Huge hat/tip to Washington Times beat writer who first noticed that the Washington Redskins released the Media Guide for the Redskins-Steelers preseason game this Friday evening. (Yay! Real exhibition football)
The Media Guide gives us the first authentic clue to whatever it is that Mike Shanahan is thinking about the line-up. It includes an unofficial depth chart in an official team publication. That pretty much makes “unofficial depth chart” an oxy-moron. Perhaps they should call it a temporary depth chart because we know it’s going to change after the opening kick-off.
There are a few surprises.
Jabar Gaffney and Santana Moss are listed as first-team wide receivers. Anthony Armstrong and Leonard Hankerson are second on the chart.
Tim Hightower and Roy Helu are one-two on the chart at running back.
Rex Grossman is listed as the starting quarterback.
Will Montgomery makes his debut at center replacing Casey Rabach.
Mike Sellers is listed fourth at tight end. I expect he will get more work against the Steelers than Chris Cooley and Fred Davis.
The depth chart reflects the new look defense with high draft picks and new free agents listed on the first team. Ryan Kerrigan is LOLB ahead of Lorenzo Alexander. Kerrigan just returned to practice Monday after suffering a knee injury. He is a week behind. I’m not ready to see him out there yet, expecially against the Steelers.
Redskins draft pick Jarvis Jenkins is listed second at left defensive end. I can’t wait to see why he is getting rave reviews at training camp. Rocky McIntosh jumped ahead of the class as one of the interior linebackers. Horatio Blades is third behind McIntosh and Perry Riley.
With LaRon Landry on the PUP list, Reed Doughty and Chris Horton are shown as one-two at strong safety.
In a normal year, NFL coaches withhold the starters until the third preseason game. This year, everyone needs work and everyone has a higher risl of injury. Look for the coach to play the starters for a few series, with some veterans not at all. Do we really need to see Santana Moss. Draft picks and rookies may have a higher risk absent off-season minicamps. I don’t expect to see high-value draft picks in action until the second preseason game. That’s speculative, of course. Mike Shanahan is as inscrutable as a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get.
Kick-off for the Redskins-Steelers game is 7:30 pm.m Eastern. Redskins games should be a tougher ticket with 10,000 fewer seats at FedEx Field this year. Maybe we won’t see all those Terrible Towels like the last time all them Pittsburgers were here.
See the full depth chart on page 21 of the Media Guide.
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