Carlos Rogers is the biggest winner of the Mike Shanahan era.
The Washington Redskins cornerback didn’t expect to return this season. The previous regime no longer wanted the 2005 first-rounder, who was benched in the final months of last season. Rogers took a long look around Redskins Park, not expecting to return.
Today, Rogers is beloved by the new coaching staff. His role was altered to help him have more chances for interceptions, which should erase his reputation for having hands of stone.
Life is good.
“It’s a whole lot better with a totally different coaching staff around here,” Rogers said. “I can’t be more happy than I’m now.”
What’s not to love when your enemies are banished. Rogers couldn’t stop smiling when his biggest detractor, vice president Vinny Cerrato, resigned in December. The coaching staff soon followed and all of Rogers’ emotional baggage went with them.
“They’d forget all about the tackles I made, the batted balls, the times I was on the top receiver and he wasn’t a big-play guy,” Rogers said. “We didn’t have any offense so the pressure was on the defense.”
Incoming defensive coordinator Jim Haslett became a big backer of Rogers, one reason why the team made him a restricted free agent. Rogers soon wanted to stay and attended all offseason workouts, though he didn’t sign his one-year tender offer until the eve of training camp.
“Talking with coach Shanahan, I put all that behind me,” Rogers said. “I’m starting over and it’s a good one.”
Haslett said moving Rogers more into nickel situations — where shorter throws increasingly come at chest level — should help him avoid dropping interception opportunities. Rogers feels facing the passer will make a difference.
“I don’t know what happened to my hands because in college I’d catch everything,” he said. “When you play a lot of man [coverage] with your back to your quarterback versus when you break on a route, [the ball’s] a flash. Now I can see the ball. I don’t drop balls out here [in practice.] The whole mentality has changed.”
Certainly, Rogers seems happier around teammates, often leaving the field with a smile. There’s nothing like a fresh start.
“I always had confidence, [but] when you have coaches play you one weekend and bench you the next weekend, it frustrates you and you don’t want to be there.
“I love the game. I’m back.”
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
