Archive for May, 2011

Redskins All-Time Best/Worst Defensive Ends

This is part 8 in a series of posts in which I’ll list my choices for the Redskins all-time best and worst players at each position. Agree, disagree? Let me know in the comments. Today we cover Defensive Ends, next up are the Defensive Tackles.

Worst

#5 - Todd Liebenstein

What a scary name for a defensive end, huh? Was he in a DE rotation with Gary Roenicke? Liebenstein was a 4th round pick in 1982 and actually started in the Super Bowl XVIII debacle. He was cut in the middle of the 1985 season after registering 1.5 career sacks.

#4 - Steve Hamilton

Hamilton was drafted in the 2nd round of the 1984 draft and played 4 lackluster seasons for the Skins totaling 6.5 sacks in 46 games.

Photo via D.C. Sports Bog

#3 - Mat Mendenhall

Mendenhall was drafted in the 2nd round of the 1980 draft and actually started every game in 1982 including Super Bowl XVII. He walked out of camp on the Skins in 1983 and never played again…he was a quitter. Mendenhall finished his career with 1 official sack in 23 games.

#2 - Shane Collins

Collins was yet another 2nd round pick (1992) for the Skins that didn’t pan out. Collins would play 30 games in the burgundy and gold, racking up 47 tackles and 1 sack.

#1 - Jason Taylor

In an act of desperation, the Redskins traded 2nd and 6th round picks for Taylor during training camp of 2008. After picking up his $16.5 million contract, the Redskins would get 3.5 sacks and 29 tackles in one injury-plagued season before cutting him.

Best

#5 - Coy Bacon

Bacon played just 4 seasons with the Redskins but definitely was a force during his tenure. Bacon totaled 38.5 sacks (unofficially) and 7 fumble recoveries in just 51 games.

#4 - Gene Brito

Brito was a 5-time Pro Bowler and 4-time All Pro who played all 84 possible games during his 7 seasons as a Redskin. NFL player of the year in 1955 and one of the 70 Greatest Redskins.

#3 - Ron McDole

Mcdole was another incredibly durable defensive end who never missed a game due to injury. ‘The Dancing Bear’ played 114 games during his 8 seasons in the burgundy and gold. Sacks weren’t an official stat during his era so we are left guessing as to how many he had, however he did have 6 INT’s and 7 fumble recoveries. One of the 70 Greatest Redskins.

#2 - Charles Mann

Mann played more games than any other DE in Redskins history, amassing 163 over his 11 seasons. Mann was a 4-time Pro Bowler who forced 17 fumbles and had 82 sacks and 784 tackles during his Redskins tenure. Mann is a 3-time Super Bowl Champion, one of the 70 Greatest Redskins and a member of the Ring of Fame.

#1 - Dexter Manley

Manley is the career leader with 97.5 sacks as a Redskin (in 54 less games than Mann). Manley was an absolute beast who was a Pro Bowler and 2-time All-Pro. Also a member of the 70 Greatest Redskins and Ring of Fame.

Cheers and Hail

Margaret & Riggo

I’ve been a Redskins fan my whole life but the truth of the matter is I had no choice, I was born and raised to be this way. Most of it comes from my grandmother, the great Margaret Pearson or Nanny as I affectionately called her. Nanny had a bar in Herndon back in the day and lots of former Redskins utilized Margaret’s Inn as their watering hole. One of the players that frequented Margaret’s Inn was John Riggins. Riggo is/was my favorite player of all-time and I always enjoyed listening to Nanny tell Riggo stories. Riggo actually came to visit my grandmother in the last few days before she retired…and in classic Riggo fashion asked for a 6-pack to go.

It was sometime in the later years of my Nanny’s life that I was sitting with her playing cards and we were drinking beers…yep that’s the way we rolled. Nanny looked over at the telephone hanging on the wall and said “I bet you one G-damn thing, if I had John Riggins number he’d meet us out for a night on the town any old time.” Despite everything I’d known about my grandmother’s relationship with Riggo, I kind of blew that off. However, I’m pretty certain now that she was right. You see, there was no Twitter or facebook back in those days…hell, cellphones weren’t even common. So, it came as a suprise to me that nearly 30 years later, Riggo sent me this tweet (this is from Aug of 2009):

That’s exactly right, if you’ve ever set foot in the Ice House in Herndon, VA…then you’ve been to Margaret’s Inn. A place where Hall of Famers like Charley Taylor and John Riggins would drink beers and shoot the shit. I was much to young to have remembered her place, let alone have a beer there. On the day of Nanny’s funeral my wife and I snuck down to the Ice House (which was just a block away from the funeral home) to grab a beer. Unfortunately, it was closed…I still have yet to tilt one back in Nanny’s old establishment, it’s on my bucket list. Maybe Riggo will meet me there because the more things change, the more they stay the same. On the very night Riggo sent me the above tweet I asked him what he was drinking, his response below:

Cheers and Hail

Redskins 2011 Draft: Grading The First 6 Picks

I must admit, I like love what the Redskins did in this draft. They definitely filled some holes and at the very least have made an effort to add some depth. Most importantly, they didn’t do anything remotely close to being stupid…what a refreshing change.
Here’s my thoughts on the first 6 draft picks:

Rd 1 - Ryan Kerrigan DE/OLB

Grade: A

Absolutely love it. We needed an OLB to complement Brian Orakpo and Kerrigan will fill this need. Lots of talk about his “high motor” and ‘high character”, music to my ears. I think he’ll play quite a bit at DE as well. I can see the Kerakpo duo totaling 20+ sacks. Bonus was we traded back and added extra picks.

Rd 2 - Jarvis Jenkins DE

Grade: B-

I’m up in the air on this one. On one hand I love the idea of him playing NT in our 3-4 defense, however word is the Redskins plan on him playing at DE. My guess is he’ll play a little of both (like the Redskins prefer of their D-lineman) and add some much needed depth to our D-line.

Rd 3 - Leonard Hankerson WR

B

I feel really good about this pick. A big body WR who has a nose for the end zone (his 13 TD’s last season broke Michael Irvin’s record). He may have been a steal and fills a true need for the Redskins…possible starter this year. Bonus points for having peeps at his draft party wearing Redskins gear!

Rd 4 - Roy Helu RB

A

Love it! This guy is a perfect fit for Shanahan’s running scheme and I predict he starts at least 8 games in 2011. I like Ryan Torain but he’s injury prone and the rest of our RB’s are journeymen/practice squad types.

Rd 5 - Dejon Gomes SS

C

Ok with this pick. He played LB/SS in college and I assume he’ll be a back up safety for the Skins. He may become a dominating special teams player…but when you have 6 picks left should you be looking for special teams players? I like the fact that he has a nose for the ball, caused 12 turnovers in his college career.

Rd 5 - Niles Paul WR

B

I like this pick. Paul comes from a run-first offense at Nebraska but he made the most of his opportunities. He showed playmaking skills in both the return game and WR during his college career. Could have an immediate impact at KR.

Cheers and Hail