Have to say that I am pleased with what the Redskins have done and their approach to FA. Here are a few things that I have been happy with:
1. Taking care of the McNabb and Haynesworth issues: In a matter of 24 hours, they got rid of both of these guys. McNabb is a standup guy and a class act and I'm glad we did right by him and traded him as soon as possible. Haynesworth is the anti-McNabb but we needed to jettison him ASAP so he wouldn't become a distraction and unnecessary story going into the season.
2. WR depth: We brought in a number of quality vets. There are no superstars in this group but these guys can produce and coupling them with some of our younger guys creates good competition. Not all of these guys will make the team but we have a bunch of guys that will bring out the best in each other and who will fight to make the team. Many of these guys have something to prove.
3. Pickup of Josh Wilson: Pretty much ends the Carlos Rogers era. I liked Carlos but he never panned out to what was expected of him. Also, the guy had hands of stone. He had countless opportunities for easy INTs that could have made differences in games. He's still a solid corner but I'm sure he expects big time money and I don't have a problem seeing him go particularly when we get a player like Josh Wilson. He's smaller but has great speed and is a qualty CB that understands the 3-4.
4. Pickup of Cofield: This guy can play DE or NT in the 3-4. He's younger and talented and will help free up guys like Orakpo and Kerrigan. This will be a big addition.
5. Staying away from the high profile marquee names: Love this. We have stayed away from Santonio Holmes who just got one of the biggest contracts for a WR. He's a good player but I don't think he is WAY up there. His stats haven't been overly impressive. Sure, he is a good player but people/teams get enamored by these big names and end up overspending big time. The Skins have been guilty of this numerous times. Holmes is also one strike away from significant suspension time. Instead of Asomugha, we get Wilson. I like Asomugha as he seems to have great character but he will command big bucks and at 30 years old not sure how much you would want to commit to a guy like that.
We need to address the O line and I would still love to see Cullen Jenkins here as he is familiar with the 3-4 and could make a difference.
Still, I love the approach to FA this season. Getting solid guys but not overspending on anyone. We have several holes and it seems like this management team is going about it the right way by bringing in quality guys to fill many holes as opposed to bringing in one or two high priced, big name players and forgetting about the rest of the needs.
HAIL SKINS!!!
20 comments:
Good overall moves. I'm not sure they are any better talent-wise, but moving McNabb and Haynesworth is good.
Cofield and Gaffney improve talent at their respective positions. The other moves are simply to fill the 90 man roster.
With more salary cap space now that McNabb and Fat Albert (and Rabach) gone, I'd like to see us improve talent at the G, DT, and CB positions.
I'm liking what I see so far. HTTR!
The big difference is that we are building a team with quality guys and adding depth without breaking the bank.
Lets face it. This is not going to get turned around over night.
However the changes made thus far to me seem very positive. Get rid of the distractions and we did that immediately. All of a sudden the whole tone of training camp changes and becomes more positive and no one has to deal with the McNabb and Haynesworth questions from the media.
Focus on problem areas. We are doing that with all the WRs we brought in and I like Josh Wilson at CB (a definite need). Like Cofield at DL. Need to focus on O line now. Again, we can't fix everything overnight but I like the direction and the approach to FA.
Old Redskin behavior would have been to throw large amounts of money at Holmes and then he would end up celebrating his huge payday by going out to the club and getting drunk and sharing a doobie with a tranvestite hooker before slapping her resulting in a suspension. Of course, he wouldn't be nearly as productive on the field when he got there. It's the same story we have seen here for the last several years.
The approach being taken is much better and it also shows the change from the Snyderatto era to the Shanallen.
The hope this season is to bring in personnel to better fit the systems. Add depth across the board. Build from within and create the foundations of a good organization. It appears that those things are happening right now as we have rid ourselves of dead weight and added depth and draft picks all while being fiscally sound.
Apparently the Cullen Jenkins rumor is starting to gain traction...heard on ESPN980 that apparently the 'Skins and Jenkins are close. That would be another huge upgrade for the D-line.
I'm wondering what can happen now that we have so much additional cap space. Maybe Asomugha is a possibility...
Totally agree with you about the transvestite hooker...I'm guessing Fat Albert is in Boston right now with a tranny hooker.
Right now I'd say the moves are a wash. Wilson for Rogers doesn't change much. Gaffney has bounced around. Stallworth has speed, but is no superstar. Cofield is a nice pickup - but he isn't a stud player.
At least we can see the Deadskins are picking up players who fill some of their many needs and they aren't busting the bank on players who are older/don't fit/malcontents. That is at least a start.
How do you say the moves are a wash?
We have added great depth at WR (a place where we had no one last season).
The CB situation is a wash.
We removed two HUGE distractions which by itself was the biggest thing we needed to do.
We added a NT/DE in the 3-4. A guy in the prime of his career.
We have been fiscally responsible.
Nearly all of our draft picks are signed. Kerrigan is close and Jarvis Jenkins is close as well with only a 7th rounder as the remaining unsigned pick.
The best part is that we are adding players to needed positions without overspending. It's a great start to building a winner.
I get it. You are just a downer but for all the things you used to complain about (Snyderatto overspending on high priced/big name guys) when we do the opposite, you will still not agree. Typical Robs doing what he does.
Good day, sir!
I guess the skins really have no choice... they have to do something to avoid a 3-13 season. I still dont think this plug and play idea works. especailly in a shortened offseason. they have to do something about the offensive line. beck is going to get killed.
JSR, what do you mean "plug and play" idea?
I think he means plugging in a bunch of FAs to fill in holes. I agree. I don't like having to go after 45 FAs, but we had an incomplete roster and spots filled with guys who were not worth NFL starters. We have no choice to do anything other than what we're doing now.
Good moves all around. Let's get some O-linemen now.
Yeah, I don't like going nuts in FA as well. As Deepie mentioned, we had an incomplete roster. Again, you have to remember the shat of a roster that Shanallen was handed. Also, that the personnel did not fit the schemes. They don't have much choice but to revamp the team to fit their systems.
The good news is that they are not overspending on one or two guys who are the big names and bring them in whether they fit the scheme or not. That was the Snyderatto way of thinking.
These guys are bringing in needed pieces that fit the system and don't cost a fortune.
6-10 at best. Great depth at receiver? The guys they have picked up are journeymen. Cofield is not a true noseguard. They are just putting together a serviceable roster because they have no one.
6-10 is a very real possibility given that we have issues with our O line and QB. The thing is that it appears that we seem in it for the long term as opposed to finding the quick solution. We actually seem to be building something.
The focus during the offseason seems to have been defense so I expect to see a much improved defense. If that doesn not happen, I will be greatly disappointed.
The other point is that there is a clear difference in approach to FA. Under Snyderatto, it was get the big name regardless of whether it was a good fit or not, blow a ton of money on him and that's it. Under Shanallen, it seems like it is getting guys that fit the system are younger and we don't have to blow all the money on just one guy.
As far as WR, last year we had Moss (5'10" 31 yr old) as the #1, Armstrong (27 year old rookie) as the #2, and ???? as #3. These guys aren't unbelievable but they are certainly much better than what we had. Gaffney had 60+ catches last year. Stallworth has talent. Pressure is taken off of Moss. Kelly and Hankerson are still young talents and Armstrong can be a solid special teamer/possible #3. It is a MUCH stronger group compared to last year.
I agree with the 6-10 prediction. Thinking that this team is capable of anything more is bordering on insanity.
I wouldn't say the receivers are much better than last year. I do believe they'll be better. If nothing else, we're not relying on Joey Grey beard Galloway, Roydell Might as well call me Roy Williams, and a bunch of rookies. The guys that have been brought in have been productive players in the NFL. I also believe there's a good chance that either Hankerson or (wait for it...) Malcolm Kelly catches on as a key contributor. Competition will make the 5-6 guys we keep a fairly strong group.
I'm not sold on Cofield as the NT. He can play the position, but with his size, he's probably better suited as a DE. Unless we sign Anthony Bryant and our 2nd round pick to rotate with Cofield if he is the NT, I don't think we're done looking our guy.
Snyder's patience will be tested with another losing year.
Again, I'm fine losing as long as we are competing and we show improvement. It's a building process and in the past, we tried to find quick, easy solutions. It doesn't work. It takes time.
Again, the focus this offseason has been the defense so we have to expect the defense to improve. I expect the offense to struggle but we need to see improvement on the defensive side of the ball.
Again, we had a number of issues. They were not all going to be able to be fixed in one offseason. If the defense improves, than we can focus more on the offense next offseason.
The main concern is Snyder's patience. It is a rebuilding year/process and I know that given time and resources and the ability to do his job, Shanahan can make the redskins winners again. If they have another losing year, you cant tell me that Snyder, on a personal level wont be thinking about bringing in another coach.
This year a losing record is understandable and I doubt Shanahans will be fired after it. Next year will be the make or break year for the Shanahan and the Redskins and It all hinges on Beck. Hes got to show that he can do something this year. They cant expect to draft a rookie QB to learn and implement Shanahans offense successfully with in one offseason for a successful campaign in a critical make or break year. and thats assuming that the rookie QB is capable of doing it and isnt a bust like 90% of rookie QBs.
Thats why i think its supremely important for them to have gone after offensive linemen and better receivers to facilitate Beck. QB is the position that takes the longest to learn. They could have gone after improving defense next year.
Again it all depends on Snyder's patience... if he has it, none of this will matter and Shanny will make the Skins winners within 1-2 years.
Shanny's not a big winner and he is terrible w/personnel. He'll get fired after a 5-11 season.
I think everyone (including Snyder) understands that this is a rebuilding year and that we do not have all the pieces.
Next year will be a different story. If we have two seasons of very poor play, I would expect Shanny to get fired but I don't believe he will be fired after this year unless the team decides not to compete and quits.
Bring back Pepper and Vinny.
Sure, bring them back so that we can use them as tackling dummies for setting back the organization decades.
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