How the Redskins might use Marcus Mason, D'Anthony Batiste, and Byron Westbrook

Today's article takes a look at the three players who made the Skins when a lot of people thought they should have been cut, what they bring, and how Jim Zorn can work these players into a winning* Redskins organization.*HopefullyRB Marcus MasonIf he accomplishes nothing in the NFL, Mason will always have his defenders. In my eyes though, he earned them through his hard-nosed play against second teamers. According to Jason Reid, team insiders believe Mason has improved his pass blocking enough to warrant playing time. But also according to Reid, Mason does not offer that breakaway threat that the Redskins were said to be interested in. Therefore, Mason fills a hole, while leaving a hole to be filled at the same time.It was trendy (if shallow) in the last week to make a Mason vs. Rock Cartwright roster competition where one did not exist. In all truth, what the Redskins have set up here is a Mason vs. Betts year-long roster competition. Clinton Portis' starting role in this offense is guaranteed through the 2010 season, barring health, but at this point it seems certain that the Redskins are to draft a running back with breakaway physical talent in the next draft, perhaps even on day one* next year. It's seems just as unlikely that Mason can survive more than a single season on this roster without knocking Ladell Betts off of it.And so, while Betts is entrenched as the No. 2 back and third down back, it's Mason who will make a play to steal those carries from him and make a play for a long term future on this team. Though, as long as Clinton Portis is healthy, Mason is always going to be somewhat blocked.D'Anthony BatisteAll those of you who, back in March, thought that the Redskins would enter the 2009 season with D'Anthony Batiste as their 3rd OT, raise your hand. No? How about a week ago, Monday. Still no? I'm not sure anyone saw this coming.Still, there's a part of me that wants to be encouraged by this move. The Redskins needed some fresh blood on the offensive line and that's what Batiste brings to the table. It would have been much, much worse off if Jeremy Bridges would have been forced to play out of position at RT at any point this year.But this move comes with a big ol' asterisk. Given where Mike Williams is in his return to the NFL right now, if Batiste is inactive for the first game to make room for Mike Williams, it makes little sense of the whole process. The NFL world knows that if Mike Williams is in the game, just send a speed rusher off the defensive left and you get your hit on a quarterback. Batiste is a little quicker and can handle the position a little better. But he's already 27, and if he's not active right away, then the Redskins are talking out both sides of their mouths. He's either got the physical tools to play now, or he doesn't. Can't ride the fence with the OL depth, not this year.Byron WestbrookThis, in my eyes, was the perplexing one. Westbrook did not beat anyone out, he's the 6th corner on this team, and on most teams, that has you on the waiver wire or the practice squad. But on this year's Redskins, you're on the active roster. Congratulations!I can think of one perspective where this makes sense: Greg Blache still likes to go with the dime defensive package where he defends the opponent by going with four corners and playing man across the board. Byron Westbrook is physical enough to line up on a slot receiver in these defensive formations without giving the opponent too much room to work against the run.As Vinny Cerrato noted, he's a good special teams player, but that seems almost irrelevant because his roster spot was only going to go to someone who was perhaps better on special teams. The darkhorse reason for keeping him around: playing his brother in practice worked so well last year, they decided to do it all over again!***The Redskins can win with or without these three players, but pending other roster moves, these are the bubble players who squeezed onto the 2009 Redskins, to chase the dream that the rest of us are already chasing.