MTK
06-04-2007, 04:29 PM
D-Line Update (http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/)
Alright, I'm just going to start throwing stuff up here today and for the foreseeable future, trying to empty out the 'ol notebook of stuff I gathered while away from the blog.
Let's start with the DE situation. There is still a desire among many at The Park to address this position if possible. Problem is, there ain't much out there. Aaron Schobel remains the one quality end who could end up getting traded. Spoke to a bunch of execs and sources around the league the last few weeks and they all had the same feeling - he could end up getting moved.
Most personnel guys don't think Oakland will do anything with Derrick Burgess, and the market for ends is small, they say. The Bears, originally asking for the second round pick for DE Alex Brown, have come off that demand, I heard, and still want to move him. The Redskins have not been in the mix for Brown and overall, the interest league-wide has been tepid. However, interestingly enough, my football people tell me Buffalo is one team to consider Brown, particularly as a legit option should they end up dealing Schobel.
In fact, I hear the Bears and Bills think there is potential for a trade of Brown to Buffalo should it ever get to that stage ... but that's still a longshot. Schobel has been a beast and offers a rare commodity with his proven pass-rush ability. He's signed for two more years and the Bills don't have to do a thing with him. After sitting out a week or so of OTAs in Buffalo, Schobel reported last week, but from what I heard he isn't happy. Far from it He wants a new deal (get in line, 'cause that's an epidemic these days), particularly after seeing all the crazy money the usually tight-wadded franchise threw around on outsiders in free agency this year (sounds like what happened in these parts a year ago, eh?).
I have heard that Schobel has a tremendous relationship with Gregg Williams, and I know that these coaches think highly of Aaron from what he did in Buffalo (many on this staff have coached him before). But I also know there has been no contact between the Redskins and Bills. If the Bills do decide to trade him to alleviate a potentially nasty situation - and, again, there is no reason they HAVE to do this in any way - then I would imagine the Redskins to be a player for him. However, if Buffalo did trade him they would want a high draft pick for him, and that would not be a slam dunk.
So I guess what I am saying is, it's still worth keeping an eye on.
Otherwise, I hear that the Giants have not made any attempt to deal or cut Mr. Gap Tooth himself (Mike Strahan), although like I've blogged about before, Dan Snyder loves him and would love to have him here. But I can't see it happening. Some have speculated about Simeon Rice getting cut, but the NFL people I spoke to don't think it's anything that would have to happen until training camp if at all (he has no quirky workout or roster bonuses in his contract, just a massive base salary - $7.2 million). He's strictly a third-down guy at this point and would probably want a load of cash as well. Also, despite rumors that Green Bay might dump Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, the NFL people I talk to say don't count on it and the Pack hasn't floated his name in trade talks.
As for other linemen, got a lot of emails last month about DT Sam Adams, another one of Gregg's former players. The Skins discussed Adams briefly after the Bengals cut him, but believe they are in pretty good shape at tackle overall. Now, if Adams was a DE, they'd have probably taken a shot on him from what I gather. There are serious concerns about his weight, age and knees - specifically now, during the offseason, when guys like him often balloon up to Baby Rocco-like proportions. Now, if he's in half decent shape and still on the street come September, and the Skins need a body, I would not be surprised at all if he was at the top of their call list.
A lot of you guys have also asked me about former Maryland DT Kris Jenkins. Even if Carolina cuts him - he's skipping OTAs and from what I hear perhaps on his way to eating himself out of the league - his attitude and gut would be major worries for any team. His play has slipped in recent years as well and he's looking for a payday. Not a great combination. Furthermore, the players right here at The Park think the duo of Golston/Montgomery might be ready to step up. Montgomery is the best athlete and has the most natural talent of any lineman here, I have heard from many in these parts, but he needs to dedicate himself 100 percent to his craft and give an honest effort on every snap of every practice.
He's been making good strides to that end this offseason, Montgomery's teammates say, and should he ever put the mental side of this game with his physical gifts, he could be a quality player in this league for a long time. Cornelius Griffin is looking like his old self, too, they say. A year ago shoulder problems kept him from tearing up the weight room, but he's been a workout warrior they say and is deadest on proving that his poor form in 2006 was a blip due to a health problems, and not an indication that his best years are behind him.
For my money Griff remains the key person on that entire defense. As he goes, so goes the D.
The Redskins have also been playing Phillip Daniels more on the inside and have Renaldo Wynn able to play a dual role as well and Demetric Evans has played tackle as well. However, the continuing injuries to Big Joe Salave'a have taken a toll (he even seemed to be limping a little bit when I saw him walking into the building today). Jim himself wondered last year what the future would hold, and he may face a fight to make the final roster. He's about as nice a guy as you will ever meet in this business, so I'm hoping for the best for him regardless.
Hmm. Got a ton of other stuff I want to get to, but maybe I'll leave it with this for now. I'll post again later trying to get the rest of the stuff on the web.
Alright, I'm just going to start throwing stuff up here today and for the foreseeable future, trying to empty out the 'ol notebook of stuff I gathered while away from the blog.
Let's start with the DE situation. There is still a desire among many at The Park to address this position if possible. Problem is, there ain't much out there. Aaron Schobel remains the one quality end who could end up getting traded. Spoke to a bunch of execs and sources around the league the last few weeks and they all had the same feeling - he could end up getting moved.
Most personnel guys don't think Oakland will do anything with Derrick Burgess, and the market for ends is small, they say. The Bears, originally asking for the second round pick for DE Alex Brown, have come off that demand, I heard, and still want to move him. The Redskins have not been in the mix for Brown and overall, the interest league-wide has been tepid. However, interestingly enough, my football people tell me Buffalo is one team to consider Brown, particularly as a legit option should they end up dealing Schobel.
In fact, I hear the Bears and Bills think there is potential for a trade of Brown to Buffalo should it ever get to that stage ... but that's still a longshot. Schobel has been a beast and offers a rare commodity with his proven pass-rush ability. He's signed for two more years and the Bills don't have to do a thing with him. After sitting out a week or so of OTAs in Buffalo, Schobel reported last week, but from what I heard he isn't happy. Far from it He wants a new deal (get in line, 'cause that's an epidemic these days), particularly after seeing all the crazy money the usually tight-wadded franchise threw around on outsiders in free agency this year (sounds like what happened in these parts a year ago, eh?).
I have heard that Schobel has a tremendous relationship with Gregg Williams, and I know that these coaches think highly of Aaron from what he did in Buffalo (many on this staff have coached him before). But I also know there has been no contact between the Redskins and Bills. If the Bills do decide to trade him to alleviate a potentially nasty situation - and, again, there is no reason they HAVE to do this in any way - then I would imagine the Redskins to be a player for him. However, if Buffalo did trade him they would want a high draft pick for him, and that would not be a slam dunk.
So I guess what I am saying is, it's still worth keeping an eye on.
Otherwise, I hear that the Giants have not made any attempt to deal or cut Mr. Gap Tooth himself (Mike Strahan), although like I've blogged about before, Dan Snyder loves him and would love to have him here. But I can't see it happening. Some have speculated about Simeon Rice getting cut, but the NFL people I spoke to don't think it's anything that would have to happen until training camp if at all (he has no quirky workout or roster bonuses in his contract, just a massive base salary - $7.2 million). He's strictly a third-down guy at this point and would probably want a load of cash as well. Also, despite rumors that Green Bay might dump Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, the NFL people I talk to say don't count on it and the Pack hasn't floated his name in trade talks.
As for other linemen, got a lot of emails last month about DT Sam Adams, another one of Gregg's former players. The Skins discussed Adams briefly after the Bengals cut him, but believe they are in pretty good shape at tackle overall. Now, if Adams was a DE, they'd have probably taken a shot on him from what I gather. There are serious concerns about his weight, age and knees - specifically now, during the offseason, when guys like him often balloon up to Baby Rocco-like proportions. Now, if he's in half decent shape and still on the street come September, and the Skins need a body, I would not be surprised at all if he was at the top of their call list.
A lot of you guys have also asked me about former Maryland DT Kris Jenkins. Even if Carolina cuts him - he's skipping OTAs and from what I hear perhaps on his way to eating himself out of the league - his attitude and gut would be major worries for any team. His play has slipped in recent years as well and he's looking for a payday. Not a great combination. Furthermore, the players right here at The Park think the duo of Golston/Montgomery might be ready to step up. Montgomery is the best athlete and has the most natural talent of any lineman here, I have heard from many in these parts, but he needs to dedicate himself 100 percent to his craft and give an honest effort on every snap of every practice.
He's been making good strides to that end this offseason, Montgomery's teammates say, and should he ever put the mental side of this game with his physical gifts, he could be a quality player in this league for a long time. Cornelius Griffin is looking like his old self, too, they say. A year ago shoulder problems kept him from tearing up the weight room, but he's been a workout warrior they say and is deadest on proving that his poor form in 2006 was a blip due to a health problems, and not an indication that his best years are behind him.
For my money Griff remains the key person on that entire defense. As he goes, so goes the D.
The Redskins have also been playing Phillip Daniels more on the inside and have Renaldo Wynn able to play a dual role as well and Demetric Evans has played tackle as well. However, the continuing injuries to Big Joe Salave'a have taken a toll (he even seemed to be limping a little bit when I saw him walking into the building today). Jim himself wondered last year what the future would hold, and he may face a fight to make the final roster. He's about as nice a guy as you will ever meet in this business, so I'm hoping for the best for him regardless.
Hmm. Got a ton of other stuff I want to get to, but maybe I'll leave it with this for now. I'll post again later trying to get the rest of the stuff on the web.