spanishomelette Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 Fully Healthy, White Eager to Get Going By Gary Fitzgerald Redskins.com May 12, 2006 http://www.redskins.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=17177 Perhaps no other Redskins player is looking forward to the start of OTAs than Manuel White, Jr. White suffered a fractured fibula in the Redskins' preseason finale on Sept. 1, a crushing blow because it cost him his rookie campaign. One day later, he was placed on injured reserve. Manuel White, Jr., at the Redskins-Ravens scrimmage in August 2005. (Don Wright Photo) When Organized Team Activities (OTAs) start on Tuesday, May 16, White will make his return to the Redskins Park practice fields for the first time since the injury. He says the injury is 100 percent and that he's fully healthy. "Just going out there and practicing again--there's nothing like just being out there with your teammates, sweating and just going through everything that they've been going through," White said. "Last year was frustrating just watching them go through the ups and downs. Even in the bad times, I wanted to be there." After the injury, White had surgery to repair his leg and was on crutches for months. During the 2005 regular season, he would show up at Redskins Park regularly for rehabilitation work. "I was on crutches so long, I was wondering when I'd be able to walk again," he said. "I was waiting for the next time I could put on another shoe." White started jogging regularly in early February so that he could participate fully in voluntary off-season workouts. He has participated in everything from weight training to running various drills. White, a 6-2, 245-pounder out of UCLA, was the Redskins' fourth-round draft choice (120th overall) in the 2005 NFL Draft. He was viewed as a legitimate red zone threat coming out of college. At UCLA, as a fullback, he finished his career with 1,814 rushing yards and 19 rushing touchdowns. He also recorded 52 receptions for 518 yards and three touchdowns. White also had a prolific high school career, rushing for 6,746 yards and a remarkable 84 touchdowns in four years. Entering the NFL with the Redskins last season, White had to transition from fullback to the H-back, sort of a hybrid tight end/fullback position that head coach Joe Gibbs has employed for years. With Al Saunders taking over the reins of the Redskins' offense this year, White is re-learning the fullback position again. "I like the new offense so far," he said. "Last year, I struggled a little bit learning to play a new position. There's still some carryover from the offense last year to the offense this year, but I feel like I'm grasping it all a lot better. "I like the fact that we're all starting out on even ground--we're all learning the new offense at the same time. I'm not at a disadvantage or trying to catch up." What does he like about playing fullback? "I like the versatility of it," he said. "Obviously you block first, but you're also a receiver and you get the occasional carry. Fullback was the position I played at college. So I'll be able to go out there and play more on my instincts, instead of running around and thinking about what I have to do." Manuel White, Jr., fends off a tackle during 2005 training camp. (Don Wright Photo) Mike Sellers will likely get the first opportunity to start at fullback in Saunders' offense. That means White may have to compete for a backup job with Nehemiah Broughton, the Redskins' seventh-round draft pick in 2005. White may also need to establish himself on special teams in order to make the team coming out of training camp. That's all in the future, though. For now, White is just happy to be back on the field, practicing with his teammates again. "The offseason is going great," White said. "For the past 12 years of my life, August to December has always meant football. It was frustrating to be away from it, especially in my rookie year. So this year, I really want to go out there, show what I can do, and contribute to the team." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimster Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 once again, we're going to have some tough choices at RB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIDETHEWALRUS Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 When we drafted White I was really excited. I got the chance to watch him play on TV a couple times at UCLA and he really impressed me. At this point I think he is at a disadvantage because other players (Nemo) have had a chance to show what they can do on ST. I have been routing for Nemo to succeed and become our "big back" but I think White could be a better player. Only time will tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWinzit Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 I have been routing for Nemo to succeed and become our "big back" but I think White could be a better player.Only time will tell. I too have been routing for Nemo. White was the virtually forgotten player lasr season. He is a better running back than Nemo, but that position is not available. At 5'11" 250 Nemo is built better for the FB roll. These are the things that suck about scheme alterations. The continual turn over of good talent. All those wasted picks year after year with head coach or D & O coordinator changes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Bait Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 I think everyone has been routing for nemo! Even the PA announcer at FED EX likes him, all last year during preseason you would hear an exciting NEMO!!! whenever he touched the ball. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLusby Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 I think Nemo will be gone now that White will be back at his old position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdrun Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 Why are so many people in this thread "routing" for Nemo? In all seriousness, I'm very glad to see that we are now getting log jams at several key positions. The LB, RB, and FB positions are all stocked with young talent. There will be some tough decisions come cut day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cskin Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 Geez.... what a group here... wanting to "rout" a player. Whatever happened to just "rooting" for and supporting our players? :laugh: White will really have to impress to make the squad... both blocking and running/catching out of the backfield. If he does... I can see Nemo on the practice squad for a year and tough decisions next year if Betts is retained. I personally think Betts will be auditioning for a new job next year... and we may trade him if we can extend his deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ouvan59 Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 White suffered a fractured fibula in the Redskins' preseason finale on Sept. 1, a crushing blow because it cost him his rookie campaign. One day later, he was placed on injured reserve. To be honest, I think that "crushing blow" saved him from being cut last year. If memory serves me he struggled making the change from FB to H-Back and was pretty much a non-factor last preseason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRMADD Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 Manuel White is a loooong shot to make this squad. Sellers is a special teams stud and a good blocker, and I just don't know how many FBs are going to make the squad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carter23 Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 the rooting for scrub RBs has been around for awhile -- kenny watson, sultan McCollough, KI JANA CARTER(!!!), etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thirtyfive2seven Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 White's a decent player but I think he has a lot to prove. It's going to be hard for him to take a roster spot away from Nemo who has 1 year under his belt. White will be coming in almost like a rookie again having played 4 pre-season games before injury. May the coaching staff make the right decisions and we support em! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLongshot Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 White's a decent player but I think he has a lot to prove. It's going to be hard for him to take a roster spot away from Nemo who has 1 year under his belt. White will be coming in almost like a rookie again having played 4 pre-season games before injury. Actually, where White may have an advantage is that he was learning the H-Back position before he got hurt. Meanwhile, Nemo was learning things from the perspective of a RB. Since both seem to be canidates for the FB position, what White learned maybe more useful to the new position than what Nemo learned. It should be interesting, at the very least. Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCsportsfan53 Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 once again, we're going to have some tough choices at RB. No ****, man. We're loaded with talent and diversity at the RB and FB positions. Someone good is going to end up being cut. We'll probably lose Betts after this year, though, so it's good that we have so much depth there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrimmage Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 Manuel White is a loooong shot to make this squad. Sellers is a special teams stud and a good blocker, and I just don't know how many FBs are going to make the squad. Mike Sellers will be STARTING at the fullback position, meaning less reliance on his special teams play. The competition will be for the 2nd FB position. Also, I think that one of the main reasons everyone routs/roots for Nemo is his name. "Nemo" just sounds cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimster Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 Also, I think that one of the main reasons everyone routs/roots for Nemo is his name. "Nemo" just sounds cool. and when he scores we can say "It's been Broughton" ...sorry, bad movie reference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRMADD Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 Mike Sellers will be STARTING at the fullback position, meaning less reliance on his special teams play. The competition will be for the 2nd FB position. Yeah. I'm saying White won't be competing for the starting position -- that's pretty well locked up by Sellers. And there's a logjam behind him. White better be a special teams ace if he wants that second FB slot. I don't think Gibbs is going to keep many guys without a position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ouvan59 Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 and when he scores we can say "It's been Broughton"...sorry, bad movie reference. :laugh: :applause: :notworthy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rydemps Posted May 12, 2006 Share Posted May 12, 2006 I think Nemo will be gone now that White will be back at his old position. I agree. He was a fourth round pick and deserves a chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Sick Posted May 13, 2006 Share Posted May 13, 2006 Sellers is getting to the wrong side of 30 now (he's 9 days older than me, so I know how he feels.) Also, the way he hits can cause injuries to himself, as well as the unfortunate guy he's blocking. It'll be good to have Manny on the practice squad for depth. Heck, he might even beat out Rock, who seems to have pretty much maxed out his potential. (Sorry Blondie.) If Lumsden proves to be a viable alternative at RB, that might push Rock out. All in all, we have a pretty good situation depthwise at RB and FB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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