Redskins release first official depth chart

Nothing says ‘the regular season is here’ in the NFL more than teams’ official depth charts being released. Like other ballclubs, the Washington Redskins have now released theirs ahead of their Week 1 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. The rosters that the team regularly makes available to the local media were strangely undersized this week after the roster cuts to the final 53 (compared to what they have been with 90 men listed from training camp) and so now is the depth chart.

First observations of the document reveal a team with a true mix of youth and experience.

Offensively, wide receivers Josh Doctson, Jamison Crowder and Paul Richardson are all under 26 years old. But offensive linemen Trent Williams and Shawn Lauvao, RB Adrian Peterson, TE Vernon Davis and QB Alex Smith are all over 30. RB Chris Thompson, OL-men Brandon Scherff, Morgan Moses and Chase Roullier, and TE Jordan Reed; are all ‘middle-aged’ for football players, hovering between 25 and 28.

The same is true on the defense.

DL-men Jon Allen, Daron Payne and Matt Ioannidis are all young (under 24) but LBs Ryan Kerrigan, Zach Brown and Mason Foster are all ‘mature’ at 28 or older.

But at the meat of the chart is the reality of the starting positions.

With the loss of second-round draft pick, RB Derrius Guice, the Redskins signed Peterson and he came into Washington and immediately secured the starting slot according to this depth chart. His performance against the Denver Broncos was good… he averaged 5.1 yards per carry. It remains to be seen, however, how much he has left in the tank and if he can remain healthy. But knowing head coach Jay Gruden, the run game will be by committee to some degree anyway so fans should expect to see other RBs out there at times to spell the veteran.

The offensive line is no surprise other than in its consistency with Williams, Lauvao, Chase Roullier, Brandon Scherff and Morgan Moses protecting QB Alex Smith. Doctson, Crowder and Richardson are listed as the starting wideouts.

Interestingly, the more veteran cornerback Quinton Dunbar rather than Fabian Moreau is shown starting opposite Josh Norman. But safety Montae Nicholson is starting over the more experienced Deshazor Everett. And while Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne and Matt Ioannidis are all the starting defensive linemen, expect to see Ziggy Hood, Tim Settle and Caleb Brantley rotating in and out.

Finally, Crowder is still shown as the starting punt returner even though last season wasn’t his best at the position and numerous players worked at the role during training camp. That may change over the season. Rookie CB Danny Johnson is listed as the starting the kick returner with CB Greg Stroman and WR Trey Quinn backing up both return specialists.

Redskins 2018 Week 1 Depth Chart

OFFENSE:

Position	First	Second	Third	Fourth
WR	Josh Doctson	Maurice Harris
LT	Trent Williams	Geron Christian Sr.
LG	Shawn Lauvao	Casey Dunn
C	Chase Roullier	Tony Bergstrom
RG	Brandon Scherff	Casey Dunn
RT	Morgan Moses	Ty Nsekhe
TE	Jordan Reed	Vernon Davis	Jeremy Sprinkle
WR	Jamison Crowder	Trey Quinn
WR	Paul Richardson Jr.	Cam Sims
QB	Alex Smith	Colt McCoy
RB	Adrian Peterson	Chris Thompson	Rob Kelley	Samaje Perine Byron Marshall

 

DEFENSE:

Position	First	Second	Third	Fourth
DE	Jonathan Allen	Ziggy Hood
NT	Daron Payne	Tim Settle
DE	Matt Ioannidis	Caleb Brantley
SLB	Preston Smith	Ryan Anderson
MLB	Zach Brown	Josh Harvey-Clemons
MLB	Mason Foster	Zach Vigil	Shaun Dion Hamilton
WLB	Ryan Kerrigan	Pernell McPhee
CB	Quinton Dunbar	Fabian Moreau	Danny Johnson
CB	Josh Norman	Greg Stroman	Adonis Alexander
SS	Montae Nicholson	Deshazor Everett
FS	D.J. Swearinger Sr.	Troy Apke

 

SPECIAL TEAMS:

Position	First	Second	Third	Fourth
P	Tress Way
K	Dustin Hopkins
H	Tress Way
LS	Nick Sundberg
KR	Danny Johnson	Greg Stroman	Trey Quinn
PR	Jamison Crowder	Greg Stroman	Trey Quinn