Offseason personnel moves

Last week, I offered some thoughts on what I believe the underlying strategy (http://www.thewarpath.net/redskins-locker-room/16025-offseason-personnel-strategy.html) should be for the Skins. I'd like to follow that up this week with identifying several specific personnel moves I believe the Redskins should make during the offseason based on the strategic points I had mentioned.

General Moves

1. Re-sign 2007 free agents - I believe that several pending free agents are worthy of being re-signed. I believe in order of importance, they are: Ladell Betts, Derrick Dockery, Vernon Fox, Derrick Frost, Mike Pucillo. I think the remainder of the free agents should be extended standard contracts. This may go against popular belief that after a losing season you need to change personnel, but I believe the Redskins have really proven the point (by antithesis) that stability breeds success.

2. Cut the chaff - If it is at all possible, I think the Skins need to find a way to cut Archuleta. The relationship there is simply tainted I believe. It would take an extremely dedicated effort to rebuild that one and I'm not sure it is worth it. If it wasn't worth it to repair the Arrington or Coles relationships, then it definitely is not to repair the Archuleta relationship. I'm sorry to say, but Arch may have to be the scapegoat for this season and the relationship has to end. Its not like the Redskins are any strangers to dead cap room. According to our cap sheets, they are carrying about $16 million this year. Depending on the personnel we are able to bring in, I think based on salaries and performance, the Skins need to think long-and-hard about persuading Wynn, Patten, Hall, and Brunell to move on. I think Collins really is better suited to back-up at Quarterback and I believe we can find a younger option to be a third-stringer. There is no role for Patton on this team and his salary doesn't warrant being a fifth-string receiver. I believe Wynn is a real leader on the defensive side but his salary simply doesn't make sense for next year, particularly if we can bring in a younger option. I'll address Hall in the special teams section of this posting.

Defensive Moves

1. Address the ROLB spot - I think everyone realizes that there are some peculiarities in GW's approach to personnel. They gave up some serious material to acquire McIntosh so it is really the time to see what he can do. I don't think this is a situation like with Campbell, where you want to give the guy time to grow and mature. A linebacker should be able to play relatively early on, particularly if he is going to have veterans around him who can help him get in position. If he is not the answer here, then they should find someone who is.

2. Acquire a young, solid DE - I am cautiously optimistic that Andre Carter could turn into a solid player for the Redskins. That being said, Daniels and Wynn are both closing in on the end of their careers and I think it is the right time to bring in a young DE who can be a real stud for us. We need someone who can both stop the run and provide some pass rushing support here and that first round pick seems like the best way of addressing this hole.

3. Build depth in the secondary - Again, I'm cautiously optimistic that Vernon Fox can become a solid player here. I think if PP can rehabilitate and Doughty can develop, we may have a decent collection of safeties. It is the CB position I am worried about. I think they need to find a young guy who can come in and compete for the nickelback position and possibly grow into a starting role when Springs retires in a year or so.

Offensive Moves - I actually think that personnel-wise, we are not in terrible shape here. I think we just need consistency in the play-calling and offensive philosophy, moreso than an overhaul of personnel. The only area I really see where there is a glaring personnel need is up-front.

4. Build depth on the offensive line - The offensive line is actually one place where we have not had serious injury problems and unfortunately, the group has played inconsistently to say the least. In addition to re-signing Dockery, I'd like to see the Skins try and bring in a solid tackle and perhaps another solid interior lineman. I think Pucillo may be a good back-up, but I have some doubts about Molinaro. I don't think they need to make a panic move here but it is an area where they should bring in some solid young talent to challenge for the back-up roles and be able to challenge for a starting role (particularly at tackle and center) within a year or so.

Special Teams

5. Sayanora John Hall - I really think Hall is a strong kicker but it is clear that he can not stay healthy. It has become an annual routine for the Redskins to go out and find some kicker about halfway through the season and it is simply a ridiculous distraction to have to deal with on an annual basis. They simply need to go and find a proven kicker who can stay healthy in the offseason.

I agree with a lot of your post. I would say though that resigning Dockery over Betts is more important because we have zero depth on the line - although if Dockery's demands get too high I'd let him walk and get someone else - you can't pay every linemen a huge salary.

I would also say the Skins should try to acquire a MLB and move Marshall back to his natural position - maybe that would solve the issue you presented about the linebacker needs? When Marshall was on the outside he performed quite well with Pierce on the inside.

As far as the defensive backs go - I have a feeling the Skins are going to overpay for Clements of Buffalo (hopefully just money and not picks). The Redskins don't believe in the draft much anymore and until the get a GM to challenge the regime here they will continue to be high spenders and lead the NFL in dead cap space.

I agree with a lot of your post. I would say though that resigning Dockery over Betts is more important because we have zero depth on the line - although if Dockery's demands get too high I'd let him walk and get someone else - you can't pay every linemen a huge salary.

I would also say the Skins should try to acquire a MLB and move Marshall back to his natural position - maybe that would solve the issue you presented about the linebacker needs? When Marshall was on the outside he performed quite well with Pierce on the inside.

As far as the defensive backs go - I have a feeling the Skins are going to overpay for Clements of Buffalo (hopefully just money and not picks). The Redskins don't believe in the draft much anymore and until the get a GM to challenge the regime here they will continue to be high spenders and lead the NFL in dead cap space.

I really hope you aren't right about Clements but I have a feeling you are. To me, we have two solid starters. It just seems like addressing depth issues is more important than paying above-market for a star (regardless of how good he might be).

You present a great point about Dock. I think he is a really solid young guard, and losing him would present more of an issue than losing Betts (barring another injury to CP next year).

Your solution with Marshall is also great. He really could be shifted back outside to platoon with McIntosh, or just to shift between OLB on running downs and back to MLB on passing downs.

we normally would have 2 solid starters, but springs hasnt been healthy and that is the big difference in this defense this year, thats why we need to bring in a proven corner. i agree the linebackers have to be adressed, we gotta bring atleast 1 in, id be interested to see what london fletcher would ask for as a salary. i agree about the o-line, but i also think dockery is more
important than betts right now, hopefully we can get both back. another DE is a must you are right, preferably one that can get pressure and is atleast decent against the run

restructure wynn (there is a lot of restructuring that must be done, many players salaries jump up this year by several million)
for instance:
springs 3.2 to 7.3
portis 3.1 to 7
washington 2.6 to 6
griffen 2.5 to 6
rabach 1.5 to 3.6

cut brunell, patten, hall. as much as archie has sucked, he isnt counting THAT much against the cap right now (2.4 mil next year), and id rather see if somehow he can improve

and according to canuks cap sheets we only have 670,000 of dead cap for next year right now

The one thing I am really hoping for is (like you said) drafting a young DE - I would almost have to say that they will have to use their first round pick on one if they keep the pick and don't trade down. What is amazing is when they drafted Goldston all the way down in the 6th round look at what he has given us for the value - I would have to say more than what Andre Carter has given us for the amount of money we gave him.

Also I hope the Redskins really address the kicking game. So many games are won and lost on the foot of your kicker and John Hall is too injury prone to depend on for the future. Maybe there is a kicker in the college ranks who could challenge for the job? I am getting tired of our kickoffs getting to the 20 yard line thus giving the opposition good field position.

Like I said before though the team needs to go full force into getting younger, building depth, and acquiring instead of trading away draft picks.

Good post--I agree with your general ideas, though as Big C mentions, restructuing is going to be a big deal. But we shouldn't have trouble with that--converting salaries to cash is what Snyder usually does, without a net loss to players in money. (It's nice to be a billionaire!)

I too think that MLB is the issue. I'm still optimistic about Rocky, and Lemar is better as a WSLB. We miss AP, though I don't think we could have really matched the gints at the time (pre new NFL deal, and pre Lavar's give-back). I think keeping Wynn would be good for moral--which the D needs, but we have to get younger (and better!!!) on the D line. We'll make a big push for Dock, IMO. And Betts too, given how much teh staff seems to like him. a one-two of (a healthy) Portis and Betts is pretty good, though it leaves short-yardage issues. Don't think we'll kep Duckett, which is too bad. He's an FA at the end of the season, right? He's not going to stay around to ride the pine again, IMO.

I was really hopeful about Molinaro--one thing we should do is let Jansen rest, and try the kid out in real game or three. Likewise with some of our other young, unproven guys. What's the point of not finding out? (I know, we want to win, and when we lose, eveyone starts screaming for mass-firings, but this is what we ought ot do.)

i have just looked at the cap sheets again for potential cap hits. i will list those which we can save on significantly, even if we dotnt think they should be cut

brunell would save 2 million
wynn would save 3 million
hall would save 1.5 million
daniels would save 1.9 million
thrash would save 1.3 million
collins would save 1.2 million
fauria would save 1 million
rumph would save 1 million
vincent would save 1.2 million

but...
patten would cost us 2 million, we get no cap relief from cutting him, it just makes it worse for us. i dont know what we will do about that
archie would cost 7 million to cut!

i have just looked at the cap sheets again for potential cap hits. i will list those which we can save on significantly, even if we dotnt think they should be cut

brunell would save 2 million
wynn would save 3 million
hall would save 1.5 million
daniels would save 1.9 million
thrash would save 1.3 million
collins would save 1.2 million
fauria would save 1 million
rumph would save 1 million
vincent would save 1.2 million

but...
patten would cost us 2 million, we get no cap relief from cutting him, it just makes it worse for us. i dont know what we will do about that
archie would cost 7 million to cut!

I would cut Brunell, Hall, Fauria, Rumph. Unless we draft/sign a DE I would keep Daniels. Thrash could go either way. If Saunders stays you got to keep Collins as your backup. I like Vincient especially since his salary is so small and he can provide a lot of leadership in the backfield.

Too bad Archuletta's cap hit is so high - I think the Reskins will have to keep him just to control the damage to the cap.

i have just looked at the cap sheets again for potential cap hits. i will list those which we can save on significantly, even if we dotnt think they should be cut

brunell would save 2 million
wynn would save 3 million
hall would save 1.5 million
daniels would save 1.9 million
thrash would save 1.3 million
collins would save 1.2 million
fauria would save 1 million
rumph would save 1 million
vincent would save 1.2 million

but...
patten would cost us 2 million, we get no cap relief from cutting him, it just makes it worse for us. i dont know what we will do about that
archie would cost 7 million to cut!

I'm glad you pointed out the notion that they may not be cut. I think these are all potential cuts but many of these guys have a lot of locker-room value, and serve important leadership roles on the team.

Vincent, Wynn, Daniels, and Thrash are all guys who command a lot of respect on the team. Of the four, I would say Wynn may be at the most risk of being cut due to his cap number, but if he would be willing to renegotiate I feel that his value is fairly additive.

The Redskins need a #1 corner...Springs should only be counted on as a #2 at this point in his career and Rogers will never be a #1...I don't want to say he's a bust yet but I think he will never be more than a decent #2.

They need to get younger on both lines of scrimmage. Games are won in this league on the line of scrimmage. The Redskins need to start building from the inside out instead of from the outside in.