Official Washington Redskins Forum Thread

[Guest]

The Redskins have added another big body for a defensive line that was in need a major upgrade, agreeing to terms with former Cowboys defensive end Stephen Bowen.

The signing was announced by Bowen’s agent on Twitter. Bowen agreed to a five-year deal worth $27.5 million, including $12.5 million of guaranteed money, according to a league source.

It will be interesting to see if the Bowen signing means the Redskins are, in fact, not pursuing Green Bay free agent Cullen Jenkins. Washington had been strongly linked to Jenkins throughout the offseason, but people familiar with the situation said there has been little contact since teams were allowed to talk with free agents on Tuesday.

Bowen is listed at 6 feet 5 and 306 pounds and could be an important bookend opposite Barry Cofield. Bowen played five seasons in Dallas. Nine of his 11 career starts came in 2010. He had a career-high three sacks coming off the bench in 2009.

Bowen was an undrafted rookie out of Hofstra in 2006, earning his way onto the Cowboys’ roster from the practice squad.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider

Solid signing for one of the defensive end spots. We might still be pursuing Cullen Jenkins or a nose tackle, so the defensive line is far from settled. After the cuts today, we definitely have a lot more cap space.

[Guest]

Chris Chester signing just annonced- five years at $20 million. Here is what I had to say in the free agent thread:

After Yanda re-signed, I figured we could end up with Chester. One, he reunites with his old coach and the second is that he stays in the area. Solid guard, and I imagine he starts at LG and forms a formidable left side with Trent Williams.

Now lets get Davin Joseph signed, let Montgomery and Lichensteiger battle it out for center, and then either Artis Hicks or Jammal Brown (if re-signed) can start at right tackle. That would be a solid line.

The Washington Redskins have made their first free agent addition to their offensive line, signing guard Chris Chester away from the Baltimore Ravens, according to his agent Craig Domann.

Chester's contract is worth $20 million over five years. The move meets a pressing need for Washington, who Thursday morning released center Casey Rabach, and the plan is for Kory Lichtensteiger and Will Montgomery, who ended the year as the starting guards, to compete for the starting center job.

The 6-foot-3, 315-pound Chester, who started 14 games for Baltimore last season, is entering his seventh season in the NFL and according to scouting reports is capable of playing any of the interior line spots. Chester will be reunited with Redskins offensive line coach Chris Foerster, who coached him in Baltimore in 2006 and 2007.

The Redskins still have veteran Artis Hicks under contract, and he started the season at right guard before going down with a groin injury. Montgomery took over and never relinquished the job.

Washington also has guard/center Erik Cook and rookie guard Maurice Hurt on the roster. It wouldn't be surprising to see them add another guard. Signing a right tackle also remains a high priority as Jammal Brown is free agent.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider

[BazookaJoe5]

I saw the news about Chester and my first reaction was to literally roll on the floor laughing at that scrub getting 20 million.

Chester is awful. Awful. He couldn't block a wet napkin. Him playing RG was a huge reason why the Ravens couldn't run the ball like they had in the past last year.

[Guest]

Couple new signings to report:

Jammal Brown returning as right tackle on a five year extension. With an off-season for his hip to continue heeling, he should be ready to go.

Vonnie Holiday was sent along with a conditional pick to the Cardinals for RB Tim Hightower. That likely puts to rest the speculation from PFT that the Redskins were looking into Ahmed Bradshaw.

Holliday was well-respected in the locker room, but with the additions of Cofield and Bowen, the late season emergence of Carriker and the drafting of Jarvis Jenkins, there wasn't much playing time for him.

It will certainly be interesting to see how the RB situation plays out. Torain is the incumbent, but Hightower should push him and earn the starting job. Keiland Williams, Roy Helu and Evan Royster will push for playing time. Thats five runningbacks and I can't see more than four being kept- though Royster is a possible practice squad player.

There have also been a couple rumors that have linked the Redskins to Channing Crowder to start at inside linebacker opposite London Fletcher. HB Blades was also re-signed, and he will compete with Perry Riley to start if no other addition is made.

[manchild24]

Glass Joe is down and practice just started

The Redskins have sent RB Ryan Torain to see a hand specialist after suffering an injury early in Wednesday's practice.
The Skins hope Torain would miss no more than a couple of weeks if his hand is fractured. He's not believed to be in danger of missing the season opener, but a fracture would allow Roy Helu and Tim Hightower a chance to make headway on the depth chart.

[Guest]

Glass Joe is down and practice just started

The Redskins have sent RB Ryan Torain to see a hand specialist after suffering an injury early in Wednesday's practice.
The Skins hope Torain would miss no more than a couple of weeks if his hand is fractured. He's not believed to be in danger of missing the season opener, but a fracture would allow Roy Helu and Tim Hightower a chance to make headway on the depth chart.

Count on Hightower being the starter Week 1. He's a huge sleeper for us and for fantasy football players.

[Kuzzy Powers]

Hightower is a bum. Roy Halu is a real sleeper.

[manchild24]

This HOLE yes hole fucking team is putting me to sleep. Damn shame too, finally got some ballers on D. But with no QB there its a mess.

PROVE ME WRONG SHANNYs

[Guest]

Hightower is a bum. Roy Halu is a real sleeper.

Hightower averaged 4.8 YPC despite the fact that there was no real Cardinals passing threat. I think he's got a very good chance to start.

[Guest]

Three days before they open the preseason against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Redskins have released their first unofficial depth chart of the year. There aren’t a ton of surprises, but it’s still worth noting where everyone stands as the team embarks on some live-action games. Let’s run through the highlights.

Rex Grossman is listed as the first-string quarterback, and John Beck is his backup. It’s probably not worth reading a whole lot into that. The two both have an equal shot at the starting job. One of them has to be listed as the first-stringer on these depth charts.

The list surely doesn’t reflect expected playing time or starting lineups Friday. It’s likely some of the free agents will see limited action due to limited practice time.

At receiver, Santana Moss and Jabar Gaffney are listed as the starters, and Anthony Armstrong and Leonard Hankerson as the top backups. Donte Stallworth and Terrence Austin are the third-stringers. Rookies Niles Paul and Aldrick Robinson are after them.

With Ryan Torain nursing the hand injury, Tim Hightower is the top running back and Roy Helu is No. 2, followed by Evan Royster.

At tight end, Chris Cooley and Fred Davis are, of course, listed as No. 1 and 2, respectively. Logan Paulsen is No. 3, and Mike Sellers is fourth-string. Sellers is not listed among the fullbacks, where Darrel Young is with the first team and Keiland Williams is No. 2.

On the offensive line, Sean Locklear is backing up Trent Williams at left tackle, Maurice Hurt is behind Kory Lichtensteiger at left guard, center Erik Cook is behind Will Montgomery, Artis Hicks behind right guard Chris Chester and Willie Smith is the top right tackle backup to Jammal Brown.

On defense, again, not a ton of surprises.

Adam Carriker, Barry Cofield and Stephen Bowen are listed as the starting defensive linemen, followed by Jarvis Jenkins, Anthony Bryant and Kedric Golston.

At linebacker, Lorenzo Alexander is listed behind Ryan Kerrigan, Keyaron Fox behind London Fletcher, Perry Riley behind Rocky McIntosh and Rob Jackson behind Brian Orakpo. Horatio Blades is listed as a third-teamer, behind Riley.

The starting cornerbacks are DeAngelo Hall and Josh Wilson, following by Kevin Barnes and Phillip Buchanon.

And the top safeties are Reed Doughty and Chris Horton in LaRon Landry’s place at strong safety and O.J. Atogwe and Anderson Russell at free safety.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...html#pagebreak

First unofficial depth chart. Nothing to really read into yet, though I am a bit surprised that Armstrong is not listed as the starter opposite Moss. Probably the preference for veterans that seems to happen early on.

[manchild24]

Redskins RB Ryan Torain (hand) remains without a return date to practice.
Torain was supposed to miss only 7-to-10 days after undergoing surgery on his broken hand on August 4, but is living up to his reputation as one of the game's slowest healers. In his absence, Tim Hightower has all but locked down the Redskins' starting job. Torain's goal when he returns should be to hold off rookie Roy Helu.

[manchild24]

Redskins released K Shayne Graham.
Graham was excellent filling in for an injured Stephen Gostkowski in New England last season, but missed two kicks in the Redskins' preseason opener and was said to be struggling in practice. Graham Gano was among the league's least accurate kickers last season, converting just 24-of-35 field-goal tries, but should now have a stranglehold on kicking duties in Washington

[manchild24]

Special teams coordinator Danny Smith indicated the Redskins have not "solved" the kicking situation, and may still sign a veteran to compete with Graham Gano.
Veteran Shayne Graham was released because he "wasn't the answer at kicker." Ouch. Gano is atop the depth chart because Graham kicked poorly, not because he's been impressive in his own right. This situation is fluid -- and one to avoid in fantasy leagues.

[manchild24]

John Beck (groin) has returned to 11-on-11 practices in Redskins camp.
Beck felt good and had no setbacks after practicing Saturday. "I do plan on playing" Friday night in Indianapolis, Beck said. It's not clear if he or Rex Grossman will start the second exhibition game

[manchild24]

Coach Mike Shanahan acknowledged Sunday that Chris Cooley (knee) is in question for the start of the regular season.
Asked if he was confident Cooley would be ready for Week 1, Shanahan replied, "I don't know." Cooley has already been dropped several spots in the Rotoworld Draft Guide, and this news will remove him from TE1 consideration altogether