Redskins Starters: After 1 Preseason Game

Here are my predictions of who will be starting for the Redskins on Week 1 against the New York Giants based on 1 preseason game.


Offense:


QB: Rex Grossman - Rex started off the QB competition with a great performance and has left Redskins Nation wondering how legitimate John Beck really is to have the Shanahan's drooling over him.  I see Rex holding onto it through the rest of camp and preseason though as Beck hasn't sold me yet.

RB: Tim Hightower - Hightower ran strong and made quick decisions to get upfield behind a much improved line.  He did great with blitz pickup and showed some good hands.  Obviously the longer Torain stays injured, the further Hightower will pull away in the running back race, but expect for these guys to split carries once both are healthy.

FB: Darrell Young - Young showed why Mike Sellers is playing TE in the 4th quarter of the first preseason game.  He showed equal hands, faster feet, and the same determination to hit somebody as the aging Sellers.  I feel like the drop off is minimal from one to the next, and the age difference is a great benefit to this team going forward.

WR1: Santana Moss - Always a true pro, Moss ran great routes, caught the balls he was supposed to and even got a touchdown. He is the only receiver with any true chemistry with Grossman. No doubt on this one.


WR2: Jabar Gaffney - Gaffney will be a great addition to this offense for 2011.  He's a big target with sure hands, and a solid route runner.  He won't be breaking any receiving records, but should be the equivalent of a security blanket to our QB.

TE: Fred Davis - Sleepy Freddy is in the best shape of his NFL career and looks like a hybrid TE/WR.  On top of that, he was actually finishing some of his blocks on Friday night.  With Chris Cooley injured, Davis is stepping up big and will be your week 1 starter.

OL: Trent Williams, Kory Lichtensteiger, Will Montgomery, Chris Chester, Jammal Brown - This group is pretty much set in stone based partially on how well they are playing together, but more because the depth behind them will not be pushing them for starting time anytime soon.  I see the Redskins getting a 1000 yard rusher again and keeping Rex on his feet more often than not.


Defense:


DE: Stephen Bowen, Jarvis Jenkins - This will be a fun battle to watch between Jenkins and Adam Carriker. Stephen Bowen is a lock and I more expect to see a strong rotation with these 2 and Carriker, but expect to see Bowen and Jenkins as the starters against the Giants.

NT: Barry Cofield - He's a LOCK.  Got pushed back in the first play from scrimmage Friday night, but turned it around quickly and made a strong impact.  I think Cofield will be thrilled to actually be able to hit Eli Manning week 1.

OLB: Ryan Kerrigan, Brian Orakpo - Orakpo is an obvious one, and you'd think Kerrigan would be, but he's not playing like a perennial Pro-Bowler yet.  I see him turning into a Fletcher type player, but that will come in time.  Look for Jackson and Alexander to push for playing time early in the season.

ILB: London Fletcher, Rocky McIntosh - London is the Captain, and Rocky is the incumbent so I'm going with this starting tandem right now, but I believe that Keyaron Fox has a strong chance of taking Rocky's spot in the starting 11 by the end of preseason.  He has more size than McIntosh and already knows the system from playing in Pittsburgh with LB Coach Lou Spanos.

CB: DeAngelo Hall, Josh Wilson - DeAngelo isn't a cover corner but he's a playmaker and wants to get to another Pro Bowl.  Josh Wilson is a stronger cover corner but did not show it on Friday.  I see this being the starting 2 based solely on Kevin Barnes and Philip Buchanon not being ready (and being suspended) respectively.

SS: OJ Atogwe - He's the man for the job.  A good cover player with ball skills and the perfect compliment to Landry's free roam, hard hitting style. As long as he's healthy he'll be starting.

FS: LaRon Landry - If he's healthy, he starts and nobody should question it.