If Heyer keeps playing well down the stretch should he start next year at RT?

I'm slowly starting to become a big fan of this guy. And it's a great story. Local guy makes the team as an undrafted FA. Now the guy looks like he could take over for an aging Jansen. Should he be the starter next year if he keeps playing at a high level? I say yes.

I don't think making him the unequivocal starter makes any sense, but the guy has definitely played pretty well. I think you definitely allow him to compete with Jansen for the starting spot. That sends a nice message to all the players on the team: if you perform well, work hard, and get noticed, you'll be given an opportunity to earn a starting job, no matter what round you were drafted in.

For the record, I like Jansen's chances a whole lot in a position battle with Heyer going into 2008. But as a depth guy at T? I think we need look no further, he can definitely play that spot decently. And who knows, maybe he even outplays Jansen and earns it.

I don't think you just hand it to him, but give him a shot and see.

I'm with Schneed.

Regardless, there are worse problems to have than choosing between a solid veteran RT, and a rising star RT. Either one will work pretty well, and the other will add depth.

old school, huh? earn it. and i think Heyer has a ton of work to do in the run game. and Jansen has already proved to us he cant make it thru a full season anymore

heyer is a nice story, but if jansen is healthy id assume it would be jansen starting. heyer is a quality backup and could be the future, but jansen is a better player. let them fight it out, but jansen would win most likely

I love Heyer for depth and in the future he may become entrenched as a regular starter, but I'm sorry if Jansen is ready to go he will be the starter. I know some people have been down on him lately but I think he's still a quality starter and is the better player.

I love Heyer for depth and in the future he may become entrenched as a regular starter, but I'm sorry if Jansen is ready to go he will be the starter. I know some people have been down on him lately but I think he's still a quality starter and is the better player.


I think the issue is that he's 31, has an 8mil cap figure, and this is the 2nd time in 3 years he's been out for a long period of time. He's been very injury prone, even when he was playing. He's one of my fav. redskins, but I really hope he's at least one of the guys who will restructure to allow us more cap space.

I would say he's had some shit luck with injuries more than anything. Prior to the achilles injury he played nearly every snap in his first 5 years in the league.

Even at 31 he could still have a good 5-6 years of quality ball left in him.

I think it's premature to write him off.

Agreed, Heyer wasn't voted to the Pro Bowl or anything. He is playing very well but consistency is the key when determining who starts or not. jansen gets injured quite a bit but he is still a very fine RT. I know he wants to get back in the trenches. Take away 2004 and this year and he's been pretty tough and dependable. Heyer provides much needed quality depth for us. A facet that many of us argue for when it comes to Gibbs' teambuilding abilities.

I don't think making him the unequivocal starter makes any sense, but the guy has definitely played pretty well. I think you definitely allow him to compete with Jansen for the starting spot. That sends a nice message to all the players on the team: if you perform well, work hard, and get noticed, you'll be given an opportunity to earn a starting job, no matter what round you were drafted in.

For the record, I like Jansen's chances a whole lot in a position battle with Heyer going into 2008. But as a depth guy at T? I think we need look no further, he can definitely play that spot decently. And who knows, maybe he even outplays Jansen and earns it.

I don't think you just hand it to him, but give him a shot and see.

This is the theme that the Skins should use from here on out. Just because you get a $10 million signing bonus does not mean you are the starter and guranteed a roster spot indefinately. I think on top of this I would like a message sent of cutting Brandon Llyod in the offseason to show not only what Schneed points out here, but also that if you don't produce, are a malcontent and treat practice like it is not important than your place on the roster is as good as gone and the Redskins won't hesitate to cut you even if if means taking a cap hit.