6 Targets for Washington at 38

With the first round of the NFL Draft in the books, Washington's first pick, Brandon Scherff from Iowa, is starting to look a lot better. The reason being? Not only does Scherff fill a need and bring a level of toughness Scot McCloughan has been looking for, but the available talent in the second round should allow Washington to come away with two very good players. Washington picks 6th in the 2nd round, 38th overall. Here's a look at six prospects that they could target, at least one of which will be available by the time they pick.

Jaelen Stong, WR - Arizona State

A big bodied receiver standing at 6 feet 2.5 inches and weighing in at 217 pounds, Strong possesses the 4.4 speed that teams covet in a wide receiver. Projected as a first round pick, Strong fell out of the first round, most likely due to injury concerns about his wrist. Regardless, Strong is a big play receiver who would help complement Desean Jackson on the outside and give Washington some extra size at the wide receiver position. With Pierre Garcon's future in Washington in doubt after this year, adding to the wide receiving corps would be prudent, particularly if a prospect like Strong is available. 

T.J Clemmings, OT - Pittsburgh

Clemmings is seen by some as one of the better left tackle prospects in this draft. Though he would probably start at the right tackle spot, Clemmings would offer great competition for the starting spot and allow Brandon Scherff to be played at left guard. Clemmings would potentially be a reach, depending on the other players still on the board, but if Washington has him rated highly enough, don't be surprised if they pick offensive lineman with their first two picks.

Jalen Collins, DB - LSU

Collins has the size and speed NFL teams covet at the cornerback position standing at 6 foot 1 and weighing 203 pounds with a 4.48 40 time. McCloughan is known to like defensive backs who stand taller than 6 feet. Collins fell primarily due to injury concerns, but he would add depth and talent to a secondary that was one of the worst in football last season.

Randy Gregory, OLB - Nebraska

Randy Gregory (44) offers incredible value in the 2nd round

The off the field issues for Gregory have been well publicized, and his fall has not been unexpected, expect perhaps in degree. Gregory is one of the premier pass-rushers in this year's draft, and was projected as a top-10 pick early in the draft process. If Gregory slides to 38, Washington could find themselves with perhaps the best pure pass-rusher, while having already acquired a great offensive line talent in the first round. Despite his off-field issues, Gregory offers incredible value at 38.

Eli Harold, OLB - Virginia

Harold is one of the top prospects as an outside linebacker in this years draft. He doesn't offer the same punch as a pass-rusher as Randy Gregory, but is further along in terms of being able to drop back into coverage. Regardless, Washington should be able to allow him to develop even more in that regard with Trent Murphy filling the OLB role on first and second down. Harold's all around game may even put him above Gregory on Washington's board, especially given the latter's off the field concerns.

Landon Collins, S - Alabama

Landon Collins (26) wears the number of his idol,
the late Washington star safety Sean Taylor

Collins was seen by many to be a middle-first round pick, albeit in a very weak safety class. Damarious Randall, from Arizona State leap-frogged him last night, probably due to concerns over Collins' ability in coverage. Regardless, Collins possesses excellent speed, running a 4.53 40, and has size to boot. He plays best in the box, which may preclude him from being selected by Washington, who prefer their safeties to be able to play either role. It's hard to see where he fits with the additions of Dashon Goldson and Jeron Johnson, but with Johnson's ability to play the free safety position, if they have him rated high enough he could be their guy at 38. How great would it be to see a player who idolized the late Sean Taylor play for the Burgundy and Gold on Sundays?

New Scherff in Town - Washington Selects Top Offensive Lineman at Five

With the fifth overall pick in this year's NFL Draft, Washington selected Brandon Scherff, an offensive tackle from Iowa. The top offensive line prospect according to ESPN's Mel Kiper, Scherff stands at 6 foot 4.5 inches and weighs in at 319 pounds. A tough-nosed, mauler, Scherff will help immediately in the run game, and in pass protection for RG3. He possesses great strength and athleticism having run a 5.05 in the 40 yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. Check out some highlights.

Brandon Scherff fits the profile of a run-mauler

How He Fits

The fit for Scherff is obvious. The team has a need at Right Tackle, and head coach Jon Gruden made it clear that Scherff will begin his career on the right side. This will only benefit the team's offensive unit, particularly in the run game. Washington ranked 19th in running offense last season, and both Scot McCloughan and Jay Gruden have made it clear that improving in this area is a top priority. Improving the running game will only help Robert Griffin III, and given that the team picked up his fifth-year option recently, that is a top priority. Scherff will also improve the pass protection, whether he plays outside or inside. Washington ranked second to last with 58 sacks allowed in 2014. 

What It Means

Scot McCloughan demonstrated he is sticking to his draft board. Washington passed on potentially the best player in the draft in Leonard Williams, and given injury concerns, and the additions Washington made in the off-season, defensive line was not a top priority. McCloughan also demonstrated he meant it when he said "we want big, tough, nasty, strong guys." It also may indicate that the number player on their board was Dante Fowler Jr., who went third overall to Jacksonville. For the time being, RG3 seems to be the man in Washington, and McCloughan plans to put the pieces around him to be successful. Generally speaking, you don't take a guard with the fifth overall pick. Could Washington have potentially traded down? Yes. But McCloughan clearly has a plan. Look for them to improve the pass rush, or defensive backfield with their first pick in the second round, depending on the players still available. 

A Look to the Draft - Washington's Top Needs for the NFL Draft

With the NFL Draft coming up this weekend, we'll take a look at the top needs to be filled with their seven picks. Of course there is the possibility, and according to some reports a strong likelihood, that the team trades out of a few spots to land more picks. However, barring a trade, we'll go through the top seven needs for the team, seeing as they won't be able to fill more. Of course, the team may pick multiple players at the same position if their board dictates to do so.

Let's Begin.

First Things First; Pick Best Player Available

Leonard Williams (94, USC) the presumed best player
in this years draft would be a dominant force on the d-line

Early indications are that new general manager Scot McCloughan is of the mindset to pick the best player available, rather than perceived areas of need dictate the players picked. The obvious logic being, if two players are close enough on your big board, you pick the one that fills the biggest area of need. This strategy is a must for a team that has only two positions that don't need improved production; Left Tackle (Trent Williams) and one Outside Linebacker spot (Ryan Kerrigan). For instance, if Leonard Williams (hailed by many as the best pick in the draft) were to fall to them at five, you pick him. Regardless of the off-season additions along the defensive line, Williams could be a transcendent player at the position for years to come. 

1 - Premier Pass Rusher

Emphasis on "pass rusher". This pick may very well be an outside linebacker, or Leonard Williams if he is to fall. Washington ranked tied for 21st in sacks last season with a pedestrian 36. Factor in the departure of Brian Orakpo, and pass rusher is their top need. Picking up a dominant force to pair with Ryan Kerrigan will go a long way in improving a pass defense that ranked 24th in yards allowed with 3990, and even more troubling, tied for last in yards per attempt with 8.2. Last years pick of Trent Murphy gives the team flexibility as they can opt for a pass-rusher who lacks a complete game and needs time to develop in other areas such as Eli Harold out of Virginia.

2 - Offensive Tackle

Now this depends on where they see Morgan Moses and Tom Compton fitting in, in both the long and short-term, however the right tackle spot needs a massive upgrade. Too often last season, were all three quarterbacks under pressure off the snap from the right side. Either you pick a player who can come in and compete for a starting job, or someone who you plan on developing. You can never have enough options at tackle.

Goldson signed this offseason

3 - Developmental Safety

With the additions of Dashon Goldson and Jeron Johnson in free agency, Washington has upgraded their last line of defense. However, it is unclear how Johnson will play in a starting role, and how much longer Goldson can play at a starting level. Goldson could see an uptick in production, due to a change in scenery, but he'll be 31 in September, and an heir-apparent is necessary.

4 - 3rd Down Running Back 

Alfred Morris has provided excellent production over his first three seasons as a pro, but there's no guarantee that Scot McCloughan sees him as his back of the future, particularly given the shift to a predominately power blocking scheme. Look for Washington to pick a complete back to succeed Morris, or at the very least a 3rd down back, a position they badly need better production from.

5 - Interior Lineman

Kory Lichtensteiger, has been adequate, if unspectacular, at center, but Washington needs better production from both guard spots. Chris Chester's best days are long behind him, and Shaun Lauvo was a big disappointment his first year in Washington, given the contract he signed. Spencer Long is a candidate for an expanded role, but as with tackles, you can never have enough young lineman to develop. Expect Scot McCloughan to go after some "mean and nasty" men inside to help shift to a power blocking scheme.

6 - Wide Receiver

Amari Cooper (9, Alabama) and Kevin White (11, West Virginia)
are seen as 1 and 1a at wide receiver in this year's NFL Draft

This may be a head scratcher to some, particularly with Pierre Garcon, Desean Jackson, and Andre Roberts on the roster. However, Garcon has a huge cap hit next season, while Roberts disappointed in his first season. Ryan Grant is a young guy to keep an eye on, but don't be shocked if Washington selects West Virginia's Kevin White or Alabama's Amari Cooper with the fifth overall pick if Leonard Williams and their top rated pass-rushers are gone. Look for them at the very least to pick a developmental player in later rounds in a draft that is stacked with wide receiver talent.

7 - Cornerback

Washington has solid depth at the cornerback position with the acquisition of Chris Culliver and the return of Deangelo Hall from injury. However, questions remain as to the top end talent they have at the position. Bashaud Breeland had flashes in his rookie season, while David Amerson failed to show the development they expected in his second year. Look for Washington to look for a developmental player in later rounds, or a top tier talent if someone like Wake Forest's Kevin Johnson or Connecticut's Byron Jones is available when they pick in the second round.

Note: Quarterback is a glaring need in Washington. Whether the franchise guy is on the roster remains to be seen, but the fact of the matter is RG3 is the guy for now. This team has too many holes to pick anything more than a qb to develop and stick on the practice squad, unless he is 100% believed to be their guy. Picking up RG3's fifth year rookie option also makes picking a quarterback in the first few rounds unlikely.

Nat's Comeback Win - Sign of Things to Come

Dan Uggla (26) blasts go-ahead 3-run home run in 9th inning of last nights
come from behind win. Uggla went 3-5 with 5 RBIs

It's not time to hit the panic button in Washington -- just yet. Despite a troubling start by the pre-season World Series favorites, last night's 13-12, come from behind win over the division rival Braves is the best thing the National's could have asked for. Yes, they still remain 7 games back from the division leading Mets, but with May right around the corner, there is still plenty of time to overcome that gap. Currently, the National's would have to play .560 baseball to catch the Mets if they were to play .500 baseball, a generous low-bar for a team with one of the most underrated rotations in the majors. 

After last night's game, it seems the turnaround Nat's fans have been waiting for is not far off. For one, their hitting at .224/.297/.668 line, still down from last year's .253/.321/.714 line. Last night, the club hit .375 with four walks, but more importantly a much better average with runners in scoring position, a problem that has nagged at this team to start the past three seasons. Considering Rendon is still on his way back, and Jayson Werth is still getting up to speed, these numbers should improve drastically. Additionally, the club has a 3.81 ERA and WHIP of 1.44, far above their 3.03 and 1.16 averages in 2014. When relief pitcher Aaron Barrett leads the team in wins with two, there is a problem. These numbers should also improve for a rotation that is, at the very least, just as good as last years. Let's not forget, this is a team that had 8 walk-off or overtime wins in the month of August alone in 2014. Last night was a demonstration of this team's focus; play good baseball and the wins will come. Over the first month of the season, we've been expecting for things to go wrong. After coming back from a 9-2 deficit to win, we can start expecting for things to go right again.

Spring Cleaning - John Wall Leads Surging Wizards to First 4-Game Postseason Sweep in Franchise History

John Wall, just 24 years old, has led the Washington Wizards to the first
four game postseason sweep in franchise history.

Getting complacent when leading, giving up on games when behind, and a dismal record against playoff bound teams. All were red flags for the Washington Wizards heading into their first round series with the Toronto Raptors, a team they had gone 0-3 against in the regular season by an average of 9 points. During the best of seven series, the first sweep in franchise history, the Wizards displayed none of their regular season issues. Team defense, unselfish offense, and an intensity reserved for a team with a chip on their shoulder is what got it done. Fueling the surge was the face of the franchise, 2010 1st overall pick John Wall. Wall is playing like the best all-around point guard in the league in the postseason so far. Averaging 18.3 points per game to go along with 13.3 assists, Wall leads second place James Harden in dimes by a whopping 4.6 per game. Combined with his defensive prowess, it's easy to see why the Wizards have been so effective. In Sunday's game Wall tallied 14 points and 10 assists, while making all 7 of his attempted free throws, in just 25 minutes of play. 

Otto Porter Jr (22) goes for rebound with Marcin Gortat (4) in
 first half of Sunday's series clinching win over Toronto (credit ESPN)

Despite being the catalyst, Wall isn't the only reason the Wizards have looked like one of the top teams in this years NBA Playoffs. Bradley Beal has been stellar in all aspects of the game, Marcin Gortat has been a presence inside offensively and defensively, and Paul Pierce has provided the veteran presence and clutch shooting he was brought to Washington for. But perhaps the biggest x-factor, has been Otto Porter Jr. Averaging 32 minutes a game, Porter has added 9.5 points and just over 7 rebounds while shooting 55.6% from the floor and 50% from beyond the arc. This coming from a guy who averaged 19 minutes, 6 points, and 3 rebounds per game on 45% shooting (33.7% from beyond the arc) this season, all career highs. Porter's development, long awaited in Washington, is making a promising young squad's future look even brighter. Continued production from him will be essential to Washington's next series against the winner of the Atlanta-Brooklyn series, currently at two games to one.

"The Truth" Will Set DC Free

"DAGGER!" It seems as though there may have been a collective chant across Washington of Steve Buckhantz's classic exclamation after the man known as "The Truth" hit the third of his four threes to put the Wiz up 98-90 with 1:58 left to play against the Toronto Raptors. Pierce would go on to hit two free throws and sink another "dagger" to seal the victory that would put the Wizards up three games to none in their first round series in the NBA playoffs. "That's why I'm here." That's what Paul Pierce believes; and his play on the court would suggest. Pierce has played an immense role in two of the Wizards three postseason games to date. Yet, if asked this summer, many would have claimed his best basketball was behind him.

"That's Why I'm Here" 

Pierce was brought to Washington this past offseason on a modest two year deal. The move was hailed as a solid one. Washington got the veteran, playoff tested presence it sorely needed, while at the same time replacing departed veteran swingman Trevor Ariza. The deal did not cost Washington much, not nearly the sum it would have cost to keep Ariza, while maintaining the kind of financial flexibility a team chasing Kevin Durant would need come 2016. The veteran impact Paul Pierce has had off the court, and in the locker room has been quite apparent (I wrote earlier about who this reminded me of from the GoT realm). However, until the start of the playoffs, we hadn't yet seen why he was here. The confidence exuded by Pierce is undeniable, as exhibited by the ability to hit key, contested shots on the big stage. And that confidence has rubbed off. Primarily on Otto Porter Jr, who has played in the playoffs the way Washington expected when drafting him third overall in 2013. With a second round series against the top seeded Atlanta Hawks almost guaranteed, we'll continue to see if "The Truth" can set this youthful squad free to play contender level basketball.

Zimmerman A Revelation at First

Ask any Nationals fan and it was an inevitable move, Zimmerman to first. Yet, some would probably be surprised how quickly it happened. Many third basemen have made the move in an attempt to prolong their career, so it was only logical that the National's first draft pick since returning to DC would make the move as well. With the emergence of Anthony Rendon, and Zimmerman's difficulty throwing in the past two seasons, Zimmerman was moved to first this year after the departure of Adam LaRoche to Chicago. 

Zimmerman's offense has always been a boon. A career .285 hitter, Zimmerman already has 12 RBI's in 12 games this season, despite an uncharacteristic .228 batting average. Before the past few seasons, Zimmerman's fielding was equally impressive, as he played at a Gold Glove level in 2009. The move to first has precipitated a return to Gold Glove form, as Zimmerman is yet to record an error, and has already flashed a myriad of web gems including this diving catch on April 17. If Zimmerman's bat can come around in the next few weeks, he could find himself back in the All-Star Game for the first time since 2009.