Redskins analysis: roster depth

One of the things that many people talk about that made Peyton Manning so successful in his career in Indy is the offensive line he has had. Mainly, the center, Jeff Saturday who has snapped the ball for him practically his entire time there. Having that sound, blocking signal caller in front of you definitely makes your job a lot more comfortable. And as important as Saturday is to Manning, there is another guy who has been out there Peyton’s entire career there (at least up until the Super Bowl win) that is equally important: Tarik Glenn.

No, he doesn’t get much credit publicly. Other than coaches, teammates and Indy fans who voted him to the probowl three times, no one probably really knows who he is. Yes, he’s the guy taking calls from Saturday and Manning while they read defenses, but he’s also the guy with one of the most important jobs on the offense: protecting Peyton’s blind side. No one wants to take snaps wondering if they’re gonna feel footsteps coming at them two seconds later. No quarterback should have to feel uncomfortable in the pocket. They should be able to have the confidence that the guy holding it down on their blind side is going to get the job done every. single. snap.

From 1998 to 2006, Glenn was the Colts’ starting left tackle. He was drafted in 1997 and waited till the next year before he got his chance. Prior to him starting, it seemed to be a shuffle of guys filling in at that position while Jim Harbaugh (another right handed QB) took snaps. The thing I like here, is that even though Glenn didn’t start in 1997, he was there. He was listed on the depth chart behind Adam Meadows, even though they had him playing guard that year. And when 1998 came and the Colts drafted Manning, Glenn continued to protect him for nearly the next decade. Sounds promising, right?

So knowing how important Glenn has been to that organization… the fact that he was waiting and ready to go when they asked him to protect rookie quarterback Peyton Manning, I have one question to ask Shanford and Son: Why on earth did you NOT have ANYONE on the depth chart behind Trent Williams this year? I’m not exaggerating… if you can find their depth chart from August, it was blank behind Williams’ name I mean, they put someone there after he got the high ankle sprain earlier this year. But if anyone can recall back to the beginning of the preseason, they had 90 some guys at camp and didn’t keep ONE backup left tackle, but kept both of these right-handed quarterbacks?

Offensive linemen do NOT have an easy job. They have to stand up to some of the biggest, strongest front 3 or 4 guys in the NFL, plus pick off linebackers in defense of their quarterback and then some. In doing this, they tend to get dinged up a lot. Some of them may or may not express it while others stay down on the field in noticeable pain. So to have powerful depth at all five of these positions is extremely important. The two positions in particular, the center, and whoever is on the QB’s blind side. I hope Mike and Kyle learn their lesson for the upcoming draft. If they haven’t learned, they are about to for the next four games.

I’m just saying.

Follow Me On Twitter: @NFLHustleBabe