Roster cuts, Round 1 (80 to 75)

Tuesday, the Redskins will have to cut five players to get under the NFL mandated limit of 75.

UPDATE: The team made the cuts early. None of the players listed are really surprising, save perhaps Alfred Fincher.

Since there is still one preseason game to be played, and backups will probably get most of the work, the team will need depth at positions. The team is also going to have to cut another 20 players before the end of the week.

Instead of trying to figure out who the Redskins are going to cut - or who I would cut - here five bubble players who I feel need to make the team, somehow. These are guys whose status with the team is still up in the air.

• 1. Anthony Alridge, running back. My feeling is that the Redskins need some youth (and speed, more importantly) in their running back corps. No, he's not Marcus Mason. The Redskins don't need another strong runner. They need speed and dynamic ability. Mason is a strong runner, and Alridge is not a full-time runner. But Alridge brings another element to the table that Mason just doesn't have. It will be unpopular, but it's the right thing to do. Will Jim Zorn keep four running backs? Or will Ladell Betts and/or Rock Cartwright go? I just don't see Betts or Cartwright leaving, so the it will come down to whether or not Zorn wants to keep another running back around. I say he has to.
• 2. Antonio Dixon, Defensive tackle. I like what I've seen from his big guy out of Miami. He's made quite a few solid stops. The problem, again, is that the Redskins seem to be fairly deep at this position, and a rookie free agent has a hard time of stick around.
• 3. Marko Mitchell, wide receiver. No surprise, and I don't think Mitchell is even on the bubble anymore, but maybe he is. Mitchell has stood out more than anyone else in camp. He'll probably take the 5th wide receiver spot. It doesn't sound like Zorn will keep six receivers on the team.
• 4. Dave Rayner, kicker. Truth be told, I haven't seen this guy kick. All I know is that Shaun Suisham was the worst kicker in football last year and yet he's still fighting for a spot on the team. He missed a 52-yarder against the Patriots, and while a 52-yarder is no easy kick, it's yet more ammo against Suisham. I'm of the opinion that anyone - anyone - has to be better, right?
• 5. Chase Daniel, quarterback. Mayhap my opinion of Daniel will change Thursday against the Jaguars, if Daniel throws two interceptions and looks like he doesn't know what he's doing. The Redskins have the same problem with the quarterback position as they have with the running backs: old, established talent vs. young bucks. Todd Collins is solid. Then there are Colt Brennan and Daniel. Brennan and Daniel should make the team, but both won't, unfortunately. Daniel should get more extended playing time Thursday, and if he has another huge game, he could push Brennan out. My feeling, though, is that the Redskins will attempt to keep Daniel on the practice squad.

There are a few things I want to point out, real quick. There are no players from the offensive line on this list, nor are there players from the defensive backfield or linebackers. Quite frankly, no bubble players have stood out to me. Who has stood out for you?