Washington Redskins Grade
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Washington Redskins (D+)
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(35) Roger McIntosh, OLB. Miami
(153) Anthony Montgomery, DT. Minnesota
(173) Reed Doughty, S. Northern Colorado
(195) Kedric Golston, DT. Georgia
(230) Kili Lefotu, OG. Arizona
(250) Kevin Simon, ILB. Tennessee
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The Redskins had only one first day pick this year. Wanting to grab a linebacker before the top tier of talent was gone, the Redskins moved up to acquire Rocky McIntosh. The team desperately needed a linebacker, and so this move had to be made. However, the Redskins paid a mighty price for this move. They not only gave up a 6th round pick this year but also a 2nd rounder from next year. Consistent with recent history, the Redskins continue to dump future picks to move up. Yet again, they will be deficient of day one picks next year. Aside from linebacker, where they could use more than one talented player, the Redskins had needs in the secondary and along the offensive line. The team addressed both rather weakly, istead focusing efforts to value picks along the defensive front. Rokcy McInstosh was a very solid pick, but even his acquisition involved a steep price tag. All in all, the Redskins draft was below average.
(35) Roger McIntosh, LB. Miami
Rocky McIntosh is a valuable asset to the Redskins because he can play all three linebacker positions. At 6'2"/237, he was good size to compliment his excellent athleticism. Rocky's 4.61 speed gives him sideline-to-sideline range. He is a good tackler that seems to always be around the ball. Rocky is a leader on the field. With the successes of Ray Lewis and Jonathan Vilma, Miami linebackers are seen as sure commodities. With only one first day pick, the Redskins could do nothing but invest in a sure thing. Wanting to utilize strong-side linebacker Marcus Washington as a pass rusher, where he is best, the Redskins may still be unable to do so since Rocky is very average in coverage. With only a second round selection, finding a sure commodity at linebacker with coverage skills is an almost impossible task. The team can not be scorned for this pick for being in such a helpless draft situation. Nevertheles, I am not even enamored for the Redskins with Rocky McIntosh.
(153) Anthony Montgomery, DT. Minnesota
At 6'5"/311, Anthony Mongomery has excellent size. He is a huge specimen with excellent potential. He is very athletic and can get to the quarterback on passing downs. He is a hard worker that has excellent upside. Because he has excellent physcial tools but is still very raw, Montgomery might be converted to offensive tackle before all is said and done. His 5.24 timed speed suggests that his pass rushing skills might be much less effective at the NFL level. For such a raw, developmental guy, Montgomery was draft very high. The Redskins must have seen some potentially great qualities in him to use a 5th rounder on him. As a guy without a defined position, you would expect Mongomery as more of a 7th rounder since he is such a question mark.
(173) Reed Doughty, S. Northern Colorado
Needing help at corner to bolster the secondary, the Redskins grabbed a safety with below average athletic ability. Redd Dougthy excelled at the Division I-AA level, but his skill set just does not seem to be one to translate to the NFL. At 6'0"/209, Doughty has only average size for a safety. His 4.73 speed is rather slow. He simply lacks the range to roam the field like safeties have been accustomed to in the NFL recently. Doughty is not much more than a reliable tackler. His maximum potential is very limited, likely to a backup role at the next level. A tough and physcial guy with good tackling abilities, Doughty could become a special teams ace with the right development. Regardless, this is an awkward pick.
(195) Kedric Golston, DT. Georgia
Georgia has a history of pumping out successful defensive tackles. Kedric Golston could be another member of that elite club. Logistically built on speed rushers up the middle, the Redskins defense could use a developmental guy like Golston. At 6'4"/300, Golston has good size. His 4.90 timed speed is excellent and suggests that his pass rushing moves will be effective at the next level. Needing to learn how to play with leverage, Golston lacks the ability to stop the run effectively, but he could project as an excellent situational pass rusher at the next level. He simply has the athleticism to present serious matchup problems along the oppossing interior line. An underachiever at Georgia, Joe Gibbs could whip Golston into shape and make him a legitimate NFL starter up the middle in a couple years.
(230) Kili Lefotu, OG. Arizona
Ray Brown is not young. At 43, the Redskins guard is in need of being replaced sooner than later. Kili Lefotu is a physcial player who could possibly step in as an eventual replacement to Brown. At 6'5"/315, Lefotu has good size, with a fram to add even more weight. Often dominating at the point of attack against the run, Lefotu fits the Redskins physical blocking scheme very well. His 5.50 timed speed is not very good, but you can't expect to be getting a superstar in the 7th round. Regardless, Lefotu is the type of solid college performer with reasonable physcial abilities and a big frame would could use his hard working mentality and crack a starting lineup one day. At the very least, Lefotu will supply depth and insurance should the ageless Ray Brown call it quits.
(250) Kevin Simon, ILB. Tennessee
Further giving the linebacking corp help, the Redskins took a risk on Kevin Simon. Simon has had major durability concerns at Tennessee. He has had two knee surgeries and an ankle surgery during the course of his career. Nevertheless, no one can deny what he does when he is actually on the field. Simon can fly all over the field. He has sideline-to-sideline range and is very comfortable in coverage. He is an explosive tackler who knows how to lay the lumber. Undersized at 5'10"/235, Simon will likely be moved to ouside linebacker in the NFL. If he can stay on the field, Simon has a cocky personality that refuses to lose. He projects very well to the NFL because of this. Needing much help at the linebacker position and having few picks to address this need in the form of legitimate prospects, the Redskins were in a position to take a calculated gamble with Simon at this point in the draft.
Washington Redskins (D+)
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(35) Roger McIntosh, OLB. Miami
(153) Anthony Montgomery, DT. Minnesota
(173) Reed Doughty, S. Northern Colorado
(195) Kedric Golston, DT. Georgia
(230) Kili Lefotu, OG. Arizona
(250) Kevin Simon, ILB. Tennessee
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The Redskins had only one first day pick this year. Wanting to grab a linebacker before the top tier of talent was gone, the Redskins moved up to acquire Rocky McIntosh. The team desperately needed a linebacker, and so this move had to be made. However, the Redskins paid a mighty price for this move. They not only gave up a 6th round pick this year but also a 2nd rounder from next year. Consistent with recent history, the Redskins continue to dump future picks to move up. Yet again, they will be deficient of day one picks next year. Aside from linebacker, where they could use more than one talented player, the Redskins had needs in the secondary and along the offensive line. The team addressed both rather weakly, istead focusing efforts to value picks along the defensive front. Rokcy McInstosh was a very solid pick, but even his acquisition involved a steep price tag. All in all, the Redskins draft was below average.
The Redskins traded up to ensure they acquired Rocky
(35) Roger McIntosh, LB. Miami
Rocky McIntosh is a valuable asset to the Redskins because he can play all three linebacker positions. At 6'2"/237, he was good size to compliment his excellent athleticism. Rocky's 4.61 speed gives him sideline-to-sideline range. He is a good tackler that seems to always be around the ball. Rocky is a leader on the field. With the successes of Ray Lewis and Jonathan Vilma, Miami linebackers are seen as sure commodities. With only one first day pick, the Redskins could do nothing but invest in a sure thing. Wanting to utilize strong-side linebacker Marcus Washington as a pass rusher, where he is best, the Redskins may still be unable to do so since Rocky is very average in coverage. With only a second round selection, finding a sure commodity at linebacker with coverage skills is an almost impossible task. The team can not be scorned for this pick for being in such a helpless draft situation. Nevertheles, I am not even enamored for the Redskins with Rocky McIntosh.
(153) Anthony Montgomery, DT. Minnesota
At 6'5"/311, Anthony Mongomery has excellent size. He is a huge specimen with excellent potential. He is very athletic and can get to the quarterback on passing downs. He is a hard worker that has excellent upside. Because he has excellent physcial tools but is still very raw, Montgomery might be converted to offensive tackle before all is said and done. His 5.24 timed speed suggests that his pass rushing skills might be much less effective at the NFL level. For such a raw, developmental guy, Montgomery was draft very high. The Redskins must have seen some potentially great qualities in him to use a 5th rounder on him. As a guy without a defined position, you would expect Mongomery as more of a 7th rounder since he is such a question mark.
(173) Reed Doughty, S. Northern Colorado
Needing help at corner to bolster the secondary, the Redskins grabbed a safety with below average athletic ability. Redd Dougthy excelled at the Division I-AA level, but his skill set just does not seem to be one to translate to the NFL. At 6'0"/209, Doughty has only average size for a safety. His 4.73 speed is rather slow. He simply lacks the range to roam the field like safeties have been accustomed to in the NFL recently. Doughty is not much more than a reliable tackler. His maximum potential is very limited, likely to a backup role at the next level. A tough and physcial guy with good tackling abilities, Doughty could become a special teams ace with the right development. Regardless, this is an awkward pick.
Golston is a disruptive force as a pass rusher
(195) Kedric Golston, DT. Georgia
Georgia has a history of pumping out successful defensive tackles. Kedric Golston could be another member of that elite club. Logistically built on speed rushers up the middle, the Redskins defense could use a developmental guy like Golston. At 6'4"/300, Golston has good size. His 4.90 timed speed is excellent and suggests that his pass rushing moves will be effective at the next level. Needing to learn how to play with leverage, Golston lacks the ability to stop the run effectively, but he could project as an excellent situational pass rusher at the next level. He simply has the athleticism to present serious matchup problems along the oppossing interior line. An underachiever at Georgia, Joe Gibbs could whip Golston into shape and make him a legitimate NFL starter up the middle in a couple years.
(230) Kili Lefotu, OG. Arizona
Ray Brown is not young. At 43, the Redskins guard is in need of being replaced sooner than later. Kili Lefotu is a physcial player who could possibly step in as an eventual replacement to Brown. At 6'5"/315, Lefotu has good size, with a fram to add even more weight. Often dominating at the point of attack against the run, Lefotu fits the Redskins physical blocking scheme very well. His 5.50 timed speed is not very good, but you can't expect to be getting a superstar in the 7th round. Regardless, Lefotu is the type of solid college performer with reasonable physcial abilities and a big frame would could use his hard working mentality and crack a starting lineup one day. At the very least, Lefotu will supply depth and insurance should the ageless Ray Brown call it quits.
(250) Kevin Simon, ILB. Tennessee
Further giving the linebacking corp help, the Redskins took a risk on Kevin Simon. Simon has had major durability concerns at Tennessee. He has had two knee surgeries and an ankle surgery during the course of his career. Nevertheless, no one can deny what he does when he is actually on the field. Simon can fly all over the field. He has sideline-to-sideline range and is very comfortable in coverage. He is an explosive tackler who knows how to lay the lumber. Undersized at 5'10"/235, Simon will likely be moved to ouside linebacker in the NFL. If he can stay on the field, Simon has a cocky personality that refuses to lose. He projects very well to the NFL because of this. Needing much help at the linebacker position and having few picks to address this need in the form of legitimate prospects, the Redskins were in a position to take a calculated gamble with Simon at this point in the draft.