. Robinson is a pet prospect of some and demonstrates some of the same qualities (speed, smoothness in and out of breaks) that helped make Emmanuel Sanders an effective option during the Steelers' Super Bowl run as a rookie. Coming from the June Jones system, Robinson is unrefined and must get stronger in order to compete for a consistent spot on the active roster.
Round Seven, Pick 213: Brandyn Thompson, CB, Boise State
Like most Boise State Broncos, Thompson comes with special teams value. He is better in run support than either man or zone coverage and might be too athletically limited to have any long-term upside in the NFL.
Round Seven, Pick 217 (from Miami): Maurice Hurt, OG, Florida
I was surprised he got drafted. I just didn't see anything from him to make me think he is an NFL lineman. Hurt was a liability on Florida's line and is probably a long shot to make the team.
Round Seven, Pick 224 (from Indianapolis): Markus White, OLB, Florida State
White really came on as a senior, but his overall body of work leaves a lot to be desired. He has all the raw athletic tools to play in the league, and it will be up to the coaching staff to get it out of him.
Round Seven, Pick 253: Chris Neild, NT, West Virginia
Every bit as tough as his name, position and school would lead you to believe. Neild is a short-armed, thick-necked brawler with obvious physical limitations but will have to be dragged off the field.
All in all:
I have to say, I love the fact that the Redskins are actually valuing the draft once and for all. Some of the trades were a little too cute by hat, and I don't know if anyone really needs eight picks in the final three rounds, but it used to take the Redskins three years to build up this many draft picks.
I am not a fan of passing up the potential franchise QB, but Shanny knows QBs, and if he didn't see a guy he liked enough to eschew an extra second round pick than I can't blame him for passing. It would have been interesting to see what the Skins would have done with Jake Locker on the board.
While I don't think a whole lot of these guys will have long-term impacts in the NFL, many of these guys are prototypical Shanahan players and might have more success in his system than any others. It is a quirky draft but one that cements the notion that Mike Shanahan is one in charge. Expect a drastic culture change now that many of the malcontents are likely gone.
Draft Grade: C