RedskinsSuperBowl21 Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 *This was posted in Breaking News but I wanted to open it for discussion. A starter for $370,000 a year what a bargain. Does anyone have college teams that they follow where they see talent potential like this? Any Maryland fans ever see this coming? Player Profile: Stephon Heyer, Offensive Tackle, University of Maryland Age: 24 NFL Experience: 1 year Contract Remaining: 2 years 2008 Base Salary: $370,000 2008 Release Fee: None Cap Information courtesy of RedskinsWarpath.com. All of the Hog Heaven Player Prospectus Articles can be found here. Stephon Heyer’s emergence as a starting tackle for the Redskins marked the first time in awhile the Redskins have utilized an undrafted rookie in a starting role. In fact, I can’t remember for certain if an undrafted rookie has played for the Redskins in the last decade. Heyer not only was a great find, but the gem of the 2007 season for the Redskins. Anytime you can find a potential franchise tackle without investing money or draft picks into it, you’ve just pulled off a great feat. Now consider that Stephon Heyer just turned 24 two weeks ago, and already has half a season of experience at RT in the NFL under his belt. To be fair, Heyer has some clear weaknesses, in run blocking especially. His inexperience shows as he was not particually effective in cutting off the backside pursuit on running plays (but then again, no one on this team actually did that), and he was downright dreadful at getting to the linebacker level. Both of those things are things that will be corrected, likely in a single offseason, by line coach Joe Bugel. What doesn’t need to be improved is Heyer’s excellent hand position in pass blocking. Heyer fights hands with opposing ends with the technique of a seven year professional. Consequently, he’s an excellent pass blocker for a right tackle. He’s got room to bulk up, but he’s a huge reason that the Redskins ranked above the mean in adjusted sack rate for offensive lines. To compare what Heyer could be–as soon as next year–to what Todd Wade was last season would be fodder for stand up comics in the Washington area. Wade might have been the better run blocker, but that isn’t saying a whole lot, and he was a total joke in pass protection. As a fan, I am very happy that this team acquired Kendall for last season, because I couldn’t stand Wade at RT, let alone LG. Just ask Rex Grossman what a revolving door at Guard can do for your health (Actually, you can just ask Jason Campbell). Jon Jansen will return to the lineup next year, and that will mean a role of depth for Stephon Heyer. That’s totally cool as at age 24, the Redskins should be in no rush to play Heyer. He’s scheduled to hit the open market prior to the age of 27, so the lower you can keep his perceived value across the league, the better off they will be. Heyer’s presence as the third tackle makes Todd Wade expendable, and it also means that the need to draft a tackle is not imminent for the Redskins. They will have to address the situation once Heyer steps into Jansen’s role for good, but until then, the team will do fine with three quality tackles. The reason all of this is more important than continuity is that it is less costly. For all the talk about keeping the coaching staff together, and keeping the players together, that can cost a lot of money. Heyer, on the other hand, is a great prospect playing for minimum wage in the NFL, and is much easier to keep around. If every team could fill their entire roster with players like Heyer, the cap would never be an issue. For the Redskins, this concept is a lot more important than it is for the average team. http://mvn.com/nfl-redskins/2008/01/31/why-stephon-heyer-is-more-important-than-continuity/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teller Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 Good stuff. Stephon did a great job for us last year. And honestly, I don't think he was as much responsible for the run blocking problems as Randy Thomas' injury was. When Jansen went down in the Miami game, we continued to run the ball as wekk as if he was still in there. It was when #77 went down that everything suffered...just like in 2005. I'm REALLY glad Buges was retained though. He obviously will be a big key in Heyer's continued development, and as this piece points out, Heyer's got a frame that he could put another 30 pounds or so onto comfortably. I really think we stole one here, and that this kid is going to be VERY good for a long time. What I would really like to know though is who was finding the UDFAs and late-round contributors last year. Was it Gibbs? Was it Vinny? Was it someone else? In all honesty (though I have my doubts) I HOPE it was Vinny. That's going to be the key to getting this team over the hump -- being successful in the late rounds of the draft, and with UDFAs. I hope we haven't lost that with Gibbs' departure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRobi21 Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 I wonder what were gonna decide to do with ol Jansen. I hope he stays, but I have a feeling he'll be gone. But I do feel very comfortable having Heyer in there. He's very solid, and could be starter from day 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nafniksder Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 I really like Heyer, I think we should continue to bring him along with the coaching Bugel has to offer. I don't think we should just jettison Jansen like some have said either. I do think that Heyer should get the opportunity to battle against Jansen in training camp. I feel that Jansen will win out, but also think that a year or two behind Jansen will give him the opportunity to really improve his skills at RT and get stronger. HTTR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psu2008 Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 I like Heyer. Jansen is old and I don't know what his cap number is, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Jansen a June 1st cut in the next year or two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedskinsSuperBowl21 Posted February 1, 2008 Author Share Posted February 1, 2008 I need a capologist to help me understand what we would gain/lose if we cut jansen...OR what trade value does Jansen have... and to HH's point about who is finding this talent in the late rounds and undrafted...Doughty, Blades, Heyor who is the person in charge finding this talent? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
33 Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 It's my belief that Jansen is better served by taking a pay cut to stay rather then hitting the FA market. It's also my belief that we are better served by having Jansen around. Can anyone else believe that we've had two major tackles for the last 7 years and we've squandered that away by going through four coaches and four systems in the same amount of time? No wonder continuity is such a sensitive word around here. Heyer is great, he should definitely battle Jansen for a starting spot and be on this team for years to come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Displaced Fan Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 Good young player, but not as good as Jansen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedskinsSuperBowl21 Posted February 1, 2008 Author Share Posted February 1, 2008 Good young player, but not as good as Jansen. But sometimes upside outweighs everything else when the team is 20mill over the cap. Someone has to be cut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milliondollarslim Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 It also seems Heyer's skill set is suitable for the Left Tackle position (he actually is/was a LT most of his college career and initially with the skins. It is possible that he could take over at RT and be move to LT later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truant Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 Undoubtedly impressive season for Heyer. Seems like a find and perhaps the replacement for Samuels when father time comes knocking. How wild would that be? Replacing a number 3 pick in the draft with an undrafted kid from down the road. Jansen should rework his deal. He's just not reliable enough. If not, well, it puts the new regime in a tough spot. I think the team and Jansen will work something out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCS Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 One of the nearly forgotten aspects of the continuity subject during the past few weeks. The players themselves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertoskins Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 good stuff man. with the other late round finds such as montogemry, goldston, alexander. we all had a qualified scouting team out there, by the way does vinny have a part on this, or is it all gibbs/williams marks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DieselPwr44 Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 Good young player, but not as good as Jansen. Have you even watched Jansen the past few years? He's the classic example of someone living off his past reputation. Won't suprise me in the least to see Heyer legitimately beat Jansen out of his starting spot this season. :2cents: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burgold Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 What's even more impressive is that I remember reading that this was Heyer's first time ever at right tackle. I don't know if that really is a huge transition, but at minimum everything has to be reversed which must take some adjustments. Realizing that, he played damn well, especially for an undrafted rookie. With more reps and an offseason of prep, he should be much better and not need to think his way through plays as much (which might have been part of the problem on run plays, where you have to be the aggressor) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLongshot Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 Have you even watched Jansen the past few years?He's the classic example of someone living off his past reputation. Won't suprise me in the least to see Heyer legitimately beat Jansen out of his starting spot this season. :2cents: To be fair, he's been battling injuries. In 2006, he was playing hurt for most of the season, finally having to sit down for a game. My personal call is that Jansen returns, and it is going to be an interesting competition at his spot with Heyer. At the very least, Jansen will be an excellent backup and he's a leader on that offensive line. Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durant35 Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 One of the nearly forgotten aspects of the continuity subject during the past few weeks. The players themselves. :laugh::applause:Well stated, now that being said I think Jansen should restructure becuase it would be in his best best interest and the Redskins best interest. In the NFL , if you go down with a season ending injury it should be expected that there will be competition in training camp and I would not be surprised if a starter is not named until very close to the season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terpskins10 Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 Ummm...potential franchise tackle? I'm a MD student and a big fan but I definitely don't think I'd go that far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaimeDeCurry Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 Maybe they'll get his name right in the next Madden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FtheCowboys84 Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 I was really impressed by Heyer, especially after how he looked replacing CS in the pre-season. I think this means Wade is definitely gone and if he does beat out Jansen then Jansen might want to think about a transition to Guard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FtheCowboys84 Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 Likewise, I think we should draft Oline depth and bring in as many undrafted olinemen into training camp as we can, hoping for the next steal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddub52 Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 One of the nearly forgotten aspects of the continuity subject during the past few weeks. The players themselves. You're right. It definitely hasnt a part of the focus here at all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbws Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 * Stephon Heyer’s emergence as a starting tackle for the Redskins marked the first time in awhile the Redskins have utilized an undrafted rookie in a starting role. In fact, I can’t remember for certain if an undrafted rookie has played for the Redskins in the last decade. http://mvn.com/nfl-redskins/2008/01/31/why-stephon-heyer-is-more-important-than-continuity/ Did Pierce start at all under Marty? He was a "UFA." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cphil006 Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 Stephon Heyer IS continuity. sign him and release Jansen. For Cap reasons mainly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokinskinsfan Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 I would have to agree about him being a potential franchise tackle. Anybody that raw, that played that well is barring injury only going to get better and better. They are going to kick his ass this off season. Bulk up on the arms and chest and lose a little gut making him faster. Run blocking is so much easier to teach then pass blocking. The fact that pass blocking is his high point is just awsome, 99.9% of the time its the other way around. I do want to know who brought this guy in. Look for him to be here for the next 10 years... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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