Five Players who Need to Step up in 2011
Next season the Washington Redskins will need a lot of improvements in different areas on the team. Thinking about the players we currently have on the roster, I have compiled a list of five that I believe CAN and NEED to step up in 2011.
Malcolm Kelly will be entering his 4th NFL season next year and has yet to solidify his selection in the second round of the 2008 draft (51st overall). Kelly was viewed by many, along with Devin Thomas, to be the future at wide-out for the Redskins. Standing at 6-4 he has the size to be a number one in the NFL, but has been plagued by injuries thus far and has 28 catches for 365 yards in his career, most all of which were gained in 2009. Many may remember that Kelly was injured in training camp last season and was put on the injured reserve list fairly early in the year.
This coming season will be a critical one for Kelly as far as his career is concerned. The Redskins have been patient to this point with Kelly, but if an injury comes or he does not produce early, Malcolm will find himself on a different team, or out of football altogether. The possibilities are endless with the thought of Moss, Kelly, Armstrong and Hankerson at wide receiver for the Redskins in the future.
Selvish Capers could very well be the right tackle of the future for the Washington Redskins. He spent last year on the practice squad learning the system. The first memory that comes to mind for Capers is that he was projected to go in the 4th round of last year’s draft and slipped to Washington at 231st overall in the seventh round. Capers is viewed to be a natural fit in Mike Shanahan’s zone blocking scheme and may make a solid push at the starting lineup this season depending on what the Redskins do in free agency (when it finally does open). At 6-5, 315 he has the size to open holes and was a beast at West Virginia, while in college. Mike Shanahan has a knack for getting lineman in the 7th rounds (see Tom Nalen) and Capers looks the part but may still need some development.
It is NO secret to anyone that knows anything about the Washington Redskins that there has been a glaring hole at the free safety position since the late Sean Taylor was killed. Oshiomogho Atogwe could very well give the Redskins the player they need to solidify their secondary, which has been just this side of suspect in recent years. It is a refreshing thought to think that a natural FS is finally going to lineup for Washington on Sunday’s this fall.
Atogwe has had a pretty decent NFL career thus far logging 393 tackles, 22 interceptions and 16 forced fumbles but he also is 29 and will be entering his 7th NFL season, which means he will need to produce and make a difference from day 1. Atogwe was a mainstay in St. Louis and won the Rams team MVP award in 2008. He should add experience and skill to a defense that did include free safety as a weakness before he was signed.
Kory Lichtensteiger may have been a player that most all Redskins fans did not know existed until last year, but coach Mike Shanahan knows him all to well-being as he drafted him in his last year at Denver in the 4th round with the 108th overall pick. Lichtensteiger will be entering his third NFL season and started 14 games last year for the Redskins.
Kory was used last year as a guard but his natural position is at center, depending on what the Redskins can do in free agency Lichtensteiger could either play at guard again next season or could push Casey Rabach for the center position. With a line that was considered to be one of the worst in the NFL last year there is a major need for Lichtensteiger to step up.
As a rookie Perry Riley mainly got playing time with the special teams and a few plays here and there on the defense toward the end of 2010. Riley could very well be London Fletcher’s future replacement, but as of now, he can make a push for the other inside linebacker position in coach Jim Haslett’s 3-4 defense. 2010 was a learning year for Riley, who was taken in the 4th round of the 2010 draft (103rd overall) as he logged only seven tackles in very limited playing time over eight games.
With the addition of Ryan Kerrigan to the defense in this year’s draft, the possibility that Rocky McIntosh will leave via free agency and the fact that most defenses in the NFL will focus on Brian Orakpo, whoever wins the other inside linebacker position in DC should have a stellar year. All things point at Riley as a candidate for that spot along with Robert Henson and maybe even Lorenzo Alexander. Competition for positions will be high along the front seven for the Redskins in training camp and preseason this year.
all copyrights for pictures included belong to the Washington Redskins
