Redskins Position Battle: Left guard looks like a two-man race

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 01: The Washington Redskins offense lines up against the Philadelphia Eagles defense at Lincoln Financial Field on January 1, 2012 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 01: The Washington Redskins offense lines up against the Philadelphia Eagles defense at Lincoln Financial Field on January 1, 2012 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
2 of 4
ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 13: Ereck Flowers #76 of the New York Giants is held by Rashad Jennings #23 in the fourth quarter during play against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on September 13, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 13: Ereck Flowers #76 of the New York Giants is held by Rashad Jennings #23 in the fourth quarter during play against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on September 13, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Two-man race

So, the Redskins guard position is set up to be a two-man race for the starting job. The top two names? Ereck Flowers and fourth-round rookie guard Wes Martin from Indiana.

If you go solely off of NFL experience, then the leader in the clubhouse is newcomer Flowers. He was signed to a one-year deal after spending last year, his fourth season in the league with the New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Let’s be honest. Flowers, a former first-round pick, has had a rough time since coming into the league and has mostly played the tackle position. But with a fresh start, a potential move to guard, and a new position coach in Bill Callahan, Flowers can turn into a serviceable player. Unfortunately for Redskins fans “serviceable” is the last thing we want to hear so whether or not Flowers can develop he is not the long-term answer.

More from Commanders News

The guy with the most potential as the long-term fix is Martin. Anyone who watches college football knows the Big Ten is the NFC East of the NCAA. It’s a division that comes down to which team has the toughest, nastiest and hard-nosed team, Wes Martin fits that bill.

Martin is two-time All-Big Ten honoree and a two-time team captain. Martin is a big (6-foot-3, 316 pounds), tough (1 of 4 Indiana Hoosiers to appear in 50 career games) and smart (four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree) football player that will bring his lunch pail to work every day.

Martin does come with his weaknesses, but there is a lot to like about the guy. With offensive line guru Bill Callahan as coach, Martin will get his opportunity to show why he is the left guard of the future.

Schedule