Redskins Tailgate Insider – Monday June 29

Redskins head coachJim Zorn wants one of his highly-touted second-year WRs, Devin Thomasand Malcolm Kelly, to become a starter outside, moving veteran Antwaan Randle El to the slot position. Thomas and Kelly combined for just 18 catches in disappointing rookie seasons that began with them failing the conditioning test that opened training camp. Thomas might have the inside track this year since he’s faster, played more last year and was able to practice the entire offseason while Kelly wasn’t on the field until June as he recovered from a second knee surgery in five months.

The Redskins have bolstered their defense with signings and high draft picks, including the free agent acquisition of middle linebacker London Fletcher and the selection of Miami product Rocky McIntosh, both of whom enter this season slated as starters. The linebacker corps could be a major strength, but also somewhat of a question mark, with injuries and inexperience placing the group in a “worth keeping an eye on” category…especially the strong side linebacker position. If the season opened today the starters would be: Rocky McIntosh,London Fletcher and Brian Orakpo, a unit that could be explosive and one of the strengths of a defense that finished ranked fourth in the NFL last season