“We have some concerns [at wide receiver] and when we have someone out there who we think can help like this, we don’t want to pass up on the opportunity.” ~~ Joe Gibbs on redskins.com.
Keenan McCardell is signed, sealed and delivered to Redskins Park in Ashburn, VA. He joined practice yesterday, then spent extra time with Jason Campbell to work on timing according to the story on redskins.com.
The very fact that the Skins continue to look at wide receivers this late says something. The fact that they are looking at experienced receivers [Corey Bradford, Todd Pinkston] says something more, although it’s pure guesswork what it all means. People will jump to the obvious conclusion that Brandon Lloyd isn’t working out, or the real fear that Santana Moss is more hurt than they are letting on. It’s rarely that simple in a complex game.
Washington was courting McCardell last summer, before they knew Moss might be gimpy, before they knew whether Brandon Lloyd and Antwaan Randle El would blossom or bust. The Redskins are playing from the shotgun spread formation with three and four wide outs more often. That’s the Al Saunders influence. Joe Gibbs has always been reluctant to run from that formation. However, the Skins have run 25 plays from the shotgun in their first three games. They ran shotgun 12 times in the Philadelphia game alone; three times in their first 10 plays and at least once in 4 of their first 5 possessions. They run the formation whether it’s third and long, or second down and under 10 yards. This doesn’t count the times you see them run the spread with the quarterback under center.
Assuming that you see four wide outs in the spread formation, and that one of those wide outs will be TE Chris Cooley, the other three have to be wide receivers. I don’t think the coaches believe they have three reliable wide receivers to run Saunders’ passing game, especially for middle distances [10 to 20 yards]. In short, they haven’t solved the complimentary wide receiver they complained about last August when they said they wanted more from their No. 2 wide receivers. They are out of time to develop a young receiver. Finding a veteran player as a short term fix seems to be the thing. That why McCardell and Reche Caldwell. That’s why Corey Bradford and Todd Pinkston got an early look.
McCardell is here to be the Troy Vincent of the offense — a guy who can step in and help you win a game or three in a season. While we are focused on the return to hardnosed Gibbs ball, I think we are seeing more of Al Saunders’ influence on the passing game. It’s an open question that he has the horses for his schemes.
He’s Number Two. Antwaan Randle El has emerged as a legit No. 2 wide receiver. He has 11 catches for 238 yards after three games. If he keeps that pace, he is trending 59 catches for 1,269 yards, a good start on the 6-7-8 plan for the No. 2 receiver [60 catches, 7 TDs, 800 yards]. Randle El ranks 37th in yardage among all receivers after three games, tied with Tony Gonzalez who’s played four games. No. 1 receiver Santana Moss has caught 12 balls for 199 yards. I’m worried about Moss. He’s dropped more balls than I’m used to seeing from him. Last season, he whispered to Campbell to just “put the ball up there” and give Moss a chance to go get it. Well, the ball has been up there several times, only this year, I haven’t seen Moss close on it in that thrilling way as in ’06 and especially ’05. I think his groin injuries are hurting hurting him more than he’s letting on and that’s a whole separate issue from signing McCardell.
Where’s Shaun Bodiford? He’s playing in Green Bay again. The Redskins snatched Bodiford off of the waiver wire September 2 when the 5-8, 186 pound, wide receiver was released by the Packers on cut-down day. It was a surprise signing. The Skins quietly released him September 20 to make room for offensive lineman Rick DeMulling, who was signed that day. The Packers signed Bodiford to the active roster September 24. Bodiford is another of the smallish wide outs the Skins have a abundance of, but the team apparently liked him enough to work with him on the practice squad. His presence didn’t keep the team from seeking a veteran who is four inches taller.
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The Redskins released safety Omar Stoutmire to make room for McCardell.
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