If You Ran the Redskins...

What steps would you take between now and opening day 2009 to improve this team?

Here's what I would want to see happen

1. Don't Quit on Zorn

I've talked about this in greater detail in another thread, but I think unless he goes totally Norv on us these next three weeks then it's in the best interest of the team to keep him

2. Give the Chief New Indians

If we are going to commit to Zorn as the head coach, even if only for one more year, then we need to entrust him with the responsibility of deciding what staff he wants surrounding him. And I'm going to guess it's going to include maybe 40% of the current staff

3. Trust the Youth

Thank you Kendall, Griffin, Thrash, and Washington but they need to take a back seat now-if not leave the team entirely-for some of the younger guys. These younger guys are going to make mistakes but at this point there is no room for improvement with the four aforementioned guys (when they are even healthy) and if we're seeing that we hover around .500 with these guys then it's time to start moving forward

4. Fortify the Offensive Line

This is our biggest weakness. We went from experienced linemen to old linemen seemingly overnight (though to be fair, many on this board saw it coming from a mile away). I'd love for us to sign Jordan Gross from the Panthers and draft Duke Robinson in the first round. If we can add another lineman (Unger, Herman Johnson) in the 3rd round that'd be huge. Bottom line we need at least two new offensive linemen.

5. Veteran LB

Karlos Dansby. He's my new Justin Smith :)

6. Move He Who Shall Not Be Named to #2 QB

I'm tempted to say make training camp an open competition. But I'm more inclined to say we should know by now if Campbell is our guy. If he is, committ to him long-term this off-season and firmly establish him as our guy for the next 5-7 years

7. Renewed Focus on Special Teams

I can't pinpoint exactly what the problem is but something needs to change right away, and it may probably have to start with letting Danny Smith go

8. Continue to Give Scott Campbell an Expanded Role in Player Personnel

I think this is happening regardless

9. Re-Sign DeAngelo Hall

I think they blew it last year when they didn't take advantage of a deep draft class at DB by selecting Justin Tryon. Hall has fallen into their lap and they shouldn't let him get away. They really can't do all that much better at this point

What would you do?

Reduce beer prices to $1.00 and have the cheerleaders cheer from the stands. Sorry its as good as I can do at this time.

1. Resign key players on the lines. Demetric Evans and Pete Kendall must be retained. I would offer DeAngelo Hall a contract for about 3 years and 12-14 million, with 4 million guarenteed. It will allow him to stay here, and compete for a starting role. If he thinks he can do better elsewhere, I doubt that, but more power to him.

1a. Announce the release of defensive backs coach Jerry Gray, Receivers coach Stan Hixon, and offensive line coach Joe Bugel.

2. Extend the contracts of Anthony Montgomery, Carlos Rogers, and Jason Campbell for 4-6 more seasons with larger-end signing bonuses.

3. Release Shawn Springs, Fred Smoot, James Thrash, Casey Rabach, and Todd Yoder. This will create an issue at corner, but right now, I feel like Griffin, Taylor, and Marcus Washington will all have a role on the 2009 Redskins. Springs probably won't play a 16 game season again, and offered the choice between extending him to lessen the cap hit, and moving on, I think we move on.

4. Announce the move of Jon Jansen from T to C. Colt Brennan becomes the 2nd QB, while Todd Collins stays on as the 3rd QB.

5. Chad Rinehart is the opening day starter at RG. Randy Thomas becomes a utility lineman, who works some at Center to help us out in a pinch.

6. We draft one of the many offensive tackles in this class with our first round pick, and he competes right away to start with Heyer.

7. We add a defensive lineman in the third round of the draft, a running back in the 5th, and our Center of the future in the 6th.

8. Redskins re-sign Leigh Torrence in camp after he gets cut by New Orleans, and make a play for Oakland Franchise CB Nnamdi Asomugha (probably an unsuccessful one), but Texans CB Dunta Robinson would be a nice consolation. Justin Tryon rounds out the depth. Redskins sign New Orleans WR Devery Henderson.

9. Corneilius Griffin, Jason Taylor, and Marcus Washington are all potential training camp releases, depending on how the youth does and how well they take care of their bodies in the offseason.

And the 53 man/depth chart would look something like this, give or take, if I was in charge:

QB: Campbell, Brennan, Collins
RB: Portis, Betts, (rookie projection) Tyrell Sutton (NU), Cartwright
FB: Sellers
WR: Kelly, Randle El, Moss, Thomas, Devery Henderson
TE: Cooley, Fred Davis, (rookie projection) Anthony Hill (NC St)
OT: Samuels, Heyer, (rookie projection) Eugene Monroe (Virginia)
OG: Kendall, Rinehart, R. Thomas, Fabini
C: Jansen, (rookie projection) Antoine Caldwell (Alabama)
DE: Carter, Evans, Jason Taylor, Phillip Daniels, Chris Wilson
DT: Montgomery, Griffin, Golston, (rookie projection) Vance Walker (GT), Alexander
LB: Fletcher, Washington, McIntosh, Blades, Fincher, Khary Campbell
CB: Rogers, Dunta Robinson, Hall, Torrence, Tryon
S: Landry, Horton, Doughty, K. Moore

K: Suisham
P: (rookie projection) ?

1. Resign key players on the lines. Demetric Evans and Pete Kendall must be retained. I would offer DeAngelo Hall a contract for about 3 years and 12-14 million, with 4 million guarenteed. It will allow him to stay here, and compete for a starting role. If he thinks he can do better elsewhere, I doubt that, but more power to him.

Agree about Evans, not as sold on Kendall. Curious to see what value Daniels and Buzbee bring in 2009. Sounds pretty fair on DeAngelo Hall

1a. Announce the release of defensive backs coach Jerry Gray, Receivers coach Stan Hixon, and offensive line coach Joe Bugel.

I'd hold on to Gray if possible. Would let Jackson go though

2. Extend the contracts of Anthony Montgomery, Carlos Rogers, and Jason Campbell for 4-6 more seasons with larger-end signing bonuses.

Fair enough

3. Release Shawn Springs, Fred Smoot, James Thrash, Casey Rabach, and Todd Yoder. This will create an issue at corner, but right now, I feel like Griffin, Taylor, and Marcus Washington will all have a role on the 2009 Redskins. Springs probably won't play a 16 game season again, and offered the choice between extending him to lessen the cap hit, and moving on, I think we move on.

I'm torn on Springs, but I agree that it's probably time to move on. I think he's an Arizona Cardinal next season. I especially think it's ok to let him go now because it seems as though Horton has the safety spot solidly locked down and I'm confident that Doughty can be a decent backup. Had this not been the case, I'd have Springs back if for no other reason than safety help

4. Announce the move of Jon Jansen from T to C. Colt Brennan becomes the 2nd QB, while Todd Collins stays on as the 3rd QB.

Starting C? I let Collins walk

5. Chad Rinehart is the opening day starter at RG. Randy Thomas becomes a utility lineman, who works some at Center to help us out in a pinch.

I start him at LG and, if my plan comes to fruition by 2010 opening day at the latest Thomas' spot at RG is taken by Duke Robinson

6. We draft one of the many offensive tackles in this class with our first round pick, and he competes right away to start with Heyer.

7. We add a defensive lineman in the third round of the draft, a running back in the 5th, and our Center of the future in the 6th.

Any thoughts on who?

8. Redskins re-sign Leigh Torrence in camp after he gets cut by New Orleans, and make a play for Oakland Franchise CB Nnamdi Asomugha (probably an unsuccessful one), but Texans CB Dunta Robinson would be a nice consolation. Justin Tryon rounds out the depth. Redskins sign New Orleans WR Devery Henderson.

Interesting call on Torrence. We'd probably overpay for Nnamdi (though he'd most likely deserve it. Why Devery?

9. Corneilius Griffin, Jason Taylor, and Marcus Washington are all potential training camp releases, depending on how the youth does and how well they take care of their bodies in the offseason.

I think Taylor stays just to save face for VC

And the 53 man/depth chart would look something like this, give or take, if I was in charge:

QB: Campbell, Brennan, Collins
RB: Portis, Betts, (rookie projection) Tyrell Sutton (NU), Cartwright
WR: Kelly, Randle El, Moss, Thomas, Devery Henderson
TE: Cooley, Fred Davis, (rookie projection) Anthony Hill (NC St)
OT: Samuels, Heyer, (rookie projection) Eugene Monroe (Virginia)
OG: Kendall, Rinehart, R. Thomas, Fabini
C: Jansen, (rookie projection) Antoine Caldwell (Alabama)
DE: Carter, Evans, Jason Taylor, Phillip Daniels, Chris Wilson
DT: Montgomery, Griffin, Golston, (rookie projection) Vance Walker (GT), Alexander
LB: Fletcher, Washington, McIntosh, Blades, Fincher, Khary Campbell
CB: Rogers, Dunta Robinson, Hall, Torrence, Tryon
S: Landry, Horton, Doughty, K. Moore

K: Suisham
P: (rookie projection) ?

No Sellers?

No Sellers?Sorry, I always forget fullback is a position. Sometimes I think Portis takes out linebackers with his mind.

I wish we had two Mike Sellers.

Why Devery?Vertical factor. Moss, Kelly, Cooley, and Randle El all figure to be starters in the Zorn offense, with (hopefully) Kelly as the go to guy. I have Thomas as the first guy off the bench, but if Moss' hammy flares up, we don't have a reliable deep threat. I wouldn't say Henderson is reliable, but he does offer a ridiculous career yards per reception average, which makes him an asset to us.

Doesn't he have a bit of a reputation for dropping passes though?

The other clear need on this team is that Fletcher is reaching the very last drop of the consecutive starts/reliability cup. Can Rocky play inside? I don't know if Blades ever will. We may keep Marcus if only that we can bump him inside in a pinch.