Future of SMU Redskins?

[PonyPride]

There are three SMU Mustangs on the Redskins' roster, but how many will be there when the season starts?

Josh LeRibeus didn't get activated last year, and the Skins signed former Cleveland Browns guard Shawn Lauvao to a 4-year, $17 million contract, meaning he'll play. Last year's starting left guard, Kory Lichtensteiger, is moving to center, and right guard Chris Chester is moving from right to left. If Lauvao and Chester are the starters, LeRibeus will battle fellow backup Adam Gettis and any backups for reserve roles. Then the question becomes: how many guards do they keep?

Richard Crawford is coming back from a knee injury that cost him the entire 2013 season. On one hand, the Washington secondary was awful last year, so he should have a chance to compete. On the other, the Redskins reportedly are expected to make cornerback a high priority in the draft after spending a high pick last year on David Amerson. They let a couple of spare parts walk via free agency in the offseason, so Crawford should have a chance to compete, but he isn't assured of anything.

Now the Redskins are signing wide receiver DeSean Jackson, which could mean trouble for Aldrick Robinson. Jackson's addition gives the team five receivers — Jackson, Robinson, Pierre Garcon, free agent acquisition Andre Roberts and recently re-signed Santana Moss — who rely heavily on their speed to get open because none is taller than 6 feet. Speed is great, but they also have a couple of bigger wideouts (Leonard Hankerson, David Pettis) in place who they really like, and they can't keep all of them.

So how many Mustangs stick on the roster in 2014?

[Big Hoss]

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if the only one who makes it is Crawford.

I think they were pretty disappointed in LeRibeus coming into training camp last year. Sounded like he may have had weight issues again, like what derailed him here. Hopefully he comes back this offseason with a will to compete.

Robinson has great speed, but either they aren't targeting him much, or when he does get targeted, he can't seem to reel it in. Not always his fault, mind you, but when you have limited opportunities, you somehow have to figure out how to come up with the ball. Given how fast Jackson is, they may decide they can live without Robinson. Granted, I'd love to see them line up a 3 receiver formation with Robinson and Jackson on opposite sides. They'd be a nightmare to cover, and teams would obviously have to put their fastest corner on Jackson. It just might open up more opportunities for Al.

[mrydel]

My guess is that they are all gone from Washington but all get picked up elsewhere at least on practice squads.

[East Coast Mustang]

If Crawford is fully recovered I bet he sticks with the Skins. He was big in their 2012 late season playoff run- had a big punt return against Baltimore and an INT against Dallas in week 17

[SMUguy]

The smarter move might be to cut Santana Moss.

Moss has more experience, but Robinson has much more of a future. When he was young, Moss couldn't run with Al, and definitely can't now. Al is 25, Moss is 34. Al is 5-10, 181 and Moss is 5-10, 189, so physically they're very similar.

Plus, Al is not only 9 years younger, but also makes over $300,000 less than Moss.

[Casey]

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if the only one who makes it is Crawford.

I think they were pretty disappointed in LeRibeus coming into training camp last year. Sounded like he may have had weight issues again, like what derailed him here. Hopefully he comes back this offseason with a will to compete.

Robinson has great speed, but either they aren't targeting him much, or when he does get targeted, he can't seem to reel it in. Not always his fault, mind you, but when you have limited opportunities, you somehow have to figure out how to come up with the ball. Given how fast Jackson is, they may decide they can live without Robinson. Granted, I'd love to see them line up a 3 receiver formation with Robinson and Jackson on opposite sides. They'd be a nightmare to cover, and teams would obviously have to put their fastest corner on Jackson. It just might open up more opportunities for Al.

That's true, at least in the games I saw. They didn't throw his way much. But doesn't Gruden favor a far more vertical passing game? I'm not sure you can base what Gruden will do on what Shanahan did.

[San Antonio Mustang]

The problem Al has is the problem he had at SMU - he drops too many passes.

[EastStang]

LeRibus is supposed to still be in their long term plans. He showed up out of shape last year and that was the setback for him. If he shows up ready to play this year, he'll be great depth for them. Aldrick was on thin ice anyway. He has great speed, but his hands have always been his downfall. He dropped a couple of sure TD's last year and he has T-Rex arms when he goes on a slant route. If Crawford is healthy, he should stay, they are still woefully thin at corner and need a kick-off and punt returner. Santana Moss will stay if for no other reason than to be an unofficial receivers coach for Jackson and Garcon. He is supposedly a great locker room presence with other wide-outs and has their respect. He can be the heavy that neither coaches nor RGIII can be.

[Red+BlueDude]

Griffin can't be the "heavy." He has been too busy working on his own, personalized logo.

(Psst: it's a team sport.)

[EastStang]

Griffin learned some of that this year when he spent the first 8 games being chased by the other teams linemen and had Garcon and Moss as his only real go to receivers after some injuries. With everyone healthy and Jackson and Garcon, they'll put some points on the board, the question will be whether they can stop anyone from doing the same thing.