Redskins' Right Tackle Spot Jumbled

ASHBURN, Va. -- Washington's offensive line was arguably one of the biggest culprits responsible for the team's last-place, 8-8 finish in 2008. Yet, as the Redskins wrapped up their first OTA of the summer on Thursday, four months from the 2009 season opener, their starters up front appear set.

Almost.

The 'Skins are, for better or worse, basically settled at left tackle (Chris Samuels), both guard spots (Derrick Dockery and Randy Thomas) and center (Casey Rabach), but there's approximately an entire roster's worth of guys battling to start at right tackle. And, so far, it's hard to pick a favorite.

The most obvious candidates are Stephon Heyer and Jon Jansen, each of whom played a stretch at right tackle last season. You also have to factor in the recently-added duo of Mike Williams, who still tips the scale at around 400 pounds, and Jeremy Bridges. All four have experience starting at right tackle. All four are in the mix to do so again.

"We've got some candidates," said Washington coach Jim Zorn in a classic statement of the obvious. "That position probably won't be solidified until we do work through training camp, we get these guys into games, and we find that chemistry and that combination."

This is far from the only issue on the line, mind you. Samuels and Thomas are both battling back from fairly substantial injuries, and while the Dockery free-agent signing was nice, it's hard to say the 'Skins drastically improved from the unit that allowed 38 sacks last season in an offensive scheme designed for quick passes.

So, instead, Washington's banking on quantity over quality -- hoping an excess of the former leads to improvement in the latter.

Williams, if he can get back into game shape, is big enough to slide inside to a guard spot. Any of the four could temporarily fill space for Samuels if he's unable to get back. And Jansen -- well, Jansen is currently playing just about everywhere, including center in Rabach's absence.

All that's well and good, sure, but the Redskins need one of those guys to ascend from steady backup to clear-cut starter.

"I'm still in the hunt, I think I'm still up there," Heyer said. "Competition is necessary in anything you do. You've got guys working hard, you're fighting, you want that spot."

Almost by default, even with all the bodies, it may be Heyer's spot to lose. Jansen's positional dance so far indicates that he may be destined for a backup role. Williams, meanwhile, hasn't played a down since 2006, and Bridges fell out of favor in Carolina.

"You have to have the attitude that you're going to start," Bridges said. "Coming in here is no different, I'm coming to start."

Despite that desire, Bridges had high praise for Heyer: "This kid they've got playing here is talented, he's technically sound."

If the coaches feel the same way, Heyer may be ready to grab the right tackle slot and run with it. More likely, the position's clutter of humanity -- and feeling of uncertainty -- will still be there come the regular season.