It’s a really good sign that I feel like I’m reaching for Morgan here. There aren’t a lot of players on this roster who I think are going to fall short of big expectations, mainly because there are very few players who are expected to do big things.

That said, Morgan is the closest thing I could find. I just think that free-agent signings see their value inflated naturally, and it’s probably not ideal that we keep mentioning Garcon and Morgan in the same sentence (I did it earlier in this slideshow).

Morgan isn’t Garcon. Only once in his career has he caught more than 50 passes, and he’s never gone over 700 yards.

By no fault of his own, I think he might disappoint some people in 2012.

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(Photo Credit: Rick Stewart/Stringer/Getty Images)

What are your opinions.

That’s all for today.

There is the quick update of the day.

That’s all for today.

The Washington Redskins announced Thursday that they have signed linebacker Keenan Robinson to his rookie contract.

The second of Washington’s two fourth-round draft picks, Robinson saw time at both outside and inside linebacker for Texas, but the Redskins plan to groom him to back up veteran inside linebackers London Fletcher and Perry Riley.

The 6-foot-3, 242-pound Robinson — a two-time Butkus Award semifinalist for Texas — was the 119th pick of the draft.

Terms of the deal were not announced, but last year, fourth-round draft picks signed four-year contracts worth a little more than $2 million.

The Redskins have now signed six of their nine draft picks. First-round pick Robert Griffin III, third-rounder Josh LeRibeus and fourth-rounder Kirk Cousins remain unsigned.

Leave any suggestions in the comment box.

Gotta run!.

For those of you who made it past the title before running to the comments section to call me an idiot, I thank you. 

At first blush, you may think from the headline that I’m down on the Redskins’ running back prospects for the 2012 season. 

In fact, it’s quite the opposite. 

I’m like Daniel Snyder on the eve of free agency in the early 2000s: giddy with excitement minus the ability to write multiple blank checks.

Starting out the 2011 season, it was clear that Tim Hightower was the ‘Skins No. 1 back. He had the experience and all-around ability at the position that the team was looking for. Many people thought Ryan Torain was going to challenge Hightower, but the health issues that have plagued him throughout his NFL tenure would cause Torain to get off to a very slow start last year. Eventually each player’s season would be completely undermined by injuries. 

While two doors were closed last season, two more opened up. For Roy Helu Jr. and Evan Royster, there was no time last season to sit back and learn the game from afar. Each player was thrust into significant playing time. Helu Jr. made his way from third on the depth chart to starter by November, and Royster went from practice squad to backup following Tashard Choice’s release.

Injuries are certainly never a good thing. But in this situation, Hightower’s absence afforded the Redskins the ability to confirm that the two picks the spent last March were well worth it. Coming into their sophomore campaigns, Helu Jr. and Royster both proved that they are quality backs capable of starting in the NFL. 

Now that Tim Hightower has re-signed with Washington, the team finds itself with an overabundance of talent. The RB corp in DC is among the best, if not the best, group in the NFC East. That’s not to say that any one of DC’s running backs are independently better than LeSean McCoy, DeMarco Murray or Ahmad Bradshaw. But the corps as a whole could be the best in the division. 

We’re still months away from training camp, but Mike Shanahan finds himself in a great position. All three backs are capable of starting, getting 20-plus carries a game and providing Robert Griffin III with a receiving option out of the backfield. 

Plenty of people are vigorously debating now who should be the starter going into Week 1. To that end I’d say they don’t need a starter. The team doesn’t need to declare a workhouse back because it has the talent to truly have a running back by committee (RBBC). 

Many teams take the RBBC approach when they lack talent in their running game or if they don’t rely heavily on the run game. The Redskins, however, have a group of backs who can function like an All-Star bullpen in baseball. Each back can be called into the game to highlight his strengths in a given situation without overworking or becoming overly dependent on one back.

Hightower is great in the passing game, whether it’s receiving or pass blocking. Helu Jr. has a great bounce outside and excels at the one-cut. Royster can navigate the rugged terrain between the tackles and can get the necessary yards when it’s third and short. 

My one request of the Shanahans heading into training camp and the regular season is to cater the offense to each back’s strengths. Highlight all three of them and they will flourish in the roles. 

The team ended the 2011 season without a 1,000-yard rusher, and I would look for that to happen again this year. However, I anticipate the team cracking the top-10 in rushing with three backs either approaching or passing 600 yards for the year and a quarterback with world-class speed.

The Washington Redskins will begin the 2012 season without an official starting running back, and that’s fine by me. 

For more by Scott and his cohorts, check out The Recap.

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What do you guys think about this.

Once in a while, the NFC East Blog will tap into the division’s blogging and media community inside and outside of Bleacher Report. Our maiden endeavor brings us to Washington, D.C., where we talk to Rich Tandler, who blogs about the Washington Redskins for CSN Washington and Rich Tandler’s Real Redskins.

Bleacher Report: It seems as though the general consensus in D.C. is that the team made the right move in mortgaging the future to acquire the second overall pick and draft Robert Griffin III. I might be made to look like a fool here at some point, but I just don’t see it that way and feel it was a little too bold. What are your thoughts? Was this the right move to make?

Rich Tandler: Yeah, I think it was. Before it happened I was thinking maybe two firsts and a second was the right way to go—obviously exchanging one to move up and then an additional first and second for that deal would be about right. But they did what they had to do to beat Cleveland’s offer and so it was the going price. 

The best way to evaluate a move is to look at the alternatives. Had they stuck with Rex Grossman, it would have been a disaster. Say they’d stuck where they were and taken Ryan Tannehill or Brandon Weeden later, or maybe Kirk Cousins…they still would’ve had by far the worst quarterback in the NFC East. I think the fact that they play in the NFC East is what really needs to be brought up in terms of why they had to make the deal.

B/R: I see what you’re saying, but I just don’t think the gap between Robert Griffin III and those other guys is wide enough to rationalize giving up two additional first-round picks and a second rounder.

RT: Right, but Weeden and Tannehill, they’re not sure things either, and they’re less sure things than Griffin. I don’t think Griffin is a sure thing. Just like anybody else, you have to wait and see how it plays out. But yeah, I think it’s a legitimate question.

To simplify it: Are they better off with Ryan Tannehill, whoever they could have taken in the second and whoever they could have taken in the first round over the next couple of years? Time will tell. I think Mike Shanahan’s very happy with the move, the fans are very happy with the move, but certainly there was an opportunity cost involved.

B/R: I do think Pierre Garcon is a great addition to the offense as far as giving Griffin the necessary support. People might have wondered if his success was tied mainly to Peyton Manning, but he proved last season that wasn’t the case. He’ll help Griffin a lot during his rookie season.

RT: Yeah, they paid a lot for him. Pretty big contract for a guy who is not a (No. 1 receiver). And this team isn’t really gonna have a No. 1 receiver. I don’t know if they will for a while. I don’t think there are a whole lot of those out there, what I call true No. 1 receivers…so it’s gonna be No. 1 by committee I think. But Garcon’s gonna be a big part of that.

What they’re really looking for is yards after catch, which they’ve had none of. I mean, it was catch the ball, go to the ground since Santana Moss really kinda slowed down around 2006, 2007. They really haven’t had that, and the two elements of that are the quarterback delivering the ball accurately and the receiver with some wheels to get out. And they have not had either element, really. So that’s what they’re looking for from Garcon and from Josh Morgan.

B/R: I feel quite well about the pass rush. Brian Orakpo is an underrated pass rusher and the sky’s still the limit for young Ryan Kerrigan. He has a high ceiling still at this point. Did you think they needed to spruce up the pass rush in free agency or the draft, or are you also happy with that duo going forward?

RT: I think the New York Giants are showing that in that division, you can’t have too many pass rushers. I think they could use somebody else, but we’ll see. They’re getting Jarvis Jenkins back healthy, who should be starting at left defensive end, and I think he will add an element of being able to rush the passer from there. That won’t be his thing, he won’t be a rush defensive end in a 3-4 obviously, but he can add an element of pass rushing.

I think they could have used one and they probably would have liked to have gotten one. With the secondary, especially safety being a little bit on the shaky side, the pass rush is gonna have to carry the defense this year from a passing perspective. If they don’t get a good pass rush, there are gonna be teams putting up 25, 28, 30 points a game on them.

B/R: When was the last time there was this much excitement surrounding the Redskins in D.C.?

RT: Because it’s a quarterback, it’s different. Legitimate level of excitement, I think if you look at 2004 when Joe Gibbs returned as a legend coming back. He had a decent run—certainly the best run of any coach since himself in the 1980s and early 1990s.

But it hasn’t been that high since then, and it certainly hasn’t been this high over a quarterback, probably ever. Donovan McNabb I think a lot of people were skeptical of. Regardless of the Redskins’ propensity to bring in big names and kind of build some hope around that, I think that RG3 is the guy who has really gotten the interest level up and has fans just foaming at the mouth and ready for Sept. 9.

That’s all the news for today.

Tim Hightower’s return bodes well for the prospects of the Washington Redskins offense this season. Despite his injury situation, if Hightower can prove his fitness in camp, he should be named the starter.

Despite the positive performances of Roy Helu and Evan Royster as rookies in 2011, Hightower gives the Redskins the best chance to win with a first-year quarterback. His veteran savvy and multiple skill set will make the four-year pro an invaluable resource for Robert Griffin.

Hightower has the receiving and pass-blocking ability to be an asset in Kyle Shanahan’s schemes. Those very schemes are the reason Hightower makes the most sense as Washington’s starter for the 2012 season.

Helu is also an able receiver and a more explosive runner, while Royster is tough between the tackles. However, the Redskins didn’t draft Griffin to operate a run-first offense.

As much as this author believes the Redskins should lean heavily on the run, the kind of bounty paid to Griffin is only given up for a quarterback a team believes is a game-winner. After parting with a second-round choice and two future first-rounders to take Griffin no.2 overall, the Redskins will win on the strength of his arm and natural playmaking ability.

That makes Hightower a natural fit for the starter’s role in the backfield. His proficiency in diagnosing and picking up the blitz will be essential against teams sure to test Griffin’s reaction to multiple pressures.

Those pass-protection skills are the one clear advantage Hightower has over most of his competition. Helu certainly offers a similar receiving threat, yet Hightower’s strength perhaps gives him a slight edge as a runner.

It is a common misconception that Mike Shanahan’s zone running game requires quick, elusive backs. The truth is that the system functions best with a power runner.

Clinton Portis, Terrell Davis, Mike Anderson and Reuben Droughns all excelled thanks to their ability to overpower—as well as evade—would-be tacklers. At 6’0″ and 222 pounds, Hightower has the frame to pound out yards inside when necessary.

Shanahan emphasised the run during his glory years with the Denver Broncos. However, that was with an ageing John Elway and an elite runner like Davis. Nobody in the Redskins backfield rotation has yet shown themselves to be another Terrell Davis.

Although Hightower’s one-year deal may not appear to be a vote of confidence, if the Redskins were really confident in their young running backs, then why bring Hightower back at all? If he demonstrates a good recovery, Hightower’s experience should give him the edge at a crowded position.

Not much else going on in the NBA world today.

Training camp battles between kickers are hardly the stuff legends are made of, but the last 20 years or so have not been kind to the Redskins at the position. In three seasons with the Redskins, Graham Gano has hit 59 of his 80 field goal attempts, missing more than his fair share of important kicks.

The Redskins decided to bring in the experienced Neil Rackers to compete for the kicking job.

Rackers has spent seasons with Cincinnati, Arizona and most recently Houston, earning a single Pro Bowl appearance in 2005. Where Gano has shown inconsistency from all distances, Rackers is only troubled by kicks of 50 yards or more.

Gano had five of his kicks blocked last season alone, which speaks more to the blocking than his ability, but Rackers has had just four of his kicks block in his entire career.

The pressure is on Gano to become the consistent, clutch kicker the Redskins need him to be, and Mike Shanahan believes he can be. If he was the long-term solution, the team would not have signed Rackers this offseason or experimented with Shayne Graham last offseason

Advantage: Neil Rackers

Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news.

That’s all for today.

If anybody needs tickets to games, remember to click the tickets link at the top.

The Washington Redskins’ added one of the last missing pieces to their offense by agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with veteran running back Tim Hightower.

That adds Hightower to a running back mix that features Roy Helu, Evan Royster and sixth-rounder Alfred Morris. Let the competition begin.

The team will hold its first round of organized team activities next week. They will run on May 21, 23 and 24th, May 29-31 and June 4-7. The team’s mandatory minicamp takes place June 11-14, and then comes a lull in the action until late July, when training camp kicks off.

Many starting jobs appear to be decided, but some remain up for grabs. Sure, it’s early and a lot could – and likely will – change between now and the start of the season. But let’s take a look at the projected starting lineups and possible position battles on offense and defense.

OFFENSE:

QB Robert Griffin III

RB Tim Hightower. Challengers: Roy Helu, Evan Royster

FB Darrel Young

TE Fred Davis. Challenger: Chris Cooley

WR: Pierre Garcon, Josh Morgan, Leonard Hankerson. Challengers: Santana Moss, Anthony Armstrong, Brandon Banks, Aldrick Robinson, Terrence Austin

LT: Trent Williams

LG: Kory Lichtensteiger. Challengers: Josh LeRibeus, Adam Gettis, Maurice Hurt

C: Will Montgomery

RG: Chris Chester

RT: Jammal Brown. Challengers: Willie Smith, Tyler Polumbus

Notes: Hightower is coming back from a torn ACL, but Redskins coaches consider him valuable. He’s the most well-rounded of the backs on the roster and a strong leader. Helu and Royster aim to overtake him with a year of playing time under their belts. … The Redskins don’t currently have a backup fullback on the roster, but Kyle Shanahan’s three-receiver and double-tight end sets often eliminate the need for a fullback. … It will be interesting to see how things play out at wide receiver, where Garcon and Morgan, or Hankerson, will likely start. Those three are likely to be on the field together often, with either Morgan or Hankerson lining up in the slot. How does that affect Santana Moss? Judging by Coach Mike Shanahan’s comments last week, it sounds as if the soon-to-be 33-year-old will be reduced to a reserve role. But he also has Banks and Robinson eying snaps at that slot receiver position. … Lichtensteiger continues to make progress in his return from torn knee ligaments, but LeRibeus (who also is being groomed as a backup center) or Gettis could contend for that starting left guard job. … Right tackle will be interesting. Shanahan says he feels much better about Jammal Brown and his hip after an offseason of rehab, but will the former Pro Bowl tackle be able to truly return to form? If not, does the team go with a promising second-year player in Smith with Polumbus and sixth-rounder Tom Compton as the backup tackles? … Another key competition is at kicker, where incumbent Graham Gano and free agent signing Neil Rackers face off.

DEFENSE

DE: Adam Carriker. Challenger: Jarvis Jenkins

NT: Barry Cofield

DE: Stephen Bowen

OLB: Ryan Kerrigan

ILB: London Fletcher

ILB: Perry Riley

OLB: Brian Orakpo

CB: DeAngelo Hall

CB Josh Wilson

SS: Brandon Meriweather. Challengers: Reed Doughty, DeJon Gomes

FS: DeJon Gomes. Challengers: Tanard Jackson, Madieu Williams, Doughty

Notes: The front seven remains intact thanks to the re-signings of Fletcher and Carriker, but the team gets a valuable addition with the return of Jenkins, who missed all of his rookie season with a torn ACL. He figures to see significant snaps at both left and right defensive end. The team also brought back the reliable Kedric Golston, who can spell either end as well, and is counting on second-year pro Chris Neild for depth at nose tackle. … Hall and Wilson both return, but there will be competition at nickelback. Kevin Barnes remains under contract, but the team signed veteran Leigh Torrence and undrafted rookie Chase Minnifield, and also has second-year back, Brandyn Thompson. And where does Cedric Griffin fit? … The biggest question mark involves the two safety positions. Gone are LaRon Landry and Oshiomogho Atogwe, and there are some uncertainties about nearly every player in the mix. Can Meriweather return to the two-time Pro Bowl form he showed in New England in 2009 and 2010, or will he disappoint as he did in Chicago, where he lost his job after four games? Can Gomes flourish in his second season and hold down the free safety duties? Or will one of two free agent signings, Jackson or Williams, claim the job?

More on the Redskins:

Monk is lead plaintiff in concussion lawsuit

Throwback uniforms

Upgrades at Redskins Park

Comment Below!.

As sceptical as this author was about the high trade price paid for Robert Griffin III, the Washington Redskins are certainly matching their ambitions for their new star asset, to the fee they paid. After 11 wins in two seasons, Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen need Griffin to win now, regardless of how those two seasons are excused as a necessary sacrifice to the cause of rebuilding. 

The duo have certainly assembled everything Griffin will need to win from day one as an NFL quarterback. The news that Tim Hightower has agreed a one-year deal is the latest indication of the Redskins’ intention to surround Griffin with the tools for success

This positive trend began in free agency, with the acquisitions of Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan and signing Fred Davis to a franchise tender. If second-year pro Leonard Hankerson can build on the brief potential he displayed in 2011, then Washington’s receiving corps is very well-stocked.

Add in the pass-catching talents of Hightower and Roy Helu, along with possible supporting roles for reliable Chris Cooley and Santana Moss and Griffin will have no shortage of quality targets. With this supporting cast, Griffin won’t need to excel, just quickly master the basics.

While the decision to bypass the offensive line in free-agency merited concern, any fears were assuaged when Shanahan and Allen select three young blockers in the draft. If even two of Josh LeRibeus, Adam Gettis and Tom Compton come through, the Redskins will have significantly improved their front-five rotation.

By increasing competition along the front, the Redskins will encourage more consistency from the likes of Trent Williams. It also prompts promising youngsters Maurice Hurt and Willie Smith to work that much harder to secure a roster spot.

Once the season begins, the Redskins could have credible depth at every position along the front. That kind of commitment to building the strongest possible line, is only good news for Griffin.

Yet by far the biggest sign of encouragement that Griffin can win early, comes from Shanahan himself. His recent suggestions that he will modify his system to fit Griffin’s individual skills is the best possible news heading into the season.

Shanahan’s intransigence has plagued his tenure in D.C. It contributed in no small part to the Donovan McNabb fiasco. It also led to the messy merry-go-round involving John Beck and Rex Grossman, which served to cripple the 2011 campaign.

Having a spread-style, freelancing quarterback play for a coach with schemes as rigid as his demeanour, was this author’s biggest concerns regarding the selection of Griffin. Avid supporters of the Heisman Trophy winner point to the pro success of spread passers like Cam Newton and Sam Bradford.

However, it’s important to note that both players had the offense moulded to them, incorporating a lot of what they did best at the collegiate level. Utterances from Shanahan suggesting a similar willingness to adapt, put everything in place for Griffin to be an instant winner in Washington.

That’s all the news for today.