Merged: TE/H-back depth chart

[Hogskin]

Joe, it sounds like you are thinking the Redskins could possibly keep all (or almost all) of these TE's. Is that so? I would sure think the absolute max would be 4, with one on the practice squad. Do you have any idea what his roster makeup was in his last go-round here? (Of course, back then his practice squad was the IR LOL).

[JWsleep]

Any idea how much Baxter costs? He played a year in Chicago; I wonder if that's why we picked him up (given our d-line coach)?

There's a question, I think, about how many TEs we'll keep. Maybe some are really TEs (Rasby, Baxter) but some are H-backs (Cooley, Sellars), and we'll keep 3 (4?) at each of these positions. Only if they're all considered as TEs does this seem like a lot. (Remember, there's no blocking back, really.)

I am psyched about the prospect of having a serious o-line again. I can't wait til Buges has them hitting on all cylinders. We are going to wear down a lot of teams. Also, I bet Gibbs is working very hard to figure out how to combat the "blitz all the time" D's that are so popular now in the NFL. I figure he'll keep these big TEs in, and get Coles/Jacobs/etc. open down field, and really make teams pay for blitzing (the complete opposite of Spurrier). And then we always have the H-back in the flat for a 30-yard RAC gain.

Man, is it September yet?????

[SmootSmack]

Baxter was a key to the Patriots special team last year so I'm sure he'll help bolster the Skins special teams as well.

But has anyone seen any news on this other than Big C seeing it on the ESPN Bottom Line? Big C when did you see it? I haven't seen it all day and I've been checking the wires also

[Redskins8588]

Originally Posted by smootsmack

Baxter was a key to the Patriots special team last year so I'm sure he'll help bolster the Skins special teams as well.

But has anyone seen any news on this other than Big C seeing it on the ESPN Bottom Line? Big C when did you see it? I haven't seen it all day and I've been checking the wires also

I have seen it also on another site, but not on a major sport site. Any how to go with smootsmack, what are the chances that not only Baxter but the other TE's will be used on Special Teams?

[joecrisp]

Still haven't found any confirmation on the Baxter signing...


On average, Gibbs carried between 5 and 6 TEs/H-backs on his roster during his first run with the Skins.

They'll probably wind up keeing six of these guys, and assuming that Baxter has indeed been signed, this is how I would see the depth chart shaking out in training camp:

TE:
1. Rasby
2. Baxter
3. Kozlowski
4. Ware

H-back:
1. Cooley
2. Sellers
3. Kozlowski/Ware

I know some folks are high on Royal as a receiving TE, but I haven't been impressed with him at all in the past two minicamps; whereas Ware really seemed to be putting forth an excellent effort and looked solid. Ware just looks like more of a Gibbs guy at this point, and seems to fit the blocking TE role better than Royal. But of course, it's early.

That would put Royal and Stephens on the cut list. If Baxter is a mirage, then Royal makes it.

[jrocx69]

Originally Posted by Hogskin

Joe, it sounds like you are thinking the Redskins could possibly keep all (or almost all) of these TE's. Is that so? I would sure think the absolute max would be 4, with one on the practice squad. Do you have any idea what his roster makeup was in his last go-round here? (Of course, back then his practice squad was the IR LOL).

you are forgetting that we have the h-back/ fullback position to fill. so sellers, rock and cooley are more than likely in the running for that. then you have walter, koz, ware, and royal in the running. i like all of them but i do think royals is set to go... i dont like his blocking skills at all. and i like sellers alot but i think we are gonna keep rock and cooley for the h-back, occasionally koz will play there i bet. so IMO, i think royals and sellers get the boot unless baxter doesnt pan out

[Redskins8588]

Originally Posted by jrocx69

so IMO, i think royals and sellers get the boot unless baxter doesnt pan out

I could not disagree more with you on Sellers getting the boot. I do not really know much about royals to post an honest opinion but Sellers IMO will be the starting H-Back unless he gets injured or Cooley really steps up to take it from him.
I think that we will keep Rock, but I see him compeating more for the back up spot to Portis more so than the H-Back spot.

[joecrisp]

Originally Posted by Redskins8588

I could not disagree more with you on Sellers getting the boot. I do not really know much about royals to post an honest opinion but Sellers IMO will be the starting H-Back unless he gets injured or Cooley really steps up to take it from him.
I think that we will keep Rock, but I see him compeating more for the back up spot to Portis more so than the H-Back spot.

I agree. Gibbs, Bugel and Rock himself have indicated that Rock isn't being considered for the H-back spot, and will only be competing for the backup runningback spot. Rock has practiced exclusively at runningback in the minicamps so far, and I think that's where he's the best fit.

Sellers seems to have the inside track on the starting H-back role, with Cooley likely to gradually move in as he gains experience and confidence in his assignments. Kozlowski is also in the mix there, and Baxter probably would be as well. Kozlowski and Baxter both have had extensive experience in H-back type roles, and their knowledge of the position will be invaluable to Sellers and Cooley.

Ultimately, I think the athleticism of Cooley and Sellers will earn them the top two spots at H-back, and the two of them will essentially split time this season in that role. Koz and Bax will stay on as veteran backups at both TE and H-back.

That's what my crystal ball says, anyway...

[Hogskin]

Jroc, no, I don't believe I forgot that some of our RB's and TE's are used for the H-back job. There is no H-Back "position" in the NFL. With each team limited to a fixed number of players, you have to decide how many RB's (some of which perform H-Back duties), how many TE's (same thing), how many WR's (even some of these perform H-Back duties for some teams).

OK, so then, take the total number of slots available (what is it these days, Joe?). Then figure the 4 RB's (minimum) we are sure to keep, 3 QB's, probably 5 WR's, etc. Go through all positions, and you will see that it is virtually impossible to keep 6 or 7 TE's. I do not believe any team in the NFL has ever kept even 5 TE's on their active roster.

[hi-jinx]

I remember Fred baxter when he played for the Jets, but am I the only one who thought he retired?

[joecrisp]

Originally Posted by Hogskin

OK, so then, take the total number of slots available (what is it these days, Joe?). Then figure the 4 RB's (minimum) we are sure to keep, 3 QB's, probably 5 WR's, etc. Go through all positions, and you will see that it is virtually impossible to keep 6 or 7 TE's. I do not believe any team in the NFL has ever kept even 5 TE's on their active roster.

The regular-season roster limit these days is 53. I'm not sure what the roster limit was during Gibbs' first run (I know roster limits have changed a few times, but not sure when and by how much), but there were several seasons where Gibbs kept 6 TEs on his roster. It was actually rare that he had as few as four TEs.

That being said, the Skins have a ton of depth at RB, WR and TE, and like you said, they can only keep so many. Gibbs will probably base his decision on which players have practice squad eligibility, and which players are most likely to contribute to the team on special teams and as reserves. When you consider the fact that guys like Sultan McCullough, Robert Royal, Kevin Ware and Leonard Stephens all should have one year of practice squad eligibility remaining, and combine that with the fact that the practice squad has been expanded to 8 players, it wouldn't surprise me to see up to 3 of those guys on the practice squad.

I think you're right about Gibbs keeping 4 RBs (Portis, Betts, Cartwright and Morton) and 5 WRs (Coles, Gardner, McCants, Thrash, Jacobs), but I think he'll keep at least 5 TEs-- Rasby, Cooley, Baxter, Sellers and Kozlowski-- with Ware or Royal as either a 6th TE, or on the practice squad... most likely the practice squad. The reason I say that, is Gibbs needs at least 3 TEs that he can put on the field at any one time. There are bound to be injuries, and he will also want to be able to rotate guys in and out frequently to keep them fresh. In that scenario, he'd need a minimum of 5 TEs, which he would probably keep on the active roster. The 6th guy he could keep on the practice squad, and activate him if injuries crop up.