Aug. 9, 2012; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Washington Redskins wide receiver Pierre Garcon (88) does a flip in the end zone to celebrate a first half touchdown against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

 March 12,2012

The Washington Redskins signed free agent WR Pierre Garcon from the Indianapolis Colts. Terms of the contract were 5 years 42.5 million dollars and brought up questions of whether Washington overpaid for Garcon. A lot of people did not believe Garcon had the ability to be a #1 receiver in the NFL and thought this was a bad move by Washington. Garcon quickly silenced all of the critics with a breakout game in week 1 vs the Saints. His numbers were great and didn’t even finish the game due to a foot injury, an injury that  limited his action for the entire year. Garcon fought and played through as much pain as he could bear and ended up having a respectable season and proved his importance to this franchise.

Oct 7, 2012; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins linebacker London Fletcher (59) takes the field before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at FedEX Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

April 13, 2012

London Fletcher officially resigned with the Redskins, giving them a relief heading into the draft that their captain was back! This allowed Washington to keep their focus geared towards improving other areas of the team. London Fletcher is undoubtedly the heart and soul of this team and the #Resign59 campaign was one of the most talked about topics in Redskins Nation. His resigning was huge to secure the best possibility for success for the Redskins defense and pretty much made it to where he would retire as a Redskin.

Dec 30, 2012; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) hands off to Washington Redskins running back Alfred Morris (46) during the second half against the Dallas Cowboys at FedEX Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA Today Sports

 April 26-28,2012 

This was the day the Redskins drafted four players that would be key pieces to success for the team.

- 1st round pick 2- Robert Griffin III

- 4th round pick 102- Kirk Cousins

- 6th round pick 173- Alfred Morris

- 7th round pick 213- Richard Crawford 

Each of these players have showed up when the team needed them the most with un-rookie like performances. Griffin and Morris have shown that they possess the capabilities to bolster the franchise for years to come. Cousins showed that he is able to keep the team afloat and play at high level in the absence of Griffin. Crawford got his opportunity late in the season, but shined when his number was called vs Baltimore. Now that Crawford is a household name in Washington, let’s see how he progresses from here.   

July 27, 2012; Ashburn, VA, USA; Washington Redskins tight end Chris Cooley (47) shakes hands with fans while walking to the field during Redskins training camp at Redskins Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

August 28, 2012 

Chris Cooley was waived by the Washington Redskins in hopes that he would have an opportunity to sign with another team and be a starter. The majority of Redskins Nation was saddened by the departure of Captain Chaos, the best tight end the franchise has seen. Chris Cooley refused to sign with another team and was content to not play this season until October 21, 2012 when the Redskins resigned him. An season ending  injury to starting tight end Fred Davis left Washington no choice but to bring in another body to fill that roster spot. Who better than the franchise leader in receptions for tight ends.   

September 9,2012  

First game of the season, the Washington Redskins travelled to New Orleans and handed them a loss to remember. Robert Griffin III exceeded all expectations with an epic debut performance. Winning this game let the league know that the Redskins were for real and were going to make some noise in 2012. 

September 30, 2012; Tampa, FL, USA; Washington Redskins kicker Billy Cundiff (5) is congratulated by long snapper Justin Snow (54), tight end Logan Paulsen (82) and punter Sav Rocca (6) after he made the game winning field goal against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. The Redskins won 24-22. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

 September 30, 2012 

It didn’t take very long for Robert Griffin III to get his first game winning drive. In week 4 vs the Tampa Bay, Griffin led the Redskins down the field to set up a game winning 41 yd. field goal by Billy Cundiff.  

December 9, 2012; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins kicker Kai Forbath (2) is interviewed after kicking the game-winning field goal against the Baltimore Ravens at FedEx Field. The Redskins won 31-28 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

October 9, 2012 

The Washington Redskins signed free agent rookie kicker, Kai Forbath. After an inconsistent beginning from Billy Cundiff, Washington decided to go a different route at the kicker position. Some fans thought that the Redskins would go back and resign Graham Gano, but they shocked everyone and went with Forbath. This proved to be a clutch decision by Washington, as Forbath went 17 for 17 before missing his first kick in the season finale vs Dallas.  

October 14, 2012; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) runs with the ball past Minnesota Vikings strong safety Jamarca Sanford (33) for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter at FedEx Field. The Redskins won 38-26. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

October 14, 2012 

The Washington fans got to see Griffin excite the crowd with a game sealing 76 yard touchdown run to beat the Minnesota Vikings. This was Griffin’s first game back since his concussion and let fans know that he was indeed back and ready to finish the season. This will be a play to remember forever!  

November 4, 2012; Landover, MD, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) prepares to throw the ball against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

November 4, 2012 

Week 9 vs Carolina would be the turning point for the rest of the season. This loss would be the 6th and final loss of the season for the Redskins in 2012. The Redskins finished the season on a 7 game winning streak to catapult them to the top of the division to reign as NFC East champs.  

December 30, 2012; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) scores a touchdown in the third quarter of the Washington Redskins game against the Dallas Cowboys at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

December 30, 2012 

Dallas came to town…Dallas went home with a loss…The Washington Redskins won their first division title since 1999. Because of this, Seattle has to travel to Washington for their first round match up. The city is already buzzing in anticipation of this game and excited to see what 2013 has to bring.

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Washington Redskins wide receiver Aldrick Robinson (11) celebrates his touchdown with wide receiver Niles Paul (84) during the second half against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-US PRESSWIRE

Three weeks into the Washington Redskins preseason, roster spots are being claimed and roles are being established. In the coming days we’ll take a look at what we have learned this preseason and which questions still need answers. First up, we take a look at a couple young players who have made the most of their chances to impress this preseason:

1) Aldrick Robinson and Richard Crawford both belong in the NFL.

Robinson and Crawford entered training camp on the roster “bubble,” battling with several other players for only one of two open roster spots at wide receiver and cornerback.

At receiver, four spots were already claimed by newly-signed free agents Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan, veteran Santana Moss and second-year player Leonard Hankerson. That left Robinson duking it out with special teams ace Anthony Armstrong, lighting-fast return man Brandon Banks, intriguing waiver pickup Dezmon Briscoe and the seemingly forgotten Terrance Austin.

Banks seems back to his 2010 form after returning a punt 91 yards for a touchdown in last week’s  preseason matchup against the Chicago Bears, and Briscoe also looked good while hauling in three receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown.

But Robinson (and rooke quarterback Kirk Cousins) stole the show at Soldier Field, catching six passes for 104 yards, including one that went for a 49-yard touchdown after Robinson caught the ball at about the 35-yard line, cut to his left and outraced Chicago’s secondary to the endzone. Robinson has eight receptions for 132 yards so far in the preseason and has displayed his speed, solid hands and versatility — each of his receptions seem to have come on different routes. Solidly built despite being listed at only 5’10″ and 181 pounds, Robinson has the skill set to replace Moss in the slot in a couple years and has not had issues getting off the line and open against backup defenders like Banks, whom Head Coach Mike Shanahan has said will need to make the team as a receiver and not just a returner.

Meanwhile, Anthony Armstrong has battled injuries this preseason — though he’s expected to play Saturday against the Colts — and Terrence Austin has been MIA, catching just one pass for 11 yards, a 25.5-yard average on two kick returns and two special teams tackles.

Robinson has thus far separated himself from the pack and, barring a catastrophic injury or drop-off in performance in weeks three and four of the preseason, should be on the team whether Shanahan opts to keep five or six receivers.

As for Crawford, he’s arguably been this year’s version of Jarvis Jenkins — a rookie who has made a large impression in camp and backed it up in preseason games. Let’s hope Crawford’s rookie season doesn’t end up like Jenkins’s, because he could help a Redskins secondary that it expected to struggle this year.

Behind starting cornerbacks DeAngelo Hall and Josh Wilson, Crawford has been easily the most impressive of the four corners angling for the two or three reserve spots at the position. He has shown discipline and patience both in coverage and while blitzing from the slot. Unlike the rest of the team, Crawford has actually held onto an interception, in Week One of the preseason against the Buffalo Bills. Neither Kevin Barnes, Brandyn Thompson nor Cedric Griffin (who’s looked particularly bad) have distinguished themselves.

Simply put, both Robinson and Crawford look like they belong. Neither are high draft picks, but it’s hard to argue that they haven’t looked the part thus far in the preseason.

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