Is It Time To Give Leonard Hankerson A Shot?

Published: 28th Sep 11 12:45 pm
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Kelso Carpenter
Kelso Carpenter

One thing that has become pretty evident through the first three games of the season is that the Redskins don’t really have a down-the-field, big-play wide receiver, at least not in the starting lineup.

At the running back position, Tim Hightower proved in the preseason that he’s capable of taking it to the house.  He did so against the Baltimore Ravens.  Roy Helu, the rookie running back out of Nebraska, has also shown some game-breaking speed.

At wide receiver, though, it’s a different story.

Over the last couple years, they hoped they had that kind of player in Devin Thomas or Malcolm Kelly, but they’re both gone.

Santana Moss was a burner when he got into the league.  He actually held the combine record for the 40-yard dash for a few years.  But at this point in his career, he’s more of a slot/possession guy, not someone who is going to get behind the defense.

Anthony Armstrong has very good speed, but he’s too inconsistent to be a regular down field threat.  And now you have the news that he’s got a bad hamstring and may not even play this weekend against St. Louis.

Brandon Banks has tremendous speed, but he’s too small and isn’t a great route runner so he’s not really an option either.

The other wide receivers we’ve seen so far:  Jabar Gaffney, Donte’ Stallworth, Terrence Austin, and even Niles Paul are all very similar players.  They can get you first downs.  They can break a couple tackles.  They catch the ball.  But that’s really it.  None of them are going to beat double coverage.  None of them are going to do what Desean Jackson does in Philly, or Mike Wallace in Pittsburgh, or Miles Austin in Dallas, or Larry Fitzgerald in Arizona, or Andre Johnson in Houston, or Calvin Johnson in Detroit.

I could go on and on.

What about Leonard Hankerson?  You know, the guy who broke all of Michael Irvin’s records at the University of Miami.  The guy the Redskins drafted in the third round when a lot of scouts said he was a late first round, early second round talent.

He’s 6’2”, 210 lbs, and he had the biggest hands at the combine.

Unfortunately for Hankerson though, those big hands let him down in the preseason.  He had more than a couple of drops and that’s usually a pretty good recipe for ending up on the bench, especially for a rookie.

Here we are though.  The Redskins are again struggling in the red zone.  They’re struggling against zone coverage.  They’re not getting big plays.

I would have to think the potentially massive upgrade he brings to the receiving corps is intriguing to Mike and Kyle Shanahan, otherwise they wouldn’t have drafted him.

Why wait?  The offense is on the verge of seriously stalling.  You’re heading into St. Louis to face a beat up Rams team who’s weak against the pass.

Give the kid a chance.  You may be pleasantly surprised with the results.

 

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One Rant to “Is It Time To Give Leonard Hankerson A Shot?”

  1. JB says:

    I totally agree.Move Santana to the slot and have Hank and Gaffney on the outsides.Couldn’t hurt to try it for a couple of games.Might just be the thing to get him in his groove.As much as we need a red zone threat,he might just be the ticket.Put him in!

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