@DCGoldPants Posted July 25, 2001 Share Posted July 25, 2001 Young Tackles Headline Offensive Line Unit 07/23/2001 by Jason Gould A few weeks ago, Redskins head coach Marty Schottenheimer said the offensive line "may indeed be the strongest part of our football team." Schottenheimer's confidence probably resides largely in the two young tackles who serve as book ends for his team's offensive line. Tackles Chris Samuels and Jon Jansen anchor the line centered by Cory Raymer. Raymer is looking to recover from the knee surgery that caused him to miss the entire 2000 season. Schottenheimer's praise is also noteworthy because of the team's offensive guard situation. The Redskins signed veterans Matt Campbell and Ben Coleman this offseason to add depth and experience to a relatively young group of guards. If the combination of guards can perform well, Schottenheimer's statement could become prophetic. Here's a look at the offensive linemen heading into Training Camp 2001, July 29-August 23, Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania: Chris Samuels, T Samuels has made no secret of the fact that he hopes to be a Pro Bowl player for the Redskins this season. Samuels has been an avid weight room participant during the off-season, trying to make his Pro Bowl desire a reality. Samuels played well his rookie season, starting in all 16 games for Washington. Jon Jansen, T Jansen followed his solid rookie campaign with an equally bright second season in 2000. The Michigan product started in all 16 games last season, bringing his two-season total to 34 starts (including playoffs). In fact, Jansen was on the field for every offensive snap in 2000, an impressive statistic by any standard. Like Samuels, Jansen is looking for his first Pro Bowl selection. Cory Raymer, C Redskins coaches and players will look to Raymer to guide the interior of the offensive line. Raymer is the lone veteran Redskin player on the inside of the offensive line, and he'll be expected to provide leadership. Of course, Raymer is trying to recover from knee surgery, so it will be important for him to avoid feeling overwhelmed by those dual responsibilities. Mookie Moore, G Moore logged some important playing time last season, gaining experience in his rookie year. He saw his first action against Jacksonville in Week 8, and started his first professional game in the season finale against Arizona. Selected in the fourth round of the 2000 draft, Moore will compete for a starting guard spot in training camp. Derrick Fletcher, G The Redskins signed Fletcher last season after Tre Johnson went down with a season-ending knee injury. He did not see action until Week 16 against Pittsburgh. Fletcher will also compete for one of the guard spots along the offensive line during the pre-season. Mark Fischer, C/G Fischer was one of four Redskin offensive players to play in every game of the 2000 season. He filled in when Raymer went down in the preseason. Fischer played well and persevered even as injuries mounted for the Redskins' offense during the 2000 season. Ben Coleman, G Coleman joins the Redskins from the San Diego Chargers, where he started all 16 games last season. Previously, he spent five years (1995-1999) with the Jacksonville Jaguars, starting in 71 regular season and eight post-season games. Coleman's experience made him an attractive free agent. He will also compete for a starting guard spot. Matt Campbell, T/G Campbell spent the past six seasons with Carolina, where he joined as a free agent at the end of 1994. He started all 14 games that he played in during the 2000 season, missing two games due to a sprained ankle at the end of the year. Campbell began his career with the Panthers at tight end before moving to tackle and guard for the 1996 season. Campbell, like Coleman, will add depth and experience along the line. Ryan Kalich, C/G Kalich spent the entire 2000 season on the Redskins' practice squad before being allocated to NFL Europe. He started all ten games for the 2001 World Bowl Champion Berlin Thunder. It will be interesting to see if Kalich's time on the Skins' practice squad and in NFL Europe allowed him to improve enough to make the team's 53-man roster. Terrance Simmons, T Simmons originally signed with the Redskins in the 2000 offseason as an undrafted free agent and was released prior to the start of the 2000 season. He re-signed with the Skins last December, but he did not play for an NFL team during the 2000 season. He was allocated to the Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europe, where he saw action in every game. so, what do you guys think? anything stick out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickalino Posted July 25, 2001 Share Posted July 25, 2001 anything stick out, you ask ? Sure there's a few woodies 'sticking out', as Redskin fans everywhere read that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@DCGoldPants Posted July 25, 2001 Author Share Posted July 25, 2001 hahahahahahahaha, wait......ewwwww ------------------ <IMG SRC="http://old.theinsiders.com/redskins/images/wash1-sm.gif" border=0> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NavyDave Posted July 25, 2001 Share Posted July 25, 2001 I like our O line even though I would have had chronic wood if there was a way we could have signed Hutch as well as our WR Kalich better hope there is room on the practice squad roster and that would mean not putting Brandt of Michigan on there. Coleman starting at Guard gives the skins time to groom Mookie an additinal year if needed to take over that spot. ------------------ Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry Posted July 25, 2001 Share Posted July 25, 2001 Yeah, our depth a tackle is atrocious. We have the starters, a converted guard and a NFL Europe guy. That's it. ------------------ TOUCHDOWN, Washington Redskins! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GURU Posted July 25, 2001 Share Posted July 25, 2001 Respectfully, Coleman and Campbell are about as good as you're going to find for backup tackles in the league. Both have experience playing the position as starters. While neither will ever be a Pro Bowler at tackle, both have enough ability to step in and get the job done if neccessary. What else do you want in a backup tackle? No matter who comes in for an injured starter, you have to expect some dropoff in the level of play, or else that player wouldn't be a backup. It's not like we need to groom anyone to take over for Samuels or Jansen. Like I said, you probably can't do any better than Coleman and Campbell as backup tackles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry Posted July 25, 2001 Share Posted July 25, 2001 Does Coleman play tackle? If so then yes, our depth is ok. Otherwise we'd better hope our starting tackles remain as durable as they were last year. ------------------ TOUCHDOWN, Washington Redskins! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GURU Posted July 25, 2001 Share Posted July 25, 2001 Coleman started 16 games at tackle for San Diego last season. That's why he left Jacksonville, to try and score some of the big money to be made at the tackle position. He struggled at times and the Chargers decided he wasn't worth the money as a starting tackle. While Coleman probably hasn't played to his potential in his career, he's been a solid guard and a servicable tackle. His versatility means the Skins could possibly go into the season carrying only 9 offensive linemen instead of the cusomary 10. As backups, I believe Coleman and Cambell are certainly upgrades over Andy Heck and Ed Ellis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldog Posted July 26, 2001 Share Posted July 26, 2001 from what I have read and heard, David Brandt and Trey Langley are the youngsters most likely to be around as candidates for the roster on the final cutdown. I haven't seen any information to lead me to believe that Kalich or Simmons has any real chance of making the team. Kalich is primarily a center but would be a #3 there right now or even a #4 behind Raymer, Fischer and Brandt. He also plays guard, but is less effective there at only 294. There seems to be a log-jam at guard now with the signings of Coleman and Campbell. If the Skins are going to keep some younger players it would appear as if they would as I mentioned above keep Brandt and move Fischer to guard and have Brandt back up Raymer. And then keep the most promising of the rookie tackles for the final spot. Langley seems to have a greater upside in terms of physical skills than Simmons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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