Jansen is Redskins’ indispensable man

By David Murray  |   Wednesday, July 12, 2006  |  Comments( 10 )

Washington Redskins
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Jon Jansen is the Washington Redskins' "Rock", a throwback to the Hogs of old and the team's most underrated, yet most indispensable player.

The 6-6, 308-pound right tackle has seen his share of ups and downs since being drafted by the Redskins in the second round out of Michigan in 1999. In his first five seasons, Jansen played under three different head coaches--Norv Turner, Marty Schottenheimer and Steve Spurrier. Each time the Redskins began to gel and grow comfortable within a system, there would be another coaching change.

Of course, when the end of the Spurrier regime arrived, it was time for a change. During the Spurrier years, Jansen and his running mate at left tackle, Chris Samuels, came under severe fire. Redskin quarterbacks were being sacked with alarming regularity, and the gutsy Patrick Ramsey stood in the pocket play after play and absorbed a tremendous amount of punishment.

Just when it seemed that things couldn't get any worse, the unimaginable happened: The Redskins hired Joe Gibbs to rebuild the once proud franchise, and all was well in the nation's capital.

Or so it seemed. In August 2004's preseason Hall of Fame Game, Jansen suffered a ruptured left Achilles' tendon and was lost for the season. Just when it seemed that Jansen, a powerful run blocker, was going to get a chance to flourish in a system tailor-made for his abilities, he went down. Known for his hard-nosed play and his durability, Jansen had never previously missed a game. A cloud seemed to hang over the team thereafter, with Gibbs and company never able to get up to speed in the first season of the new Gibbs era, finishing a disappointing 6-10.

But then came the magical 2005 season. Jansen worked hard and returned to his customary right tackle spot, playing in 18 straight games despite two broken thumbs and a chronic back injury. It was a Pro Bowl effort, even if the accolades were not forthcoming.

Jansen, unlike the more athletic Samuels at the high-profile left tackle position, has never been selected to play in the league's season-ending showdown in Honolulu; that doesn't mean his day isn't coming soon. Jansen comes to work carrying his proverbial lunch pail, and he has never been afraid to get dirty. And remember, with a left-handed quarterback in Mark Brunell, Jansen has the responsibility of guarding his blind side.

The 30-year-old is part of a great offensive line in Washington. Though the current group may not be on the Hogs' level, one can't help but believe Jansen would have fit in well with the likes of Joe Jacoby, Russ Grimm and Jeff Bostic.

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No.1
John		07:12 AM
07/12/2006
Its nice to read that Jon Jansen is starting to get his dues. Although, his talents are vasely over looked, Redskins Fans are...
No.2
Ray		08:08 AM
07/12/2006
I played with Jon for three years and he is everything you stated. In my personal estimation when you look at the last six years...
No.3
pat		11:13 AM
07/12/2006
Jansen is a prototypical Gibbs guy; a really good player (if maybe just shy of great) who takes care of his business without...
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