Because he hasn't had many reps on defense this season, DL Lorenzo Alexander has strived to have a "Pro Bowl-type season," he told PFW, on special teams, despite this being his first year playing extensively on those units. "Whether or not I am doing that, I don't know," he said. "But I have guys coming up to me around the league telling me I have done a good job. That must mean something.

"And I have to give credit to Danny Smith, our special-teams coach. He does a great job getting us ready every week on that side of the ball."

Despite not playing much on defense after a solid season as a reserve in 2008, Alexander has shown up on special teams — on the right side of the kickoff coverage team, at guard on the punt team, at several spots (mostly tackle) on punt return and as the left fullback on the two-man wedge on kickoff returns. Alexander said the NFL's rule banning three- and four-man wedges has been a tough development.

"I really don't like (the rule) that much," he said. "I am a physical guy. We love the wedge around here; it's one of our keystones. I think that has really hurt our kickoff returns this year."

The third-year jack-of-all-trades also is the team's emergency tight end and offensive lineman on game days, having played there a handful of snaps in his Redskins career, and he has been on ready alert more than once this season with the bevy of injuries the team has suffered up front. Alexander will see time in the team's goal-line package as an extra tight end when the Redskins go "heavy" up front.

But it's the defensive line where he would like to get a few more chances. In limited time, he has fared well, showing up in the narrow losses to the Chiefs and Eagles in Weeks Six and Seven and forcing a big fumble on Broncos RB Correll Buckhalter in the Week 10 win over Denver.

Now, with rookie DL Jeremy Jarmon on injured reserve, a few more opportunities could open up for Alexander. The depth up front still is strong, as DEs Andre Carter (whom Alexander backs up primarily) and Brian Orakpo are having fine seasons, as is DT Albert Haynesworth, despite his fighting an ankle injury.

Alexander isn't sure how many more snaps he might see on defense now (he typically has played only a handful per game), but he’s ready when or if he’s called on.

"I hope so. Each week I go out there and practice hard, so we'll see what that leads to. I know (the Redskins) like me. It's easy to get lost in the shuffle when you have guys like Andre Carter and Phillip Daniels, who are so great. They like to stay on the field. I am not at the point (in my career) where I can take them out of the game because I want to go in."

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