2012/08/08 at 6:32 pm

Washington Redskins: 3 Players Primed for a Big Season

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The Washington Redskins partake in what can easily be considered the NFL’s toughest division—the NFC East.

With the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys, the Redskins always have their work cut out for them as they battle for a spot in the postseason.

Last year, the Redskins finished 5-11 and missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. But the wheels are churning in D.C. and with time, Mike Shanahan could have his young, potential-filled team competing atop the NFC East.

The Redskins boast some exciting talent across the depth chart and while some may take time to develop into dedicated contributors, there are a handful of players who may be ready to have a big season in 2012.

Here are three primed for a big season:

Photo Credit: Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Brian Orakpo, LB

In three NFL seasons, Brian Orakpo has tallied 28.5 sacks, but none were as big as his performance last season. The two-time Pro Bowler recorded nine sacks and four pass deflections while being a consistent, vicious force for the Redskins pass rush.

Surprisingly enough, voters decided to snub Orakpo from a Pro Bowl invite despite another great performance. That should only motivate the lethal pass-rusher to have another big year.

The Redskins have been sputtering for some time now, but Orakpo is a prime example of the direction the franchise could be headed in. He is dedicated, hard-working and leads by example with dominant play on the gridiron.

Improving every season of his pro career thus far, Orakpo should take another step forward as he strives to push the Redskins defense to be one of the better units in the NFL.

 

Photo Credit: John McDonnell/The Washington Post

Pierre Garcon, WR

Though not quite the marquee signing Redskins fans may have been hoping for at the wide receiver position, Pierre Garcon is not an athlete to scoff at.

Garcon is another player that has improved each year he has been in the NFL, and he stepped up in a big way despite Peyton Manning’s departure in Indianapolis last season, compiling a career-best 947 yards over 70 catches with six touchdowns.

Rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III will ease into his role slinging the ball in Washington D.C. and Garcon is going to be his most dependable target in year one. With few “big name” players behind Garcon, the former Colt should be the go-to guy on passing downs.

Though Shanahan may try to limit the amount of time his team spends passing the football, Garcon should see plenty of opportunities to make a play. If he can stay healthy for the second consecutive season, Garcon could eclipse 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his NFL career.

 

Photo Credit: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

Evan Royster, RB

It took a long time for Evan Royster to get an opportunity, but the rookie out of Penn State seized it when it was finally given to him. Royster capped off the 2011 season with two straight 100-yard games while proving to be a bulldozer when carrying the football.

Royster will have the first crack at the starting running back role for the Redskins in their preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday. If he can flash any of the brilliance he showed in 2011—rushing for 5.9 yards per carry while embarrassing Philadelphia Eagles defenders at will—the job is as good as his.

With that starting role will come a heap of responsibility. A rookie quarterback behind center will likely mean more ground-and-pound in D.C. and the team’s offensive success will rely on how well Royster is able to run the football.

If his rookie season was any indication, however, Royster and the Redskins will be just fine in the ground attack.

Louis Musto writes on the NFC East, NFL in general and pop culture at GridironGrit.com. Follow @LouisMusto and @GridironGrit on Twitter!

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  • Louis Musto (NFC East Lead Writer)

    I apologize for the confusion on my part. The article has been edited appropriately. I will do my best to avoid silly mistakes like that in the future and thank you for reading!

  • Louis Musto

    I apologize for the confusion on my part and the article has been edited appropriately. I will do my best to avoid such silly mistakes in the future and thank you for reading!

    • Kraznor2

       Nice professional response, but I agree with the previous poster.  If you can’t edit your facts BEFORE you write an article, then why write an article?  Because you’re obviously not qualified to report on sports if you can’t even get the basic facts correct.  Stats are EVERYTHING in football… and it’s not like the information takes long to get… 1 search yields the correct answers in less than 10 seconds.

      Do your job or someone that is actually qualified will.

      • Louis Musto

        You’re absolutely right, Kraznor.

      • Guest

        Kraznor2 this site isn’t a credentialed site like a Yahoo! or ESPN, or even a metropolitan newspaper. It’s a site created by a kid who loves to write and has a passion for it and with that it’s going to be hit-or-miss. With a 19 year old CEO that’s what you should expect.

        • Louis Musto

          I disagree. All of us here are striving to be better and there is no place for errors perhaps even more so because we are not a site like Yahoo! or ESPN. Many of us may not be credentialed writers (I have been and a few others here are credentialed professional journalists), but we all wish to be successful journalists sooner or later and don’t want it to be expected of us here to be “hit-or-miss” just because our CEO (who is a solid writer himself) is only 19 years old. Hope you’ve enjoyed what you have read here and that you continue to visit!

          • Guest

             When you go to a site like Yahoo! or ESPN or any like it you expect the best. Honestly, no matter how much you’re striving to be better it’s just not the same. Doesn’t mean it’s shitty or worthless just not even close to the same level. Some have been in the PAST i.e. Barry and I’m not sure who else in terms of an actual season(s) aside from a game here or there. Curious to know who the others are though.

          • Louis Musto

            That I agree with. You’re always going to expect Yahoo! or ESPN to be top notch, especially in comparison to a site like ourselves.

            As for other writers here, Stephanie Graves covers USC football and some other sports for Fox Sports West. Oren Shiri covers sports for CBS Los Angeles, Brian Jones is a credentialed writer working for Score ATL, a  local newspaper in Atlanta where he covers the Falcons as well as other area teams. We also have Allie Fontana hopping on board and doing her thing in fantasy football, so keep an eye out for her first piece. And, as you mentioned, there’s Barry.

            We’re growing and working hard, so hopefully we can be though of as a bit more than just a site with a 19 year old CEO who loves to write, not that there’s anything wrong with that. Glad you’re reading and hope you enjoy what you’re seeing. We may not be ESPN or Yahoo!, but we hope that this site will present some solid NFL/NCAA Football coverage that people love and helps catapult this site and/or our careers into something bigger.

            Thanks!

          • Guest

            That’s my point though. Those writers are credentialed for other sites…likely by contract which would mean they cannot use their credentials to post on this site. Steph has one article posted here I think. I heard Oren did something with CBS LA but couldn’t find it on google. SBN is rarely credentialed and during my six months actually being a credentialed writer it’s amazing how much they get ripped.

            Allie’s cute and Barry doesn’t even list GG as one of his affiliations, nor does Brian or Steph. Only Oren. So while they may write here this isn’t a credentialed site.

          • Louis Musto

            I know this, and didn’t say GG was a credentialed site, simply pointing out the talent we have contributing here.

            SBN, like Bleacher Report and Rant Sports gets a bad wrap, which is unfair to the quality writers they all have. It changes over time and some of the fellas working beats aren’t as bad as others. A good journalist is a good journalist and fortunately some are intelligent enough to appreciate that.

          • Guest

            And I’m pointing out that 1) that talent, while great, doesn’t list GG as their place of work 2)that talent, aside from Oren and somewhat Barry doesn’t post a lot here. When Barry posted at GG more often he posted the exact same, word for word title for title article on Bleacher Report.

            I guess I’ll just come out and say it. BR use to get a bad wrap when it
            only took an email and an internet connection to write there because
            there was a lot, and I mean a lot of terrible writers there. Now it’s
            different, the people there are better, the quality is better thus why
            they just got bought for almost 200 million. SBN, aside from a couple
            writers, gets a bad wrap because while some writers are good they are
            not professional or don’t carry themselves in a professional way.
            Believe me I actually know a personal story where a SBN writer emailed
            an ESPN writer and went of on him because he didn’t give him credit for
            something he posted a day earlier (meaning the SBN guy posted about it
            then the ESPN guy did). Only difference is the guy at ESPN talked with
            the person who the story was about. Thus the reason he didn’t give
            credit to the SBN guy. That and in the past the SBN writer would tweet
            word 4 word the same thing that the ESPN guy did and claim he had
            knowledge when he did. Things like that don’t get you, or your companies
            respect. Rant Sports is the exact same way, a little worse actually,
            but still the same concept. I would explain in detail more but I’m sure
            your CEO will ax this comment if I actually enlightened you more.

            There aren’t people “working beats” per say, some claim it but it’s not
            legitimate. One or two games don’t count as “covering a team” like most
            bloggers on the net claim. Nice shot at me there Louis but see the thing
            is a good journalist, a truly good journalist moves up the latter if
            he’s truly good. And they earn respect from people, writers and
            columnist in the business not clamor about it and have to pump their own
            accomplishments like some people. You wanna be a good journalist, or
            get better because you’re not that bad. Get an internship with a
            company, news station, news paper or even a college close to you believe
            me there’s hundreds and thousands of good internships that will lead
            you to greener pastures than this.

            You want me to give you more, concrete advice reply back to this saying sure and I’ll email u.

          • Louis Musto

            You seem mad so I think you may have misunderstood some of what I was saying. If so, I apologize for that. I realize these guys don’t claim to write for GG first and foremost, but it is still nice to know we have some legit guys contributing (Barry is actually very involved with the site, but doesn’t post quite as much as one may hope sometimes).

            Anyhow, not sure what “shot at you” you’re referring to, and again, I apologize if anything came off that way. Would love to hear what you have to tell me, however, so please email me at lmusto@live.com.

          • Louis Musto

            Also, in reference to the guys working the beats, that was referring to those actually working beats and how they look at the people working at sites like B/R, SBN, etc. A lot look down their nose at them, but some have come to accept what a lot of those sites are and that there are good writers on those sites.

          • Guest

            Yes and I’ll admit I’m one of those beat writers looking down because i’ve worked at those sites, and now I’m working a D-1 beat. Those sites, while having SOME good writers, for the most part aren’t reputable, and the reason beat writers look down on them is because the majority of people at B/R, SBN and Rant Sports among sites like that are NOT professional, don’t carry themselves in a professional way, and try to harass beat writers into giving them credit. AND/OR they try to pretend that they are the shit in the way they carry themselves and claim they are just as good as beat writers when they aren’t and that doesn’t help their cause, ask your CEO that one he’ll explain his past.

            What those sites are, are sites that just rehash what beat writers put out in relativity. Newspapers, and bigger sites break news and are on-hand to report it while these smaller sites just take it and requote it. Anyone can do it it doesn’t make you a good writer.

            Here’s a little incite. There’s a guy who use to write for GG that now is a manager at Rant Sports…guy claims he wrote for NFLtouchdown.com and NFA. Fact is he only ACTUALLY wrote for one of those, and that’s NFA. Never did he post one story on NFLTD but he wrote countless pieces on GG….but doesn’t claim it and instead has to lie and replace it with another site. Just goes to show almost no one claims they write for GG. Barry’s a good writer use to work for AOL not gonna diminish that however he doesn’t claim to be affiliated with GG, and all the stories he posts go to BR or at least they use to. Now it’s 1 story a month, and I know why.

            Here’s the “shot” i was talking about “A good journalist is a good journalist and fortunately some are intelligent enough to appreciate that.”

          • http://gridirongrit.com Michael Gartman

            “Fact is he only ACTUALLY wrote for one of those, and that’s NFA. Never did he post one story on NFLTD…”

            Is that right? How do you know that? Did you talk to him? Did you do extensive research? Because I actually helped him get in to NFLTD, where he wrote plenty of articles.

            In addition to that LIE you just threw in, Barry doesn’t write for B/R anymore. He writes here and for his own site. We’ve actually had several conference calls over the last couple of weeks and talked about this and plans we’re putting in place.

            While I can tell you have some sort of sick obsession with our staff that you’re starting to stalk, I take it you weren’t able to tap into our phones and listen in on those conversations.

            While I agree with some of the stuff you said, we’re moving in the right direction and are dedicated to learning and growing as much as possible every day.

            I hope you enjoy trolling the site some more.

          • Guest

            You know I almost didn’t reply as I said above but because of the manor in which you came across, you’re usual self I left once again you needed someone to clear things up. I forgot Rob actually write for TD back in ’11 however those plenty of articles you said were only 5 and I don’t really care at all so I won’t waste my time doing “extensive research” as you said, since you still don’t know how to spell Matt Barkley correctly, maybe you do now but I’m sure either way you will take whatever I say out of context like always.

            Michael, calm down maybe phor two seconds, collect yoursel and then reread my above comments you will see that I said and I quote. “When Barry posted at GG more often he posted the exact same, word for word title for title article on Bleacher Report” so incase you don’t understand that WHEN past tense he posted at GG he would post the same at BR. That’s nice, Barry’s a good writer n a good part of your brand/site.

            See Michael this is where you go from being a writer with a growing site to a complete _ and making yourself look bad which in turn makes your company look bad. Look at the above comments I had with Louis. Did you ever see either of us saying anything about a sick obession (which btw isn’t true but whatever floats your boat as always), or see either of us bitching at eachother, or letting things get out of control? Nope, the only chippyness was a misunderstanding that got cleared up. I don’t know why it is you can never handle someone either challenging you, giving their own opinion or really anything against you but clearly you haven’t changed which is sad. Not sure who you’re referring to I only talk with one person who writes here and that isn’t you. Michael I don’t have the time, honestly, to sit around, twiddle my thumbs and do whatever it is you do. If u actually knew anything about me, who I actually am, or my job I’m pretty sure you might be thinking different but that goes against the Gartman is always right policy.

            If you are truly dedicated you’d got to school, or at least do a lot of things different. Trolling no, making comments, Yes. As always you have my email theres some things in there you should read that might help you move beyond even what you think it’s possible to achieve. Given you aren’t at my level now.

            God bless!

          • Guest

            And just as usual no email to backup the claims. Oh well goodluck in your future endeavors kiddo!!

          • Guest

            Just as I thought no response. Again, and as always I’ve only given you constructive criticism that you for some reason just couldn’t handle. Ask Louis I didn’t rip him, didn’t be a pompous annoying kid like someone is, just ask him what his plans are and gave him some advice that he agreed with. But if you wanna sink your own ship go ahead I wont stop you. I’ll be seein ya kid, goodluck with your future and god bless!

          • Louis Musto

            That was not in any way a shot at you. You took that out of context. I don’t know you and could not possibly know who you cover, what you cover or what you do at all. Was making a statement in reference to those beat writers who don’t look down their nose at guys who write for B/R, SBN, etc. Was no way in reference to you.

            As for everything else, I think Michael handled that.

          • Guest

            Well the wording was what it was, and in context it seemed like a shot but I do accept your apology and I don’t read what Mikey says, never cared really my only thing was in response to your article, if he wishes to actually talk or if he has a problem with anything I said I’m sure he can email me as he always did.

  • bob zerella

    calm down garydice. Royster could quietly gain a ton of yards, just like he did at penn state if this O-line steps up. I don’t doubt Shanahan can get the run game going though. the bigger question is “do you draft royster in your fantasy league?”

    • Louis Musto

      Thanks for commenting, Bob! I’m a terrible fantasy player so I’ll leave that for someone else. Royster was very underrated last year because he produces so much so quietly. I think he and Helu will make a nice 1-2 punch for the Skins.