Redskins All-Time Best/Worst Kickers
This is part 10 in a series of posts in which I’ll list my choices for the Redskins all-time best and worst players at each position. Agree, disagree? Let me know in the comments. Today we cover Kickers, next up Punters.
Worst
#5 - Jeff Hall
Hall was picked in the 6th round of the 1999 draft and never played in a game for the Redskins. He was cut during training camp his rookie season. It’s one thing to waste a draft pick on a player who never makes the team, it’s 10 x’s worse when said player is a kicker. Maybe it’s just me…but does the guy standing behind Hall in the above picture appear to have a hard on? That guy seems really excited about Hall’s kicking form.
Yes, that's an Ali Haji-Sheikh autograph...I'm proud of it!
#4 - Ali Haji-Sheikh
Sheikh played 1 season with the Redskins…which was 1 too many. Sheikh missed 6 out of 19 FG’s and 3 XP’s during the regular season. He would miss 3 out 4 FG’s in the NFC Championship and Super Bowl games. The Redskins still won the Super Bowl in 1987 and Sheikh managed to set a Super Bowl record with 6 XP’s…despite the fact that extra points were out of Sheikh’s range.
#3 - Bob Khayat
Khayat played in an era when players played both ways, I’m assuming he was a better offensive lineman than he was a kicker. From 1960-63, the 6’2 230lb Khayet played both guard and center for the Redskins in addition to his holding down his kicking duties. As a kicker Khayat barely made 50% of his FG’s going 38-74 overall.
#2 - Max Zendejas
Zendejas was the worst kicker from the “legendary” Zendejas family. Zendejas would make just 9 out of 14 FG’s during his one season with the Redskins. Zendejas was so bad that he actually missed an amazing 5 extra points on only 28 tries. He also converted only 4 of 9 FG’s over 30 yards.
#1 - John Aveni
I have no idea who John Aveni was other than to tell you he made Bob Khayat look like Gary Anderson in 1998. Aveni made just 5 FG’s in 28 attempts (17.8%) in 1961, I’m fairly certain Albert Haynesworth would fare better.
Best
#5 - John Hall
Surprised? I know…but the Redskins haven’t had much in the kicking department over the last 80 years or so. Hall was injury prone during his Redskins tenure but he was effective. Hall is 2nd all-time among Redskins kickers with 78.3% of his field goals made. He was 36/38 inside 40 yards. Hall now owns an eating and drinking establishment.
#4 - Curt Knight
Knight ranks 3rd all-time in Redskins history with 70 games played. Knight was a Pro Bowler in 1971 when he led the NFL with 29 FG’s.
#3 - Shaun Suisham
That just happened! Suisham is the Redskins all-time leader in FG% making 80.2% of his field goals. Suisham is also the Redskins all-time leader in FG% on field goals outside of 40+ yards, making 65.8%. The Redskins made a mistake cutting Suisham, that’s for sure. When a team struggles to score points missed field goals are magnified, Suisham was 18-21 when he was released.
#2 - Chip Lohmiller
Chip ranks #2 in nearly all cumulative categories for kicking including FG’s, XP’s, games played and scoring. Chip was a Pro Bowler, Super Bowl Champion and arguably the best kicker in the NFL from 1989-1992.
#1 - Mark Moseley
The straight on style, the single bar face-mask, the glorious permed mullet…clearly Moseley was #1. He holds nearly every Redskins record for kicking, besides accuracy…the guy wasn’t very accurate. He was a 2-time Pro Bowler, All-Pro, a Super Bowl Champion and one of the 70 Greatest Redskins. Oh yeah, he’s the only kicker in the history of the NFL to be chosen the league’s MVP!
Cheers and Hail
A Sneak Peak At The Redskins Worst Punter Of All-Time
Tomorrow I’m posting my picks for both the Redskins best/worst Kickers and Punters. For me, the obvious choice for worst Punter was one of my favorite players of all-time, Joe Theismann. 1 punt…for 1 yard. You can see it for your own eyes around the 1:52 mark of this video. I gotta tell you, to me it looks like it went exactly where he was aiming for it to go. I remember watching this game as a kid. The Redskins actually jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the 1st quarter. The wheels started to unravel when Willie Gault returned a kickoff for a TD and that was followed by Joe T’s infamous punt. The Bears had a 2nd quarter that rivaled the Redskins 87′ Super Bowl, scoring 31 unaswered points in the quarter.
The Redskins would eventually fall to the Bears 45-10. There’s a few more awesome highlights from the video. Willie Gault breaks off Barry Wilburn’s ankles on the kickoff return TD. Walter Payton throws a TD to Jim McMahon around the 3:25 mark.
In my opinion the greatest highlight comes around the 6:30 mark, it’s the reason I loved Theismann so much. The Redskins are driving for a token TD when Joe T. throws a horrible pick in the red zone that is returned by the Bears for 6 the other way…that’s not good. What is totally awesome is to watch Theismann run as fast as he can to try and tackle the Bears defender. He makes not one, but two attempts at the tackle. He literally almost screws himself into the ground trying to do so, it certainly wasn’t pretty. Here’s a guy who’s been sacked 4 times, threw 2 picks, fumbled a couple times and kicked a 1 yard punt giving a 110% effort to try and tackle a guy when he’s down by 30 points. The anti Haynesorth.
Cheers and Hail
Redskins All-Time Best/Worst Defensive Tackles
This is part 9 in a series of posts in which I’ll list my choices for the Redskins all-time best and worst players at each position. Agree, disagree? Let me know in the comments. Today we cover Defensive Tackles, next up are the Kickers and Punters.
Worst
#5 - Sean Gilbert
Don’t get me wrong, Gilbert was actually a beast on the field during his 1 season and we ended up trading him to the Panthers for two 1st round picks. However, Gilbert sat out the entire 1997 season after being franchised…despite the fact that he was only a couple million apart from the Redskins long term offer (Gilbert is Darrelle Revis’ uncle and would later be the brains behind Darrelle’s holdout last year). The Redskins franchised him again the next season and he again he threatened to sit out the year…God told him he should play for the Panthers. I’m a believer, but why does God always tell D-tackles (Reggie White) to play for other teams?
#4 - Bobby Wilson
Wilson was a 1st round draft pick in 1991 who would play 4 seasons in DC, totaling 42 games and 11 sacks. Not bad…until you realize that Ted Washington was taken 8 picks later. Washington played 17 NFL seasons and made 4 Pro Bowls.
#3 - Tracy Rocker
Rocker was a 3rd round pick of the Redskins who somehow went from NFL All-Rookie selection in 1990 to out of football just 1 year later. Rocker is now the defensive line coach at Auburn and coached Nick Fairley. Ironically, they both were SEC POY, Lombardi award winners and All-Americans who would see their stock plummet on draft day. Beware Detroit Lions?
Sorry Preppy, no pictures of Bob Slater could be found
#2 - Bob Slater
Someone tell me what happened with this guy? He was a 2nd round pick in 1984 who wowed Joe Gibbs in the preseason with 2 sacks against the Jets. After the game Joe Gibbs said “Slater is an excellent athlete,” Gibbs said. “He’s big, he’s strong, he’s very quick and he’s extremely intelligent. He’s got a great future.” Slater never appeared in a single game for the Redskins or in the NFL…a steep price to pay for a 2nd round pick.
#1 - Dana Stubblefield
Stubblefield was signed to a 6 year $36 million dollar contract after his NFL Defensive POY season in 1997, during which he had 15 sacks. In three seasons with the Redskins Stubblefield would total 7 sacks and 116 tackles. Another absolute bust who stole $$ from the Skins.
Best
#5 - Bill Brundige
Brundige played 8 seasons for the Redskins playing in 107 games. Sacks and tackles were not official stats during his playing days but he is said to rank 6th on the teams all-time sack list.
#4 - Joe Rutgens
Rutgens played 9 seasons in the burgundy and gold, appearing in 110 games. Rutgens is a 2 time Pro-Bowler. Again, sacks and tackles weren’t official stats during his playing days so we have to guess, my guess is he had a shit ton.
#3 - Darryl Grant
Grant played 141 games for the Redskins and is a 2-time Super Bowl Champion. Had several seasons with 100+ tackles, unheard of for a defensive tackle in this day and age. Finished with 27 career sacks and high stepped his way to one of the biggest plays in the history of the Redskins. A definite snub in my opinion for the 70 Greatest Redskins.
#2 - Diron Talbert
Talbert played 10 seasons with the Redskins, playing in 142 games and earning a Pro Bowl trip. Sacks and tackles were not an official stat during his era. Missed only 2 games during his Redskins career. One of the 70 Greatest Redskins.
#1 - Dave Butz
Butz played 14 seasons for the Redskins and is a 2-time Super Bowl Champion. Butz played in 203 games and is the Redskins all-time sack leader for a defensive tackle with 35.5 (sacks were kept for only half his career). A Pro-Bowler and All-Pro, Butz is a member of the NFL 80’s All-Decade Team and one of the 70 Greatest Redskins. Big-Bad-Butz.
Cheers and Hail
Redskins All-Time Best/Worst Defensive Ends
This is part 8 in a series of posts in which I’ll list my choices for the Redskins all-time best and worst players at each position. Agree, disagree? Let me know in the comments. Today we cover Defensive Ends, next up are the Defensive Tackles.
Worst
#5 - Todd Liebenstein
What a scary name for a defensive end, huh? Was he in a DE rotation with Gary Roenicke? Liebenstein was a 4th round pick in 1982 and actually started in the Super Bowl XVIII debacle. He was cut in the middle of the 1985 season after registering 1.5 career sacks.
#4 - Steve Hamilton
Hamilton was drafted in the 2nd round of the 1984 draft and played 4 lackluster seasons for the Skins totaling 6.5 sacks in 46 games.
Photo via D.C. Sports Bog
#3 - Mat Mendenhall
Mendenhall was drafted in the 2nd round of the 1980 draft and actually started every game in 1982 including Super Bowl XVII. He walked out of camp on the Skins in 1983 and never played again…he was a quitter. Mendenhall finished his career with 1 official sack in 23 games.
#2 - Shane Collins
Collins was yet another 2nd round pick (1992) for the Skins that didn’t pan out. Collins would play 30 games in the burgundy and gold, racking up 47 tackles and 1 sack.
#1 - Jason Taylor
In an act of desperation, the Redskins traded 2nd and 6th round picks for Taylor during training camp of 2008. After picking up his $16.5 million contract, the Redskins would get 3.5 sacks and 29 tackles in one injury-plagued season before cutting him.
Best
#5 - Coy Bacon
Bacon played just 4 seasons with the Redskins but definitely was a force during his tenure. Bacon totaled 38.5 sacks (unofficially) and 7 fumble recoveries in just 51 games.
#4 - Gene Brito
Brito was a 5-time Pro Bowler and 4-time All Pro who played all 84 possible games during his 7 seasons as a Redskin. NFL player of the year in 1955 and one of the 70 Greatest Redskins.
#3 - Ron McDole
Mcdole was another incredibly durable defensive end who never missed a game due to injury. ‘The Dancing Bear’ played 114 games during his 8 seasons in the burgundy and gold. Sacks weren’t an official stat during his era so we are left guessing as to how many he had, however he did have 6 INT’s and 7 fumble recoveries. One of the 70 Greatest Redskins.
#2 - Charles Mann
Mann played more games than any other DE in Redskins history, amassing 163 over his 11 seasons. Mann was a 4-time Pro Bowler who forced 17 fumbles and had 82 sacks and 784 tackles during his Redskins tenure. Mann is a 3-time Super Bowl Champion, one of the 70 Greatest Redskins and a member of the Ring of Fame.
#1 - Dexter Manley
Manley is the career leader with 97.5 sacks as a Redskin (in 54 less games than Mann). Manley was an absolute beast who was a Pro Bowler and 2-time All-Pro. Also a member of the 70 Greatest Redskins and Ring of Fame.
Cheers and Hail
Redskins All-Time Best/Worst Linebackers
This is part 7 in a series of posts in which I’ll list my choices for the Redskins all-time best and worst players at each position. Agree, disagree? Let me know in the comments. Today we cover Linebackers, next up are the Defensive Tackles.
Worst
#5 - Rick Hamilton
Hamilton was a 3rd round pick in the 1993 draft who lasted 1 season plus 1 game for the Redskins. He contributed 0 sacks and only 22 tackles for the burgundy and gold. 12-time Pro Bowl guard Will Shields was picked 3 players later.
#4 - Warrick Holdman
Holdman was basically a starter by default in his 2 seasons with the Redskins, appearing lost in the defense on many occasions. Averaged a paltry 3 tackles per game during his tenure.
#3 - Greg Jones
Drafted in the 2nd round of the 1997 draft…the Skins could’ve had Darren Sharper, Rhonde Barber or Jason Taylor. Jones lasted 4 seasons and played in 63 games…that’s the good news. The bad news is that he barely averaged 1 tackle per game during his Redskins career.
#2 - Michael Barrow
Barrow makes this list having never appeared in a game for the Redskins. He signed a 6 year $11.6 million dollar deal and then missed his entire first year due to injury. The Redskins cut ties with him before year 2.
#1 - Jeremiah Trotter
Signed in the prime of his career to a 7 year $36 million dollar deal he stunk up the joint for 2 seasons with the Redskins. The previous 2 seasons he was a Pro Bowler for the Eagles. Oh yeah, after leaving the Skins he again signed with the Eagles and made the Pro Bowl again the next 2 years.
Best
#5 - Ken Harvey
Harvey edges out Hall of Famer Sam Huff (Huff’s best seasons were for NYG) for #5 on this list. Harvey played 5 seasons for the Redskins earning 4 Pro-Bowl nods. His 41.5 sacks are 2nd among all Redskins linebackers. Also had 391 tackles and is one of the 70 Greatest Redskins.
#4 - Neal Olkewicz
Olkdog appeared in 141 games for the Redskins, good for 3rd all-time. Tackles were not an official stat when he played but it’s been reported he had nearly 1,500 during his career. 2-time Super Bowl champion and one of the 70 Greatest Redskins.
#3 - Wilber Marshall
Marshall played 5 seasons for the Redskins, averaging 5 sacks, 5 turnovers and 125 tackles a season…that is bad ass right there. Super Bowl Champion, Pro-Bowler and one of the 70 Greatest Redskins.
#2 - Monte Coleman
Coleman played 215 games over 3 separate decades and 16 seasons for the Redskins. #1 in career sacks for a linebacker with 43.5 and also had 1000+ tackles. 3-time Super Bowl champion and one of the 70 Greatest Redskins.
#1 - Chris Hanburger
Hanburger played in 187 games over 14 seasons for the Redskins. Sacks and tackles were not official statistics during his playing era but one can assume he is the Redskins all-time leader in tackles and near the top in sacks. Matthew McConaughey’s favorite player. 9-time Pro Bowler, 4-time All-Pro, 1972 NFC Defensive Player of the Year, one of the 70 Greatest Redskins and a Hall of Famer.
Cheers and Hail
Redskins All-Time Best/Worst Safeties
This is part 6 in a series of posts in which I’ll list my choices for the Redskins all-time best and worst players at each position. Agree, disagree? Let me know in the comments. Today we cover Safeties, next up are the Linebackers.
Worst
#5 - Ifeanyi Ohalete
Starting strong safety on the 2 Steve Spurrier squads that ranked near the bottom of the league in both rushing defense and total defense. I recall calling him Ifeanyi Olay quite a bit. He earns bonus points for bringing a lawsuit against Clinton Portis to collect money for his old number, which was no longer his number because he had been cut. Never took up the offer from Portis to settle the matter in a boxing ring.
#4 - Mark Carrier
Part of the 2000 free agent bonanza, Carrier signed a 5 year $15.9 million deal with the Redskins…he played 1 lackluster season. 1 interception is all the Redskins have to show for the Mark Carrier era. The Skins would release him prior to 2001 and he never played again.
#3 - Raphel Cherry
Cherry was a QB at the University of Hawaii who the Redskins converted to safety. He played only 1 season for the Redskins, totaling 2 INT’s. It’s what he did after his football playing days that puts him on this list. I again award points for off the field issues. The dude murdered his wife! He’s serving 30 years to life right now.
#2 - James Washington
The absolute worst thing that can happen to you as a football fan is when a player you hate with passion on a rival team signs a fat free agent deal with your team…and proceeds to stink up the joint. Ladies and gentlemen I give you James Washington. One of the old Cowboys Norv Turner recruited to sign with the Redskins, Washington would play just 1 season and 12 games before retiring. Oh yeah, he tried to punch a Redskins fan, at RFK, during a game.
#1 - Adam Archuleta
Archuleta signed a 6 year $30 million dollar deal (the largest in NFL history for a safety) with the Redskins in 2006. The Redskins would get 7 starts in return. Archuleta started getting burned in pass coverage in the preseason and it got worse during the regular season. The Skins would cut ties after just 1 season and were lucky to receive a 6th round draft pick from the Bears for him. That was the most expensive 6th round pick (Jordan Palmer) ever!
Best
#5 - Sean Taylor
One has to wonder how high on the list Taylor would’ve finished if he’d been able to finish his entire career with the Redskins. As it stands he was a 2-time Pro Bowler and an absolute meast (part man, part beast) who could do it all. Support the run, cover the opposing teams beast receivers and apply pressure on the QB.
#4 - Mark Murphy
Undrafted out of college, Murphy would play 8 seasons for the Redskins and is a Super Bowl champion. He made the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams in 1983. Ranks 3rd among Redskins safeties with 27 career INT’s. Member of the 70 Greatest Redskins.
#3 - Paul Krause
When I look at Krause’s career stats 2 questions pop into my head. Why did the Redskins trade him after 4 seasons and why did it take him so long to get into the Hall of Fame? His stats are ridiculous. As a Redskin he had 28 INT’s in just 54 games, including 12 his rookie season. He was also a 2-time All-Pro and Pro-Bowler as a Redskin. Hall of Famer and member of the 70 Greatest Redskins.
#2 - Brig Owens
Owens is the Redskins career leader for games played at Safety, appearing in 140 games over 12 seasons. Owens did not miss a single game during those first 11 seasons! Also the Skins career leader for safeties in INT’s, fumble recoveries and TD’s. Member of the 70 Greatest Redskins.
#1 - Kenny Houston
This guy was a bad-ass! He made 7 Pro Bowls in his 8 seasons as a Redskin. Also a 2-time All-Pro and Hall of Famer. Member of the NFL’s 75th Anniversary team, the 70’s All-Decade team and one of the 70 Greatest Redskins.
Cheers and Hail
