Offseason personnel strategy

I realize there is a thread titled, 'The Moves We Should Make Next Year,' but I was hoping to outline what I feel like is an overarching strategy, which is different from a number of individual moves. To me, a strategy would involve following principles that would guide each and every move. In my opinion, here are the following principles we would need to really build something solid here in Washington:

1. Recommit to the draft

In the upcoming draft, I believe we have a 1st, 5th, 6th, and 7th rounder. There is a gaping hole in the middle of our draft that is a reminder that we need to place a higher value on our draft picks and building from within. We need to stand pat for this draft and look at opportunities to add additional draft picks in rounds 2 - 4 by trading down from our 1 (if an opportunity should arise) and hold onto our later picks unless a truly special offer comes around. Also, if we can get any sort of compensation for AA then we should look into this possibility. I think recommitting to the draft also means recommitting to younger talent. There are certain players within the organization (McCune and McIntosh spring to mine) who may not have that veteran savvy that GW wants, but who would bring youth and enthusiasm to the the team. I think some of these guys deserve more of a shot to make mistakes and grow as young players.

2. Recommit to internal personnel

In order to continue creating brand loyalty within the organization, we need to show players that they will be rewarded internally, if their play merits it. In the past, I believe our strategy of bringing external players into the organization has a net negative effect on our internal players, due to the fact that they probably see the rainbow at the end of their tunnel as existing outside this organization. Re-signing our own free agents and extending pending free agents would be ways of creating consistency within the organization and ensuring loyalty within the team. For 2007 free agents, I would re-sign Derrick Dockery, Ladell Betts, Derrick Frost, Ade Jimoh, Kenny Wright, Vernon Fox, Jim Molinaro, and Mike Puccilo. I would also extend an offer to pending 2008 free agents Chris Cooley and Mike Sellers. Both of these guys are far more important to the team than recent acquisitions ARE and Lloyd.

3. Use free agency to fill holes and build depth, not the core

I think our front-line team is solid, we just need additional depth along both offensive and defensive lines and in the secondary. If we can find young, talented (but not huge name) free agents in these areas who can be signed for market value or below market value, who have the potential to eventually grow into starting roles, then we should move forward here. The one thing we need to avoid is getting guys who are above market value (every one of last year's signings) unless they are truly a star. The one blatant hole I can see now is at kicker, and that is one area we should consider getting a guy at market value or just above market value.

4. Shed the fat

Part of the problem with having so many 'assistant head coaches' and 'quality control coaches', is clearly that the leadership and guidance has become somewhat convoluted. I think in the off-season, we need to figure out where we can shed the management fat in the team and create firmer lines of leadership within the organization.

5. Find a more talented personnel evaluator than Vinny Cerrato

I threw this last one in just because I'm convinced that Cerrato is not the right man for this job. I get the sense that he may be well suited for a scouting position within the organization but not well suited at the management level. He seems like a yes-man for Snyder and Gibbs and I think what we need here is someone who can see things from a broader perspective, and who is given the authority to overrule the owner and the head coach on personnel decisions. We need someone who can take all the other guidelines I have outlined and put them into action, someone who would see the value in re-signing a Ryan Clark over an Adam Archuleta despite what GW sees in the guy.

At any rate, here is my strategy for what we need to do moving forward.

I especially like point 3: building depth through FA rather than finding immediate starters/core players. It's such a coin flip whether the player acquired will produce up to expectations.

As far as the draft goes, We've had drafts in the past where we had as many picks as anyone else and just as many pan out as do wash out. What we need is to focus more on the talent/potential evaluation process. We need a guy with a great eye for getting hard-working Art Monk/Darrell Green style players. I'd trade away 3 picks every year if I knew that the 3 or 4 guys I'm drafting have a better chance of being quality Redskin players and that starts with finding the right person/people.

I agree. I think if you look at the drafts that Cerrato has lead, they have really been lacking in the mid to late rounds. I think he is one position on the team that really needs to be replaced.

Does Cerrato really make these decisions? We've said this time and time again, but post-Gibbs, it's been the coaches making the talent evaluations, not him. We could sign Jesus "Master Talent Evaluator" Christ to come in for one season and it would still be the coaches making these decisions.

I would agree with most, except the build from within strategy. I like that point, but we tie up so much FA money in starters (and 30 million on a special teamer) that our depth is just not that good. You solve that by placing more importance on the draft. It wont happen this year because we only have a first day pick. Hopefully they wont give up too many on draft day or next offseason so we can do it the following year.
I totally agree with us having too many damn coaches. But Gibbs will not let anyone go, especially the guys that were here the first go round. GW may have to get rid of one or two, but Gibbs wont. I have always been a big supporter of adding a FA to bolster a roster, not make it.

There's a WT article out today that makes this point, look at some of the key contributors from the Panthers game. Campbell, Cooley, Taylor, Rogers, and Golston. Seems like there's a trend there. Hmmm, what could it be?

There's a WT article out today that makes this point, look at some of the key contributors from the Panthers game. Campbell, Cooley, Taylor, Rogers, and Golston. Seems like there's a trend there. Hmmm, what could it be?

Definitely a big trend. I think a lot can be said for the loyalty that comes from having a team draft (or pick you up as an undrafted FA) and grow you. I have fantasies about our defense if we had retained Pierce, Clark, and Smoot, and then drafted Merriman. It would just be sick.

There's a WT article out today that makes this point, look at some of the key contributors from the Panthers game. Campbell, Cooley, Taylor, Rogers, and Golston. Seems like there's a trend there. Hmmm, what could it be?
Funny you mention that - when my Dad commented how old the Redskins are as a team, I pointed out all of those young guys that had a major impact in the win Sunday. Even Rocky with the blocked punt and several special teams tackles came up huge (can we get him on the field on D? Please?). Gibbs must adopt a cap strategy that emphasizes keeping the young core intact. I don't want to ever see us lose another Antonio Pierce for reasonable money and see him become a team leader elsewhere. He should offer Cooley and Sellers extensions before they can even reach free agency at the end of next season.

If they just did #5 it would be a step in the right direction!

I agree with the majority of what the poster has suggested because, we've all at some point agreed with it in the past.
We can only hope the people responsible for making personel decisions concur in our thought process, and change their philosophy on how to go about building the team for the long term future. It must surely incoperate a continuous influx of youth, building through the draft, and less dependency on FA's to fill vital roles.