TimeforThomas, Kelly to step up

GRANT PAULSEN: Thrash's departure creates opportunities for young Redskins players

Date published: 6/21/2009

JAMES THRASH plays football the way every coach wants his wide receivers to play. He hustles on every play. He makes a difference on special teams. He blocks when he isn't catching passes, and he doesn't demand any special treatment.

And now he's out of a job.

The Washington Redskins parted ways with the veteran pass-catcher late last week, ending Thrash's second stint in Washington. He spent the first four years of his career with the Redskins before heading to Philadelphia. Then he came back to D.C., where he has spent the past five seasons working tirelessly to keep his job.

Thrash's departure should sting for diehard Redskins fans. He is one of those "core Redskins," as Joe Gibbs used to call them, who embody everything that you hope your favorite team represents.

And yet his exit should also be viewed with great optimism.

As hard as Thrash played and as consistent as he was at giving everything he had, at 34 he had become physically limited. He couldn't get as much separation from cornerbacks as he once did and he wasn't a threat to break tackles.

Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly should both get more opportunities to play and contribute to the Redskins offense with Thrash no longer owning a spot in Washington's depth chart.

Both were drafted in the second round last April. Neither made a measurable impact in his inaugural NFL season. (They combined for just 18 receptions.) If the Redskins' passing game, which ranked 23rd out of 32 teams last season, is to improve this season--and it must--both Thomas and Kelly must grow up quickly.

Thomas, a Michigan State product, is known for his game-changing speed. The Redskins foresaw him stretching the field. The problem is that you can't stretch the field when you aren't on it.

Kelly is a much taller (6-foot-4) and more physical receiver. The former Oklahoma Sooner projects as a quality red-zone threat. His size, athleticism and leaping ability should allow him to out-jump defenders for footballs in the end zone, something he didn't do last season. Like Thomas, he might as well have redshirted in his freshman NFL campaign.

But those days are over.

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Date published: 6/21/2009