Roster Breakdown: Cornerbacks We’ll head into the start of training camp with a position-by-position breakdown of the Redskins’ roster. Up next: a look at what can be expected from the cornerbacks this season With training camp set to start on July 24, here’s a look at the Redskins’ cornerbacks, along with an outline of what can be expected from the players at the position. Click here for previous positional breakdowns. Position: Cornerbacks Hall Projected Starters: Josh Wilson, DeAngelo Hall Returning: Richard Crawford, Jerome Murphy, Chase Minnifield Players Added: E.J. Biggers (free agent – Buccaneers), David Amerson (second round – N.C. State) Players Lost: Cedric Griffin (free agent) The Good: A unit that lacked depth last season has undergone a bit of an overhaul and should have the Redskins in a good position for the future. Biggers, who worked with defensive backs coach Raheem Morris in Tampa Bay, should start the season as the nickel corner, and Amerson will work his way onto the field at some point. Crawford struggled to play the slot during his rookie season, and he could be weaned to the outside especially if Biggers can assert himself on the interior. And if Minnifield is fully recovered after tearing his right ACL at the end of training camp a year ago, some tough decisions will need to be made at the end of the preseason. The Bad: Wilson and Hall are each in the final year of their contracts, and if the young cornerbacks aren’t able to challenge for playing time this season, the Redskins could be in a tough position entering the offseason. Wilson, 28, signed a three-year, $13.5 million contract in 2011, but his salary was slashed in June as the team struggled to free up room against the salary cap. Hall, released in March because of his salary cap figure, returned to the team a month later on a one-year, $1 million deal. As a second-round pick, Amerson figures to play at some point, but will he be ready to move into a starting role before next season? Worth Watching: The Redskins are entering training camp with only a vague idea of who will be the slot corner, leaving it as one of the only true position battles on the defensive side of the ball. The 6-foot, 185-pound Biggers has the early advantage, having worked there during spring workouts, and his length and athleticism seem to make him a natural fit. Crawford will also get a shot, but he struggled for much of last season – including most notably against Cincinnati, when he was beaten badly by Andrew Hawkins for a 59-yard touchdown reception. The Redskins would ideally like to see Hall move inside in nickel situations and Amerson rotate in to replace him, but Amerson is not likely to be ready to do that at the start of the season. The preseason games will offer a solid glimpse into what each player can and cannot handle. … This will almost assuredly be Hall’s final season with the Redskins, but could it also be the end of his career? Hall, 29, has experienced plenty of ups and downs over his 10 seasons, but there’s no question 2012 was one of his better years, especially given the way he played down the stretch. He said he had interest from other teams during his month away from the Redskins, then said he was content sitting out the season, pursuing “other opportunities” and returning to football next year. The cornerback market was crowded in March – so crowded, in fact, that many top players elected to take one-year deals and re-enter it next spring. A second consecutive season with 95 tackles and four interceptions would go a long way in ensuring Hall can find a home in 2014. … There are high hopes for Minnifield, though how well he can play after having his right ACL repaired for a second time remains to be seen. The team kept him out of consecutive days of practice during offseason workouts to reduce the stress on his knee, and there’s a chance he could be limited as training camp starts for the same reason. A lengthy, rangy cornerback, Minnifield was projected as high as a first-round pick following his junior year at Virginia, but a subpar senior season, the first ligament tear, microfracture surgery and now the second ligament tear have dampened his prospects considerably. If he’s able to play, there’s virtually no way the team keeps six cornerbacks. And, after a year on injured reserve, Minnifield is not eligible for the practice squad. … Crawford is an intelligent, perceptive player who understands the defense and his role in it, which is why his profession that he’s a better fit on the outside than the inside carries some weight. Still, he took measures during the offseason to improve his ball-hawking skills, knowing that he’s unlikely to see routine playing time on the outside unless there’s an injury. That was evident in spring workouts, where he made at least one interception in practically every practice that was open to reporters. He’s almost sure to stick around because of his abilities as a punt returner, but the versatility will help. … Amerson left the offseason program understanding the basics of the Redskins’ defense, and he was hoping to use the month and a half leading up to the start of training camp to get even more comfortable with his role. One of the cornerback’s biggest problems in college was his aggression; after intercepting 13 passes as a junior, he started to play the ball more than his man his senior year and often got beat. Having the chance to work with Morris, who can temper his excitement, has already been a plus. The sooner he can rely on instincts and not on coaching, the sooner he’ll be able to make a case for staying on the field.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Jul 2013 21:07:38 +0000
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