Skins rank #7 in Scouts Inc Offensive Line Rankings

[hockeygoalie29]

7. Washington Redskins (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=was)
The Redskins have one of the best tackle combinations in the league in Jon Jansen (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=4686) on the right side and Chris Samuels (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5032) on the left. They are big parts of a unit that was one of only three in the NFL to give up fewer than 20 sacks (19) in 2006. At the same time, they were able to gain over 4.5 yards per carry and pile up the fourth-best overall rushing total (2,216 yards) in the league. With the highly respected Joe Bugel coaching the line, the players are starting to live up to expectations. They are not the heaviest line in the league, but they are athletic and do a great job of eliminating mistakes that can cause turnovers and losses. Center Casey Rabach (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5540) has become the glue that holds the unit together and is just coming into his prime in his sixth season. Guard Randy Thomas (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=4707) is also in his prime.

Top 3 in sacks allowed and 4th in total rushing last year. If we fill the void left by Dock and if Campbell's hard work pays dividends we will have a scary offense this year!


Link (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/insider/news/story?id=2934057&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnfl %2finsider%2fnews%2fstory%3fid%3d2934057)

[smoak]

I thought the line did a great job last season given the uncertainty of the new system. We need a few things to fall into place (like the entire defense), but we could sneak up on some people.

[hockeygoalie29]

I thought the line did a great job last season given the uncertainty of the new system. We need a few things to fall into place (like the entire defense), but we could sneak up on some people.

They started off pretty shaky, the first Dallas game was horrible, but they stepped it up big time and were really rolling at the end of the year. Betts gets a lot of credit for his work at the end of the year (and he should) but he owes the offensive line a big "thank you". Nobody was getting a hand on him until he was 4 or 5 yards down field. If Ladell had Portis' speed (and held onto the football) he would have had a lot more than the 3 TD's he had the last 6 games of the year.

[Redskin4Life]

They started off pretty shaky, the first Dallas game was horrible, but they stepped it up big time and were really rolling at the end of the year. Betts gets a lot of credit for his work at the end of the year (and he should) but he owes the offensive line a big "thank you". Nobody was getting a hand on him until he was 4 or 5 yards down field. If Ladell had Portis' speed (and held onto the football) he would have had a lot more than the 3 TD's he had the last 6 games of the year.


If Ladell had Clinton's speed, we wouldn't be talking about how we've got a top 5 backfield tandem..... we would have NEVER traded Bailey for him. We probably would have gotten some top end DE plus someone's first rounder... :cry:

[CNYSkinFan]

The big question mark is Wade. I love Wade as a tackle and I am not sure it was the right thing to put him at guard instead of Jansen. Jansens is shorter and has the athletic ability to pull. We shall saee come the first two pre season games. I expect the line to get alot of work.

[hockeygoalie29]

The big question mark is Wade. I love Wade as a tackle and I am not sure it was the right thing to put him at guard instead of Jansen. Jansens is shorter and has the athletic ability to pull. We shall saee come the first two pre season games. I expect the line to get alot of work.

I agree with you on Wade, especially when he himself said he is having difficulty making the switch. I'd bet he gets a TON of work in pre-season with both the starters and backups but I doubt we will see much of our 4 returning starters in order to avoid another Jansen/Achilles disaster.

[CNYSkinFan]

I agree with you on Wade, especially when he himself said he is having difficulty making the switch. I'd bet he gets a TON of work in pre-season with both the starters and backups but I doubt we will see much of our 4 returning starters in order to avoid another Jansen/Achilles disaster.
they needf to play together as a unit though...The Jansen thing was a freak accident and could happen anytime of the year. I espescially think Rabach, Samuels, and Wade should play together quite a bit in pre season. Give thomas and Jansen a rest if you want but get the leftside some work.

[esmith1790]

They started off pretty shaky, the first Dallas game was horrible, but they stepped it up big time and were really rolling at the end of the year. Betts gets a lot of credit for his work at the end of the year (and he should) but he owes the offensive line a big "thank you". Nobody was getting a hand on him until he was 4 or 5 yards down field. If Ladell had Portis' speed (and held onto the football) he would have had a lot more than the 3 TD's he had the last 6 games of the year.

The dallas game was because we knew MB wasnt gona throw deep and CP didnt play if i remember correctly. the offense was still struggling how to use Betts. It might have been there worst game for them as an OL. Besides you get pumped up when you know someone is back there doing something with the football (JC)

[Patrick]

The big question mark is Wade. I love Wade as a tackle and I am not sure it was the right thing to put him at guard instead of Jansen. Jansens is shorter and has the athletic ability to pull. We shall saee come the first two pre season games. I expect the line to get alot of work.

Which is exactly why I have to raise an eyebrow at #7. Plus I don't think our line has any depth.

[firehawk157]

The big question mark is Wade. I love Wade as a tackle and I am not sure it was the right thing to put him at guard instead of Jansen. Jansens is shorter and has the athletic ability to pull. We shall saee come the first two pre season games. I expect the line to get alot of work.
Whitticker is supposedly impressing some people and has more of a typical guard frame (6'5" 338lbs) and he has talent (voted to Fox's all-rookie team in 04).

He was cut by the Pack because of an ACL injury and never got a chance with Miami. Now he's here. He seems like he's a hard-working individual and a good character guy. When he lost his starting job to somebody in his sophomore year, he said the other player was more deserving but also hit the weight room really hard and won back his job the next year.

I've got high hopes for him personally and would like to see Wade go back to being a tackle back-up which would go a long way to shoring up depth.

[dj_stouty]

Another reason why there were so few sacks allowed last year was because Brunell and Campbell were quick to throw the ball out of bounds when a play was broken up or they were hurried by the pass rush.

Hopefully Campbell continues this practice and keeps his jersey relatively clean this season.

[smoak]

They started off pretty shaky, the first Dallas game was horrible, but they stepped it up big time and were really rolling at the end of the year. Betts gets a lot of credit for his work at the end of the year (and he should) but he owes the offensive line a big "thank you". Nobody was getting a hand on him until he was 4 or 5 yards down field. If Ladell had Portis' speed (and held onto the football) he would have had a lot more than the 3 TD's he had the last 6 games of the year.

I agree 100% only I was expecting the early season struggles b/c of the tweaked system... I think most fans had Super Bowls dancing in their head whereas I was thinking playoffs and win it all in 2008. We'll see, but the O-line played great once they hit mid season and got more comfortable with the system.

(IMO of course)

[RedskinRyan]

this unit really gelled at the end of the year, which you should expect from a group that was spending it's 2nd year together. missing one link, but it will return for a third.

[redskin_rich]

The big question mark is Wade. I love Wade as a tackle and I am not sure it was the right thing to put him at guard instead of Jansen. Jansens is shorter and has the athletic ability to pull. We shall saee come the first two pre season games. I expect the line to get alot of work.

Jansen is a much better Tackle than Wade could ever dream of being. For the last time, why would you want to weaken two positions, just to replace a Guard? And Jansen is not exactly short at 6'6".

[BigCountry]

Jansen is a much better Tackle than Wade could ever dream of being. For the last time, why would you want to weaken two positions, just to replace a Guard? And Jansen is not exactly short at 6'6".

Not that I think Jansen should move to guard, but he's the same height as Dockery.