Redskins take CB Amerson, TE Reed in NFL draft

[45...@mydaja.com]

Redskins take CB Amerson, TE Reed in NFL draft

Friday - 4/26/2013, 10:33pm ET

JOSEPH WHITE
AP Sports Writer

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- The Washington Redskins' attempt to improve their
biggest weakness centers on a player who needs to figure out when to
take his chances.

The reigning NFC East champions selected David Amerson of North
Carolina State in the second round of the NFL draft Friday, a choice
aimed at helping a secondary that ranked 30th in the league against
the pass last year.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound cornerback set a single-season Atlantic Coast
Conference record with 13 interceptions in 2011 and won the Jack Tatum
Award as the nation's top defensive back, but his play regressed last
year as he tried to do even better. He became a hit-or-miss player,
making five interceptions while getting beat far too often for
touchdowns.

"At the beginning of the season, I was trying to make every play,
trying to make everything an interception, trying to just jump every
route," Amerson said from Raleigh, N.C., where he watched the draft in
a house filled with friends, family and a generous spread of food.

"I started sitting on routes, eyes in the backfield, stuff like that.
It was more of me beating myself more than just getting beat by other
receivers, and that's something I had to eliminate. It was hurting my
team. It was hurting myself."

The Redskins made an unexpected choice in the third round, taking
tight end Jordan Reed from Florida. The team has more pressing needs
at safety and right tackle, but coach Mike Shanahan instead opted for
a 6-foot-2, 236-pound pass-catcher who was originally recruited as a
quarterback.

Amerson's drop-off last year led to speculation that he would be
better suited for safety in the NFL, but he said the Redskins only
spoke to him about playing cornerback. He said he's ready to re-learn
the fundamentals as he joins a team with designs of becoming a Super
Bowl contender in Robert Griffin III's second year at quarterback.

"I have to get back to the basics," Amerson said. "And playing
football like I know how to play."

The Redskins still have last season's two starting cornerbacks --
DeAngelo Hall and Josh Wilson -- and both took pay cuts to remain with
the team as it slashed salaries to deal with a cap penalty imposed by
the NFL. Amerson should be able to contend for the nickel cornerback
spot and possibly challenge one of the two starters, neither of whom
is under contract beyond this year.

Amerson was the first player chosen by the Redskins in this year's
draft. The team didn't have a first-round pick, having shipped it to
the St. Louis Rams last year for the trade that put Washington into
position to select Griffin.

While Amerson knew the Redskins were interested -- he had a visit with
the coaching staff in the lead-up to the draft -- Reed didn't have a
clue that he was on the team's radar.

"I had no idea I was going to get picked by Washington," Reed said.
"Big surprise to me. I'm just so excited."

Reed moved to tight end in 2011 and last year led the Gators in
receiving with 45 catches for 559 yards. The Redskins already have
Fred Davis, Niles Paul and Logan Paulsen at tight end, but the
position has gained more prominence in the NFL passing game in recent
years.

___

Follow Joseph White on Twitter: http://twitter.com/JGWhiteAP

End of article:

Good choices!!
___

[RichL]

<45...@mydaja.com> wrote in message
news:ddemn8df0phj1hqen...@4ax.com...

> Good choices!!

The TE pick is a head scratcher, given what I think are more pressing team
needs. Does this mean Niles Paul is on his way out?

Besides, this guy is a potential attitude case. Benched in last year's
Sugar Bowl:

<http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider/wp/2013/04/26/redskins-draft-florida-tight-end-jordan-reed-in-round-3/>

[45...@mydaja.com]

On Fri, 26 Apr 2013 22:52:23 -0400, "RichL" <rple...@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>
>The TE pick is a head scratcher, given what I think are more pressing team
>needs. Does this mean Niles Paul is on his way out?
>
>Besides, this guy is a potential attitude case. Benched in last year's
>Sugar Bowl:
>

After Hainsworth, any bad attitude will be cut. He may have more speed
then Niles. The pistol with a really quick tight end would be hard to
stop!!

[sbsde...@gmail.com]

<<The TE pick is a head scratcher, given what I think are more pressing team
needs. Does this mean Niles Paul is on his way out?>>

Sort of agree, but sort of dont. Reed was probably picked because he was considered the best talent available at that pick and was markedly better than any of the players at "need" positions. And the Skins could use better depth at the TE position. There was a huge drop-off when Davis got injured last year. Paulsen performed admirably, but is mainly a blocking TE. And we still don't know if Davis will be 100%. Reed and Davis in a double tight end set, coupled with RGIII of course, could be very interesting. And yes, I think this marks the end of the Niles Paul experiment and he will be on the bubble to make the roster, but could still make the cut because of his special teams play.

[Walter Bushell]

In article <tsfmn8d4tpt77nl3a...@4ax.com>,

Depends on how bad the attitude is. The 'Skins did not cut people even
who got caught with drugs. That's bad attitude.

--
Gambling with Other People's Money is the meth of the fiscal industry.
me -- in the spirit of Karl and Groucho Marx

[sbsde...@gmail.com]

> Kick and punt returner who can slip into a game at either TE or WR for
> a particular package. Plus, he's injury insurance during the season
> when finding a hidden gem on a practice squad isn't likely to occur.

You know what, I thought about it some more and you're right. In a way, he's kinda like a Lorenzo Alexander but at different positions. A good utility guy who is cheap, and can fill in at multiple positions.

[Walter Bushell]

In article <cmrnn8p7gag6c3o59...@4ax.com>,
Bob Rudd <bob...@verizon.net> wrote:

> He takes the hard shots and RG3 avoids them. Ponder on that for a
> few seconds.....

With a questionable right tackle perhaps a blocking tight end is not a
bad thing and perhaps the 'Skins could use a 3 TE set or even a 4 TE
set.