Redskins McCardell on the receiving end

Keenan McCardell entered the NFL when the Washington Redskins drafted him before the 1991 season, which was late in Joe Gibbs’ first go-round as coach. I’ve been wondering how the Redskins’ fortune might have changed if the the team kept McCardell and never drafted Michael Westbrook. McCardell would go on to catch over 800 balls during his stellar career. He caught his first ball for the Redskins last Sunday against the Lions. Westbrook was never the receiver the Redskins needed him to be. I put a lot of that on team turmoil in the ‘nineties, but McCardell seems to have an intangible that Westbrook lacked. I’ve never met either player, so I’ll take that thought no further. I’m just saying . . . . Oh well, you makes your roster choices and you takes your chances! Signing McCardell not only reunites him with the team that drafted him, but also with Mark Brunell, his quarterback in his most productive years in Jacksonville. Of course, we would be dire straits if both Brunell and McCardell were in a game at the same time. Lightning Strike Twice? In signing McCardell, the Redskins hope to get the kind of production the team got from Henry Ellard 14 years ago. Ellard joined the Skins in 1994 after 11 seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. It was a tonic for both the receiver and the team. Ellard caught 74 balls for 1397 yards and 6 touchdowns in his first year with Washington, and over 50 passes in each of the following two seasons. Westbrook managed more than 50 catches in a season only twice in his eight year career. Career Receiving Records

How could I post stats of Redskin possession receivers and not include Arthur Monk? The Scheme is the Theme Hog Heaven already posted that injuries and under-performing players were not the driving force behind signing McCardell. The Skins updated the passing game with the shotgun spread formation — a clear Al Saunders’ influence. Joe Gibbs was notoriously reluctant to use the shotgun. The Redskins used the shotgun six times in the Lions game, once on a first down and once on third-and-five with a direct snap to running back Clinton Portis. Mike Sellers’ 24 yard pass reception was thrown from the shotgun. McCardell and Reche Caldwell help populate the formation as wide outs. James Thrash still has something in the tank in the right situation. Mike Sellers, Ladell Betts and even Clinton Ports are targets out of the backfield, not to mention Captain Chaos. Tight end Chris Cooley is a threat when lined up anywhere in the spread. With a healthy Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El, the Redskins have the nucleus to do real damage with the passing game. I don’t think we’ve seen the full potential of Saunders’ passing game yet. Brandon Abandoned? Brandon Lloyd now has more pass receptions on the season than I do. At this pace, he’s good for four this year. When he caught that pass against Detroit, he got a generous applause from the FedEx crowd. Not a jeering, sarcastic applause, but a genuinely generous one. Redskins fans want this guy to succeed for the team. The coach-in-chief continues to say nice things about Lloyd working to get back on the field. I’ve never heard Gibbs say anything negative about any player — except his first impression of John Riggins –, but the nice words about under-performing Lloyd tells me the Skins need him to contribute more than they need to get rid of him. The team that gave Taylor Jacobs so many chances is doing the same for Lloyd.