Redskins Have Holes

With the latest news that the Redskins will be missing starting safety LaRon Landry and starting left tackle Trent Williams, the Redskins will need to find quality players to fill those voids.

Landry has already missed five games this season (Achilles) and could likely miss the rest of the season due to this groin injury. Reed Doughty has stepped in to fill the void.

Even though the Redskins have been missing their star safety, they still rank in the top 10 in the NFL in pass defense. That could sure change, however, when the Redskins take on Tom Brady and his star studded Patriot offense this weekend.



(Photo: fantasyknuckleheads.com)

In five games this season, Landry has accounted for 48 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 1 forced fumble and fumble recovery. Reed Doughty has also played five this season and has recorded similar numbers. Doughty has totaled 59 total tackles and 1 forced fumble and recovery. While Landry has been out, Doughty has been a good fill in the safety spot.

The Redskins will also be without starting tight end Fred Davis for the rest of the season. Davis and Trent Williams violated the leagues drug policy and were both suspended for the remainder of the regular season.

Taking Davis's spot will be two year veteran Logan Paulsen. Paulsen, from UCLA, has 7 receptions for 95 yards. Another player that could make an appearance at the tight position is Dominique Byrd. Byrd, from USC, has been in the league for 3 years with the Seattle Seahawks before the Redskins acquired him this season.

The place that is not fairing so well with the absence of the starter is left tackle. In 10 games this year, Trent Williams has been solid. He has only allowed 3 sacks. This point last season he had allowed at least double that number. Currently filling that void is 4 year veteran Tyler Polumbus. In his first game this year, Polumbus allowed a sack.

This week in practice, however, rookie Willie Smith and veteran Sean Locklear have been sharing reps at left tackle.

The left side of the line could be the biggest wrinkle in the Redskins offense this week. If Smith gets the nod, he will be starting along side fellow rookie Maurice Hurt at left guard.