The Redskins offensive line looked solid with the starters last year, but the depth was questionable. As it turned out, the disaster threatening the Giants and the Cowboys struck Washington last season experienced and quality starters go down with injury and their inferior replacements drag the entire offense down with them. LT Chris Samuels and RG Randy Thomas both suffered serious injuries early in 2009 and never played again. Chronically mismanaged by owner Dan Snyder and GM Vinny Cerrato, the team was completely unprepared and had no decent replacements for either player. That was incredibly negligent considering the age of both players and the fact that Thomas, in particular, had become quite injury-prone.
The Redskins responded by signing RG/T Artis Hicks, drafting LT Trent Williams with the 4th overall pick in the draft and trading for RT Jammal Brown, a Pro Bowler in New Orleans who missed all of last season with a hip injury. With three new starters along the offensive line for 2010, continuity issues are sure to arise this season and Williams is only a rookie and likely to make rookie mistakes. Holdovers: C Casey Rabach and LG Derrick Dockery are both serviceable players, but nothing more. Both Rabach and Dockery are on the wrong side of 30 and must be considered prime bait for the injury bug.
The Redskins have had a bit of luck, however: the line has largely escaped injury during the offseason. Brown struggled a bit with his previous injury, but has come back and looked good in most of the preseason. Williams got schooled a bit by sack-master Terrell Suggs in the second preseason game, but has otherwise looked solid and defied his reputation by working and studying hard. Hicks is a very nice addition who has stayed healthy and is capable of filling in at either guard position or right tackle should the need arise. Rabach and Dockery have both been solid and healthy. The depth behind the starters is unproven and inexperienced so injuries would be a real problem. Unlike their division rivals, though, the Redskins offensive line has some continuity, health and momentum going into the regular season. If they can stay healthy the Redskins line should vault from bottom of the NFL to middle of the pack. If the preseason is a mirage and injuries mount up during the regular season, Washington will lose 10 games or more again.