By Jake Russell
The Maryland Terrapins shocked the college football world last September when they handled the No. 23 Texas Longhorns, 51-41, in Austin.
Fast forward 364 days and the Terps were looking to do the same thing when they hosted 23rd-ranked Texas at FedEx Field Saturday afternoon in the second of a two-year home-and-home arrangement. This time, however, it would have to be under much different circumstances.
The Redskins opened up their sixth training camp at Richmond’s Bon Secours Training Center on Thursday with tempered crowds and quiet confidence.
A disappointing 2017 plagued by injuries led to a 7-9 record and marked the fourth time in five seasons the team missed the playoffs. The team rebounded with a solid performance in free agency and the draft. Now that camp has started, the time has come to show whether those moves will pay off or not.
Washington begins its preseason schedule against the New England Patriots on Thursday, August 9 at 7:30 p.m.
Enjoy my photos from the first two days of the Redskins’ 2018 training camp. (more…)
New quarterback Alex Smith hopes to point the Redskins to their first playoff appearance since the 2015 season. Photo by Brian Murphy.
The Washington Redskins faced an unprecedented situation when their twice-franchised quarterback Kirk Cousins was slated to hit the open market in March. Instead of ponying up to keep the three-time 4,000-yard passer in the stable, the team opted to give up rising cornerback Kendall Fuller and a third-round pick in April’s draft to the Kansas City Chiefs for quarterback Alex Smith.
Now the pressure is on Smith to keep the Redskins afloat. After missing the playoffs the last two seasons, Smith is charged with bringing the team back to relevancy. New running back Derrius Guice (a steal as the No. 59 pick in the draft) will certainly relieve some of the pressure Smith faces this season.
In one of their best drafts in decades, the Redskins continued to address defensive line in a big way, taking Alabama defensive tackle Daron Payne 13th overall along with Virginia Tech defensive tackle Tim Settle in the fifth round.
After losing four of their top five picks from the 2014 draft to free agency this spring, it’s unclear how quickly their replacements will step up. Based on how the rest of the division adjusted their rosters this offseason, it appears the Redskins haven’t done enough to compete for a playoff spot, at least according to the top NFL preview magazines. Take a look at how they view the Redskins going into the 2018 season. (more…)
LSU running back Derrius Guice slipping all the way to pick No. 59 for the Redskins could end up being the steal of the 2018 NFL Draft. (Screenshot via NFL.com)
Round 1 – 13th Overall – Da’Ron Payne – DT – Alabama
University of Washington defensive tackle Vita Vea is a very likely option for the Redskins at No. 13 overall in Thursday’s NFL Draft. (Photo by Scott Eklund/Red Box Pictures)
By Jake Russell
The Washington Redskins have many holes to fill and, sitting at 13 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, are in an advantageous situation to improve their roster. They have the flexibility to do that through staying put and taking the best player available or trading back and recouping a third-round pick to make up for the one they surrendered in the January trade that landed quarterback Alex Smith. Trading up in the draft appears very unlikely and unnecessary at this stage. (more…)
Day 2 of Redskins training camp luckily featured lots of clouds before drenching rainstorms rolled through following the conclusion of practice.
Enjoy my top shots of Friday’s practice. (more…)
The Washington Redskins took the field in Richmond, Virginia Thursday for their first practice of 2017 training camp. Below are some sights from the Bon Secours Training Center. (more…)
Jordan Reed (and his health) will be key to how the Redskins perform in 2017. Photo by Brian Murphy.
Firing popular general manager Scot McCloughan on the first day of free agency seemed to add to the discontent the fan base developed toward the Washington Redskins after a disappointing late-season collapse in 2016. However, the team gradually salvaged a disastrous start to their offseason with respectable free agency and draft hauls. The team signed big-bodied receivers Terrelle Pryor while addressing each level of their defense, highlighted by their first-round selection, defensive lineman Jonathan Allen, falling to them at pick No. 17 and the signings of linebacker Zach Brown and safety D.J. Swearinger.
The Redskins missed the playoffs by one game in 2016 and the road to the postseason in 2017 hasn’t gotten any easier based on the improvement of their NFC East counterparts.
Let’s take a look at what the top NFL preview magazines expect from the Redskins this season. (more…)
Round 1 – 17th Overall – Jonathan Allen – DE – Alabama (more…)
Cooler temperatures brought more fans to Richmond on Friday. The Redskins went through an upbeat morning walkthrough and a lively afternoon practice. (more…)
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