With training camp set to begin later this month, Redskins.com previews the current state of the Redskins' roster, continuing today with the team's offensive line.
Led by veteran coach Bill Callahan, three-time Pro Bowler Trent Williams and 2015 first-round pick Brandon Scherff, the Redskins' offensive line heads to the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center in Richmond, Va., eager to start anew after two difficult seasons for the unit.
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ROSTER SUBTRACTION(S):**
--Tyler Polumbus (signed with the Atlanta Falcons)
--Chris Chester (signed with the Atlanta Falcons)
KEY ADDITION(S):
--Brandon Scherff (selected with the No. 5-overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft)
CURRENT STATE OF THE UNIT:
The fourth-overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, Trent Williams has been everything the Redskins could have hoped for and more early in his career.
The Oklahoma product has not only started 71 games over the last five seasons, but he's been named to the Pro Bowl after each of the last three seasons.
The 6-foot-5, 337 pounder was also named to the "NFL Top 100" – voted on by players across the league – once again, this time coming in at No. 47.
While Williams has solidified the left tackle position, the Redskins are hoping Brandon Scherff does the same on the right side.
Selected with the fifth-overall pick in this year's draft, Scherff was head and shoulders above the rest of the offensive line prospects in terms of value on draft boards.
At Iowa, Scherff – who earned the Outland Trophy his senior season – appeared in 43 games with 36 starts.
The 6-foot-5, 319 pounder also was a unanimous consensus All-American and first-team All-Big Ten his last two seasons.
After spending his first four seasons at guard for the Redskins, Kory Lichtensteiger transitioned over to center last season, a position he played in college.
The Bowling Green State product started all 16 games at center in 2014.
Shawn Lauvao, meanwhile, returns to the Redskins for a second season at guard. The Honolulu native appeared in 15 games, where he protected Kirk Cousins (427 yards, Week 3 vs. Philadelphia) and Colt McCoy (392 yards, Week 13 vs. Indianapolis) as they set career highs in passing yards.
Behind Lauvao at guard last season were Josh LeRibeus and Spencer Long.
LeRibeus – a third-round pick out of SMU in the 2012 NFL Draft – made his first career start Week 4 against the New York Giants and appeared in a career-high seven games after being inactive the entire 2013 season.
Long – a third-round pick out of Nebraska in the 2014 NFL Draft – appeared in five games at both guard and tackle while also playing special teams.
The 6-foot-5, 311 pounder started 33 games as a Husker and was a consensus first-team All-Big Ten selection his junior season.
Added to the depth at the guard position this season is Alabama's Arie Kouandjio.
The Cameroonian-born 23 year old appeared in 40 games for the SEC powerhouse with 27 starts and helped the Crimson Tide earn back-to-back BCS National Championships.
Tom Compton and Morgan Moses, meanwhile, proved to be valuable backups during the 2014 season, as both appeared in spot duty and in the starting lineup at tackle.
Compton – who re-signed with the Redskins in the offseason – appeared in 16 games last season with nine starts.
Moses – a third-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft – made his first career start in a Week 12 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers, replacing an injured Williams.
Before being placed on Injured Reserve late in the season after a freak incident during a practice session, the Virginia native appeared in eight games.
Rounding out the Redskins' 10-man draft class this year was center Austin Reiter, who started 12 games as a senior at South Florida, missing just one play the whole season.
Also on the 90-man roster entering training camp are Tyler Larsen, Takoby Cofield, Bryce Quigley, Ty Nsekhe and Willie Smith.
WHAT TO WATCH:All eyes will be on Scherff as the hope is that he'll be an instant contributor to an offensive line looking to solve protection issues that have plagued the unit over the last two seasons.
Along with his fellow linemen, Scherff will be tested when J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans comes to town for a series of joint practices Aug. 6-8.
There is also an opening at guard in the starting lineup after the offseason departure of Chester.
Long is likely going to get the first chance at those starting reps, but LeRibeus and Kouandjio will certainly battle for that position as well.
And with Chester also serving as the backup center of the last few years, who will be behind Lichtensteiger?
The three aforementioned guards all took reps at center in the offseason, but Reiter could claim a spot on the roster as well.
REDSKINS IN RICHMOND:--Day 1: Quarterbacks
--Day 2: Defensive Linemen
--Day 3: Running Backs
--Day 4: Linebackers
--Day 5: Wide Receivers
--Day 6: Cornerbacks
--Day 7: Tight Ends
--Day 8: Safeties
--Day 9: Offensive Line
--Day 10: ???
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