The Redskins Blog

Should Evan Royster Move To Receiver?

(AP Photo)

As the Washington Redskins prepare to defend their 2012 NFC East title, suggestions have become rampant as to what pieces can be added and adjustments made to help the Redskins not only get their second straight division title but their fourth Lombardi Trophy.

Over on SI.com is a 2013 offseason preview for the Redskins, highlighting several areas of success, concern, and modification that can help get Washington over the hump. Let’s just say some of them are creative.

Read more »

Morris, Lichtensteiger Make ‘All-Joe Team’

(AP Photo)

The 21st All-Joe Team was recently announced by USA Today and Redskins running back Alfred Morris and guard Kory Lichtensteiger were selected.

The All-Joe Team was originally comprised by USA Today Sports writer Larry Weisman in honor of Kansas City defensive lineman Joe Phillips after he helped teammates Derrick Thomas and Neil Smith combined to take down quarterbacks 29 times during the 1992 season.

While Thomas and Smith received the brunt of attention, Phillips was instrumental in paving the way to get his teammates to the ball.

The team is an annual presentation of some of the hardest working players in the league. Often, these players are deemed “over-achievers” and rarely get the same level of media attention that some of the top superstars in the league receive. The only parameter of inclusion to the All-Joe Team is that the player has yet to be selected to the Pro Bowl.

However, many All-Joe Team selections go on to be selected to the annual contest in the Rainbow State. Prime example: 2011 All-Joe and 2012 Pro Bowl special teamer Lorenzo Alexander.

Find out why Morris and Lichtensteiger were deserving of the honor here:

Read more »

Will You Be My [Belated] Valentine?

Mother Nature graces the DMV with brisk winter breezes during the month of February, causing many to be slightly on the grouchy side at times as they wait for the flowers to bloom and for family beach vacation season to kick into gear.

Today, however, spirits among the masses seems to be a little more cheery than a usual day during the shortest month of the year. There’s been an increase in heart-shaped objects, bouquets of flowers, and people ignoring their beach-bod diets in favor of adding some chocolate to their routines.

It’s almost like there’s a feeling of love in the air.

Well folks that’s because today is Valentine’s Day, the annual day of love!

Redskins Nation has a lot to love during this holiday as we are currently under blue skies, Punxsutawney Phil ( for those of you who don’t know, Phil is the famous groundhog of Groundhog Day) saw his shadow forecasting spring is on its way, and knowing that their favorite football team shocked the league this season claiming the NFC East title may be the sweetest treat of all!

The Redskins themselves have caught the love bug and have been spending their day with loved ones.

Find out what some of the players have been doing after being struck with Cupid’s arrow here:

Read more »

Royster Ready For Different Kind Of ‘Chip’

(AP Photo)

As the DMV slowly dethaws from the blistering cold weather this past week, forecasts predict warmer weather upon the horizon. While the NFL season come to a conclusion this weekend, thoughts are beginning to shift towards spring and summer plans.

While the NFL is no doubt the best league in the United States, as the season ends and the temperatures rise, spring brings one of the best times of  the year for sports fans.

The NFL Draft, MLB Opening Day, NCAA March Madness, the NBA playoffs, and the NHL Playoffs are among the best sporting spectacles of the season.

However, as the thermometer increases the grass isn’t the only green that can be seen. The Masters is internationally recognized for its green jacket given to the winner of the prestigious tournament.

The PGA Tour “chipped” into full force this past weekend and perked the interest of two Redskins players.

Find out what the players had to say here about their “driving”  desire of the game:

Read more »

Who Will Lead The Redskins In Rushing?

(AP photos)

A recent @Redskins Twitter poll turned up some interesting results about who Redskins fans feel will lead the team in rushing for the 2012 season.

The interesting aspect is that one of the candidates is a quarterback — rookie Robert Griffin III. Though many have expressed concern about Griffin III getting too many carries per game and risking injury, there’s no denying that he’s very dangerous with the ball in his hands.

Here’s the results of that poll, which got more than 450 votes this past weekend prior to the Redskins’ Week 3 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals:

Read more »

YOU PICK: Who Will Lead In Rushing?

A solid rushing attack is one of the most dangerous aspects of any offense in the National Football League.

This especially rings true this season for the Washington Redskins, who have a talented rookie quarterback that has been able to utilize the running game through their first two games to open up the passing game down the field.

In those two games, the Redskins have combined to rush for 329 yards and four touchdowns — two each from quarterback Robert Griffin III and running back Alfred Morris.

Griffin III and Morris are half of a four-headed rushing monster that the Redskins could unleash at any time this season. Second-year running backs Roy Helu Jr. and Evan Royster are also very capable of picking up huge chunks of yardage on the ground at any point in the game.

That being said, it’s time to break out the crystal ball and predict the following:

Who do YOU think will lead the Redskins in rushing this season?

Here’s how you get involved:

Read more »

Video: Redskins Have Fun At Play 60 Event

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

(Photos via Jose Argueta and the Redskins Instagram)

See more photos from the Play 60 Mini-Combine

More than 120 students from nearby Sterling Middle School got a chance hang out with their favorite Washington Redskins players and get in a good workout Tuesday.

The Redskins played host to an NFL Play 60 Mini-Combine at their Ashburn, Va., facility, and took advantage of their new indoor training facility by taking things inside as rains and heavy winds moved over the area.

The event was a team effort between the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation, Commonwealth Orthopaedics, DePuy Mitek, Inc. and Safe Kids Worldwide.

The students were being trained with the help of nine Redskins players who were happy to participate on their day off Tuesday, including:

Read more »

YOU PICK: Who Starts at RB Today?

(AP photos)

Good morning, Redskins fans! I think we can all agree that we’ve been waiting to say this for a long, long time now: it’s finally Opening Day, 2012.

The Redskins open up the 2012 slate on the road today as they face off against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in Louisiana. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET; noon CT.

There’s lots of sure-bets when looking at today’s game from the Redskins side of things. First off, a rookie — Robert Griffin III — is going to start at quarterback. Secondly, the defensive front seven is back from last season and is looking to lead the team to new heights this year.

But what seems to be on the minds of several people the last couple weeks is: who’s going to start at running back for the Redskins? Will it be one of the second-year guys like Evan Royster or Roy Helu Jr.? Or will the rookie, Alfred Morris, get the starting nod?

Luckily for you, the Redskins Blog is allowing you to step into head coach Mike Shanahan’s shoes this morning and pick which running back you’d start today against the Saints:

Read more »

Evan Royster Explains Number Change

Evan Royster said he felt like “a new man” Monday at practice, as the Redskins prepare to take on the New Orleans Saints in both team’s 2012 season opener.

Royster was practicing for the first time in uniform No. 22 Monday. He wore No. 35 for most of his rookie season in 2011 (he wore No. 25 for part of the preseason before switching to No. 35).

The No. 22 is nothing new to Royster. He wore that number when he became Penn State’s all-time leader in rushing yards.

But, all kidding aside, Royster said Monday the decision to change his number really had no significance. He said he jumped at the opportunity to wear No. 22 when its former occupant, cornerback Kevin Barnes, was traded to the Detroit Lions.

Read more »

Running Back Situation Up In The Air

(AP photo)

In 1995, the decision to feature just one running back the entire season was pretty much made up for then-Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan.

That’s because a 23-year-old sixth-round draft pick named Terrell Davis quickly showed the Broncos — and the rest of the National Football League — that he had the skills to be the best rusher in the NFL.

Read more »