The Redskins Blog

Redskins’ O-Line Injected With New Blood

(AP Photo)

The Washington Redskins have had well-documented struggles against the salary cap this offseason, but continue to address the depth and competition along the offensive line.

In addition to retaining starting right tackle Tyler Polumbus, the Redskins injected some new blood with longtime Tampa Bay Buccaneers tackle Jeremy Trueblood.

Besides having one of the most awesome football names ever, Trueblood comes with a résumé of success dating back to his days at Boston College, continuing through his first seven years at the professional level in the Sunshine State.

It appears that a competition is a’brewing at right tackle heading into training camp, as the Redskins seek their first back-to-back division titles since the 1983-84 seasons:

Thank you 4 all the love Redskin fans, looking forward to a great year. You guys are great fans #HTTR—
Jeremy Trueblood (@jeremyTRUEblood) March 15, 2013

Trueblood was a standout performer during his time at Boston College, starting 36 games during his career in Massachusetts and was one of the few steady forces during the schools transition from the Big East Conference to the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Placing a bet with a friend soon about random football facts? Stump them with this one: Trueblood was twice voted to Second Team All-Conference honors once in the Big East as well as the ACC.

The Eagles went 4-0 in bowl games during his tenure, averaging over 37 points per game, which included a 51 point onslaught over Toledo in the 2002 Motor City Bowl.

Trueblood is the second Boston College Eagle to join the Redskins in the offseason as nose tackle Ron Brace signed in February.

Going into the 2006 NFL Draft, Trueblood ranked as one of the best tackles in a very strong class of offensive lineman that included D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Marcus McNeil, a two-time Pro Bowler who was drafted by A.J. Smith, Senior Executive for the Redskins.

With the 59th pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, Buccaneers general manager Bruce Allen selected the Boston College star and after looking at what he did during his time in Tampa Bay, its easy to see why Allen liked him so much to not only draft him, but to reunite in Washington as well.

During his seven years blocking for Buccaneer’s halfbacks, there were five different players who lead the team in rushing and three of them had career-highs in rushing yards.

LeGarrette Blount, Cadillac Williams, Ernest Graham, and Warrick Dunn all rank in the top ten for most rushing yards in team history.

In the years that Trueblood opened up lanes for backs to get through, their season totals rank in the top 20 in team history in yards.

With Trueblood’s history of opening up creases to burst through and the record-setting duo of Morris and Griffin III taking the pigskin, the league’s top rushing attack just became that much more dynamic.

With the additions of Trueblood and veteran Tony Pashos, the competition at the right tackle position is quickly heating up. Keep your eyes on both men as training camp approaches.

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