1. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...the offseason. They say it starts at different times for different people, but it always starts at the same time here in Washington. Truth be told, our season was "officially" over before Sunday night, but squeezing in one more ass-beating before the closing the book felt...right.
2. I love the NFL. I am an absolute junkie, ready to watch any two teams play no matter who they are or what their situation is prior to the contest. It is a good thing I feel that way, as I have had to apply that mentality to much of the latter half of the Redskins' season.
3. I won't delve too hard into the negative today--there is plenty of time to do that, and there is a lot of negative to cover. There are some positives to take home from this season, though they are hard to swallow with the glass of 5-11 water Mike Shanahan just poured for us.
4. I am trying to figure out if this 5-11 team is better or worse than last year's 6-10 team. It's like comparing turd sandwiches. On one hand, they do taste different, with discernible flavors and accents. On the other hand, we just got served our second straight annual turd sandwich. Listen, I have been preaching the long view for the last couple years. I do believe we are going in the right direction, but everywhere I look, I see other organizations making turnarounds at a much faster pace than us. Hell, the Broncos did it inside of a season. Most places, it is because of a quarterback. But look at San Francisco...Alex Smith is not some fresh-faced rookie savior. And they have a BYE.
5. 'Tis the season for finger-pointing. I hate it. I really do. But am I supposed to pen a letter to Mike Shanahan and Dan Snyder saying, "Thank you for another great year?" Am I supposed to just "believe" that Shanahan and Allen can do for us what other organizations in the NFL have been able to do for their fans? I can probably say with certainty that I will be among the easiest on this front office in the weeks and months ahead (on this site). How do I define easy? I am giving them a D on their report card. Whether we are getting better or not, they have to answer for the John Beck nonsense. They have to answer for a miserable year on special teams. They have to answer for the team yet again failing to show up for a couple games in the heart of a season where two more wins could have made the last game meaningful.
6. You want progress? How about this...I am not going to analyze this season by asking, "What went wrong?" I refuse to waste my time today pointing out the ridiculously obvious fact: the Washington Redskins organization remains MILES behind the leaders in this league. Maybe we are gaining ground. Maybe.
Oh yeah...HAPPY HOLIDAYS! hahahahaha
**Bonus bright-side shot: Even though we lost the game at Dallas early in the year, my high point will remain the way that Tony Romo was simply beside himself with the bad snaps and incorrect routes. Do you remember that point of the game where you just knew we were going to win and Romo was going nuts on his teammates? That is where I am freezing my emotions for the season. God that was great. God that was a long time ago.
0 recs | 65 comments
So what are we asking off season santa for?
I wan’t a QB, and not one of those older models but a shiny new one. I want an interior lineman or two. I want a legit no 1 CB, and 2 safeties.
Alex35332 - January 2, 2012
I am with you all the way on the two safeties
My jaw dropped when I saw OJ do evil Ron Landry impersonation after a slightly above average tackle at the end of a 20 yard run.
I cannot believe that we have both of the most self-centered morons who play safety on our team… what a fucking disgrace.
Skins Fan '77 - January 2, 2012
I struggle to see the improvement.
In the NFL improvement is very easily defined: More wins than the previous year.
But, as always, I will look forward to next season.
They completely changed the defense this year. Kerrigan, Cofield, Bowen, Wilson, Atogwe and Jenkins.
I fully expect the offense to have a similar makeover, starting with QB. What QB that will be? We’ll all have a guess, but we can all agree that it can’t be the two clowns we saw this year.
iH8dallas - January 2, 2012 via mobile
I want a shiny new qb like alex said
however i don’t think RG3 or any other qb is that other than luck now. They’re all just highly polished turds.
jbh1190 - January 2, 2012
Yep, b/c you play the same schedule every, single year in the NFL.
r.
Parks Smith - January 2, 2012
It doesn't matter who is on the scedule.
The point is to win.
Success in business is measured by profit.
Success in school is measured by grades.
Success in football is measured by wins.
iH8dallas - January 2, 2012 via mobile
Business
shouldn’t always be measured by profit right now. Thats what bonus performance is measured by too and caused many people to make greedy bad decisions and screwed up the economy. There are always better performance indicators…
Meraj Chowdhury - January 2, 2012
We were talking about improvement not success
Parks Smith - January 2, 2012
We had one of the easiest schedules in the NFL.
TCO - January 3, 2012
This made me forget about that ass whoopin we got yesterday
My boss walked by when I busted out laughing. (luckily he’s a ‘skins fan too)
Oh, and don’t worry about the Broncos. Tebow is just a flash in the pan like the wildcat offense.
terpsallday - January 2, 2012
I see improvement in some areas-
And a real backsliding in others, one or two stay the same…
the offense seems to be jelling around the run and gaming an identity–but the offense of production still is a terrible.
The defense has more talent, but still cannot generate a four man pass rush and therefore cannot generate turnovers (but our offense sure can)
special teams are in a state of flux, lots of new players because of the roster churn, and a really streaky placekicker… Brandon Banks needs to go, he is nothing more than a novelty.
The team has been really spotty and inconsistent in the front office, in the coaching, and the field of play… have no idea whether this will improve.
And we still have easily the worst owner in football, those of you who don’t think this matters are sadly mistaken. If/when this team becomes a contender, it will be inspite of the owner not because of him.
Skins Fan '77 - January 2, 2012
Strongly disagree on the owner - he is not to blame
A lot of areas were materially improved, like O-line, D-line, RB, WR, OLB, punting. Appeared to me that some areas were worse – QB, safety, place kicking. Add more turnovers and mistakes, and some erratic coaching, and we lost a lot of games. It seems clear to me that we have to draft a top QB, at almost any cost. There are not too many other big needs, so we can afford to trade up if necessary. Besides QB, I’d go for one or two safeties (depending on Landry’s health), add some muscle on the O-line, get a big WR, and look for an ILB (since London is probably not immortal). Nothing dramatic except at quarterback.
Donnio1234 - January 2, 2012
I still don't understand why you do not hold the leader of a entity
Responsible for the performance of it… it makes absolutely no sense.
But you and I have locked horns over this for over a year, I don’t think either one of us will sway the other
Skins Fan '77 - January 2, 2012
I would suggest you think of ownership as a "hygiene factor" when it comes to performance
Meaning that bad ownership is sufficient to prevent winning, but good ownership is not sufficient enough to ensure winning.
Case in point: everyone points to the Rooney family as the model for NFL ownership. And most people point to their league leading 6 superbowl victories as proof of their dominance. But given that 4 of the six came in a 6 year span in the late 70’s, and the other two have come in the past 4 years. That’s 10 great years out of 40 in the Superbowl era.
Ownership is not “responsible for the performance” of the team. They are only one small piece of a very complex and dynamic set of players whose actions result in winning.
Having said that, Dan Snyder, in my opinion, has been the equivalent of halitosis for the Skins these past 15 years. But there’s plenty of blame on our current win-loss record to go around and this past year I think Snyder has done what we as Skins fans have asked for.
SkinsLifer - January 2, 2012
here is to the continued silence of Snyder on all football matters.
PAinfUL - January 3, 2012
In the 2011 draft class I trust
Shanahan’s last draft was a pretty awesome, if he can pull off something similar in 2012, and address the QB position, we will turn the corner next year.
TongoTongo - January 2, 2012
I don't disagree with you at all
This is my hope as well.
Ken Meringolo - January 2, 2012
Minus the QB
this team is clearly better that last years team.
It’s really pretty simple actually. Poor QB = poor record(any way you slice it). Rex accounted for 25 turnovers this year. 25!!!! If he could have just cut that in 1/2, we would have been 9-7 at worst.
Rex is the one reason I picked this team to be 5-11 at the end of the preseason. As soon as I heard he’d be our starter, I knew we were doomed.
Tiller56 - January 2, 2012
A turd sandwich is a turd sandwich
no matter how you garnish it. This team can’t win when it’s NFL leading statistic is turnovers. That’s on Rex #1 and the Shanahans #2 for keeping Rex and Beck here during the offseason. You can’t tell me that they didn’t know that Rex was a turnover machine…geez he’s been that way for nine years. Even when hew went to the Super Bowl he led the league in turnovers. Any QB off the street could probably do better than creating 25 turnovers (less not more) and maybe have better accuracy. They tried to address the oline somewhat this year with mixed results but no QB is going to succeed with the pressure the QB gets…it just makes Rex worse. They have improved the running game but it remains to be seen if Royster and Helu can survive 16 games since they didn’t survive five. Both are walking wounded right now.
DudleyDoright - January 2, 2012
Rex is very immobile
and has a tough time stepping up into the pocket, yet he was not sacked that much in the 2nd half of the season, and our running game looked very good, no matter who we had running the ball. This to me says a lot about how the line came together even with all the injuries/suspensions.
Tiller56 - January 2, 2012
does that say something about the starters though
what if the starters next year suck?
jbh1190 - January 2, 2012
He didn't look too comfortable yesterday
He was under a lot of pressure. The line was getting pushed back. Until we get a line than can compete with the defensive lines in the NFC east it’s going to be the same old story. He gets someone near him, he backs up and throws off his back foot or just chucks the ball somewhere hoping there’s a Redskin player nearby. Of course the opposite is also true since half his INT’s come off of heaves down the field with no one in his face. He just underthrows the receiver. The better question is what would the record have been if he didn’t turn the ball over twice a game on average. He can say he’s going to get better but he’s thrown 56 touchdowns and 60 INT’s in his career. Not a good ratio. Get some better players and some depth on the oline. Maybe an offseason of OTA’s will help.
DudleyDoright - January 2, 2012
Just a follow up on the oline weakness
WashPo 1-3-12
DudleyDoright - January 3, 2012
There are some fingers to be pointed with this team.
I think Rex Grossman/John Beck/coaches for allowing these guys to play take 90 percent of the blame.
Other 10 is on Graham Gano/Danny Smith.
iH8dallas - January 2, 2012 via mobile
How the heck is it on Gano
when our special teams line consistantly lets guys into the backfield?
Tiller56 - January 2, 2012
It's just fun to blame the kicker.
iH8dallas - January 2, 2012 via mobile
The line wasn’t responsible for all of the other missed fgs. Also, did the line kick the ball out of bounds on the kick off every other game? Don’t think so.
AplastarCraneos - January 2, 2012 via mobile
Did Gano want to kick it out of bounds?
Who was the moron who wanted him to kick into the corner?
horatius - January 2, 2012
I thought there was insane progress this year...
You have to look at it this way. We lost many players this year due to injuries and suspensions. That lets us develop depth. Players like Willie Smith and Mo Hurt on the OL. I am not saying they are starter material but they can be quality depth next year. Players like Kory and Trent comes back. That makes a huge difference along the OL. We have two solid RBs. A solid front 7 with a lot of youth such as Kerrigan, Orakpo, Riley, Carriker, Jenkins (oh yeah, we get him back too) etc.
In the past, we were saddled by long term vetarens and bad contracts (and no draft picks). This year, we really replenished a lot of young cheap depth. Also, we played the last few games (minus this Philly game) tough. Event he philly game, Santana left 14 points on the board. This game completely changes with those 14 points in the first half.
Skins are building a franchise a proper way and we see development GAME TO GAME. These players are only going to get better. Hank & Jenkins comes back. Helu, Gomes, Royster, Riley, Kerrigan, Smith, Hurt ALL GOT better every game. And we played the likes of Dallas, New England, San Fran, Jets tough.
I am really excited to see us next year with a whole slate of draft picks and a shiny new QB (or even Rex as the bridge to our next QB). I like the direction we are headed.
Meraj Chowdhury - January 2, 2012
Rex won't be a bridge next year.
He won’t be on the team.
iH8dallas - January 2, 2012 via mobile
I mean whatever the case is,
the Shannhan’s put is in a situation where we have options. Our record is not indicative of the direction this team/franchise is headed.
Meraj Chowdhury - January 2, 2012
It feels like 2011 was a lost year.
I understand the rebuilding process, but it seems this year was a throw away.
We have talent but Rex is a freaking terrorist that suicide bombs your team.
iH8dallas - January 2, 2012 via mobile
I think it was lost either way.
Last year was a bad qb crop in the Shanny’s eyes. Maybe Dalton would have been great here. I don’t knw. But I think they knew without that top level qb prospect (and they didn’t deem anyone in the draft worthy of it), that it was mostly a lost cause. What they did do is develop some younger talent and thats the biggest thing to get out of this season. We all knew headed into last season that we were headed to a 6-10,7-9,8-8 season. However, people forgot about that when we had our great start. This year we developed talent and will have impact starters in thru this draft class.
We will be fine…Snyder/Cerrato/Zorn destroyed this franchise. Watch Shanny rebuild it properly in all levels (personnel, front office, scouting, coaching, etc.)
Meraj Chowdhury - January 2, 2012
I don't trust Shanahan
His record in Denver his last 3 seasons there was incredibly mediocre. There were questions that he could evaluate talent, since he had control over personnel like he does here. Read over the Denver articles/blogs/message boards. Were they sad when he was fired? No, they weren’t. Granted, he is an upgrade over Vinny, but so is Jimmy Johnson (who’s been out of the league for years).
BAFGA - January 2, 2012
mediocre is a big improvement for us....
Jornek - January 2, 2012
What do you think about his personnel moves in Washington?
horatius - January 2, 2012
somewhat disagree
Yeah, he was extremely mediocre at his end term w/ the Broncos but I one thing I always believed is that we have an outstanding (yet small) scouting department w/ Morocco Brown & Scott Campbell. I think Shanny w/ our department would do WAAAYYYY better in terms of player personnel then he did back in Denver where he was hot/cold. Ideally, we will hit waaayyy more.
Meraj Chowdhury - January 2, 2012
Great points
Let me ask you this though…….why do you not believe Smith and Hurt could be starters? We ran the ball very well over the last 4 games, and we gave Rex some decent time in the pocket.
Tiller56 - January 2, 2012
I mean they could,
just depends on development. All I am saying is at the LEAST, they could be quality depth. We could potentially add a bigger name on the OL in the 2nd/3rd rounds of the draft or through free agency. We have options all over now because our salary cap and draft situations aren’t so muddled.
Meraj Chowdhury - January 2, 2012
I'd kick Smith to RT
and let Hurt/Monty/Chester, and a FA that we sign fight it our for the two starting Guard spots. I’d definitly look to upgrade C in the draft.
Tiller56 - January 2, 2012
The nice thing about the C position
is that very good centers can be had mid to late rounds. The C position is one of those that the 2nd best prospect could be in the 3rd/4th round.
The one issue that bothers me is stopping the run by the defense. Whom is most responsible for it? Is it because Cofield is too small for the 3-4. Is the the LBs fault (as UKRedskins once said I believe). Is it Bowen who is a great pass rusher but not that tough as the point of attack (from what I read through scouts). I think we need to add one more rotational top level prospect on the DL along with Jenkins.
Meraj Chowdhury - January 2, 2012
I think we are fine with Jenkins added. I’d re-sign Carriker, and maybe add a mid-tier FA.
I agree on the C position. Jones or Molk should be avaliable in the 3rd.
Tiller56 - January 2, 2012
Or sign a stud like Calais Campbell.
If we don’t draft a first round QB, or Matt Flynn, then a stud D-Lineman would make up for the difference.
horatius - January 2, 2012
The blame goes to all...
The DL inability to close the gabs and the LB inability to get passed from the opposing OL.
LA11 - January 2, 2012
Totally agree with Meraj's post
A lot of reasons to be hopeful for 2012.
Donnio1234 - January 2, 2012
I disagree with you, Ken.
The progress was clear. The record doesn’t reflect how much better this team was, barring the countless injuries we suffered. This season was peculiar. Our run game was non-existent through 11 weeks, and then suddenly, Roy Helu emerged in week 12. It was spectacular to watch him play, and certainly I scratched my head when I realized how much more effective our offense could have been if we established a run game earlier in the season. Then, when Helu went down, Evan Royster emerged as another legitimate threat. And last game, it was painful to watch them both play through injury, but it was also inspiring. Both players were Shanahan draftees, and clearly, his evaluation skills in Denver were not a fluke—he knows how to find running backs.
The defense did improve significantly. It’s a shame that Jenkins went down, and I can’t fathom how much better our unit would have been with Jenkins on the line. Hopefully he can return to form, although I should be cautious about that notion because his injury was so serious. Kerrigan and Orakpo were perfect complements and although their individual sack numbers weren’t awe-inspiring, together those two OLB’s produced 16.5 sacks and a helluva lot of tackles. Fletcher is ageless, and often leads the league in tackles, which he did again this year. Perry Riley emerged as a great complement to Fletcher. The secondary leaves much to be desired, for sure, but Wilson was effective enough, and perhaps we can resign Landry, although Gomes may fill in just fine. If Otagwe can recover, he can be a great asset because in his limited playing time he was very good.
Shanahan and Allen are building a team through the draft, and bringing in high character vets in free agency (but not over-the-hill veterans) to be leaders in the locker room and mentor the younger players. This team was a mess when he inherited it. Let him get his QB, and then we’ll talk. With Rex Grossman at the helm, you’re not going to reach a Superbowl. Oh wait…
DCO'sfan - January 2, 2012
I'm with you
though I’m very torn about Landry. I know he’d probably go be a monster somewhere else but I tend to wonder if he isn’t too tainted by his experience here to ever be good for us.
I also think you’re right that we definitely improved this year even if our record doesn’t show it. People keep blaming the coaches for the Grossman/Beck situation but I don’t hear a lot of alternative scenarios. The way the draft played out taking Dalton would have been a reach and I’m guessing no one would have wanted Gabbert at this point. There also weren’t really any realistic FA options due to the lockout.
SkinsOsTerps - January 2, 2012
Alex Smith was also a number 1 pick...
Once again demonstrating that your probability is much higher getting a high draft pick for qb with potential than trying to strike lightening with the next Brady or Warner…
DavidDunn - January 2, 2012
It also took Alex Smith six years to emerge as a legitimate starter.
No thanks.
DCO'sfan - January 2, 2012
he had many offensive coordinators too..
a competent one always brought out the best in him. See when they had Norv Turner, he was a viable starter who did well.
Meraj Chowdhury - January 2, 2012
Interesting point....except it has nothing to do with mine
No one is asking for Alex Smith….the point is your chances of finding a franchise QB outside of the first round is very slim. You get one when you have the chance. Period. Otherwise, you are just hoping to hit the lottery. The Shanahans no longer have the option of a project. And the Redskins faithful will soon evaporate if they are sold the idea of a mediocre QB coming to save the day.
I want a championship. I don’t want 8-8. Yes, higher picks can flop too (I see you Jamarcus and Ryan), but guess who flops more, lower round QBs and FA backups.
We have painted ourselves into a corner. I suspect we are now forced to take a leap of faith.
DavidDunn - January 2, 2012
The thing is
is that you aren’t really tackling the implications of what you’re saying. If one of the top tier QB’s falls to us in the first we should take him, but there is such a thing as too high a price. You don’t see the best teams in the league trading away hordes of picks to move up.
You’re also falling into the trap of the dumbest fans, that is that franchise QB’s are found. They aren’t. They’re developed. Just because a person has had success in one organization doesn’t mean they would have here. Had we been the ones who spent that 6th round pick on Tom Brady I bet no one ever would have heard of him.
SkinsOsTerps - January 2, 2012
You are falling into the trap of fans (dumb or otherwise)
who accept mediocrity.
First of all, ad hominem attacks about ones intelligence only make your arguments fall flat.
I will be more than happy to provide you with my point of view, but I am not going to respond to nonsense name calling as if we are in 5th grade.
DavidDunn - January 2, 2012
LOL
how do you feel about Flynn? I have not seen him enough in the NFL but if he is a left west coast QB, he may seamlessly fit into what we want to do. A la Schuab… A lot of scouting services loved him in the NFL draft coming out of LSU and was thought of as an unheralded prospect.
Meraj Chowdhury - January 2, 2012
Matt Flynn is not going to save anyone's franchise.
He is a QB that needs pieces around him. Pieces that we don’t have and that won’t be drawn here by a mediocre QB, on par with Ryan Fitzpatrick (Remember him, he off 400 passing yard games early this year).
I don’t see anyone saying Flynn is our franchise QB. They are talking about signing him as a place holder. The Shanahans tried that this year. I predict they won’t try it again.
“Give us 2 years with Matt Flynn while we groom (choose your second rd QB)”. It is not going to happen. I said it months ago. The Shanahans are going to try to get their QB in the first round this year. They don’t have the option of grooming a QB. They had a chance to do that before the made the McNabb trade. Yes, it sucks that our draft position doesn’t help, but it is what it is. Now, they are stuck. They know they will at least get two more years, maybe 3 if they take the franchise QB, even if it means trading up.
Here are the playoff teams this year. Let’s take a look at where their QB was picked:
Bengals -2nd pick – Rd 2 (basically1st rounder)
Broncos – Rd 1
Falcons – #3
Giants – #1
Lions – #1
Packers – Rd 1
Patriots – Rd 6
Ravens – Rd 1
Saints – 1st pick in Rd 2 (basically1st rounder)
Steelers – Rd 1
Texans – Rd 3
Notice a trend…
There is a reason franchise QBs are picked early. They Have The Talent To Be Developed!! This is a game of odds. The odds of a team succeeding with a Rd 1 QB are drastically greater than attempting to develop one in a system. Yes, it happens. But in a pass happy NFL, it is increasingly rare. It is even rarer with a head coach making a selection 2 years into a 5 year contract with more losses his second season than his first.
So let’s be clear. The Redskins are going to do everything in their power to trade up for Luck or RGIII. It is out of our hands. We are paying for the sins of the past (Cerrato and Shanahans McNabb decision). Why people think that someone willing to trade for McNabb in his first year, put his reputation on the line for two FAs this year, is going to go find another FA project based on a few games of film, is absolutely beyond me.
But that is Hogs Haven I guess.
DavidDunn - January 2, 2012
I've been saying that for a while but people see Brady and think they can do the same
while I see improvement in the team, we still have a long way to go.
On the defensive side I see better players but the same old mediocre results. A few years ago we had a good defense and now it’s barely mediocre. Is Haslett really a decent DC? I don’t see it so far.
aFan4Life - January 2, 2012
Drafting our next QB is priority #1
It’s simply asking too much of your offense (and your defense) to go into each game KNOWING your QB is going to turn it over two times. Handing our defense shitty field position, keeping them on the field longer. Deflating our offensive rhythm consistently by just flinging it up there into double or triple coverage. It’s a handicap we play with every single game, and it cannot continue next year.
I don’t care how Shanahan does it, but he better get what he believes is the best damn QB in this draft. We need the cornerstone of this team, and we need him to be our guy, not some reheated entree from another team. I’ve seen flashes of potential all over the team, except at the QB position. Even when Rex was playing his best football, you’re still on pins and needles just waiting for the inevitable INT (or fumterception as Ken coined)
Yes, we still need a couple of O line pieces, but I do see a lot of promise there. Hopefully TW will wise up after this lengthy suspension, and we get Licht back as well. Our young backups showed some promise, and they should only get better with a normal off-season program. I’m sure we bring in a stud G/OT in the top two rounds of the draft, most likely G, since they seem to think Jammal Brown is the answer at RT.
Yes, we could probably use a WR deep threat, but we need a QB without a noodle arm to get it to him. I expect another WR in the 3rd-4th pick range of the draft. Hard to find a Megatron at that spot though. Maybe we get back the Leonard Hankerson who catches 100+ yards a game, or maybe the hip injury turns him into the next MK. I hope to hell he comes back 100%.
And I think our secondary needs a little more depth as well, most notably at the safety positions. I’ve seen too much of Reid Doughty this year. I know he plays his ass off for us, but he’s a weakness that other teams exploit. It’s anyone’s guess if Landry is going to still be here next season. I can’t decide if D Hall is good or not. One week he shows up and just does what he’s supposed to do. The next week, he’s getting burned and running his mouth. I guess everyone gets burned sometimes, but he can leave the talk at home.
Yes, we still need an eventual heir to Fletcher’s throne, but Perry Riley has really shown up this year after becoming infamous for his special teams snafu’s a season ago. Still need depth here though, because the clock is ticking on London.
Our defensive line will look nice with Jarvis Jenkins coming back, assuming he’s fully recovered. I would still expect maybe a later round DE pick, perhaps a guy who is raw and needs a year or two but has a high ceiling.
I think we are %$#*@& set at RB. If we burn a pick on a RB, I think I’ll be a bit disappointed. He have a lot bigger needs than this. If these guys were able to bust off 100 yard games with a suspect offensive line blocking for them, they’ll only get better behind a deeper line. The TE position is kind of a wild card right now.
That’s pretty much how I see our team right now. it’s going to be very interesting to see what pieces we grab in FA and what we target in the draft. I look forward to following it all here!
willster - January 2, 2012
Off Season
I firmly believe Shanny will get his QB in this years draft. If not another year of Sexy Rexy The Turnover Machine will be very hard to swallow no matter what is done this off season.
We have holes along the O-Line. Monty has played well his 1st year at C. I only hope he can improve so we do not have to burn a pick here. Lich hopefully can come back 100%. Hurt has played decent but again needs to improve. Chester has played well but another year with the line should help him improve. Brown has not played well at all this year maybe it was injuries or maybe it was the lack of skill. Smith was a nice find and hopefully he can have a good off season and improve as well. Williams is now a guessing game. Will he be the next Ricky Williams? Same can be said for Davis.
RB we should be set. Hightower imo will not start next yea,. Helu will . With Royster emerging as a quality player we should be fine and not draft any unless something falls in the late 6-7th round.
WR I can see us not drafting any minus the 6-7th rounds. I say this because we have Moss ( slot ) Gaffney ( atm #1 ) Hank who showed promise ( maybe #2 ) Paul ( should get better ) Austin I am up in the air about. He didn’t see a lot of time and didn’t have many opportunities. Banks I believe we should release he didn’t do much this year as a KR/PR and he did have the chances. Sure the new rules hurt him but it also hurt other teams in this area and look at the Cards. Stallowrth is another question mark. He did make some clutch catches down the stretch. But this years FA market is great for young talent. You have names like VJack, D Jackson, Bowe out there. Not saying any of them or all of them will not resign with their teams. Bowe is on my wish list with production and character vers the others. With a guy like Bowe we could move Gaff to #2 and mix in Hank here slowly. Also allows Moss and Paul/Austin to rotate as slot. i do not think we will retain Stallwoth if we get a FA WR.
Now the D line. Carriaker (sp?) is a FA we should resign if not for a starter but for rotation. Bowen has played the pass very very well even though his run D needs improvement but as a rotation this might be hid well. Coe is undersized but he is again in his 1st year and should improve. Neid is getting better. Jenkins is still a question mark with the type of injury he suffered. But another late round developmental player is always welcome.
LB is our strongest part of this team. we have 2 good someday great OLB. Just hope Kerrigan works this off season on pass coverage and BO works on another move other than bull rush. Perry has stepped up to replace Rocky ( who I think will not be resigned unless he will take a pay cut as a back up ) Fletch is a absolute beast for his age, but he will sooner or later retire and we need to find a replacement in the next 2 drafts. Leaning more towards next year.
CB is another ? Wilson has played well. Hall well plays well one day then the next throws flags costing us. Can he play a full season at a high level? Is he a talented CB, yes. Do we draft a CB I think so. Question is what round. Barnes might be gone next year. Westbrook might follow Barnes. So this is starting to look like a glaring need. I like many thought Barnes would one day unseat Rogers but that never happened. But maybe they can work with him this off season.
S If LL is not resigned and even if he is can he stay healthy and play at a high level? I think he will be resigned but not for big money. He did say he wants to stay in WAS. OT ( no I can’t spell it ) has played well when he wasn’t hurt. I hope he can get healthy this off season and come back and play for us at the same high level he is used to playing. Gnomes we a great find. I feel one day he will be a starter for this team. But like all rookies they were hurt because of the lock out. Reed plays his heart out but he is not a starter for us.
This is how I would like the draft to go: ( a lot depends on FA of course and who we retain and sign )
1st- QB
2nd- O-line / CB pending where things fall
3rd- O-line / CB ( see above )
4th- D-line
5th – O-line / QB
6th – 7th- any
Flamer - January 2, 2012
great post. Little nit: BO has an edge rush. He should learn a bull rush and spin move inside.
Reed will still be here. I agree, I don’t like what I see. but Gomes is really untrustworthy in coverage. And OJ and LL are dinged up hard. Reed is just too versatile with covering both spots. I just wish we had a top half starter. Right now, LL and OJ are not that. And Gomes sure is not that either.
TCO - January 3, 2012
If the Redskins get lucky next year...
… Our record will be 4-12. We will hopefully have a young QB and new weapons but a new coaching regime! How sad is it that the last bright spot was Jimmy Zorn’s 5 game win streak?
Elaw6 - January 2, 2012
Coaching change bad idea
Why would you make another coaching change? I know many have said this and went through the details as to why it doesn’t work but I’ll do it yet again.
1. Another new coach and his staff means another new system both sides of the ball.
2. Because of #1 reason you need players to fit his system thus leaving us another 2 years behind and starting over
3. Scrap last years draft most likely completely because those players won’t fit the new system giving away some good players and prospects
4. What exactly did this coaching staff do wrong minus the McNabb deal? If you think coachs don’t make mistakes think again and that was minor compared to some other coaches the Skins have had?
5. When will you be happy? after 40 years of watching the skins lose only to realize every 2-3 years of coaching changes will end the same? with a losing record !!!!
You need to realize what this coaching staff has done right 1st before you can say " change change ".
1. They got rid of some dead unwanted wight aka Hanesworthless.
2. Yes McNabb was their idea but they realized the mistake fast and fixed it
3. Good FA off season bringing in quality high character players. No over the hill, big named, over payed players who just coast
4. A good draft bringing in quality young talent ( Helu, Kerrigan, Royster, Gomes, Paul ( jury still out on him) Hank, Neid, Hurt
So I can’t see beyond McNabb where they did a bad job. Sure they could have went after Hasselbeck ( sp?). But really what would that have done? A few more wins then not being in position to get a QB in this draft? Then in 2-3 years be in the same boat we are now.
This is the year that will define the Shanny Regime. Strong FA market for WR’s ( haven’t looked much beyond that ) And a draft where we should draft a QB that he feels is the GUY. If he reaches and fails then what? Change again in WAS and still no QB in charge with another system and more pieces needed. Even if Shanny fails in this draft with a QB I do not think it’s the end of the world as long as others pan out and we continue to improve. Sure W – L is one way to measure improvement but it’s not the only one.
Flamer - January 2, 2012
it's official the Redskins are not good...AGAIN
20 years of turd sandwiches got old 15 years ago.
I see some really good players on the team but I’m not impressed with our DC and I don’t trust the owner not to do something very stupid.
aFan4Life - January 2, 2012
Of the 8 teams that have won fewer games than the Redskins in the timespan of Snyder's reign
4 of them are in the playoffs this year (HOU, DET, CIN, SF). I don’t know if this means that the dregs are getting better and are leaving us behind, or if our turn will come sooner than later.
BAFGA - January 2, 2012
Have some hope.
Next year will be the one where all the stars align. Good quality free agents. (Shanny Year 1 suffered from all FAs becoming RFAs because there was no salary cap. One reason why Shanny jumped the gun on McChunks). Free Agency before Draft and training camps and OTAs (Shanny’s year 2 sucked because of lack of OTAs). And a new QB, and a better line.
horatius - January 2, 2012
we got a easy schedule next year
i think if we can at least win all our nfc home games we will make the playoffs. thats if we get a qb without giving away picks so we ca add some depth or even a few starters with picks 2-5. i also think that shanahan is gonna get the green light to make some big FA signings.
munson21502 - January 2, 2012
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