Getback: The Redskins Dynasty

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2012 'Skins Released Players

HB Brandon Jackson
WR Malcolm Kelly
WR Chansi Stuckey
TE Fred Davis
LOLB Robert Henson
MLB Akin Ayodele

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2012 'Skins Re-Signed Players

MLB London Fletcher (2yrs/$14.40M)
ROLB Andre Carter (2yrs/$3.52M)
CB Kevin Barnes (4yrs/$4.98M)
K Graham Gano (4yrs/$4.61M)

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2012 Offseason Player Needs

Alright, now that I've got the players I needed to be released & re-signed its now time to focus on who will fill the gaps left open for this coming season. Last year was very suprising as this team went from the bottom of the heap to making it to Super Bowl XLVI. With the basic building blocks already there (QB, solid o-line, skill players) its time to see exactly what other pieces are needed to insure another stellar season for the burgandy & gold.

1. WR: With Malcolm Kelly now a free agent a huge void in the best reciving core thats not named the Colts has been made. Whenever there was a key 1st down needed to be made Kelly was there. Had he not demanded the money he did he'd probably be re-signed. But his talents were too big to be in the shadows of Devin Thomas & possibly Ryan Broyles. We'll be looking to the draft for this one. Hoping that the magic last year in scoring Ryan Broyles can continue.

2. TE: Chris Cooley is at the top of his game right now. Having a career year in TD catches & getting elected to his third Pro Bowl last year. Fred Davis was released from his contract so that he could be a number 1 tight end for a different team. This despite him having the TD catch that helped force the first overtime in Super Bowl history. This looks to be another draft selection possibly in the late rounds. Cooley is expected to be around for at least another 4-5 seasons however.

3. DT: This more than likely will be the Redskins first round pick here. Albert Haynesworth was traded for two reasons: his performance couldn't justify a $100 million salary. Plus his counterpart Kedric Golston out played him in many of the front offices eyes. Despite this, the Redskins are looking to draft a starting defensive tackle this season.

4. Linebackers: Free agency will finally come into play with the linebackers. Brian Orakpo is still a young lion so a vet behind him helping him perfect his game could work. Middle linebacker is tricky though. London Fletcher will play this season but theres no telling if he'll retire after 2012 or not. His backup Perry Riley showed huge improvment & insured that he's in the discussion for Fletchers replacement. For now it appears a young free agent will be brought in to show if these findings are true.

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Top Free Agent Signings

WR Mike Thomas (NYG)
CB Bruce Johnson (GB)
WRs Louis Murphy, Malcolm Kelly, & Brandon Gibson (CHI)
WR Brian Hartline (STL)

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'Skins 2012 Free Agent Signings

LOLB Pisa Tinoisamoa (2yrs/$2.50M): Had the prime of his career during the Mike Martz days in St. Lous. At the back end of his career & will serve useful as a solid back up to Brian Orakpo.

MLB Andra Davis (2yrs/$2.70M): Another solid vet in a back up role. Signing a vet instead of a younger linebacker basically puts Perry Riley in a good position as future starting middle linebacker. After London Fletcher is gone it's his job to loose.

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2012 Draft Selections


Rd1, Pick 31/Johnathan McVey DT Valdosta St.: Coming from a small division 2 school didn't stop McVey from leaving a huge mark. His combine and scouting all through the winter up till now has been great. He's one of the fastest pass rushers coming out and what he lacks in height he makes up for in his pure strength & agility. This is a new kind of pass rusher the Redskins have been dying for. Automatic starter.

Rd3, Pick 95/Jordan Crawford WR Ole Miss: Last year Jordan Crawford was in the top ten of nearly every reciving stat ranking in the SEC. His speed is among the best but questions did arise as to if he's mature enough to handle the challenge of the NFL. Despite this, the Redskins are taking a chance that he could help fill the void Malcolm Kelly left.

Rd4, Pick 127/Tomas Ramos TE Ole Miss: Another Ole Miss reciving standout. Ramos is a physical speciman when it comes to doing that needs to be done at tight end. Another basketball player turned tight end with the ability to grab balls where they werent ment to be caught. His only setback maybe that he needs to work on his blocking skills. However, being the understudy to one of the top five tight ends in the game in Chris Cooley is a luxary.

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"It's Our Time"..Duces makes bold prediction despite stacked odds

LANDOVER, MD-- In 2011, the Washington Redskins was the story of the NFL. From the drafting of Cam Newton to the mid-season slump to the red hot performance from the team which led to a Super Bowl birth. It all seemed like a fairytale at that point..

Now back to reality.

The Redskins defense was NOT the 'Skins defense we were used to seeing. Finishing the year ranked 28th & giving up more yards passing than any 'Skins team in the last 5 seasons. The Redskins made it to the Super Bowl despite their defense. With Albert Haynesworth gone in exchange for a running back, & with not much tweeking to speak of on the defense. Who knows if we will see more of the same this year. Which begs to queston if the 'Skins number 1 offesnse can carry the load again.

For all the success of Cam Newton, the records & wins and the title of "first rookie to start a Super Bowl". One thing remains, his troubled past. The NCAA has reopened the tampering invesigation with Auburn, Newton & his father. This because of new info being given by informants who have stated that Cam had knowledge of the preceedings. If the findings are true Newtons Heisman & Auburns 2010 National title may be in jepardy. Newton claims the distractions won't phase him, even going as far as saying that "we will exceed expectaions again, I promise you.". Well, last year no one expected a Super Bowl birth, so we can only expect one thing. Him backing it up however is a different story.

The Redskins have a long road ahead of them. They won't sneak up behind teams like they did last season with Newton's deep passes or Ryan Broyles kick returns. 5 of the teams they will face this year were in the playoffs last year, & 7 of them had winning seasons. The NFC East in recent years has been one of the hardest divisions to repeat as champions in. Add on to the fact that for the last 15 seasons nearly every Super Bowl loser has went on to either not make it back to the Super Bowl or miss the playoffs all together. The Redskins have more to prove this year than last year. Now they have to show that it's no fluke.

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Washington Redskins Depth Chart - 2012
Regular Offense
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
WR	Devin Thomas	Jordan Crawford
TE	Chris Cooley	Tomas Ramos
LT	Trent Williams	Clint Oldenburg
LG	Derrick Dockery	Edwin Williams
C	Mike Pouncey	Marvin Philip
RG	Mike Williams	Cooper Carlisle
RT	Stephon Heyer	Artis Hicks
WR	Ryan Broyles	Josh Reed	Laveranues Coles
QB	Cam Newton	Josh Johnson	Colt Brennan
FB	Peyton Hillis
HB	Jonathan Stewart	Larry Johnson	Bilal Powell
Base 3-4 Defense
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
LDE	Adam Carriker	Jevon Kearse
NT	Johnathan McVey	Kedric Golston	Nick Hayden
RDE	Jeremy Jarmon	Ma'ake Kemoeatu
LOLB	Brian Orakpo	Pisa Tinoisamoa
LILB	London Fletcher	Andra Davis
RILB	Perry Riley
ROLB	Rocky McIntosh	Andre Carter
CB	DeAngelo Hall	Kevin Barnes
SS	Laron Landry	Kareem More
FS	Chris Horton	Craig Steltz
CB	Justin Tryon	Brandon Hogan	Leto Sheppard
Special Teams
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
K	Graham Gano
P	Josh Bidwell
PR	DeAngelo Hall	Ryan Broyles	Brandon Hogan
KR	Ryan Broyles	Brandon Hogan
LS	Trent Williams