Taking a look at the key free agents the Washington Redskins signed this past offseason, its first after two years of salary cap penalties. The Redskins have received huge production from one player and not enough from too many:
FS Ryan Clark: He has made an impact when it comes to being a leader in the meeting room and how he conducts himself, from his preparation to on-field savvy. He’s a coach on the field. The problem is, he’s no longer the same player and this position remains one the Redskins must solve. Clark does fly up to make some strong hits, but the coverage breakdowns -- and a couple missed tackles -- have marred the secondary. He’s not a playmaker -- never has been. Clark also likely will be a TV analyst next season. The Redskins need a long-term solution.
DE Jason Hatcher: Jay Gruden said the other day that they needed Hatcher to be more dominant. Redskins players said last season that Hatcher was the best inside rusher they faced, but is he a dominant-type player? Hatcher is having a solid season, so it’s not as if he’s been a bust -- far from it. But the defense has needed to apply more pressure with four-man fronts than it has, and the stunts have not always been fluid. Considering Hatcher is 32 years old, the Redskins still need more youth up front.
OG Shawn Lauvao: They targeted him early and it’s tough to see why. The coaches feel he’s done well enough, but they will acknowledge he’s been driven back a few times and missed blocks. This is just not a position that’s been solved. The problem is, Josh LeRibeus did not show enough during the summer or in his one start here to warrant stronger consideration. They need more production.
WR Andre Roberts: The Redskins raved about him this summer as a receiver -- quarterbacks trust where he’ll be and when -- but he’s really just rather ordinary from scrimmage. He’d have been their No. 2 wideout if DeSean Jackson had not been cut by the Eagles. Roberts has provided some help in the return game, but he’s still only averaging 9.1 yards per punt return and 23.5 yards per kickoff return. His impact has been minimal.
WR DeSean Jackson: The one guy who has played as advertised. Jackson might not block well, but when you average 21.8 yards per catch, you sort of compensates, you know? He could use a couple more touches per game because good things happen when he gets the ball. Jackson hasn’t been a distraction with any other issues.
LB Darryl Sharpton: When he signed, there was some thought he’d compete for a starting inside linebacker job. But Keenan Robinson emerged in the spring. Sharpton was hurt in the summer, placed on injured reserve and eventually released.
LB Akeem Jordan: He wasn’t a big signing but was another guy who could provide depth and help on special teams. But a knee injury prevented that from happening and he’s now on injured reserve.
LB Adam Hayward: He’s become a special-teams captain and he’s not going to help them from scrimmage -- no one really expected him to do so. He’s been OK.
QB Colt McCoy: Well, he beat Dallas, so for a guy who entered the season as a third stringer I’d say the Redskins got what they needed from him. McCoy is a good backup; that’s all they expected him to be.
CB Tracy Porter: The injury-prone player has made little impact because he’s been hurt most of his time in Washington. He’s healthy now, but at what level can he play? And will he stay healthy? Tough to rely on players with this history.
