Five Mistakes That Hurt the Redskins (not including Griffin trade), Yet

1. Drafting Josh LeRibeus in the third round and still being a backup in year three.

I am not a draft expert but it happens often that teams miss in round three of the draft.  The problem I have is I don’t think you can afford to miss in round three on interior offensive line positions.  And obviously the Redskins missed here.  Steve Shoup said it on draft day and I hoped he was wrong but it is looking like LeRibeus will never be a legit starter for Washington.

2. Not truly addressing safety concerns in the past 5 years?

I like Ryan Clark and his leadership but he was far from helping improve a horrible secondary unit.  The Redskins had a chance to add a legit safety in Mike Mitchell and failed to pay up.  Really, the Redskins failed to pay up.  Mitchell isn’t Ronnie Lott but he would have been a huge upgrade over what they put out there.  Maybe Mitchell saw the Redskins as a disaster and would have never signed here but again we still haven’t seen them do anything.  Waiting on another suspension to end for Tanard Jackson won’t do it.

3. The Daryl Sharpton mess.

You sign him to help at a weak inside linebacker position and with a pathetic special teams?  Only to IR him before the season, then cut him a few weeks in.  Well, he is on the Bears right now and guess what the inside linebacker and special teams crews are still a mess.  Maybe Akeem Jordan can prove us wrong.  I am joking.  Should have been patient with Sharpton and understand this team was not a true contender that had to rush things.

4. Easy one.  Not addressing right tackle just like the safety position.     

Tyler Polumbus has been killed for three years now but I give him credit for going out there and playing every week.  Problem is he has to because they have no other answer.  Everyone was excited about Morgan Moses sliding to the Skins in round three.  But maybe we have already seen why he slid as he was inactive last week.  Moses did give ESPN the C’mon Man of the year against the Seahawks though.  There have been slim pickings for an impact safety in free agency but there has been plenty of serviceable tackles.  Inexcusable by Allen.  Maybe he will see a talented one while he is making decisions on replays.

5. This one really hasn’t hurt yet but I think it will.  Putting too much money into one position, wide receiver.

Garcon and Jackson are paid like pro bowlers and Roberts is paid like a solid number two.  I like all three but again the Redskins like putting money and time into fantasy type spots.  Garcon still seems to not be as explosive as before the foot injury.  Which I think I could hinder him being around long term if the cap becomes an issue in the next two seasons.  Maybe the team will add a fourth high priced receiver in March though.