Mattyk72 Presents the "Redskin Most Likely to Bounce Back in '07" Poll

I think change the scheme would be an overstatement, tweek yes.

I said nothing about gutting or rebuilding the defensive side of the roster.

Personally I think we're maybe two good players, a good offseason, and looking at the cover-two scheme away from laying a hurting on some teams next year.It actually seems to me that Gregg Williams IS changing the system and started to do so at this time last year. A lot of the defenses we ran last year seemed vastly different from the ones that were successful in 2004-05. It seems that Grilliams was taking a proactive approach in trying to alter the schematics of his defense, espicially before it got old. He got away from blitzing, which is a good thing, because blitzing more times than not leads to a big play. He just didn't have the pieces up front to get pressure on the QB by themselves.

I agree that we are two good players away from at least being mediocre to above average--but then again, isn't everyone? To make our defense good again, we have to find the root of the problem. I was using stats to identify that the root of the problem (within the back 7) is with the LBs and Safeties. Obviously the defensive line is horrible, and we probably need to replace 3 guys on that line. But taking things one step at a time, signing a good MLB will fix a LOT of our defensive problems. If we can get into the top 20 against TEs and RBs, that would do wonders for our defense.

I honestly would like to see ARE be the #2 and Lloyd be the #3. ARE simply seemed to make more plays when he was the #2 than Lloyd did when he was the #2. In fact, the only plays that I remember Lloyd making were boneheaded ones (e.g., Lloyd dropping JC's first pass in the game against TB, Lloyd fumbling against JAX, and Lloyd missing a nice pass by JC in the game against NO). So, I'd vote for ARE to have a good year (even though it might not technically be a "bounceback year").

I honestly would like to see ARE be the #2 and Lloyd be the #3. ARE simply seemed to make more plays when he was the #2 than Lloyd did when he was the #2. In fact, the only plays that I remember Lloyd making were boneheaded ones (e.g., Lloyd dropping JC's first pass in the game against TB, Lloyd fumbling against JAX, and Lloyd missing a nice pass by JC in the game against NO). So, I'd vote for ARE to have a good year (even though it might not technically be a "bounceback year").I agree, and I think it's even more simpler than what you said. I can't think of a game situation in which I'd want to have Lloyd on the field while having Randle El on the bench. Rotating due to fatigue is one thing, but ideally, give me the better football player.

Arch. Not only will be bounce back, but because of HOW BAD last season was, he'll be the NFL's most improved player.

I'm not saying he'll be GREAT, but he'll improve the most from last year's disaster.

I picked Llyod because of the history of Saunders offenses in the second year. If we go to more than one or 2 passing threats a game and become balanced. No one in the NFC could stop us... with the teams on offense as it is right now we have too much fire power.

My feeling is that if Archuleta can work his way onto the field, he's the Favorite for Comeback Player of the Year. The pants-crappingly bad 2006 season left the bar that low.

haha...that's pretty dang funny. I know I almost crapped mine a couple times

taylor should have been one of the choices. he needs to return to form.

I giving ARCH the nod on this one. Use the kid to his strengths, he might just pan out?

As usual, I'm in the distinct minority. I think that Marshall will have the biggest "comeback" next year because I think he'll be playing where he should have been playing all along - - at OLB.

On Wall Street, they talk about the "dead cat bounce". By that they mean that even the most horribly run company which is on the brink of being broken up by a bankruptcy court can have its stock "bounce" after a huge fall - - it bounces like a dead cat bounces. That is what you might see from Lloyd next year. He's about as useful as a dead cat.

I know this is a REALLY old-time reference, but JD Salinger's book Franny and Zoey has an assertion that a dead cat is the single most valuable thing in the entire universe - - because no one has ever been able to put a price on one. Whatever. Brandon Lloyd is as valuable as a dead cat.

If the Skins use Arcuhletta on defense at strong safety the way they tried to use him this year, don't expect much of a difference. Albert Einstein - not a stupid man - said that the real definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Use Archuletta as the strong safety and give him "coverage responsibilities" with Sean Taylor as his "running buddy" back there and you will see lots of opposing receivers catching lots of long passes over the middle. I don't believe those two guys can play safety at the same time and do it effectively.

I can't pick Rogers because he just wasn't nearly as butt-ugly awful last year as the others on this list. In fact, he was merely average last year.

Here is what every Redskins fan has to hope for: The Skins best comeback player next year is NOT Mark Brunell. If that is the case it means that Campbell was hurt - - or even worse Campbell showed that he couldn't cut it. In either case, that would be VERY BAD news for Skins' fans.

Not to crap all over your parade, but football outsiders does keep statistical rankings of teams defending certain positions in the passing game.

Our ranks vs:

#1 receiver: 19
#2 receiver: 30
"other" receiver: 20
TE: 28
Running backs: 32

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Football analysis and NFL stats for the Moneyball era - Authors of Pro Football Prospectus 2006 and 2005 (http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamdef.php)

Considering we were the 32nd ranked passing D, we actually defend No. 1 receivers pretty well. These numbers support the case that LINEBACKERS and SAFETIES are where our trouble spot is, not the corners. That #2 receiver number is also pretty disturbing, but considering either Rogers or Springs was defending the #1 most of the time, those two guys are pretty much getting it done, even on the 32 ranked pass D.


Very good point! I agree with you. Our LB's and safties were horrible last year. ST can't be a one man gang back there. We're about to loose Springs b/c he's too expensive and knows another team will pay him via free agency. I'm hoping that Rogers or AA are both much improved.