The Official 2007 Draft Discussion Thread

I have been yelling and screaming DL, DL!!!! But with the exception of DL, we are looking good across the board IMO. Get one exceptional DE after June 1st cuts, and we could be sitting pretty.It's going to be a long defensive rebuilding process, but if we use 2 day 1 picks on the DL next year, we could have a semblance of a competant defense by 2009.

We are strong in the back 7, so I remain hopeful that Greg Williams can pull some strings and get this defense fixed on a temporary basis. He can't account for the lack of talent, but if he keeps us unpredictable, we just might luck in to a top 20 defensive finish this year. If we can improve our short yardage running game, that might be good enough for a playoff birth.

It's going to be a long defensive rebuilding process, but if we use 2 day 1 picks on the DL next year, we could have a semblance of a competant defense by 2009.

We are strong in the back 7, so I remain hopeful that Greg Williams can pull some strings and get this defense fixed on a temporary basis. He can't account for the lack of talent, but if he keeps us unpredictable, we just might luck in to a top 20 defensive finish this year. If we can improve our short yardage running game, that might be good enough for a playoff birth.

I think you're being a little harsh on the defense. Our secondary was the main issue last year, and this year we are primed to have one of the best secondaries. Our LB's are better than last year, and if (I know that's a big IF) we pick up a GOOD DE after June 1st, there should be no reason AT ALL that we don't see a top 10 defense.

It's going to be a long defensive rebuilding process, but if we use 2 day 1 picks on the DL next year, we could have a semblance of a competant defense by 2009.

We are strong in the back 7, so I remain hopeful that Greg Williams can pull some strings and get this defense fixed on a temporary basis. He can't account for the lack of talent, but if he keeps us unpredictable, we just might luck in to a top 20 defensive finish this year. If we can improve our short yardage running game, that might be good enough for a playoff birth.


Why is it going to be a long process? GW turned it around in one year in 2004. Williams is arguably the best defensive coordinator in the league. Last year was an exception. If they pick up one good d lineman and Griffin and Springs stay healthy we are back in the top 5.

I think you're being a little harsh on the defense. Our secondary was the main issue last year, and this year we are primed to have one of the best secondaries. Our LB's are better than last year, and if (I know that's a big IF) we pick up a GOOD DE after June 1st, there should be no reason AT ALL that we don't see a top 10 defense.

The lack of a pass rush from the line allowed the secondary to be picked apart. The secondary is in good shape.

The lack of a pass rush from the line allowed the secondary to be picked apart. The secondary is in good shape.

So you are agreeing with me then?

Drafting Palmer is a Joe Gibbs/Beatherd kinda move. The Skin's have taken QB's later in the draft and coached them up for a couple of years before they ever hit the field. It has worked out well in the past...Mark Rypien comes to mind.

Collins might find his way onto our coaching staff.

Drafting Palmer is a Joe Gibbs/Beatherd kinda move. The Skin's have taken QB's later in the draft and coached them up for a couple of years before they ever hit the field. It has worked out well in the past...Mark Rypien comes to mind.

While Rypien did benefit from this, most do not...remember Cary Conklin, or Chris Hakel, or Gus Frerotte, or Todd Husak, or Sage Rosenfels, or Gilbran Hamdan???? These were all QB's drafted since 1990 by us after the 1st or 2nd round for the soul purpose of trying to "develope" them. None have worked out. So while Palmer could be the next Rypien (I hope he's better), I am wagering he's the next Todd Husak.

Drafting Palmer is a Joe Gibbs/Beatherd kinda move. The Skin's have taken QB's later in the draft and coached them up for a couple of years before they ever hit the field. It has worked out well in the past...Mark Rypien comes to mind.

Oh yeah, and I forgot...that was in 86...21 years ago!

I guess I am guilty of following the team too much, but the writing has been on the wall for almost all of these moves. Gibbs said yesterday, that we would look for LB depth later in the draft, and we got two late round DT's last year, hence no DL today. It was also obvious that if we stayed at six we were going to pick LL or Okoye. LL won out because he brings more immediate impact, is more likely worth a top contract, and he was rated higher on our draft board.

There was talk of taking a late round feeler at QB, we have very old players at second and third string. You can always stick a project QB on the practice squad for a year or two while you get to know him.

On the guard front, Bugel and Gibbs both expressed an unwillingness to go after late round projects in favor of picking up second tier players with NFL starting experience after the failed experiment of a few years ago. We went after a gaggle of those veteran players in FA and resigned Todd Wade, that's why we didn't draft a guard late. We have depth at OL and we've still got some young projects like Kili Lefotu, the guy who collapsed in his dorm room last year.

The restructuring of Reynoldo Wynn signals that the team is willing to go into the year as is, but will obviously explore trade and cap casualty pick ups. The LB's we drafted can also be special teamers. For instance, Dallas (cringe) Sartz has long arms and blocked a bunch of kicks in his career, if I am not mistaken. Last year we tried to carry fewer LB's and played special teams with more FB's and safeties than usual. The defensive line is still a huge question mark, but the team is solidifying other positions and addressing other needs at the moment. Hopefully they can add a good DE post draft at a reasonable price. We'll just have to wait and see.

Unfortunately this team just lost a lot of ground to the rest of the league in the last two days. The positive side is that they appear to be using restraint so this doesn't happen again next year, or in years to come. That's why all along I've been looking at this through a two or three year prism. Even next year, it is not like DL is going to be our only issue.

We'll be lucky if any of these late rounders makes a positive impact next year, but that is the norm and to be expected. Getting bent out of shape that we didn't address more immediate needs in the late rounds today is a bit of a reach. Those are not players you pencil in as early contributors. We are simply paying for past mistakes with the cap and with draft picks this year. But working with what little we have, the team does seem to be following through on a thought out plan. The appearance of grasping at straws stems mostly from our past blunders and the fact that this year is a year to repent and start looking towards the future without completely compromising Gibb's ability to field a competitive team next year.