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Punching the clock Hard work key to getting on Schottenheimer's good side
Updated: Thursday August 02, 2001 8:49 PM
I visited the Redskins camp at Dickinson College earlier this week and listened as Marty Schottenheimer told his team that the 53 best players may not make the roster. Rather, it's the 53 hardest-working players who will make the club. It’s old-fashioned football for Dan Snyder’s team. Schottenheimer has done a lot so far to change the image of this team, but does he have enough talent to turn around the fortunes of this proud franchise? Nearly 50 percent of last year's starters have departed as a new coach and the salary cap have forced personnel moves. Most notable on the absentee list are middle linebacker Derek Smith, defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield, cornerback Deion Sanders, quarterback Brad Johnson, wide receivers James Thrash and Albert Connell, and offensive guards Tre Johnson and Keith Sims. As I watched practice, I couldn't recall a team with a .500 or better record that had undergone such an overhaul one year later. Can a well-traveled Jeff George produce more wins than Johnson? Can inexperienced guards Derrick Fletcher and Michael Moore replace two former All-Pro guards?
Former defensive end Kenard Lang has been moved inside to replace Stubblefield and he’s a work in progress at this new position. In my opinion, he still plays too high and appeared to struggle against the run, but he is adjusting to a difficult position change. Last year the Redskins had the best tandem of backup ends in the league with Lang and N.D. Kalu (who signed with the Eagles in the offseason). Right now there is no quality depth behind veteran starters Bruce Smith and Marco Coleman. Lack of depth is also an issue at quarterback and running back. Todd Husak has a grand total of two NFL passes under his belt. Donnell Bennett rushed for 24 yards in 27 carries last year with the Chiefs. I’m not sure the signing of Ki-Jana Carter is going to help the backfield much, either. Last season George would have come in at quarterback and Skip Hicks or Larry Centers would have filled in for Stephen Davis. The dropoff is significant now. While marquee names Sanders and Mark Carrier are gone from a defense that ranked fourth in the NFL last season, there are quality players ready to perform in their places. Champ Bailey is a premier corner and 41-year-old Darrell Green should be able to get one more season out of his aging body. The player who impressed me very much in practice was free-agent cornerback Donovan Greer, signed off the Bills’ roster. He could challenge for a starting job and at the very least be a quality nickelback. The safety job is wide open with David Terrell, a special teams player a year ago, getting the first shot at replacing Carrier. Undrafted rookie safety Ifeanyi Ohalete has the Redskins coaches and personnel people talking. The former USC Trojan has a command of the defense and a presence on the field. Look for him to make this team. Two other players who have caught the eyes of the coaching staff are receiver Justin Skaggs and fullback Bryan Johnson. Skaggs, undrafted out of Evangel College, reminds me of Wayne Chrebet. Johnson, who was on Washington’s practice squad last year, has a style like Giants fullback Greg Comella. It was clear to me Schottenheimer likes the way both of these players are performing. The team’s top draft picks, Clemson wide receiver Rod Gardner and Mississippi State cornerback Fred Smoot, have not signed yet. They would be wise to get in as soon as possible. In the meantime, Schottenheimer is prepared to go to battle with the toughest 53 players left a month from now. In my 10 years doing personnel work in the NFL, I tried to live by this piece of solid advice: Trust your eyes. Well, my eyes saw some talented playmakers like linebacker LaVar Arrington, running back Stephen Davis, and maybe the best pair of young offensive tackles in the league in Jon Jansen and Chris Samuels. I saw wide receivers coach Richard Mann pushing Michael Westbrook harder than he's ever been pushed before. I saw a hands-on head coach and dynamic leader in Schottenheimer -- he’ll get an extra win or two out of this team just by the way he prepares. But these same eyes saw a team with little depth competing in a division with the Eagles and Giants. Even a one-game improvement to a 9-7 record will be difficult to attain. Right now, the Redskins look very much like a middle of the road NFL club hoping to get through the season without any critical injuries. Good luck, Marty. Pat Kirwan, who spent 12 years as a pro football coach, scout and personnel administrator, is an NFL analyst for CNN/Sports Illustrated and a regular contributor to CNNSI.com.
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