Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan should wear blinders to the NFL combine. He just needs to focus all his attention on quarterbacks Robert Griffin III and Ryan Tannehill and receiver Justin Blackmon without any distractions for the next few days.
It’s that simple.
The Redskins have eight draft picks, including the fourth-rounder they received from Oakland in the Jason Campbell trade in 2010 and the sixth-rounder they got from Minnesota for Donovan McNabb. Shanahan’s staff can rate offensive linemen, running backs and defensive backs for at least six of those picks.
But Shanahan’s future in Washington rests on getting a quarterback this spring not named Rex Grossman or Kyle Orton. If the Redskins sign expected free agent Peyton Manning before the draft, then they should look at Blackmon if he’s available in the first round and Tannehill if he’s still there in the second.
If Washington doesn’t get Manning, then Griffin needs to be the real target. It will cost at least two first-rounders — plus assorted picks, players and first-born sons — to get the second overall selection from St. Louis, so the Redskins must be certain Griffin has no hidden flaws.
Oh, the Redskins love saying they research players, but that’s akin to J. Edgar Hoover checking into John F. Kennedy’s love life. It turned out Heath Shuler couldn’t read a defense, Trent Williams failed a drug test and JFK got around.
The combine is a glorified physical, IQ test and speed dating session. Teams see what they want to see, and that causes trouble. But Shanahan and his coaching staff need to study Griffin and Tannehill down to the moles on their backs.
If Washington is paying the extortion to move ahead of Cleveland for Griffin, it needs to make sure he’s for real. Let the staff come back to Redskins Park arguing over strengths and weaknesses instead of smiling at a pass thrown from his knees.
The Redskins need to take the same tact as buying a car — they must be prepared to walk away if they’re unhappy with the product.
Tannehill doesn’t require quite as much skepticism because he may cost them only a second-round pick. Foot surgery is limiting him to interview sessions, but those are just as important, maybe more. Everyone has seen game film, but pro teams have little first-hand experience with college players.
There’s a modest chance Blackmon could be Washington’s choice with the sixth pick, and that would be a winner. The Oklahoma State receiver caught 121 passes and 18 touchdowns last season. He looks like the big playmaker Washington has needed since it took Michael Westbrook over Joey Galloway with the fourth choice overall in 1995. Of course, Westbrook caught 285 passes in his career, while Galloway had 701.
What happens if Griffin and Blackmon are gone by the sixth pick? Shanahan can spare a few moments over the weekend eyeing cornerback Morris Claiborne, receiver Kendall Wright and running back Trent Richardson. But Shanahan can’t last in Washington without drafting a quarterback — unless he signs Manning first.
Shanahan should just put on his shades and stare at the stars.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or email [email protected].
