Thank you Phillip Daniels! Sure, I don't wish injury on anyone and it is unfortunate the Daniels suffered the injury on the first play of 7 on 7 drills on the first day of training camp but that is the way the cookie crumbles. The good news is that the 'Skins acted quickly and got an All Pro impact type player that can change the complexion of the game in Jason Taylor. The defensive line was already pretty weak to begin with and many people hoped that we would have addressed the situation in the draft but it all worked out in the end. We really didn't have to give up too much for the guy either (next year's second round pick and our sixth pick in 2010). I am willing to give that up for on of the game's best DEs. Now we have too solid pass rushing DEs on the team that can create havoc for opposing teams QBs. I am really starting to like the makeup of the team. The big questions now are the coaching abilities of Zorn and the installation of his west coast offense and how well the team is buying into it. Also, the maturation of Jason Campbell and the growth of the two rookie WRs and the rookie TE. If it all comes together, we have a very good team.
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The one glaring hole we had from a personnel standpoint has been filled. Getting Taylor instantly changes things for the defense. As long as Griffin can stay healthy, the D-Line should be a pretty solid group. The added benefit is now Carter will no longer get double-teamed, which should create more opportunities for him as well If Erasmus James comes back fully recovered, that'll be the cherry on top.
As you said, there are some other big question marks (new coaches, new offense, Rocky, Carlos, Jansen), but I feel much better about the make-up of the team now.
There are questions on every team. However, we look pretty good overall. We had one of the better defenses last year. There were not significant changes to personnel from last year and the coaching strategy remains the same so hopefully we can maintain the same level of play. If anything, the addition of Jason Taylor makes the entire defense better because a game changer like Taylor can make everyone else on defense look better.
We are getting back Jansen and Thomas on the O line that played pretty well last year. Portis looks/sounds better than he has the last couple of years. Jason Campbell has another year under his wings. The keys will be Zorn and the players picking up his offense. The good thing that you hear is that many of the players (including the rookies) say that they are picking up the system well. Again, if it all comes together, we have the makings of a very good team.
Another thing...I really don't think we overspent for Taylor. At least a 2nd round pick was a given. We are talking about a perennial all-pro here. Giving a 6th rounder in 2010 is nothing terribly significant. Given Gibbs' track-record he would have given a 1st, 2nd, and Tony Stewart out of desperation and complete disregard for the value of a draft pick.
If Taylor plays out the two years of his contract, I'll have no complaints.
A little something Robs won't like to see...For the 2nd year in a row, the 'Skins are on at least one analyst's list of the 5 teams with the greatest depth...Kind of flies in the face of everything he's criticized them for over the last few seasons.
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Agree. Don't think we overspent at all. We have a guy that was the NFL defensive player of the year two years ago and, as mentioned, a perennial All Pro and a guy that had the most sacks in the NFL since 2000. He had 11 last year. Carter had 10.5. We now have two very good DEs that shore up the line. The thing is Taylor will help Carter and vice versa since opposing O lines will have difficulty keying on both. Also, the rush will help the entire defense as if you can get to the QB quickly, he will make mistakes.
Taylor, Jansen, Griffin, Thomas - old guys all around.
Smells like Bruce Smith Part Deux.
Actually, I think it was a good pickup, but I think he will lose a step because of his age and interest in acting. He will also find playing in the NFC East very different than playing in the AFC East.
I think the main problem for the Redskins will be adjusting to the new offense. It take a year to learn completely new offenses, and I would worry about JC being able to pick it up. The fans in Washington can really turn on a guy if they don't like the results on the field.
Jansen is 32.
Thomas is 32.
They still have a couple of decent years in them. We also have some depth should they get hurt in Wade, Fabini, and Heyer who all played well last year. O line will certainly need to be addressed in next year's draft (we drafted one young guy this year with one of the top picks) but for now it is a veteran group that has played well and shown that they are capable of providing protection. That won't be a problem this year.
Taylor is 33. When Bruce Smith came to D.C. he was 37. Big difference. Taylor is two years removed from being the Defensive Player of the Year. He was a leader in sacks last year and and All Pro. I think we can expect him to get 10 sacks this year. The other benefit with Taylor is that offenses will key on him giving more opportunities for Andre Carter and the rest of the defense so that is a huge plus in and of itself. If nothing else, he is a big upgrade from the 35 year old Phillip Daniels.
The one thing we can agree on is that the offense will be interesting. By all accounts, the transition is going very well. From everything I have read/heard, the players are picking it up well and are comfortable with the system and coach. I just heard Portis saying that he expects to have more holes and bigger runs as we will be spreading the offense more. Also, Jason Campbell said that he is much more comfortable now with the offense than he was in OTAs. He also ran this type of offense in his senior year of college when he was one of the best QBs in the country. No question they have work to do on offense and practice the new system but we have lots of young talent at the skill positions (Portis, Moss, Cooley, Thomas, Kelley, Davis, etc.) and that could bring some excitement to the offense.
We certainly are a playoff caliber team.
If I were you, I would be worried about the Bears. They have a slew of issues and may very well finish at the bottom of their division.
We're not talking about the Bears - that is irrelevant to my points about the Redskins.
What do you expect the Redskins to say about their offense? "It will take us a year to learn it." That will never be said.
I am telling you that when you switch to such a dramatically different offense it takes a while for guys to learn it.
Of course I expect the Redskins to be positive when they speak but typically you can tell in the speech and mannerisms in the way players and coaches speak whether there is concern or optimism and all I've seen so far is excitement and enthusiasm so I am encouraged. No question there will be some growing pains. You have a young QB, an inexperienced head coach, and 3 key rookie offensive playmakers that will probably see playing time. Of course there will be some growing pains. Still, Zorn seems like a guy that is confident in his schemes and abilities and his methods of bringing players along. He also seems to have created a much more fun training camp as players seem excited to be out there. I don't recall seeing this same type of attitude the last couple of years.
We're just getting started so we won't really know anything until preseason games and really not until the first couple of games of the regular season.
Obviously anything can happen. But the fact remains that most teams - especially teams with young, inexperienced QBs - struggle with new offenses.
I think we agree on that.
Campbell doesn't have too much experience but being the starter last year I think has really helped him in his maturation process. I think he will have his issues this year but I think in the end he will have a successful campaign.
Fine, we disagree.
We'll make our predictions right before the season.
Alright, lunger! You're on!
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