E-Dog Night
March-1st-2005, 04:27 PM
http://www.redskins.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=5956
Roster Review: Wide Receivers
By Gary Fitzgerald
Redskins.com
March 1, 2005
The Redskins headed into the offseason with more questions than answers at the wide receiver position. With the start of free agency fast approaching, it appears the situation remains muddled. And both of the Redskins' starting wide receivers from last season could be on the trading block.
http://www.redskins.com/uploads/photos/perm/main/EMFDIMGJECOJ/ColesGiants5222.jpg
Laveranues Coles
Laveranues Coles has proven himself to be among the game's elite wide receivers. He caught a career-high and team-high 90 catches for 950 yards last season, but just one touchdown.
Last Saturday during a press conference at the NFL Combine, head coach Joe Gibbs said that Coles could be moved if the Redskins can find a willing trade partner. It was a surprising development, given that the team acquired Coles as a restricted free agent just two year ago.
"[Coles] has real value and if we work out something with somebody, that would be great," Gibbs said. "If not, we'll go down the road with Coles being a Redskin. Whatever happens, both teams would have to be happy with it."
Rod Gardner's tenure in Washington appears to have come to an end. The Redskins granted the fifth-year wide receiver permission to seek a trade at season's end. Last year, Gardner caught 51 passes for 650 yards and five touchdowns.
As to why the team doesn't foresee Gardner in its long-term plans, Gibbs said: "Just the way the year went and his general feelings. That was important to us. It would be mutually good for both of us."
With the future of Coles and Gardner uncertain, attention shifts to some of the team's other wide receivers. And Gibbs has said that obtaining one or more wide receivers in free agency or the draft would a top priority.
"We feel like, from a wide receiver standpoint, we are looking for someone who is talented and fits in with us," Gibbs said. "We're looking for someone we can build around. Taylor Jacobs is a guy we think we can build around and obviously we love James Thrash's ability."
Thrash was used mostly as a kick returner last season, but he saw action as a third wide receiver and hauled in 17 catches for 203 yards. In the season finale against Minnesota, Thrash stepped up and caught five passes for 81 yards, with a long of 31 yards.
Thrash has extensive starting experience, having started 47 games from 2001-03 with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Jacobs was the Redskins' top pick in the 2003 NFL Draft. A second-round selection, Jacobs hauled in 16 catches for 178 yards last season. Like Thrash, Jacobs stepped in the season finale vs. Minnesota, catching three passes for 56 yards, including a 45-yard reception that set up a Redskins' touchdown.
"Taylor is coming along," wide receivers coach Stan Hixon said. "You're talking about a player who hasn't played much in the NFL. Last season was kind of his rookie year, but he had some prior experience. I think each week he got better. He has good hands, good speed and he runs good routes. And I think he's going to develop into one of the better receivers in the league, maybe by next year. He's improving as we go."
Darnerien McCants saw limited action in 2004 after an impressive season the previous year. He caught just five passes for 71 yards last season, a year after recording 27 catches for 360 yards and six TDs. Since the Redskins mostly activated four wide receivers on game days last season, McCants was inactive for 10 games last year.
http://www.redskins.com/uploads/photos/perm/main/EMFDIMGJECOJ/McCantsCanCincy555.jpg
Darnerien McCants
It didn't help that McCants was not among the Redskins' special teams units. That would have helped him see more playing time, Gibbs said.
Gibbs indicated there was still an evaluation process regarding the fifth-year receiver: "I think with Darnerien, we're going to continue to look at him and see what we think."
Antonio Brown's future could be more as a kick returner. After joining the Redskins mid-season last year, he showed an impressive burst of speed on kickoff and punt returns. He has no NFL receptions at this point in his career. A former standout at West Virginia, Brown caught 155 passes for 1,905 yards and five touchdowns during his collegiate career.
Nathan Black joined the Redskins in January 2005. He has two years of NFL experience with the Carolina Panthers, mostly as a kick returner. The Redskins have assigned him to NFL Europe, where he will play for the Rhein Fire.
Positional Analysis: Given Gibbs' comments and the uncertainty surrounding Coles and Gardner, it's likely that the Redskins will pursue several receivers this offseason. Gibbs wants to address many of the team's needs in free agency, so don't be surprised if a free agent receiver is added once the team has resolved the Coles and Gardner situations. It's possible that Jacobs and Thrash could see increased roles next season. Finally, the Redskins will have several wide receivers on the radar screen in April's NFL Draft.
Roster Review: Wide Receivers
By Gary Fitzgerald
Redskins.com
March 1, 2005
The Redskins headed into the offseason with more questions than answers at the wide receiver position. With the start of free agency fast approaching, it appears the situation remains muddled. And both of the Redskins' starting wide receivers from last season could be on the trading block.
http://www.redskins.com/uploads/photos/perm/main/EMFDIMGJECOJ/ColesGiants5222.jpg
Laveranues Coles
Laveranues Coles has proven himself to be among the game's elite wide receivers. He caught a career-high and team-high 90 catches for 950 yards last season, but just one touchdown.
Last Saturday during a press conference at the NFL Combine, head coach Joe Gibbs said that Coles could be moved if the Redskins can find a willing trade partner. It was a surprising development, given that the team acquired Coles as a restricted free agent just two year ago.
"[Coles] has real value and if we work out something with somebody, that would be great," Gibbs said. "If not, we'll go down the road with Coles being a Redskin. Whatever happens, both teams would have to be happy with it."
Rod Gardner's tenure in Washington appears to have come to an end. The Redskins granted the fifth-year wide receiver permission to seek a trade at season's end. Last year, Gardner caught 51 passes for 650 yards and five touchdowns.
As to why the team doesn't foresee Gardner in its long-term plans, Gibbs said: "Just the way the year went and his general feelings. That was important to us. It would be mutually good for both of us."
With the future of Coles and Gardner uncertain, attention shifts to some of the team's other wide receivers. And Gibbs has said that obtaining one or more wide receivers in free agency or the draft would a top priority.
"We feel like, from a wide receiver standpoint, we are looking for someone who is talented and fits in with us," Gibbs said. "We're looking for someone we can build around. Taylor Jacobs is a guy we think we can build around and obviously we love James Thrash's ability."
Thrash was used mostly as a kick returner last season, but he saw action as a third wide receiver and hauled in 17 catches for 203 yards. In the season finale against Minnesota, Thrash stepped up and caught five passes for 81 yards, with a long of 31 yards.
Thrash has extensive starting experience, having started 47 games from 2001-03 with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Jacobs was the Redskins' top pick in the 2003 NFL Draft. A second-round selection, Jacobs hauled in 16 catches for 178 yards last season. Like Thrash, Jacobs stepped in the season finale vs. Minnesota, catching three passes for 56 yards, including a 45-yard reception that set up a Redskins' touchdown.
"Taylor is coming along," wide receivers coach Stan Hixon said. "You're talking about a player who hasn't played much in the NFL. Last season was kind of his rookie year, but he had some prior experience. I think each week he got better. He has good hands, good speed and he runs good routes. And I think he's going to develop into one of the better receivers in the league, maybe by next year. He's improving as we go."
Darnerien McCants saw limited action in 2004 after an impressive season the previous year. He caught just five passes for 71 yards last season, a year after recording 27 catches for 360 yards and six TDs. Since the Redskins mostly activated four wide receivers on game days last season, McCants was inactive for 10 games last year.
http://www.redskins.com/uploads/photos/perm/main/EMFDIMGJECOJ/McCantsCanCincy555.jpg
Darnerien McCants
It didn't help that McCants was not among the Redskins' special teams units. That would have helped him see more playing time, Gibbs said.
Gibbs indicated there was still an evaluation process regarding the fifth-year receiver: "I think with Darnerien, we're going to continue to look at him and see what we think."
Antonio Brown's future could be more as a kick returner. After joining the Redskins mid-season last year, he showed an impressive burst of speed on kickoff and punt returns. He has no NFL receptions at this point in his career. A former standout at West Virginia, Brown caught 155 passes for 1,905 yards and five touchdowns during his collegiate career.
Nathan Black joined the Redskins in January 2005. He has two years of NFL experience with the Carolina Panthers, mostly as a kick returner. The Redskins have assigned him to NFL Europe, where he will play for the Rhein Fire.
Positional Analysis: Given Gibbs' comments and the uncertainty surrounding Coles and Gardner, it's likely that the Redskins will pursue several receivers this offseason. Gibbs wants to address many of the team's needs in free agency, so don't be surprised if a free agent receiver is added once the team has resolved the Coles and Gardner situations. It's possible that Jacobs and Thrash could see increased roles next season. Finally, the Redskins will have several wide receivers on the radar screen in April's NFL Draft.