Washington Redskins Potentially Got More Explosive in 2013 NFL Draft

If I had to sum-up the Washington Redskins’ 2013 NFL Draft haul in one word, I’d say ‘explosive.’ To expand on that thought, I would also call it ‘risky, while reaching for the stars.’ What I’m really saying is, the Washington Redskins addressed several needs, but in an unorthodox way.

Mike Shanahan and staff went contrary to the trend they’ve developed over the past three years. The Redskins didn’t draft any “true” juniors in 2010, 2011 or 2012. They also didn’t take any perceived risks, other than Trent Williams who was seen as a guy with questionable work ethic. The Washington Redskins focused heavily on reshaping the locker room. They wanted guys who had high character. Not to mention, they selected guys who were essentially, “we know who you are” players. Meaning, what you see on film is what you’re getting. A few guys had upside but none of them really had a low floor and high ceiling — high risk, high reward. I wouldn’t even consider Trent Williams that, because even if he had poor work ethics in the NFL, he would still be one of the better offensive tackles because of his rare athleticism.

This year, the Washington Redskins took a few risks. But they also waited for value. They reached for the stars. But if it pans out, the Redskins have all of a sudden become a lot more explosive in the span of 24 hours.

The Redskins selected two players who led the Football Bowl Subdivision in interceptions over the past two seasons (David Amerson, 13 in 2011; Phillip Thomas, eight in 2012). Not to mention, safety Bacarri Rambo was Amerson’s runner-up as interception leader in 2011 with eight.

David Amerson was Washington’s first pick at 51 overall, to the surprise of many. He wasn’t off-the-radar, but because the Redskins had not selected a true junior under the Shanahan/Allen administration, he figured to be a guy the team wouldn’t touch. Not to mention, he’s the prototype boom or bust player.

“He’s a lightning rod,” NFL Network’s draft guru Mike Mayock said in a pre-draft conference call. “Some teams really like him because of his height, weight and speed. Some teams won’t go near him. If you put the Miami tape on from last year and the Tennessee tape, you wouldn’t take him in the seventh round. I mean, two of the worst corner tapes I’ve ever seen. However, you’re talking about a kid that’s 6-1, 205, ran 4.38 and had 13 interceptions as a sophomore. I think what you have to figure out with this kid — I was a defensive back and I think I recognize some of the deficiencies, and the biggest one was eye discipline. His eyes were in the wrong place too many times trying to make a big play and instead of him making a big play, the other team did. He got exposed for a lack of eye discipline. He’s a little bit stiff. He’s not a good press man defender, but what he can do is back pedal and when his eyes are in the right place, it’s really good. So if you’re an off-man team or an off-zone team, I think he can be a second round pick, and I think from a physical, gifted nature, height, weight and speed he’s a first round pick.

But I think you need the right team to take him in the second round and he’s the kind of guy that could slide just because teams are really — let’s face it, if you’re a defensive tackle and you make a mistake, it’s plus eight. If you’re a corner and make a mistake, it’s plus 80 and a touchdown, so it makes teams really nervous.”

The analysis doesn’t get any more thorough than that. They took a risk while reaching for the stars. Everything about Amerson says he’s a first round talent. But he had a down season in 2012 because he played undisciplined football and he got caught cheating on routes. “I need to get smarter,” Amerson spoke of his transition to the National Football League. He continued, “I need to get back to fundamentals.”

Some believe that Amerson projects more as a safety than cornernback in the NFL. But both Amerson and Shanahan quickly dispelled that notion. “First we want to see if he can play outside,” Shanahan said as opposed to being a nickel corner. It’s tough to find cornerbacks with #1 potential and Amerson has that. If he makes a smooth transition and clean up his flaws, he’s Antonio Cromartie with a higher ceiling. If Amerson doesn’t pan out, he will consistently get fooled.

With Shanahan and Amerson confirming that the plan is for him to play cornerback, the need at safety remained. So on Saturday, the Washington Redskins allowed the board to fall to them and they came away with a value-risk and a potential steal. Phillip Thomas, who grew up a Redskins fan, became the first Fresno State product selected by a Mike Shanahan-coached team. The 4th round draft pick was slotted as a late 2nd to 3rd round safety. Much like David Amerson, he lacks quality eye discipline but he makes a ton of plays. He was also one of the worst tackling safeties available, in my opinion. And at times, I questioned his “want to” on tape because he seemingly just decides to not hit when closing in on defenders. It’s a risky pick, but a diluted one because the Redskins drafted him maybe a round later than his skill-set suggested.

I’ve banged the table for Georgia safety Bacarri Rambo throughout the entire draft process. Labeling him as the draft’s best deep half/centerfield safety. He misses tackles, but shows the “want to.” Not to mention, he’s developed in that regard each year in college. But somehow he slipped to the sixth round and the value was just too good for the Redskins to pass-up. The risk with Rambo is a little different than Thomas because he was overlooked due to what was perceived as poor character. “I thought everybody had forgotten about me. I just want to thank the organization for believing in me,” Rambo said. “I’m going to have a chip on my shoulders.” Rambo discussed his shortcomings with the Redskins, including coach Mike Shanahan at the NFL Combine. Shanahan said they did their research and the team felt comfortable with the player.

Phillip Thomas and Bacarri Rambo are two guys many people figured the Washington Redskins would decide to draft. However, no one expected them to grab both. It’ll be interesting to see how they are used.

Ironically, I gave Mike Mayock three names to evaluate during his pre-draft conference call and two of them was Bacarri Rambo and Phillip Thomas:

“I think Bacarri Rambo is probably going in the third or fourth round – quick, explosive, good ball skills. Phillip Thomas, I like him from Fresno. He might have as good of ball skills as any safety in this draft. Moves well on the ball, catches it, sees it. With Washington, the first pick is at 51, and he’s a guy you could get in the third round. Again, I think he’s a starting free safety, and I love his ball skills.”

The Washington Redskins grabbed both of these players later than guys like Mayock thought. But for a different opinion here’s some nuggets from my interview with Rotoworld’s draft expert Josh Norris: “The center-fielders, guys who can do very well in the back half are Bacarri Rambo (Georgia) and Phillip Thomas (Fresno State),” Norris preferred Rambo over Phillip Thomas. “He has that centerfield mentality — can really disrupt the catch point,” Norris said of Rambo. He also believes that Rambo is a more physical player than Phillip Thomas, and is more consistent being an up-field tackler. “That’s where Thomas really drops off for me,” Norris said. “Sure he had the most interceptions in college football this year — and he actually does take decent angles in run support. But for some reason, in that two yard box right when he’s closing on the running back, he always whiffs. And I don’t know if it’s tightness, if it’s a lack of anticipation, lack of quick-twitch movement — but he whiffs way too much.”

I went on to ask Norris if he had to choose between the two and Duke Williams (drafted by the Buffalo Bills) who would he take. His response:

“Just as an overall talent, I would say Bacarri Rambo. I think that he is the best of the bunch. In the terms of interchangeable safeties, none of those guys really are on the next level. I think that you have to do your role very well and specialize in your role. And I think Rambo does that the best of that bunch, in terms of being that single high safety, centerfield type, even free safety when they are neck and neck with the strong safety in deep pass in a cover 2. In terms of being a consistent tackler in space, I would pick Rambo.”

Mike Shanahan and Jim Haslett love to say their safeties are interchangeable, yet they never really mix their safeties. At least, based on my personal film study. So, again, I’ll be very interested in seeing how the Redskins slowly work in Rambo and Thomas. Safety is not an easy transition. And while Shanahan seems to think Rambo can play SS — he’s a true free safety in every sense of the word. If anything, I believe Phillip Thomas could be developed into the mold of a Laron Landry while Rambo works the deep half/centerfield.

Either way, the Redskins potentially just got more explosive, younger and deeper in the secondary. All three of those players have talent, but it’s now up to DB coach Raheem Morris and Defensive coordinator Jim Haslett to pull the best out of them. One thing I’ve found interesting in the past is the Redskins have been able to pull the best out of taller/longer cornerbacks. Phillip Buchanon and Cedric Griffin are both long bodies and around that 6ft range. Neither was considered talented enough to make a major impact on the Redskins’ defense. But they did. Although, both also got suspended for being on Performance Enhancement Drugs… Either way, the Washington Redskins have been looking for a long, tall CB for years and they’ve finally got their guy in David Amerson. It is not easy to find potential #1 corners, and many times you take a guy with the highest ceiling and coach him up to the best of your ability. Give the team a chance to put these young players – who undoubtedly have talent – in the best position to succeed in the National Football League.

The defense wasn’t the only side of the football Washington potentially made more dangerous. They also upgraded one of the league’s most dynamic offenses. With the team’s third round pick, they selected Florida tight end Jordan Reed, who really isn’t even a tight end. Many label Jordan Reed’s type as a “joker” tight end — I just call them utility receivers. What the Washington Redskins are about to do is take a page from Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots’ playbook. Reed is similar to Aaron Hernandez, who the Patriots use all over the place. What the Redskins want to do is spread the field, much like New England and put their most dynamic receivers on the field — Pierre Garcon, Jordan Reed, Fred Davis, etc. Creating match-up nightmares for defenses. Not only do the Redskins now have the ‘joker’ tight end, they’ve also made it a point to find a running back who can play against nickel defenses.

In the 5th round, the Redskins selected a running back from Florida State; Chris Thompson has a good chance to be the team’s third down back. He can catch and he can be explosive. Not to mention, Shanahan and running back coach Bobby Turner do not draft running backs this high unless they absolutely love the player. The coaching duo has a strong track record with running backs, and this could create an interesting dynamic in the backfield. Just imagine a Patriots’ spread with two explosive threats in QB Robert Griffin III and Chris Thompson in the backfield. Thompson also has experience in the read-option game, making him very much a utility back. Not to mention, TE Jordan Reed is a former quarterback. The Redskins know that and I’m sure they will use it to their advantage. The possibilities are endless. But what the Washington Redskins just did was create nightmares for defenses that thought they had the team’s offense figured out.

The Redskins also added LB Brandon Jenkins from Florida State who is a versatile pass rusher and could help in sub packages. Especially since Rob Jackson will be suspended the first four games. And with the team’s final pick, they selected another RB out of Rutgers, Jawan Jamison who is a little different than Thompson. While Jamison is short (5ft 8) he’s a little heavier and has that low center gravity which suggests he’s more so an in-between the tackle physical back. He’ll have a chance to make the team or practice squad.

Overall, the Washington Redskins are banking on several potential boom or bust players. But if they boom, you’re talking about an explosive football team. If they don’t pan out, then they’re back to square one. You have to trust your coaching staff to mold clay. That’s what Shanahan did and if it pays off, the Washington Redskins are well on their way to becoming one of the league’s best football teams for years to come.

@Manny_PPI | @PlayerInsiders