Rock Cartwright
5-foot-8, 213 pounds
When the NFL changed the rules regarding wedges, it also forced Cartwright, and other returners, to tweak their strategy. Against the Ravens, Cartwright averaged 19.5 yards on two returns – 5.1 yards less than he averaged last season.
Before, teams could use a three- or four-man wedge. Now they can only use a two-man wedge; the Redskins now use two, two-man wedges.
‘’[Before] when guys would take on our wedge they would jump out because they didn’t want to take it on,’’ Cartwright said. ‘’Now they will hit it.’’
In the past he would stay10-12 yards behind the wedge. Now he has to be 10-12 behind the second two-man group. On his second return Thursday he was about three yards from the wedge.
‘’I had to stop my feet,’’ he said. ‘’Anytime you have to do that, that’s not good.’’
Hunter Smith
6-foot-2, 209 pounds
Smith punted nine times in Thursday’s preseason opener – a total, he said, he needed five games to reach last summer with Indianapolis. The Colts did have another punter in camp, but it was a low total regardless.
Smith’s numbers were solid: a 45.2-yard average and 37.1 net. But the hangtime early on was inconsistent.
‘’I thought I was OK,’’ he said. ‘’I felt like it was about how a first outing should go.’’
Chris Wilson
6-foot-4, 247 pounds
Wilson switched from end to linebacker and has often worked with the third defense. But Wilson offers what special teams coaches love: a big guy who can run. Plus, with the loss of linebacker Khary Campbell in the offseason, the Redskins might have a hard time getting rid of such a player. Barring an upset, or sudden falloff in play, Wilson will be on the final 53; his stock is on the rise.
