Smoke Signals: ‘Somebody’s got to pay’ edition

Smoke Signals: ‘Somebody’s got to pay’ edition | DC Pro Sports Report -- Sports news, stats and analysis from the capital of the free world (http://dcprosportsreport.com/?p=2330)

The Detroit Lions have sought and received permission to intervie (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/12/gray_permitted_to_interview_in.html)w Redskins secondary coach Jerry Gray for their head coaching position. Gray, an African-American, has been the secondary coach for 3 seasons and spent 5 seasons before that as defensive coordinator in Buffalo. He’s very qualified, experienced, and, at 46, easily young and vigorous enough for what promises to be a tough rebuilding process in Detroit. He’d be a smart hire, but I’d hate to lose him in Washington.

Statistically, it wasn’t a great season for anyone in Washington, apart from the defense. The offense, as you can imagine, doesn’t look good when you crunch the numbers (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/12/skins_by_the_numbers_for_the_l.html#more).

Count me out of the opinion that drastic changes are needed. Coming into the season I think most people realistically wouldn't have been surprised or upset if you said the Skins would end up 8-8 this year. So what has changed between then and now that drastic changes are needed all of a sudden?

I think some people need to let the dust settle on this season and then react. It's too fresh right now and people are still too emotionally attached to the disappointment of starting 6-2 and finishing 2-6.

Will there be changes? Yeah of course. But do they need to be drastic in the form of blowing up the roster and starting over and going into "rebuilding mode"? Hardly.

We need to develop our picks from last year, release some of our veterans to clear up some cap room for what I expect to be a fairly aggressive free agency approach this year, and hopefully with a couple of trades we can acquire some additional draft picks.

I don't know if the changes I'm advocating represent a 'drastic' or 'shocking' change but I don't think we can go into next season with a roster as it's currently assembled. We need to shed some age and salary, Washington, Kendall, Taylor, Daniels, Thrash, Griffin, maybe Springs, need to be elsewhere. Jansen would cost more to cut so keep him but as a backup to Heyer or a free agent RT we bring in.

This is an excellent free agent crop so I'd like to see us be very aggressive but smart aggressive, not just big game hunting. We can upgrade and get younger at some key spots with about 4 key moves (Dunta Robinson, Karlos Dansby, Jason Brown, Darren Sproles) without breaking the bank for one or two players.

I'm for trading Rogers for a 2nd if we can get it and also seeing if Betts has any value (but I doubt he does) on the trade market. It's obvious we need to upgrade the lines in the draft but we CANNOT afford to ignore special teams yet again and hope to get by with Suisham and a rent-a-punter every year. I'm good with Plack if he gains more consistency but if Oakland somehow lets Shane Lechler hit the open market, they've got to go all out to get him.

I have the feeling that Kelly has Marques Colston potential with a full offseason, if he can stay healthy and I hope that Thomas matures mentally with his physical ability because he's got T.O. ability written all over him but I think he's more like Michael Westbrook in the work ethic department.

We're not "close" like we sometimes get fooled into believing (the Pittsburgh, NYG and Baltimore games showed us that clearly!) but a good offseason can lay the foundation for a nice few years.

Regarding special teams, let's please spend some money there and get a reliable and consistent kicker in here. Same for the punter, let's get a guy in there that can help us win the field position battles.

Aaron (DC): Happy New Year Matt! Do you think that Dan Snyder will ever fire Vinny Cerrato? The Redskins need a legitimate GM to turn this organization around.

Matt Mosley: (12:28 PM ET ) These men have taken a solemn vow to each other.

Aaron (DC): Happy New Year Matt! Do you think that Dan Snyder will ever fire Vinny Cerrato? The Redskins need a legitimate GM to turn this organization around.

Matt Mosley: (12:28 PM ET ) These men have taken a solemn vow to each other.
riposte

Priority 1 on offense needs to be building the running game to last from September to February. Now we could draft a running back like Knowshawn in the first round but being that Carolina had DeAngelo Williams break out around the same time they got all the pieces to their line put in place should serve as a lesson. Either way I'm betting on Vinny drafting a skilled player early and then going back to saying "he was the highest rated player on our board."

Aaron (DC): Happy New Year Matt! Do you think that Dan Snyder will ever fire Vinny Cerrato? The Redskins need a legitimate GM to turn this organization around.

Matt Mosley: (12:28 PM ET ) These men have taken a solemn vow to each other.

Lol, you bastard. You know better then to ask a leading question. Like the response though from Mosley though I guess he's not getting any Christmas cards from Ashburn any time soon.

Regarding special teams, let's please spend some money there and get a reliable and consistent kicker in here. Same for the punter, let's get a guy in there that can help us win the field position battles.

I agree ARE is a disaster. Someone mentioned Sproles. He'd be an excellent pick up as a special teamer/3rd down back.

Aaron (DC): Happy New Year Matt! Do you think that Dan Snyder will ever fire Vinny Cerrato? The Redskins need a legitimate GM to turn this organization around.

Matt Mosley: (12:28 PM ET ) These men have taken a solemn vow to each other.

Even at that DS is no dummy.

One more year of mediocrity or worse and I can see DS changing courses w/ VC.

I've got faith. Believe.