Here is my UPDATED 2019 53-man roster prediction PLUS starter projection after week 4 for #TheBurgundyBreakdown.

As always, if you enjoy the content, follow me on twitter @TheBurgundyBD and like/share/comment to let me know exactly why you think I’m right or wrong!

Offense (25)

Quarterbacks (2)

On the Roster: Case Keenum (S), Dwayne Haskins

Starter After Week 4: Case Keenum

Notable Cut: Colt McCoy

No changes here other than we now seemingly have a better idea of why Colt McCoy won’t be on the 53-man roster. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Jay Gruden choose to die on the Colt McCoy Hill and start him as soon as he’s physically capable, but I expect McCoy to be put on IR after suffering an apparent setback to his leg injury.

I will say that I took a pause to consider my starter prediction after week 4 once I saw Haskins finally look comfortable in live action against the Falcons. He hit some really nice throws, including a beautiful back-shoulder throw to Harmon, but I still feel strongly about my original projection. The first 4 weeks of the season represent a significant challenge on paper, but I expect Keenum to do just enough to hold onto the starting job. I’m not saying Haskins won’t start at some point this season, I just think it will take longer than a month for Keenum to lose the job.

I’ve heard the argument that Jay’s best chance at keeping his job is to make Haskins his advocate by investing in him early. I don’t buy it. Jay’s only chance at being the head coach of the Redskins in 2020 is to make the playoffs this year. If the Redskins are at least 2-2 through 4 weeks, don’t be surprised if Haskins stays on the bench for fear of the season taking a turn for the worse.

Running Backs (4)

On the Roster: Adrian Peterson (S), Chris Thompson (S), Derrius Guice, Samaje Perine

Starters After Week 4: Derrius Guice, Chris Thompson

Notable Cut: Byron Marshall, Craig Reynolds, Shaun Wilson

I’m giving in to my personal better judgment and adding Samaje Perine to the 53-man roster. This is not the move I would make, but I can’t pretend that it isn’t obvious that Gruden is leaning in this direction. I will say, however, that Perine finally looked worth the roster spot against the Falcons, and I’m sure Gruden will be using that film to argue against anyone who doubts the move.

I mentioned in my What2Watch4 article that I wanted to see if they would call a screen play for Guice since he has looked strong as a receiving threat throughout training camp. Not only was his number called for a screen, he also looked solid on some other check-down throws. Because of this, I don’t think the Redskins need to worry about having a Chris Thompson backup on the roster since Guice can easily fill in on 3^rd down duties, which leaves Byron Marshall out in the cold.

I would have loved to see more of Shaun Wilson, but we still don’t know the severity of his injury. I also thought Reynolds looked more like a natural talent compared to Perine, but I don’t know if anything would have pulled Gruden off the Perine support team. I’ll be looking for Reynolds to hopefully make it to the practice squad and Wilson to go to IR to maintain team control.

Last note on the running backs; Guice is just that dude! Holy cow! I’m indescribably excited to see him dominate this season alongside Peterson and Thompson!

As with my initial prediction, I’m listing Guice as the starter after week 4, but I expect Guice and Peterson to essentially alternate who gets the larger share of the carries week to week.

Receivers (7)

On the Roster: Josh Doctson (S), Paul Richardson Jr. (S), Trey Quinn (S), Terry McLaurin, Robert Davis, Kelvin Harmon, Darvin Kidsy Jr.

Starters After Week 4: Josh Doctson, Terry McLaurin, Trey Quinn

Notable Cut: Cam Sims, Brian Quick

Reluctantly, I am not making any changes to my prediction for the receivers. I took a long pause to reconsider after seeing Cam Sims finally make some strong plays against the Falcons, but I just don’t think it was enough. Let me explain.

First, the way the Redskins played Doctson showed me that he is still the starting X receiver, and they wanted to get him loose but not risk injury. There are no viable trade partners, so he is not going anywhere. I would still put my money on Doctson surprising everyone by increasing his production volume considerably this season, and I’m excited to watch how it plays out.

After Doctson, 4 receiver spots are LOCKS from my perspective. Richardson, Quinn, and McLaurin are all unanimously agreed upon to make this squad, and Kelvin Harmon is a lock simply because of his draft status. There’s no way he clears waivers if cut, especially after showing some eye-popping talent against the Bengals and Falcons. Assuming the Redskins keep at least 7 receivers, that means that Cam Sims is battling with Darvin Kidsy and Robert Davis for the last 2 spots.

I don’t see a scenario where Kidsy does not making this team after having more than double the receptions of any other receiver on this team during the preseason, including being the first projected non-starter to log a catch against the Falcons with the first unit. I also must consider that he is slightly stronger on special teams and more adept as a slot receiver compared to Davis and Sims. We still haven’t seen Quinn do much in live action thanks to injuries, so I think it is fair to say that a reserve receiver is more valuable if he can backup the slot position versus being able to back up the X or Z positions.

This means Cam Sims and Robert Davis are really the comparison we need to review. Both have size (Davis is 6’3 and Sims is 6’5) and tons of potential, so I really see this as a relative coin flip. I was very close to picking Sims, especially after remembering that Jonathan Allen mentioned Cam Sims as being a surprise contributor when interviewed in training camp. However, I am still putting my money on Robert Davis for 3 reasons.

First, he has made the bigger plays this preseason. It can’t be ignored that he keeps making plays in live action while Cam Sims has not done much (up until the Falcons game).

Second, I think Robert Davis is better on special teams which is a necessity for a reserve receiver. We saw him involved with two crucial fumble recoveries on the punt team, and I think we saw him play so much with the punt team so the Redskins could really evaluate his viability (a test he presumably passed).

Third, and perhaps most importantly, Davis is just faster (4.45 40 compared to 4.64 for Sims). This contributes to the first two points, and I think it is the ultimate reason he gets the nod over Sims. It’s not an accident that Davis has a knack for getting behind the defense for big plays, and this potential contribution cannot be overlooked.

I could be wrong, but I don’t see Sims making this roster unless Gruden goes with 8 receivers.

Last, I am also sticking with my starter prediction for after week 4. I think McLaurin’s play will demand being on the field, and I see Paul Richardson’s skillset as the most viable for McLaurin to supplant.

Tight Ends (3)

On the Roster: Jordan Reed (S), Vernon Davis, Jeremy Sprinkle

Starter After Week 4: Jordan Reed

Notable Cut: Matt Flanagan, J.P. Holtz, Donald Parham

By virtue of adding Samaje Perine as a 4^th running back to this projection, Matt Flanagan is now off the 53-man roster. That being said, had I kept 4 tight ends to account for Jordan Reed’s health status after suffering a presumed concussion against the Falcons, I would have switched Flanagan for J.P. Holtz.

If you read this blog last year, you would know that I am a big fan of J.P. Holtz as a reserve tight end and starting fullback, so this shouldn’t be too much of a surprise. Flanagan has just not flashed like I had expected this preseason and has not shown consistent hands in clutch moments (see 3^rd down drop on beautiful throw by Haskins under immense pressure vs the Falcons). Holtz, however, has seemingly risen to the occasion each time I’ve seen his number called. He was also the fullback on the goal line offense that attempted to get Guice into the endzone against the Falcons.

The big positive for the Redskins is that keeping Holtz may not be necessary even if Reed misses time during the beginning of the season. Jeremy Sprinkle showed some receiving ability against the Falcons that we have not yet seen from the former 5^th round draft pick. Considering he is touted as our best blocking tight end (basically by default), I would not be concerned if we are forced to use him and Davis for 2 tight end sets to start the season after what we’ve now seen.

Offensive Line (9)

On the Roster: Donald Penn (S), Ereck Flowers (S), Chase Roullier (S), Brandon Scherff (S), Morgan Mosses (S), Geron Christian Sr., Wes Martin, Ross Pierschbacher, Tony Bergstrom

Starters After Week 4: Donald Penn, Ereck Flowers, Chase Roullier, Brandon Scherff, Morgan Moses

Notable Cut: N/A

No changes in this group as there is no 10^th lineman with any real shot at making this roster from what I can tell.

I did make a change to my predicted starters after week 4 to now include Ereck Flowers. I originally had Wes Martin overtaking Flowers by week 5, but I’m coming off that for now based on what I have seen so far. I fully expect pushback from the large faction of the fanbase that is seemingly ready to throw Flowers in the trash after multiple mistakes against the Falcons, and I get it!

I saw all those mistakes too, and yet somehow, I’m essentially doubling down by saying Martin won’t become the starter by week 5! What am I thinking? Well… I’ll tell you.

I saw Gruden point to some of those mistakes postgame as communication errors. I also saw Flowers look like the touted player he once was when all he had to do was block the guy in front of him, especially in the run. He is what I call a ‘phonebooth blocker’ because he is strong as hell and I think he could dominate most players physically in a small space. I expect Gruden and Callahan to coach up the deficiencies enough for Flowers to be serviceable throughout the season.

I do still expect Martin to be the future at LG for the Redskins, but I just think Flowers holds onto the job for longer than a month.

Defense (25)

Defensive Line (5)

On the Roster: Jonathan Allen (S), Matt Ioannidis (S), Daron Payne (S), Tim Settle, Caleb Brantley

Starters After Week 4: Jonathan Allen, Matt Ioannidis, Daron Payne

Notable Cut: Ryan Bee, JoJo Wicker

No changes here as I don’t think Bee or Wicker have done enough to justify being worthy of a roster spot. I think both played well enough to be pulled back to the practice squad, and I don’t see any real risk of them not clearing waivers.

The BIG 3 are just so dominant when playing together that I don’t think the team intends to really rotate anyone else in for any significant playing time – barring injury of course. Rather than keeping a 6^th defensive lineman, I think the team elects to keep a 5^th safety in Jeremy Reaves.

Linebackers (9)

On the Roster: Ryan Kerrigan (S), Shaun Dion Hamilton (S), Jon Bostic (S), Montez Sweat (S), Cole Holcomb, Josh Harvey-Clemons, Ryan Anderson, Cassanova McKinzy, Jordan Brailford

Starters After Week 4: Ryan Kerrigan, Shaun Dion Hamilton, Jon Bostic, Montez Sweat

Notable Cut: Marcus Smith, Marquis Flowers

No changes here either. I spent a lot of time considering whether Josh Harvey-Clemons should be the starter after a strong preseason, but I don’t see that happening unless Shaun Dion Hamilton is injured. I know the team really believes in SDH, and Bostic cemented his spot after looking more than capable against a strong Falcons offense.

That being said, I expect JHC to get significant rotation on the defense, and I don’t expect it to be relegated to strictly passing situations. Not only has JHC put on weight to mitigate his deficiencies in the run game, but these deficiencies are significantly minimized by an elite defensive line that should keep him relatively clean to fill gaps. Combine that with being the best coverage linebacker on the team and Manusky will be hard pressed to keep him off the field.

I also want to point out that Ryan Anderson and Cassanova McKinzy have been a revelation this preseason. While I still think Kerrigan and Sweat will be the starters, I would not be surprised to see a true rotation that ensures Kerrigan and Sweat are rushing full force late into the 4^th quarter.

BULLETIN: THE REDSKINS HAVE THE BEST DEFENSIVE LINE/OUTSIDE LINEBACKER COMBINATION IN THE NFL. PERIOD.

Cornerbacks (6)

On the Roster: Josh Norman (S), Quinton Dunbar (S), Jimmy Moreland (S), Fabian Moreau, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Fabian Moreau, Greg Stroman Jr.

Starters After Week 4: Josh Norman, Quinton Dunbar, Jimmy Moreland

Notable Cut: Adonis Alexander

My first projection had Fabian Moreau as the starting slot corner, but I think his latest injury has opened a door for Jimmy Moreland that just cannot be closed. We saw Moreland get significant playing time with the starters against the Falcons, and he definitely rose to the occasion. I would not be shocked to see Moreau still start the season as the slot corner if healthy, and maybe even hold onto it, but there is not way that Moreland won’t be on the field a ton this season.

There’s just no way to justify keeping a guy with his nose for the ball on the sideline. This may be a bullish projection as Moreau has not looked bad, but it’s hard not to feel bullish about Jimmy F’n Moreland!

I do not know if Adonis Alexander will be healthy to start the season, but I don’t think he makes this squad anyway. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him end up on the practice squad since the team invested a supplemental draft pick in him, but he has been really disappointing this summer.

I also want to note that Danny Johnson is not mentioned because he is on the PUP list and therefor is not going to be cut. I really liked him last year during the preseason as he was constantly making plays, but he will need to show something when healthy to compete with the rest of the younger standouts that have emerged.

Safeties (5)

On the Roster: Landon Collins (S), Montae Nicholson (S), Deshazor Everett, Troy Apke, Jeremy Reaves

Starters After Week 4: Landon Collins, Montae Nicholson

Notable Cut: N/A

No changes here. Jeremy Reaves has looked strong and is a relative necessity to prevent Apke from ever playing meaningful snaps during the regular season.

I just want to take a moment to recognize that Collins and Nicholson look like a very strong pairing on the backend of the secondary! This season will be fun to watch.

Special Teams (3)

Dustin Hopkins, Tress Way, Nick Sundberg

No changes. Hopkins and Way rebounded from an abnormally sub-par performance against the Bengals and proved why the Redskins did not bring in any competition for these spots.

I’ve heard some fans that are upset about some off snaps from Sundberg. I don’t care. He’s one of the longest tenured Redskins on the roster and has been incredibly consistent over the years. Leave my man alone!

As always, thanks for reading. Follow me @TheBurgundyBD on Twitter, and check out some of our latest content below!

Redskins 2019 Early Roster Projection

 

Primary Photo Credit – Washington Post

We have finally reached the much anticipated ‘dress rehearsal’ preseason game of the 2019 season where we can expect to see at least 2 quarters of play from our starters! Here is my BREAKDOWN of What2Watch4 Thursday night as the Redskins travel to Atlanta to face the Falcons!

If you’re like me, you’ve probably just spent the last 6+ months curled up in a ball desperately waiting for Redskins football to come back. OK… that’s somewhat of an exaggeration. I may have gotten out of my ball once or twice for the combine, the draft, OTAs, and training camp. Nevertheless, this is going to be our first taste of (almost) real Redskins football in a very long time!

After such a drought, I don’t want to miss any of the compelling elements of this game! Since I think you might be like me, here is my BREAKDOWN of everything you should be watching for on Thursday so you don’t miss anything!

As always, if you enjoy the content, follow me on twitter @TheBurgundyBD and like/share/comment to let me know what you think!

QB Play

Photo Credit – sportsnaut.com

First and foremost, everyone across the league is going to be watching to see if Dwayne Haskins gets any reps with the starters. If you read my first roster projection, you would know that I fully expect Case Keenum to begin the season as our starter and still have a hold on it after week 4 (my article was published well before Ian Rappaport reported that Keenum was the likely starter… just saying). However, I am still curious to see if the Redskins alternate series at all. If the intent is to let Haskins sit and learn to start the season, this will be his last chance to go against starter-level talent in a primarily learning environment.

Setting aside the obvious Dwayne Haskins story lines, I am actually very excited to see how Case Keenum performs. If we did not draft Dwayne Haskins, I feel like the fan base would be much more excited for Keenum based strictly on what we have seen in the first two preseason games. What I noticed is a QB with clear command of the plays, a calm presence and anticipation despite shaky play from the offensive line, and some pretty looking accuracy on passes 15+ yards down the field.

Keenum is known as a risk taker, which has led to some issues with turnovers in the past. With extended playing time expected, watch to see his decision making when distributing the football and if he can continue to avoid turning the ball over.

Receiver Playtime and Distribution

Photo Credit – nbcsports.com

The most important thing to watch for with this group is who will get reps with the first team offense. Will we finally see Doctson and Richardson in preseason action? Will Terry McLaurin sneak into the first team offense for a few plays? will Trey Quinn finally make some plays and stay healthy?

There has been a lot of speculation over Doctson’s roster spot on this team. In my roster projection, I predicted Doctson would both make the team and end up the starting X receiver. Thursday night against the Falcons is going to provide a greater sense of the direction the team is leaning with him.

Consider when the Ravens finally cut their first round WR bust, Breshad Perriman. Not only was he playing late into their preseason games with the 3^rd team, but he was also clearly bumped down the depth chart. Even if the Redskins didn’t want to publicly announce moving Doctson to the 2^nd or 3^rd team offense in an attempt to salvage potential trade value, I would have expected them to play him as much as possible in the first two preseason games. For starters, there is no other way to really know if he is worth keeping or if it is time to cut ties. Beyond that, if the Redskins are actually ready to move on like some suggest, he isn’t going to get any trade value sitting on the sidelines.

I’ll also be watching closely to see which back up receivers get snaps before halftime. There is a lot of depth at the receiver position (which is why I project them keeping 7), but the last 2 spots are seemingly up for grabs. Whomever does and doesn’t get snaps early could be very telling of how the coaches see this position shaking out.

Cam Sims is a fan favorite, but I am still waiting to see him stand out. Will Robert Davis continue elevating himself with another TD this week? Will Darvin Kidsy or Steven Sims continue to flash and force their way onto the roster? Can Jehu Chesson flash something on offense to justify keeping a receiver who really is just a strong special teams contributor?

Thursday night will answer a lot of questions for this group.

GUICE, GUICE, BABY!!!

Photo Credit – Washington Post

Early reports suggest we are going to see Derrius Guice for the first time on Thursday, and I could not be more excited! I don’t care if he only plays one series, I just want to see him hit the field again. There may not be another player on the Redskins that is as connected with the fan base as Derrius Guice, and he hasn’t even played a regular season game yet! Imagine what will happen if his career takes off.

I’ll be watching to see how he is used and how he runs. Throughout training camp, Guice surprised everyone by showcasing his receiving capabilities out of the backfield, and I’m curious to see if the Redskins call any screen plays for him against the Falcons. I’m also curious to see if he shows any tentativeness when it comes to contact or making cuts on his surgically repaired knee. All signs suggest he is as mentally prepared as he is physically, but it will still be encouraging to see it in live action.

As for the rest of the backfield, I’m interested to see if Adrian Peterson bothers to suit up for any more plays this preseason. He clearly still has ‘It’, and I don’t think Gruden wants another deathly stare-down like he got last year in the preseason after playing Peterson longer than needed. I’m also curious to see if anyone stands out between Perine, Marshall, and Reynolds. Hearing Gruden this week talk about how he wants to give Perine better looks, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get some snaps with the first unit. However, I’m really hoping to be surprised and see someone else get time with the first unit because I’m honestly ready to move on from Perine.

Defensive Line Rotation

Photo Credit – nbcsports.com

The biggest thing I’ll be watching to see is how awesome Jonathan Allen looks in his old-school facemask! I would not want to line up against him right now as he’s looking primed for a breakout year.

I will also be watching to see how frequently Allen, Payne, and Ioannidis are on the field together. I have a feeling they will be rotating to stay fresh, but it will be interesting to see what types of situations the Redskins roll all 3 out at the same time.

While I haven’t seen official announcements yet on the reportedly minor injuries to Caleb Brantley and Tim Settle, I do not expect to see either of these players take any risks and play this week. This means we should see a lot of Ryan Bee, JoJo Wicker, Jonathan Bonner, and Austin Maloata. I’m curious to see if any of these players see the field with the starters or if they will all be strictly relegated to the 2^nd half of the game. Wicker is listed highest on the depth chart, but I personally believe that Ryan Bee has looked stronger so far in the preseason.

If none of the reserve players see time with the starting defense, don’t be surprised if that indicates the coaches are comfortable going into the season with only 5 defensive linemen (3 headed monster + Brantley + Settle).

Offensive Line Battles

Photo Credit – hogshaven.com

I am hoping to see that Donald Penn has officially supplanted Geron Christian for the starting left tackle spot. Christian is just not ready to be relied on, and we can’t have that weak of a link on the quarterback’s blindside. I know many fans are pointing to the strip/sack Penn gave up against the Bengals, but that was 100% on Haskins in my opinion. Gruden mentioned snap count issues by Haskins that led to a slightly delayed start from Penn off the ball which makes a big impact. However, even discounting that, the tackle’s job is to funnel the rusher’s momentum up the field. When you see a sack 10 yards behind the line of scrimmage, it is on the QB for not stepping up into the pocket. After discounting this specific play, I think Penn has clearly been the better option and I’m hoping he starts the game on Thursday.

The other major battle along the offensive line is at left guard between Ereck Flowers and Wes Martin. Even as recently as last week, I would have told you that I was pushing hard for Wes Martin to step into that role ASAP. However, a strong showing by Flowers against the Bengals has definitely changed the conversation for me. He wasn’t perfect, but he was more than serviceable, and he even was able to make up for Christian’s deficiencies on one play to prevent a sack. As of now, I would be completely comfortable rolling into week 1 with Flowers at LG while Martin continues to develop as an eventual starter.

With both battles along the offensive line being relatively up in the air, I will also be watching to see if the coaches choose to rotate these players every other series.

Additional Questions This Week

1. How will they play Montez Sweat and Ryan Anderson? Will Sweat be relegated to pass rushing situations? Will there be a 3-man rotation with Kerrigan? Will Cassanova Mckinzy sneak into the starting rotation?
2. Will we get to see the newly rediscovered EXPLOSION from Jordan Reed that we have heard so much about through camp?
3. Which corner starts in the slot? If it’s Fabian Moreau, how will he look with longer playing time against a talented Falcons receiving group? Who is the first to rotate in between DRC and Jimmy Moreland?
4. Will we see a predictable run/pass play calling distribution? Will it be run on most 1^st and 10s for almost no gain like we saw so much of the last few years? Will we go pass heavy to test out the QBs?
5. How will our injured MLB group fare this week? Can the defensive line clear enough gaps to make it a non-issue?
6. Will we see any major pass interference challenges again this week/will the refs play a major role again?
7. Can Nate Kaczor corral the special teams units to avoid any major gaffes this week?

 

As always, thanks for reading. Follow us @TheBurgundyBD on Twitter, and check out some of our latest content below!

Redskins 2019 Early Roster Projection

 

You voted and I listened! Here is my first 2019 53-man roster prediction for #TheBurgundyBreakdown. As a bonus, I’ve also thrown in who I think will be the starter after Week 4!

As always, if you enjoy the content, follow me on twitter @TheBurgundyBD and like/share/comment to let me know exactly why you think I’m right or wrong!

Offense (25)

Quarterbacks (2)

On the Roster: Case Keenum (S), Dwayne Haskins

Starter After Week 4: Case Keenum

Notable Cut: Colt McCoy

This is probably the section that will garner the most attention. Yes, I’m saying Colt McCoy doesn’t make this squad. Yes, I am saying Case Keenum will remain the starter beyond week 4. Take a moment to digest and let me explain.

First, let me address Colt McCoy. At the end of the day, I have always felt that Jay Gruden would only end up keeping 2 quarterbacks. With Colt originally set to take the top spot thanks to his experience in the system, I was assuming that Keenum would wind up being traded. However, Keenum is picking things up and Colt can’t get on the field, so I think we are dealing with the opposite scenario. I know that Jay loves Colt, but I can’t justify keeping him on the roster if he loses the top spot to Keenum (especially considering the log jam at so many other positions). Depending on how he injury situation plays out, I would not be surprised to see the Redskins try to put him on IR or potentially buy themselves 8 weeks by putting him on the PUP list.

Second, let’s talk about Keenum starting after week 4. Similar to Keenum’s magical run in Minnesota or Alex Smith’s final year in Kansas City, I fully expect Keenum to perform just well enough to hold onto the starting spot (I realize Keenum did not have a top rookie behind him in Minnesota, but he still managed to hold on to a starting role that everyone initially thought was temporary). This is not a shot at Haskins (although I do not think he will be ready to outperform Keenum over the next 2 months). This is more of a reflection of my belief that Jay will not want to rock the boat of a stable offense 4 weeks into the season so long as we are not playing poorly (which I do not expect right now thanks to the defense). As long as we are least 2-2 with relatively decent offensive production, I seriously doubt Jay takes any risk of changing things up with his job on the line.

I know many of you are hoping Haskins will start in the 3rd preseason game and light it up, but we have to be honest with ourselves. Aside from one deep connection with Robert Davis against the Bengals, he just has not looked good so far. I can absolutely see the talent, but you can’t start a rookie who talks to the media after the game about how he’s proud he’s getting better with his cadence etc. He’s just not ready.

Running Backs (3)

On the Roster: Adrian Peterson (S), Chris Thompson (S), Derrius Guice

Starters After Week 4: Derrius Guice, Chris Thompson

Notable Cut: Samaje Perine, Byron Marshall, Craig Reynolds, Shaun Wilson

I expect mild surprise here, but nobody should be completely shocked with this projection. I don’t think Jay’s love of Samaje Perine is enough to save him from the chopping block. Even if he goes the entire preseason without fumbling the ball, he just is not that impressive.

While I agree there is talent behind Perine (especially after Reynolds has looked good so far in the preseason), I don’t see any of these backs being more valuable to this team than the fourth TE I believe they will keep in Matt Flanagan. If we suffer some injuries, there are backs with relatively equivalent talent available throughout the season.

I originally considered Byron Marshall simply because he is currently holding the top kick returner spot on the depth chart, but Gruden will not keep 4 running backs active on game day, so his special teams contributions are not enough to save him. Also, he just isn’t standing out in the crowd right now and may be available during the season if we ever need him.

Shaun Wilson also garnered some surprise consideration after strong punt returns against the Bengals. However, he ended the game against the Bengals with a knee injury that did not look good. If it is not season-ending, I would not be surprised to see them put Wilson on the PUP list to start the season and keep him part of the team.

As for the starter in week 5, I fully expect AP to start as the bell cow with Thompson getting 3^rd down duties and Guice handling a few carries here and there. However, I expect Guice to supplant AP after a few weeks and for the ratio to shift enough that Guice begins to edge out AP in carries per game. That being said, AP looked pretty fresh against the Bengals, so this may swap back and forth week to week.

Receivers (7)

On the Roster: Josh Doctson (S), Paul Richardson Jr. (S), Trey Quinn (S), Terry McLaurin, Robert Davis, Kelvin Harmon, Darvin Kidsy Jr.

Starters After Week 4: Josh Doctson, Terry McLaurin, Trey Quinn

Notable Cut: Cam Sims, Brian Quick

After my QB prediction, this will probably be 2^nd in line for most argued over. Let me first just ask the Cam Sims fans to chill. I know you want to freak out over this already. Just relax and keep reading.

First, Doctson is going to make this team. Please read that again. I’m not saying the Redskins wouldn’t be willing to deal him, but I seriously doubt there are buyers out there. Also, I legitimately believe that in year 3 (discounting missed rookie season) he will prove to be more of a volume contributor. Also, I think a QB like Keenum (my predicted starter), who is willing to throw those 50/50 balls all day in live action, will give Doctson more opportunity to shine than we’ve seen previously.

Now back to Cam Sims. The final 3 spots in this rotation are relatively interchangeable to me. However, Robert Davis seems to be hitting his stride and contributes more on special teams than Sims. Harmon is a relative lock as a rookie draft pick (plus he looked pretty special against the Bengals/Shawn Hochuli). This brought it down to Kidsy and Sims. A few weeks ago, I would have picked Sims 10/10 times. However, I really think Kidsy is impressing coaches both on offense and special teams (he did play with the starters against the Bengals… although so did Quick so take it with a grain of salt). Also, more importantly, he is tagged as the top back up in the slot. I know early reports said Sims was learning all 3 receiver spots, but I don’t think they really want him playing in the slot. Combine that with uncertainty over Quinn staying healthy and you see where I’m coming from. That being said, I do believe each of the 4 players vying for those final 3 spots could be relatively interchanged, so I would not be surprised if I am wrong.

As for the Week 5 starter, I do not expect Richardson to last long as the Z receiver. For everyone who though TMac would replace Doctson, I challenge you to really think about whose skill set he really replaces in this rotation. Also, even if Richardson is playing well, I just can’t commit myself to believing he and Quinn will both be healthy by week 5. In this projection, I’m picking Richardson to either be hurt or supplanted.

Tight Ends (4)

On the Roster: Jordan Reed (S), Vernon Davis, Jeremy Sprinkle, Matt Flanagan

Starter After Week 4: Jordan Reed

Notable Cut: J.P. Holtz, Donald Parham

Only real surprise here is the addition of Matt Flanagan. This is the 25^th player on the offensive side of the ball in my opinion. You will see below that I am projecting 9 players for the OLine, so if the Redskins keep Colt McCoy or decide to keep a 4^th running back (or even take an extra spot for the defense), it will mean either Flanagan or the 9^th lineman gets cut.

If you listened to Chris Cooley on his podcast, you know that he also thinks Flanagan is a great prospect at TE who can seemingly do it all. He’s also a solid contributor on special teams. With Jordan Reed’s injury history, this team will greatly benefit from a 4th TE that can be a relative jack of all trades. For my money, he’s the 25^th player on offense.

Offensive Line (9)

On the Roster: Donald Penn (S), Ereck Flowers (S), Chase Roullier (S), Brandon Scherff (S), Morgan Mosses (S), Geron Christian Sr., Wes Martin, Ross Pierschbacher, Tony Bergstrom

Starters After Week 4: Donald Penn, Wes Martin, Chase Roullier, Brandon Scherff, Morgan Moses

Notable Cut: N/A

Once I saw JP Finlay say he thought Trent Williams leaving was a foregone conclusion, I realized the writing is really on the wall. I really pray this doesn’t happen. If I’m lucky and Trent comes back to play, Tony Bergstrom (or potentially Donald Penn via trade) is the first person off the list.

Outside of Trent, there is nothing particularly shocking on the offensive line. Tony Bergstrom stays on the team as a dependable reserve at center but doesn’t make the team if Pierschbacher shows he can be relied on. In spite of injury issues on the offensive line the past two years, I would not be surprised to see the team keep 8 lineman in order to keep an additional player on he defense.

Most of you will probably think I am crazy for starting the season with Ereck Flowers at guard. To be honest, I don’t really like it either, but I think Gruden rides with him to start the season. As you can see, I expect him to struggle early and be replaced by Martin by Week 5.

I do know that Christian is listed as the starter right now, but Penn signed here to be the starter. It won’t take him past the preseason to secure his position.

Yes, I saw Penn give up a bad sack against the Bengals. Listen to Gruden’s post game comments where he says Penn was late off the ball due to a snap count error by Haskins. Penn is our best option by far if we don’t get Trent back.

Defense (25)

Defensive Line (5)

On the Roster: Jonathan Allen (S), Matt Ioannidis (S), Daron Payne (S), Tim Settle, Caleb Brantley

Starters After Week 4: Jonathan Allen, Matt Ioannidis, Daron Payne

Notable Cut: Ryan Bee, JoJo Wicker

This may be the easiest position group to forecast. There is talent behind these 5 players, but it just isn’t necessary to keep more than 5 defensive linemen.

First, much of our defense is predicated on rushing 2 OLBs with 2 DL on the line. Allen, Ioannidis, and Payne are going to be rotating with each other more than they will all 3 play at once. Combine that with Settle and Brantley being a clear step above the next level and there just isn’t a strong argument to keep 6.

Second, with how draft picks are going to impact the roster at linebacker and safety (Brailford and Apke), I don’t see room for another defensive lineman. That being said, injury concerns for Settle and Brantley could pave the way for Ryan Bee to make this squad. Even if both are healthy by week 1, the relative uncertainty could have Gruden keeping a 6th player on the defensive line instead of a 9th player on the offensive line.

Linebackers (9)

On the Roster: Ryan Kerrigan (S), Shaun Dion Hamilton (S), Jon Bostic (S), Montez Sweat (S), Cole Holcomb, Josh Harvey-Clemons, Ryan Anderson, Cassanova McKinzy, Jordan Brailford

Starters After Week 4: Ryan Kerrigan, Shaun Dion Hamilton, Jon Bostic, Montez Sweat

Notable Cut: Marcus Smith, Marquis Flowers

I didn’t really struggle identifying the 9 linebackers for the final roster, but placing them in the rotation was not as simple. Cole Holcomb could very well supplant either Hamilton or Bostic by week 5, but I just didn’t feel strongly enough to pencil it in right now. The truth is that none of the inside linebackers had strong performances against the Browns. However, I should point out that Bostic and JHC looked pretty good with the first unit against the Bengals.

I will say that Brailford is probably saved by being a rookie draft pick. I know he has talent, but it looks uncertain if he will be able to showcase those talents in the preseason due to injury.

It may seem like Sweat is a layup decision out OLB, but I actually took a pause to consider if Gruden would start Anderson and bring Sweat in on pass rushing downs. This may still happen, but I don’t think the Redskins brass risks having both of their 1^st round draft picks out of the starting rotation. I should note that this was only a consideration for the initial lineup. Sweat will own the job after week 4.

Cornerbacks (6)

On the Roster: Josh Norman (S), Quinton Dunbar (S), Fabian Moreau (S), Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Fabian Moreau, Jimmy Moreland, Greg Stroman Jr.

Starters After Week 4: Josh Norman, Quinton Dunbar, Fabian Moreau

Notable Cut: Adonis Alexander

Adonis Alexander is not currently healthy and has not looked good when he was. I predict Danny Johnson to start on the PUP so he is not a notable cut. If you followed me last season, you would now how much of a fan I am of Johnson (even though he struggled during the regular season). When healthy, I expect the Redskins to consider dropping Stroman/DRC if Moreland and Moreau continue to look strong.

I expect Josh Norman to have something of a resurgence this season after a strong camp. I also expect to see Dunbar back to his old self after seemingly being fully recovered from nerve issues last season.

After week 4, I don’t expect a ton of change here. I think DRC and Jimmy Moreland will probably be the first off the bench when the situation calls for more defensive backs. I expect the Redskins to rely on their corners in passing situations thanks to lack of depth at safety.

I don’t know if it will happen without injuries, but don’t be surprised to see Jimmy Moreland starting before the season is done! That kid is just a PLAYMAKER!

Safeties (5)

On the Roster: Landon Collins (S), Montae Nicholson (S), Deshazor Everett, Troy Apke, Jeremy Reaves

Starters After Week 4: Landon Collins, Montae Nicholson

Notable Cut: N/A

Can we all just take a moment and thank the heavens that Montae Nicholson is back without issues and seems to be doing well??

Apke makes this squad simply because of his draft status and raw (emphasized) athleticism. However, he absolutely cannot be depended on for any meaningful defensive snaps, which is why Jeremy Reaves makes the squad. Reaves should also contribute well on special teams, so don’t be surprised to see Apke inactive on gameday.

Keep in mind that Reaves is very vulnerable right now. If the Redskins need a free spot for another position and think they can manage through an injury (either through FA signing or having DRC fill in) he may get cut.

Special Teams (3)

Dustin Hopkins, Tress Way, Nick Sundberg

Not a whole lot of opinion with this one, as the Redskins didn’t bring in competition for any of them. I’m always a fan of competition, but I also feel like we have a good situation compared to most of the league (currently ignoring the horrible outing by Hopkins against the Bengals).

As always, thanks for reading. Follow me @TheBurgundyBD on Twitter and comment with your thoughts!