The pads wont be put on and the hitting wont start until July 30. But as the Washington Redskins begin their second of three sets of organized team activities on Monday, heres an early guess at the Redskins 53-man roster.
Quarterback (3)
Jason Campbell
Todd Collins
Colt Brennan
Comment: This is probably the easiest position to project. The Redskins’ ownership/front office tried to get rid of Campbell during the offseason, but No. 17 is back for his third full season as the starter. An interesting subplot of training camp will be if Brennan shows Jim Zorn enough to unseat Collins for the No. 2 spot. Rookie free agent Chase Daniel is a practice squad candidate.
Running back (4)
Clinton Portis
Ladell Betts
Mike Sellers
Rock Cartwright
Comment: This spot is pretty solidified. A wild card is newcomer Anthony Alridge. If he flashes during the preseason on special teams, the Redskins may juggle the roster to squeeze him into the 53-man lineup. Dominique Dorsey, Jonathan Evans, Marcus Mason and H-back/fullback Eddie Williams face long odds.
Wide receiver (5)
Santana Moss
Antwaan Randle El
Devin Thomas
Malcolm Kelly
James Thrash
Comment: Can Thrash do enough to make the team ahead of younger and faster players? This preseason figures to be his stiffest challenge. Six players will battle for one spot. Seventh-round pick Marko Mitchell has size (6-foot-4) but could probably clear waivers and be placed on the practice squad. Marques Hagans would need a great camp to unseat Thrash. For now, the edge goes to Thrash.
Tight end (3)
Chris Cooley
Fred Davis
Todd Yoder
Comment: It’s hard to figure a scenario in which this position sees a change in personnel - the only other tight end on the roster is free agent rookie Robert Agnone. The story to watch in this group is Davis’ development and whether he shows enough in August to earn more playing time in September.
Offensive line (10)
Casey Rabach
Chris Samuels
Randy Thomas
Derrick Dockery
Stephon Heyer
Chad Rinehart
Jeremy Bridges
Will Montgomery
Devin Clark
Mike Williams
Comment: The starters - Rabach (center), Samuels (left tackle), Dockery (left guard), Thomas (right guard) and, as of now, Heyer (right tackle) - are set, although newcomers Bridges and Williams will be given a chance. Montgomery and Rinehart make it as the backup center and guard. Clark and D’Anthony Batiste will end up competing for a spot since the Redskins appear committed to Williams.
Defensive line (9)
Albert Haynesworth
Andre Carter
Cornelius Griffin
Anthony Montgomery
Kedric Golston
Lorenzo Alexander
Phillip Daniels
Rob Jackson
Renaldo Wynn
Comment: The Redskins have good depth at tackle with Montgomery and Golston subbing for Haynesworth and Griffin, but they need to get some things figured out at end. Carter is a starter, but the other position needs to be solidified. Wynn and Jackson may be vying for one spot, and Alex Buzbee and Chris Wilson (who’s also working at outside linebacker) may be the odd men out.
Linebacker (7)
London Fletcher
Rocky McIntosh
Brian Orakpo
H.B. Blades
Cody Glenn
Robert Henson
Alfred Fincher
Comment: Fletcher (middle) and McIntosh (weak side) return as starters. Orakpo is spending most of his time in the linebacker meetings, so he can be penciled in on the strong side. That leaves three spots for seven players (including two draft choices). Blades is a reliable reserve, so he stays. Because they’re draft choices, Glenn and Henson get the edge on Chris Wilson and others.
Cornerback (5)
DeAngelo Hall
Carlos Rogers
Fred Smoot
Kevin Barnes
Justin Tryon
Comment: The Redskins carried five corners on the roster all of last year. Hall and Rogers are the starters; Smoot could be challenged by Barnes, the third-round pick from Maryland, for the third spot. That leaves Tryon, who struggled last preseason, and free agent Doug Dutch to battle for the final position. Tryon gets the edge because he knows the system.
Safety (4)
LaRon Landry
Chris Horton
Reed Doughty
Kareem Moore
Comment: The Redskins have great depth at the position, and all of it is young. Doughty is the oldest of the group, and he’s 26. While Doughty and Horton are said to be competing for a starting spot, both will play a lot, and Moore’s role could be increased. It will be tough for newcomers Michael Grant and Lendy Holmes to carve out a roster spot.
Specialists (3)
Ethan Albright
Dave Rayner
Hunter Smith
Comment: Outside of right tackle, the kicking spot will be the top competition to watch during training camp. Rayner signed to compete with Shaun Suisham, who was 26-for-36 on field goals last year. Smith is a veteran who is the only punter on the roster.
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