2018 Washington Home Opener Recap

Tickets won't sell
Washington smells
The running game laid an egg
Coach Gruden, what's the deal?
At least they didn't kneel



Final Score: Colts - 21, Redskins - 9

(Photo: Comedy Central)

Caleb Brantley Signs With Redskins

The Washington Redskins' much-improved defensive line just got even better.

Only two days after being released by the Browns, Caleb Brantley found himself signing in Washington.

Brantley, a projected second-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, dropped to Cleveland in the sixth round. The University of Florida product watched his draft stock fall due to a prior misdemeanor battery charge in Gainesville, Florida.

(Photo: redskins.com)

While at a bar, a woman claimed that Brantley punched her in the face, knocking her unconscious. Brantley pleaded with officers that she attacked him first, which led to his use of self-defense. Charges were not pursued because of lack of evidence and the accuser being intoxicated while under age.

At 24 years old, Brantley provides the Redskins with another young piece to build around. 

"I can add pressure up the middle and just be a disruptive force. That's what kind of player I am. I just get in there and get vertical and penetrate. And I feel like I can be that kind of player here," Brantley said.

In order to make room for Brantley, the Redskins had to release someone. That someone was defensive lineman Anthony Lanier II. With Lanier gone, the new-look defensive line will feature Jonathan Allen, DaRon Payne, and Matt Ioannidis as starters, with Brantley, Tim Settle, and Ziggy Hood as backups.

53-man Redskins Roster Projection for 2018

Quarterback (2): Alex Smith, Colt McCoy

Running Back (4): Adrian Peterson, Rob Kelley, Chris Thompson, Kapri Bibbs

Tight End (3): Jordan Reed, Vernon Davis, Jeremy Sprinkle

Wide Receiver (7): Josh Doctson, Paul Richardson, Jamison Crowder, Brian Quick, Trey Quinn, Cam Sims, Simmie Cobbs Jr.

Offensive line (8): Trent Williams, Shawn Lauvao, Chase Roullier, Brandon Scherff, Morgan Moses, Ty Nsekhe, Kyle Kalis, Geron Christian Sr.

(Photo: princewilliamtimes.com)

Defensive line (7): Jonathan Allen, DaRon Payne, Matt Ioannidis, Anthony Lanier II, Tim Settle, Ziggy Hood, Phil Taylor Sr.

Linebacker (9): Ryan Kerrigan, Zach Brown, Preston Smith, Ryan Anderson, Mason Foster, Pernell McPhee, Shaun Dion Hamilton, Josh Harvey-Clemons, Martrell Spaight

Cornerback (6): Josh Norman, Quinton Dunbar, Fabian Moreau, Greg Stroman, Danny Johnson, Adonis Alexander

Safety (4): D.J. Swearinger, Montae Nicholson, Deshazor Everett, Troy Apke

Special Teams (3): Dustin Hopkins, Tress Way, Nick Sundberg

Redskins Sign a Future Hall of Famer

The Washington Redskins finally have their starting running back for the upcoming season.

Shortly after hosting free agents Adrian Peterson, Jamaal Charles, and Orleans Darkwa, the front office decided to roll with Peterson. The seven-time Pro Bowler has signed a one-year contract worth $1.015 million; the veteran minimum.

Peterson, 33, provides the Redskins with a first and second down runner, while Chris Thompson remains engraved as the third-down back.

(Photo: NFL Instagram)

Most NFL pundits will say Peterson is washed up—Trent Williams politely disagrees.

"I don't understand the stigma when people get 31, 32, 33 — they somehow just slow down?" Williams said, per The Washington Times. "You don't. That's a gifted athlete, you know? He has a gift. Did Darrell Green ever lose his speed? He didn't. Some things are just always with you. It's you, it's your makeup, it's your DNA... So, no, he's the same athlete that you're used to seeing."

Depending on how the final preseason games play out, the running back depth chart, in order, could be: Adrian Peterson, Samaje Perine, Chris Thompson, Kapri Bibbs.

Running Back to the Drawing Board

After losing future star Derrius Guice to a season-ending ACL injury, the Washington Redskins will now host some notable free agent running backs.

Headlining the group of veterans are Jamaal Charles, Adrian Peterson, and Orleans Darkwa. Among those, Peterson has had the most successful career—12,276 rushing yards and 99 touchdowns—but he is now 33 years old.

(Photo: foxsports.com)

Originally, head coach Jay Gruden was against rummaging the bargain bin for outside help. That stance changed when Samaje Perine and Byron Marshall both limped off the field in the second preseason game versus the Jets.

At this stage, though, beggars can't be choosers. The Redskins need running backs to put on the field for the remaining preseason games. Otherwise, a recovering Chris Thompson, unproven Kapri Bibbs, and the so-called slimmer "Fit Rob" Kelley would have to shoulder the workload.

In honor of schools back in session, here is a simple math example: Peterson > Charles > Darkwa > Kelley.

First Unofficial 2018 Redskins Depth Chart

Keep in mind here, the key words are unofficial and first! The depth chart shows which players are starting at each position, and it will look drastically different before September 1.

Quarterback:
(1) Alex Smith
(2) Colt McCoy
(3) Kevin Hogan

Running Back:
(1) Rob Kelley
(2) Chris Thompson, Kapri Bibbs
(3) Samaje Perine, Byron Marshall
(4) Derrius Guice, Martez Carter

Fullback:
(1) Elijah Wellman

Wide Receiver:
(1) Josh Doctson, Jamison Crowder, Paul Richardson Jr.
(2) Brian Quick, Maurice Harris, Robert Davis
(3) Trey Quinn, Cam Sims, Simmie Cobbs Jr.
(4) Darvin Kidsy, Shay Fields

Tight End:
(1) Jordan Reed
(2) Vernon Davis
(3) Jeremy Sprinkle, Matt Flanagan
(4) Manasseh Garner, Garrett Hudson

Left Tackle:
(1) Trent Williams
(2) Geron Christian Sr.
(3) T.J. Clemmings

Left Guard:
(1) Shawn Lauvao
(2) Kyle Kalis
(3) Isaiah Williams

Center:
(1) Chase Roullier
(2) Tony Bergstrom
(3) Demetrius Rhaney
(4) Casey Dunn

Right Guard:
(1) Brandon Scherff
(2) Tyler Catalina
(3) Cameron Jefferson

Right Tackle:
(1) Morgan Moses
(2) Ty Nsekhe
(3) John Kling
(4) Timon Parris

Defensive End:
(1) Jonathan Allen, Matt Ioannidis
(2) Ziggy Hood, Anthony Lanier II
(3) Ondre Pipkins, Tavaris Barnes Sr.

Nose Tackle:
(1) Da'Ron Payne
(2) Tim Settle
(3) Phil Taylor Sr.

Strongside Linebacker:
(1) Preston Smith
(2) Ryan Anderson
(3) Pete Robertson
(4) Vontae Diggs

Middle Linebacker:
(1) Zach Brown, Mason Foster
(2) Martrell Spaight, Zach Vigil
(3) Josh Harvey-Clemons, Shaun Dion Hamilton
(4) Jerod Fernandez

Weakside Linebacker:
(1) Ryan Kerrigan
(2) Pernell McPhee
(3) Dadi Nicolas

Cornerback:
(1) Josh Norman, Quinton Dunbar
(2) Fabian Moreau, Orlando Scandrick
(3) Danny Johnson, Adonis Alexander
(4) Ranthony Texada, Greg Stroman

Strong Safety:
(1) Montae Nicholson
(2) Deshazor Everett
(3) Quin Blanding
(4) Prince Charles Iworah

Free Safety:
(1) D.J. Swearinger
(2) Trop Apke
(3) Kenny Ladler
(4) Fish Smithson

Alex Trebek Predicts the Redskins' Future

Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek recently stopped by ABC7 Studios to discuss warm weather and D.C. sports—which included the Redskins.

The game show icon had praise for the Burgundy and Gold, stating, "I'm gonna make a prediction now about my favorite football team, the Washington Redskins."

*cue dramatic look at the camera*

"Redskins, this is your year. You're not gonna win the Super Bowl, but you're gonna get closer than you've been in a long, long time," continued Trebek.

A pessimistic fan would view Trebek's prediction as a letdown season for the Redskins. A diehard fan, however, would embrace a deep playoff run with open arms; considering the team has only made two playoff appearances in the last decade.

Later on, when asked about keeping his beard for good Redskins fortune, Trebek gave his take on the matter.

"No. In football, there's no such thing as a playoff beard, and to be honest with you, I don't know how that started in hockey. Is it supposed to be for good luck? Because what you have to realize is that all of the other teams have players who grew their playoff beards, and they all lost. So it is not a luck thing."

Trebek is a known supporter for keeping the supposed controversial Redskins name.

Redskins Partake in Supplemental Draft

For the first time since 2009, the Washington Redskins have selected a player in the NFL Supplemental Draft.

Virginia Tech cornerback Adonis Alexander was the apple of Washington's eye, and to get him, they forfeited a sixth-round pick in next year's draft. Standing at 6-foot-3, Alexander brings the height and physicality the team lacks at that position.

(Photo: usatoday.com)

Talent-wise, he was pegged to go higher in the draft, but due to a marijuana arrest in 2016, and his academic ineligibility, Alexander's stock fell. With some mentoring from defensive backs coach Torrian Gray—whom he played his freshman season under at Tech—Alexander has all the traits to be successful.

Only 21 years old, Alexander fits the Redskins' blueprint to get a younger roster to build around. Fingers crossed he will pan out better than Washington's last supplemental pick, Jeremy Jarmon, a third-round pick who retired at age 24.

Redskins Still Have Money to Spend

One thing the Washington Redskins have been efficient with in recent times is winning... free agency. While many teams lose talented players, due to salary cap restraints, Washington has been able to re-sign their own, in addition to adding key free agents.

Some could argue that Washington's free agent finds don't always pan out. At least, however, they have sufficient funds to be active in the market.

This year, for instance, the Redskins have approximately $13 million remaining after 'free agent frenzy' and draft pick signings.

There is still a void at the wide receiver position, and Dez Bryant happens to be unsigned. Bryant, 29, made it clear that he would like to stay in the NFC East, and the Redskins happen to be in the NFC East. No inside rumors have linked the two sides together since April, when Bryant became a free agent.

Assuming the Redskins pass on Bryant, it begs the question of why bulk at Kirk Cousins' asking price when they had every chance to keep him?

Supposedly, the idea was to save cap space by letting Cousins walk, and to use that saved money toward other positions. The problem is, by the time they (handsomely) paid Alex Smith—their new starting QB—and made some lesser-known signings, they could have simply extended Cousins after all. Not to mention, they would still have slot cornerback Kendall Fuller had they not traded for Smith.

Perhaps the team's front office knows exactly what they are doing. Perhaps, and more likely though, they are pawns in a twisted game played only in the Twilight Zone.

Number Change for Quinton Dunbar

After three seasons of rocking ex-Redskins player Chris Cooley's No. 47, Quinton Dunbar is changing numbers.

The young cornerback will now don No. 23—Deangelo Hall's longtime number, who recently retired after 14 NFL seasons.

(Photo: nbcsports.com)

As an undrafted wide receiver in the 2015 NFL Draft, Dunbar signed with the Redskins. He transitioned to cornerback after injuries decimated the team's secondary.

Dunbar is expected a larger role after Washington lost two of their top corners in Bashaud Breeland [free agency] and Kendall Fuller [trade]. The Redskins rewarded his improved play by giving him a three-year, $10.5 million contract extension this offseason.