The writing was on the wall the past two seasons at Redskins Park for Jon Jansen. Battling back from injuries and more notably a dislocated ankle, Jansen looked to survive the competition to reclaim his role as the starting right tackle. Anyone that witnessed Jansen for interviews in the local media such as Comcast Sports before the draft saw him looking svelte at 295 lbs. He proclaimed himself healthy after such a serious injury and in the best shape in years, but somewhere along the way the first player in Dan Snyder's rebuild from the Gibbs version 1.0 era fell out of favor.
The alternatives now rest with Stephon Heyer who couldn't wrestle the starting position away from Jansen and suffered through an injury plagued 2009 season. Derrick Dockery's friend, Mike Williams hasn't played in the NFL since 2005 and has reportedly dropped down to a slimming sub 390 lbs. The other candidate vying for the starting tackle position is 29 year old Jeremy Bridges.
Interesting that nowhere was it mentioned that any of the remaining offensive tackles could run block as effectively as Jansen. Nor was it reported that anyone's pass blocking skills were superior enough to play on the same line as Chris Samuels. Usually when a player is cut there's a younger better player waiting for an opportunity to play, but not in this instance.
For two years the Redskins have thought about parting ways with Jansen, but failed to adequately supply a capable replacement. This shouldn't really shock true Redskins fans. After Dockery left for the Bills in free agency, the Redskins signed Kendell to replace him for what should have only been a year. The Redskins didn't find an alternative better then Kendell then or any year after and now resigned Dockery.
Now the Redskins are duplicating a Washington Nationals strategy two years removed. The Nationals brought in an abundance of pitchers for spring training looking to find starting pitching. Now the Skins look like the spitting image of a sad strategy.
For a team looking to improve and play football in January, not having a playoff caliber offensive tackle seems like a recipe for disaster. The Bengals released often injured and former 1st round draft pick Levi Jones OT. If the Redskins consider RT important then why not give a player looking for a change in scenery hoping to stay healthy a true second chance. He may be the best option at RT on the team.
It will be interesting to see what direction the Redskins go after the 2009 season concludes. During the Bobby Beathard & Joe Gibbs era the Redskins drafted or signed undrafted free agents like Jacoby, Grimm, May, Schlereth, Simmons, McKenzie and traded or signed as a free agent such payers as Lachey, Bostic, and Thielemann. Other then drafting Samuels & Jansen the Redskins have neglected much of what legacy and recipe for success the franchise built.
There's a good formula for success. Most teams consider it flattering, but the best teams continue to win with the formula. It doesn't take long to look at the Giants and see when they keep both sides of their lines full of talent they go deep into the playoffs.
The Redskins have taken a different path choosing outside and skill players over winning the battle in the trenches. The end of the 2009 draft for the Skins went quietly into the night as the team drafted a full back, tight end, and another receiver.
Some might argue that at the end of the draft who really cares who's taken, but it demonstrates exactly how far off the page the Redskins could be from the rest of the league. Why even draft a tight end after drafting Davis last year with Cooley in front of him? Why draft another receiver with five other ones already on the depth chart? Why draft a full back when the team already has a pro bowl player that's not even a top four option on every down? Few would care if a punter or kicker was taken late since both are areas of need, but why take the other three players? At least taking a duel role player such as a long snapper would make more sense and show signs of looking into the future as Ethan Albright is closing in on 40 years of age.
Hopefully the Redskins learn from the Jansen situation and find a true replacement to ensure quality at a position as well as avoid a media circus regarding personnel decision with a lack of strategy.
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