[DarthMonk]

Posted at 12:01 PM ET, 03/23/2012 TheWashingtonPost Redskins have yet to sign a right tackle; Jammal Brown encouraged by rehab

By Mike Jones

Quiet in free agency for most of this week, the Washington Redskins have yet to find an answer at right tackle. Meanwhile, the incumbent, Jammal Brown -- who is rehabilitating a hip injury -- is optimistic that this spring he can prove to coaches that he remains the best option at that position.

Tackle Jammal Brown (77) is helped from the field after he sustained an injury during warm-ups before the game against the New England Patriots Dec. 11. (Photo by Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post)The team hosted Buffalo Bills free agent Demetrius Bell last week, but the four-year veteran left Redskins Park without agreeing to terms, and reportedly is drawing interest from the Arizona Cardinals as well.

Other options remain on the market, with San Diego’s Marcus McNeill and the Giants’ Kareem McKenzie also still unsigned. It’s unclear how much interest the Redskins have in them, however.

The right tackle position requires the team’s attention because of the uncertainty that surrounds Brown’s surgically repaired hip. Brown missed all of the 2009 season while recovering from surgery to repair a torn labrum, and has missed seven games over the last two seasons because of lingering problems.

After the 2011 season ended, Coach Mike Shanahan said that Brown needed an entire offseason to rehab and attempt to regain full strength. The coach said the former two-time Pro Bowler’s future with the team would hinge on his ability to recover.

Brown, who has spent the majority of the offseason working with team trainers, said Friday via text message that he is very encouraged by his progress. Brown also said he “most definitely” expects to be fully ready by the time OTAs get underway late this spring.

It remains to be seen whether the Redskins have the same level of optimism about Brown, who is entering the second year of a five-year, $20.25 million contract. This year, he will count for $4.6 million against the salary cap.

The team’s other on-roster options at right tackle could include second-year pro Willie Smith, who played the final four games of the season at left tackle, and four-year veteran Tyler Polumbus, who started four games at right tackle.

If the Redskins don’t succeed in bringing in another veteran, they could draft one. This year’s draft features a number of right tackles expected to be available in the middle rounds. Ole Miss’s Bobby Massie, Cal’s Mitchell Schwartz or Miami’s Brandon Washington are projected to be available in the late-second to mid-third round range, and could be options for the Redsksins, who have the sixth pick of the third round.

DarthMonk

[Red_One43]

Point-Counterpoint: How much help is needed on O-line?

Rich Tandler:

[Deadskins]

[skinsfan#33]

I was hoping that our path to improving our ol depth was by making one or two of our starters, backups.

Don't how people point out our sack totals but fail to mention only two teams ol gave up more qb hits. That isn't exactly the ol I want my franchise qb starting his career behind.

[Red_One43]

[Red_One43]

I thought that this might be interesting.
How did Shanny, protege, Gary Kubiak, build his OL at Houston?

Kubiak's O line draft Choices:

2006 draft - 3/66 (from New Orleans) Eric Winston Offensive tackle Miami (FL)

2007 - 5/163 (from New Orleans) Brandon Frye Offensive tackle Virginia Tech
6/183 Kasey Studdard Offensive guard Texas

2008 -1/26 (from Baltimore) Duane Brown Offensive tackle Virginia Tech

2009 - 3/77 Antoine Caldwell Center Alabama

2010 - 6/187 Shelley Smith Offensive guard Colorado State

2011- 7/214 Derek Newton Offensive tackle Arkansas State

Became Starters

Eric Winston becomes a starter in 2007

Duane Brown starts as a rookie 2008

Kasey Studdard starter 2009

(Chris Meyers - C - was drafted in the 6th round in 2005 became a starter in 2007)

Mike Brisiel UDFA starter in 2008

Chris White UDFA replaces Brisiel in 2009 during the season. Injury to Brisiel?

Wade Smith drafted by Miami 2003 3rd round 78th pick. Replaces Studdard in 2010 after signing as a free agent. Texans are his 4th team

http://www.nfl.com/player/wadesmith/2505633/profile

Texans 2011 Starters

Myers - 6th round 2005; Starter 2007
Smith - Free Agent 2010(No Big Splash here); Starter 2010
Brisiel - UDFA 2007; Starter 2008
Winston - 3rd round 2006; Starter 2007
Brown - 1st round 2008; Starter 2008 .

Four of the five have started together since 2008.


We know the performance of the Texans ZBS line. Two of them were coveted in FA this year. As you can see, Kubiak built his line like Shanny is doing. It also took time time.

The question for Shanny is do you have the right guys? Kubiak obviously did.


Redskins 2011 Starters

Williams is looks like he is progressing at least until the Dope issue
Brown - health issues the concern -looked like a good trade at the time
Monty - Doubt he will be come a Chris Meyers, but Lock Out and Cap issues didn't help Shanny here.
Kory - Was progressing very well
Chester - Shanny says that he is progressing.

It takes time to build a ZBS line through the draft

Definitely Shanny will be drafting some O linemen in the draft, but again, it doesn't necessarily mean the 3rd round pick. It depends on the BPA in round three.

[RG3 Fan]

In the NFC EAST the offensive line better be good or the QB is going to look very bad or will get hurt. Hopefully, the current OL will do the job and we can get some good back ups in the draft.

[Countertrey]

[skinsfan#33]

[KazooSkinsFan]

[Red_One43]

Skinsfan 33, I can say that I am in agreement with you that the line needs upgrading. The reality is that upgrading would be by the combination of development and continuity (looks like the whole line is back) , getting healthy (Brown and Kory must get healthy) and by depth (Are Hurt and Smith the real deals - Polumbus looked better than a unhealthy Brown). We will most likely pick up a vet tackle like last year hopefully better than Locklear. We will draft some young 'uns but it is a slim chance that one of those guys will be a starter as a rookie unless injuries force the situation. We hopefully will find some more Willie Smiths in the UDFA market, but again, highly unlikely a Day 1 starter. We might have to get a stop gap vet if Kory is not ready.

That looks like the picture for now given the cap situation. No blue chippers are going to added.

Now, here is where I disagree with you wholeheartledly. Last year's O line was not doom and gloom last year. We moved the ball, but we settled for FGs. You focus on "horrid" QB hits? How about "horrid" QB turnovers. Go game by game and you will see that our O line was not Doom and Gloom. Check out the stats in the Arizona game (455 total offensive yds) - why did we only have 22 points in that game and the D had to save it - it wasn't the O line.

About our O:

Timing O - Yes, better QB play with an ability to extend plays reduces sacks and hits. Also recievers getting open. Also having a deep threat.
Running threat QB - Does change your rush tactics - Detmer speaks to this on a post in RG3 2 DC thread
Continuity - does produce better line play
Deep threat opens up the run game. (No more 9 in the box, Philly! C'mon, Skins, you don't think teams stacking the box had something to do with the poor run game of the O line early in the season? How did we rattle off consecutive individual 100 yard games later in the season if the line was so bad?)

Our line was average last year. They need to get better this year, BUT it was not the doom and gloom that you are making it out to be. Check out the game film and how the defenders played us in the beginnning of the season. Once again, compare how our line is being built with the teams across the NFL and you will see that Shanny is doing it the way the majority of teams do it. I posted a thread last summer in "General Manager Office about "Trends Found in Play-off team's Offensive Lines."

http://www.thehogs.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=539891#539891

[Countertrey]

Absolutely. The gloom and doom about the line is simply blown beyond reasonable proportion. Could it be better? That's a no brainer. Is it good enough to serve? Based on the end of last season, yeah. It is.

[rskin72]

While i think our oline needs to add depth, i dont think that the oline was brutal last season. Considering injuries to the line (including Cooley) and the fact that our QB's were lacking in a lot of areas including mobility and accuracy. Also, as others have mentioned, i am sure plans for oline additions have taken a bit of a back seat thanks to Mara's reindeer game ruling.

I look for some oline additions during the draft.....maybe if our $$$ situation gets resolved soon, and in our favor, we will add some fa's.

[andyjens89]

The offensive line wasn't as bad as people think, in my opinion.

Williams - Looked great at times, but still has a LOT of learning and growing to do. Missing 4 games due to a suspension doesn't help either.

Lichtensteiger - Out for the year. Looked decent.

Montgomery - Had to play at guard for a couple of games because of injury.

Chester - The only starter to play all 16 games at one position.

Brown - Still adjusting to the right side and not quite healed from hip surgery. I think he will be a little more healthy and able this year.

Backups:

Smith - Looked pretty good for an undrafted rookie.

Hurt - Wasn't terrible as far as I remember. 7th round rookie.

Also, they were allowing Helu and Royster to bust out for 100 yard games pretty consistently.

You could also blame receivers not being open for some of the problems we had with sacks too. It's not always the pass rush, but the coverage that gets you a sack.

Once you get a quarterback in there who can make plays and read the defense you will fix a lot of problems.

[The Hogster]