Washington Redskins: Top 30 players in franchise history
By Ian Cummings
When a skill position player, such as a wide receiver, or a running back, or a quarterback, is a superstar, you hear about them. You see their status plastered on chyrons on television; on the crawls that snake in and out of the screen.
But when an offensive lineman is a superstar, it’s quiet.
The best offensive linemen are the ones who stay out of the headlines, and off the defensive highlight reels. The ones who do their job. Quietly. With efficiency. Deadly, nullifying threats to a defense. It is in this way that brute strength can be covert.
Chris Samuels was that kind of offensive lineman. Drafted third overall by the Redskins in the 2000 NFL Draft, Samuels was a premier prospect at offensive tackle, possessing a mountainous 6-foot-5, 325 frame and solid mobility for a blocker.
The Redskins have drafted frequently from the talent pool of the Alabama Crimson Tide in recent years, but the truth is, they’ve always loved their ‘Bama boys, and Samuels was the one who set the standard. The SEC product quickly established himself as one of the best blind side blockers in the league, and in 10 seasons as the Redskins’ starting left tackle, Samuels notched six Pro Bowl berths.
The best offensive linemen take their opponents out of the game. They might not be flashy. But they get the job done. And as Joe Bugel, the Washington’ offensive line coach at the time, said of Samuels: “He’s like Gilligan; he’s got this guy the whole game”.