Better or worse than 2010: The starting lineup was a little better – when healthy — but the depth was not. Sean Locklear was not better than Stephon Heyer. I was not a Heyer fan, but Locklear was much worse; couldn’t move anyone. Willie Smith remains a developmental type player; he showed flashes good and bad. Like a guy who should have been on the practice squad as a rookie. Maurice Hurt improved and is probably the only legitimate backup from this group for 2012. Eric Cook did not progress and was benched.
Overview: Trent Williams’ last three games before his suspension were his most consistent and if he plays that way the Redskins will be pleased. LG Kory Lichtensteiger was better, but he only played in five games. Mike Shanahan considers him their best run blocker; he understands angles and moves well. He also understands well what he can – and can’t – do. C Will Montgomery was OK; his shotgun snaps need to be faster but his recognition of defenses was strong. RG Chris Chester was inconsistent; he’s mobile, but not strong. RT Jammal Brown was injured and inconsistent.
Degree of need: High. But you can’t tear down the line every year and there’s probably no need. They might not have great talent, but cohesion and scheme can help compensate. A makeshift group enabled two rookie backs to surpass 100 yards in five of the last six games. The scheme helped tremendously as did the backs. But there were holes and it’s not as if the line was great in those games. I remember when Mike Shanahan was first hired, a GM said that he did not place much emphasis on the line. Why? Because of what the scheme requires them to do and how it helps them. Where they get hurt is the inability to drive defenders off the ball inside the red zone when the stretch zones aren’t working.
Offseason chore: Finding a right tackle, developing depth. Brown hasn’t proven he can stay healthy and did not provide the stellar play when he was OK. Injuries have taken a toll. They need to do a better job creating cutback lanes and a right tackle with more mobility than Brown would be welcomed. Could Brown be that guy if healthy? Do you want to find out? They could also find a center, but I’m not convinced they view this as a priority. They also have some flexibility. If they want to replace Montgomery, they could always slide Lichtensteiger to center – but only if they think Hurt can start. Hurt needs to get in better shape and if he does he can help in the future. Smith is still raw. Didn’t look like a guy ready to challenge for a starting job in 2012.
Best place to find help: The draft. USC’s Matt Kalil is a top-10 pick; the Redskins need for a playmaker trumps all so I’d recommend against taking an OL here — unless free agency is successful finding playmakers. Ohio State’s Mike Adams is a potential first-round pick, but in the latter part of the round. There are intriguing options after the first pick; a guy like Boise State’s Nate Potter is considered a good zone-blocking prospect and is pegged, as of now, as a mid-round type. If Shanahan considers this offseason a big one for Brown, that means they’ll likely look to the draft for a potential replacement while giving him a chance to prove he can stay healthy.
Key free agents: Montgomery is unrestricted. He won’t be expensive. Lichtensteiger is restricted, but coming off an injury he expects to be tendered a one-year deal and return.
