The Redskins Blog

2013 Draft Members Have Chance To Start

(AP Photo)

Unlike last year’s draft where the Redskins were determined to move up from their original draft slot of sixth overall to draft one of the biggest college prospects, the team stood pat during the 2013 NFL Draft and let everyone know that they weren’t going anywhere.

They didn’t move and they didn’t drop back; they kept their seven draft picks and added depth and addressed need at the same time.

Standing firm with what we currently have has been a recurring theme this offseason as the Redskins return all but one starter from last year’s squad.

Going into the draft, though, secondary was an area of interest for the 2012 NFC East champs as it seemed like every “expert” was tabbing a corner or safety to come to the Nation’s Capital.

Did they predict three DBs, two of which led the NCAA in interception, would join the team?

Was there anyone that thought they would land Phillip Thomas and Baccari Rambo, both of whom were linked to the N0. 51 overall pick, in the latter half of the draft?

ESPN.com NFC East blogger Dan Graziano looked into his crystal ball for the NFL future for trio and sees some starters for the upcoming campaign.

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Ball-Hawking CB Amerson Taken At No. 51

(AP Photo)

Redskins Nation–finally after the first 50 picks had been made NC State cornerback David Amerson became the newest member of the Redskins with the 51st overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Amerson will be the newest member of a secondary that is headlined by former Pro Bowlers DeAngelo Hall and Brandon Meriweather as well as 2012 draft pick Richard Crawford.

Many predicted that the Redskins would take a defensive player with the No. 51 pick and well those predictions have indeed come true, but did they predict the former Jack Tatum Award winner?

In 2011, the NC State product had 13 interceptions.

Yes 13. That isn’t a typo.

Oh, and did I tell you he also has 4.4 speed?

The Redskins will gladly take that.

Here are some draft profiles and a highlight video to get you acquainted with the newest Burgundy and Golder:

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2013 Draft Profile: Darius Slay

(AP Photo)

[Note-This post does not indicate any plans for the draft. It is merely a more in-depth look at a prospect that has been floated around the No. 51 pick in mock drafts.]

With the NFL Draft just over 48 hours away, teams are putting the finishing touches on their draft boards of the prospects they are narrowing their sites on.

Currently, the Redskins still do not posses a first round draft pick. Washington’s first round pick  (22nd overall) pick is now in the hands of the St. Louis Rams after last year’s trade that landed AP Offensive Rookie of Year Robert Griffin III.

This week, I will be profiling a handful of prospects that could be joining the Burgundy and Gold this weekend.

So without further adieu I present to you the first draft prospect: Mississippi State safety Darius Slay.

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Griffin III Refuses To Be Complacent

AP Photo

Quarterback Robert Griffin III sat down with Larry Michael on the set of Redskins Nation to recap all that went down in his first year in the Nation’s Capital after a truly spectacular career at Baylor University.

Washington handed the reigns of the franchise to the 2011 Heisman winner as he left little doubt that moving up to the second overall pick in last year’s draft will go down as one of the greatest trades in history.

The AP Offensive Rookie of the Year shared his thoughts in the first segment on:

–His nerves before stepping out of the tunnel at New Orleans Week 1.

–Saints fans joining the Redskins faithful that day chanting his name in unison.

–On just how much he hates to lose especially close calls such as the team’s 31-28 loss to the St. Louis Rams in Week 2.

–We all know that the man is driven to be the best out there each and every week, so how does he feel about complacency?

–Stepping out of the locker room and into the spotlight in front of a rabid crowd at FedExField for the first time.

–On concentrating on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after Brandon Meriweather and Aldrick Robinson collided during warm ups.

So sit back, put on some headphones if your at work and hear Griffin III give an inside look at how his freshman campaign went in his own words below.

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What Will Make Us A Playoff Team in 2013?

By now you know all about the 2012 campaign where the Burgundy and Gold secured their first division title since the turn of the century.

While the season that was will go down as one of the most exciting  in franchise history thanks in large part to the instant injection of highlight reel moments by rookie record-breakers Robert Griffin III and Alfred Morris, the team as a whole stepped up their “game” after the bye week and made those that told them it was time to consider the season a lost cause bite their tongues.

With the 2013 season fast approaching (OTAs start next week!) its time to look forward to what the campaign can bring to the DMV.

As I was browsing the Internet this morning I came across an article by Yahoo! Sports that states what they believe will be key to the Redskins making back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since they made it three straight years from 1990-1992. (Also, in the second year—the Redskins made the playoffs they won Super Bowl XXVI. Just sayin’.)

So lets take a look at what they believe will help the franchise make the 2013 playoffs.

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Meriweather Vows To Come Back Stronger

(Photo by Brian Murphy // ExtremeSkins.com)

Brandon Meriweather on Sunday provided the kind of spark the Washington Redskins’ defense has been craving the entire season.

Unfortunately for Meriweather, his teammates, coaches and Redskins fans, the safety’s season has come to an abrupt end — just when it was getting off to a late start.

Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan said today that Meriweather will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL in his right knee, a day after Meriweather registered seven tackles, two pass breakups and an interception in the Redskins’ 31-6 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Meriweather suffered the injury in the third quarter of Sunday’s game. While chasing the ball carrier, his knee appeared to buckle without any other contact, and he was removed from the game for what was characterized after the game as a “precautionary” measure.

But an MRI performed today on the knee told a different story.

Meriweather took to Twitter today to relay a message to the Redskins fans:

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Meriweather Intrigued By Redskins History

The 2011 season was a disappointing campaign for both the Redskins starting safeties and Brandon Meriweather.

The Redskins thought they had a pair of dynamic playmakers in LaRon Landry and Oshiomogho Atogwe, but poor health and performance led to their departure.  Coming off of back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons in New England, Meriweather was cut on the eve of the regular season, before landing in Chicago.

The 2012 season is tailor-made for dual redemption.

Despite adding an army of safeties this offseason, Meriweather has an opportunity to compete for either starting safety position.  It appealed to Brandon that teammate, mentor and close friend Sean Taylor starred for the Redskins.  It appealed to him because he could showcase his talents (Live) on a young defense.

And it turns out that the vibrant, living history of the Redskins was the icing on top. Read more »

Meriweather Happy To Follow Sean Taylor

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When Brandon Meriweather was added to the secondary mix in Washington, he was following in the familiar footsteps of friend and former teammate Sean Taylor.

A year behind Sean at the University of Miami, Meriweather shared the field with him for two seasons before Taylor was drafted by the Redskins.  Meriweather counted Sean amoung his close personal friends, and talked about how Taylor helped to shape his game even after he left for Washington.

“He was a great…person,” he said in reflection.  ”Y’know, whenever I needed him, I could call him and he would answer, and he always gave me the advice that I needed.  He was the person that I looked up to, and I’m sure that anyone who played with him looked up to him too.”

While Meriweather leaned on Taylor for advice, he didn’t concern himself with trying to be No. 21.  As far as he was concerned, there was only one Sean Taylor. Read more »

Start To Free Agency Graded A Success

AP Image

In the history of the Redskins franchise, the team has been wryly crowned ‘the offseason champions’ many times for its expenditures in free agency.  We don’t need to revisit those.

But those days appear to be a thing of the past, as the Redskins–for the second-consecutive year–are earning high praise for their measured additions in free agency.

Even while preparing for an unexpectedly amended salary cap number, the Redskins have managed to add quality talent on both sides of the board, earning praise from industry gurus.

ESPN NFL expert John Clayton named the Redskins among his three winners after the first three days of free agency.  Coming at it from a fiscal responsibility angle, here’s what he had to say: Read more »

Where The Redskins Stand In Free Agency

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What The Team Accomplished So Far:

In Day One, the team focused primarily on adding offensive weapons at the receiver position.  The Redskins locked up two quality weapons, as Kyle and Mike Shanahan continue to makeover the roster with the pieces they want.

Now the emphasis in the market seems to have shifted to the defensive side of the ball with the signing of Pro Bowl safety Brandon Meriweather.

Whether it’s playing up close to the line as a run enforcer, or playing centerfield against the pass, Meriweather classified himself as a playmaker, and his numbers support it.  He was brought in with the opportunity to rebuild his young career after a disappointing 2011 that saw him cut and used incorrectly by the Chicago Bears.

In Jim Haslett’s defense, he should be given the freedom and opportunity to make the plays that made him a top safety in the NFL in 2009 and ’10. Read more »