Washington Redskins Outlook: Grading The Secondary

For the next few weeks we’ll preview the Washington Redskins current Training Camp roster by grading and reviewing each positional group. In the process, we’ll also take a look at who could make the final roster.

Today, we’re starting with a look at Washington’s revamped secondary that will feature at least three new starters in 2015.

Current Cornerback group:

Kyshoen Jarrett, 22

Tevin Mitchell, 22

David Amerson, 23

Bashaud Breeland, 23

Tajh Hasson, 23

Chris Culliver, 26

Trey Wolfe, 26

Justin Rogers, 27

DeAngelo Hall, 31

Current Safety Group:

Akeem Davis, 25

Trenton Robinson, 25

Duke Ihenacho, 26

Phillip Thomas, 26

Jeron Johnson, 27

DaMon Cromartie-Smith, 28

Dashon Goldson, 30

Who I believe makes the team (CB):

1. Chris Culliver

2. Bashaud Breeland

3. DeAngelo Hall

4. David Amerson

5. Tevin Mitchell

Who I believe makes the team (S):

1. Dashon Goldson

2. Jeron Johnson

3. Duke Ihenacho

4. Akeem Davis

Final Cornerback Depth Chart Grade: B-

I really like what the Washington Redskins did at the Cornerback position. They signed one of the top Free Agents at the position in Chris Culliver who is pretty similar to second year player Bashaud Breeland. Both players are physical and not afraid to get in your face at the line of scrimmage. Plus both are physical downhill players who like to tackle. I think the Redskins are set on the perimeter of their secondary with those two guys.

Where it gets interesting is behind those top two players. DeAngelo Hall is coming off a torn Achilles (he ended up re-tearing it last year) and it’s unclear if he’ll ever be the player he was in the past. Even if he is healthy, it’s uncertain what will be asked of him and in what capacity. Will he be in rotation as a boundary corner? Will he be asked to play slot? Or will he even get a look at Free Safety? There’s more questions than answers when it comes to DHall. But one thing is for certain, his leadership skills will benefit the young talent in this group.

David Amerson has received some great reviews from the coaching staff this off-season. Many have said he’s taken the game a lot more serious and has become more of a student. All of that sounds great. However, he had a really bad season last year and it’s pretty much the same stuff that made him become a boom or bust prospect in 2013. There were scouts who said his last year in college may have been the worst they’ve “ever” seen from a corner. That’s a statement. Amerson has nice size and raw talent, but he has a lot to prove.

The rookie Tevin Mitchell is a really interesting player. After watching several of his game tapes, it wasn’t until I watched him shutdown Alabama’s Amari Cooper that I began to understand his game. He isn’t the greatest of athletes, but he’s smart and has good technique. He also has quick feet, which benefits him against the great route runners like Amari Cooper. It’ll be interesting to see how he develops because the NFC East poses a problem with its quick-footed, smart WRs (Odell Beckham, Victor Cruz, Nelson Agholor, Jordan Matthews and Cole Beasley).

Final Safety Depth Chart Grade: C-

The Redskins have, on paper, slightly improved from what they had at safety last season. We’ll have to wait and see how they play to truly find out how much the team improved there.

Dashon Goldson is coming off a few bad seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after being a Pro-Bowl player in San Francisco. If he can play anywhere near the level he did with the 49ers, the Redskins would have a steal on their hands. The issue I have is, there’s really no true Free Safety behind him.

Jeron Johnson is a guy I really liked watching on tape during his time with the Seahawks. He didn’t play much, but when he did — he made his presence known. He’s an above average man-coverage guy who is physical going downhill. He’s also great on special teams.

I know Jeron and Duke Ihenacho have been splitting first team reps so far this off-season, but I think Jeron will win that. Either way, if both are healthy, I could see the team using each player on defense. Ihenacho is a capable safety who could start on many teams around the league. He just has to stay healthy and prove he can play at the same level he did some years ago with the Colts.

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