Nehemiah Broughton: Substitute

by archivedposts on February 21, 2008

Player Profile: Nehemiah Broughton, Fullback, The Citadel Age: 25 NFL Experience: 2 years Contract Remaining: None; Restricted Free Agent Broughton breaks the alphabetical order these things were being done with, but considering that today was supposed to be Omar Stoutmire's day, I have a lot more I want to say about Broughton than I do about Stoutmire. So here it goes. Nemo is, as luck would have it, finally going to get a fair shake in training camp this year. One of the big issues with the way the roster was built in the Gibbs era is that some positions on offense, like running back, were filled up thoughout the depth chart with guys who were brought in for 2004 or before that, and were determined to be the future. Therefore, every year produces exciting players like Jesse Lumsden and Marcus Mason, but these players are never a threat to get onto the field in a real serious situation. Derrick Blaylock had the best chance, but he hurt himself, and had to give up his roster spot to Mason, which lasted all of a week. Nemo, though, is a bit different in the fact that the Redskins invested a draft pick in him back in 2005. He's 250 pounds, and is listed at fullback, but was the third RB in Week 13 of 2005 when he saw his only carry. Nemo's chance will come if and when Rock Cartwright departs. Cartwright has shown that he can be a legitimate No. 2 RB option in the NFL, and a great kick returner, and he can't climb on the Redskins depth chart, so he's going to have to eventually have to do it somewhere else. He was on IR all of this year, which allowed the Redskins to keep him on the roster without having to release him. He is now eligible for restricted free agency, and if the Redskins put the lowest tender on him, he isn't expected to garner any offers. With the size to be a fullback, but also the physicality to be a power runner, Nemo can cut out a small niche for himself on the 53 man roster if Rock vacates his. Certainly, he will be given a chance to run back kicks in training camp to see if he can win that job. It's possible he makes the team only to play fullback in the goal line formation when Sellers is the runner in the I. Though that may seem significant, think about what the Redskins could do with Sellers running behind a lead blocker on the goal line. What short yardage rushing problems? Nemo will still have to beat out all the other competition in camp to get the spot, far from a sure thing, but as long as the spot opens up, he has to be considered the front runner. Once he makes the roster, the Redskins playbook will have a few extra plays that Al Saunders' large paperweight did not have, all in the power running game.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }

Veretax February 21, 2008 at 11:47 am

Vinny Cerrato has said that Fullback is a need in the draft. Do you think that hurts Broughton’s chances? What if the Skins were to draft a Fullback, someone like Owen Schmitt out of WVU? What would you think of his chances then?

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Greg Trippiedi February 21, 2008 at 3:59 pm

I don’t think that Vinny saying that hurts Nemo’s chances, Vinny’s job over the next two months is to make everyone else think that everywhere on our team is a potential “need”.
But, yeah, if the 5th or 6th selection became an offensive back, it would probably be the end of the line for Broughton.

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Roy Hobbs February 21, 2008 at 8:15 pm

I really doubt that Broughton is in the team’s plans. He hasn’t really played football in 2 and a half years. I see the Redskins going with a younger player that Sherman Smith and/or Stump Mitchell specifically identifies and wants to work with in the WCO.

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