technical details
  1. is_video => true
  2. alias => "washington\/\/redskins\/position-battles-dwayne-haskins-isnt-only-rookie-pushing-starting-job"
  3. nid => "1429751"
  4. title => "Position Battles: Dwayne Haskins isn't the only rookie pushing for a starting job"
  5. is_chrome_page => false
  6. article_body => "<p>Many starting jobs will get decided in training camp, but for a number of Redskins rookies, May and June provide an opportunity to make a case for playing time and practice reps later in the summer.<\/p>\n<p>The most high profile situation is obviously Dwayne Haskins. The 15th overall pick out of Ohio State has a real chance to start for Washington this fall, and his every throw, touchdown and interception will be dissected from now until the 'Skins open the 2019 season in Philadelphia.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Beyond Haskins, there are plenty of rookies that will push for starting jobs. Montez Sweat leads that list on defense, but offensively, the list is longer.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The biggest push will be on the offensive line.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Fourth rounder Wes Martin out of Indiana looks to be in a strong position to push for the open left guard spot. His biggest competition appears to be Ereck Flowers, a bust at tackle for the Giants that is trying to restart his career as a guard. Could Flowers be better on the interior of the offensive line? Maybe, and being coached by Bill Callahan could certainly help. And Flowers has talent - he was a Top 10 pick in 2015 by New York.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Chris Cooley declared Martin the starter at left guard on his podcast, and there is some belief inside the building that the rookie could emerge in 2019 like Chase Roullier did in 2017. Both are very strong and versatile but with less fanfare around their game after playing college ball at non-football schools.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Beyond Martin, there will be some major push from two wide receivers taken in the draft this year in Terry McLaurin and Kelvin Harmon. Part of that will be that the two rookies are young and talented, but part of that will also be the lack of production from the established wideouts on the Redskins roster.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Last month, Washington decided not to exercise the fifth-year option on Josh Doctson's contract. That makes his hold on a starting job as tenuous as ever. Paul Richardson is working back from injury and seems unlikely to practice until at least training camp. If McLaurin and\/or Harmon can impress now, they can move up the depth chart.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>There is another offensive rookie in center\/guard Ross Piersbacher. The former Alabama starter doesn't project as a starter, but more of a depth player with versatility on the interior of the offensive line. Considering the injuries the Redskins have sustained in the middle of their O-line the last few seasons, odds would suggest Piersbacher will get a chance to start before the year ends.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>MORE REDSKINS NEWS<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Big Ben comparison? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/chris-simms-why-dwayne-haskins-has-big-ben-roethlisberger-type-talent\">Haskins reminds Chris Simms of&nbsp;Roethlisberger<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Getting ready for training camp: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/redskins-2019-training-camp-schedule-dates-times-location-how-attend\">The full schedule<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Leadership:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/heres-small-example-dwayne-haskins-leadership-told-matthew-berry\">Haskins impressed in high school<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"
  7. author => "JP Finlay"
  8. mps => {"author":"JP Finlay","league":"","sport":"","sponsor":""}
  9. published => "1559037600"
  10. created => "1559009730"
  11. changed => "1559053665"
  12. status => "1"
  13. hero_image_credit => "AP"
  14. tags => [{"tid":"1956","name":"NFL","url":"tags\/nfl"},{"tid":"1616","name":"Redskins Top Stories","url":"tags\/redskins-top-stories"},{"tid":"1511","name":"Washington Redskins","url":"tags\/washington-redskins"}]
  15. section => "Redskins"
  16. team => "Washington Redskins"
  17. image => {"uri":"public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/washington\/2019\/05\/28\/meats_potatoes_05-25.jpg","alt":"meats_potatoes_05-25.jpg","title":"Meats and Potatoes: Brian Mitchell talks Haskins and Smith"}
  18. video_url => "https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/video\/meats-and-potatoes-brian-mitchell-talks-haskins-and-smith"
  19. is_mediaid => true
  20. mediaid => "6tnZBRVFgQm9"
  21. video_autoplay => true
  22. video_automute => false
  23. mpx_account_id => "BxmELC"
  24. player_id => "washington_article"
  25. chrome_data => "{\"league\":\"\",\"sport\":\"\",\"sponsor\":\"\"}"
  26. sponsor => ""
  27. region => "washington"
  28. fb_url => "https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dialog\/share?app_id=1175440639277882&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fwashington%2Fredskins%2Fposition-battles-dwayne-haskins-isnt-only-rookie-pushing-starting-job&display=popup"
  29. tw_url => "https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Position%20Battles%3A%20Dwayne%20Haskins%20isn%27t%20the%20only%20rookie%20pushing%20for%20a%20starting%20job&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fwashington%2Fredskins%2Fposition-battles-dwayne-haskins-isnt-only-rookie-pushing-starting-job&original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fwashington%2Fredskins%2Fposition-battles-dwayne-haskins-isnt-only-rookie-pushing-starting-job"
  30. mailto => "mailto:?subject=Position%20Battles%3A%20Dwayne%20Haskins%20isn%27t%20the%20only%20rookie%20pushing%20for%20a%20starting%20job&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fwashington%2Fredskins%2Fposition-battles-dwayne-haskins-isnt-only-rookie-pushing-starting-job"
  31. tags_hide => []
  32. type => "article"
  33. meta => {"file":"\/mnt\/gfs\/rsnunited\/sites\/default\/files\/archive\/article\/washington\/redskins\/position-battles-dwayne-haskins-isnt-only-rookie-pushing-starting-job.json","assets":["public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/washington\/2019\/05\/28\/meats_potatoes_05-25.jpg"]}
  34. orig_image => {"uri":"public:\/\/2019\/05\/27\/meats_potatoes_05-25.jpg","alt":"meats_potatoes_05-25.jpg","title":"Meats and Potatoes: Brian Mitchell talks Haskins and Smith"}
  35. article_type => "article"
Redskins

Redskins

Many starting jobs will get decided in training camp, but for a number of Redskins rookies, May and June provide an opportunity to make a case for playing time and practice reps later in the summer.

The most high profile situation is obviously Dwayne Haskins. The 15th overall pick out of Ohio State has a real chance to start for Washington this fall, and his every throw, touchdown and interception will be dissected from now until the 'Skins open the 2019 season in Philadelphia. 

Beyond Haskins, there are plenty of rookies that will push for starting jobs. Montez Sweat leads that list on defense, but offensively, the list is longer. 

The biggest push will be on the offensive line. 

Fourth rounder Wes Martin out of Indiana looks to be in a strong position to push for the open left guard spot. His biggest competition appears to be Ereck Flowers, a bust at tackle for the Giants that is trying to restart his career as a guard. Could Flowers be better on the interior of the offensive line? Maybe, and being coached by Bill Callahan could certainly help. And Flowers has talent - he was a Top 10 pick in 2015 by New York. 

Chris Cooley declared Martin the starter at left guard on his podcast, and there is some belief inside the building that the rookie could emerge in 2019 like Chase Roullier did in 2017. Both are very strong and versatile but with less fanfare around their game after playing college ball at non-football schools. 

 

Beyond Martin, there will be some major push from two wide receivers taken in the draft this year in Terry McLaurin and Kelvin Harmon. Part of that will be that the two rookies are young and talented, but part of that will also be the lack of production from the established wideouts on the Redskins roster. 

Last month, Washington decided not to exercise the fifth-year option on Josh Doctson's contract. That makes his hold on a starting job as tenuous as ever. Paul Richardson is working back from injury and seems unlikely to practice until at least training camp. If McLaurin and/or Harmon can impress now, they can move up the depth chart. 

There is another offensive rookie in center/guard Ross Piersbacher. The former Alabama starter doesn't project as a starter, but more of a depth player with versatility on the interior of the offensive line. Considering the injuries the Redskins have sustained in the middle of their O-line the last few seasons, odds would suggest Piersbacher will get a chance to start before the year ends. 

MORE REDSKINS NEWS