Our WRs in 2009... My Thoughts

Hail to the Redskins,
Look where drafting WR's has gotten Detroit Lions: 0-16, GM fired, Coach fired.

Detroit's 1st round picks:
2002 QB
2003 WR
2004 WR
2005 WR
2006 OLB
2007 WR

This is not Fantasy Football or a Madden video game.
In the real world NFL flashy-glamorous picks are not usually successful.
Look at consistently good/talented teams like Pittsburgh Steelers or NE Patriots.
They draft (1)defense and (2) lineman.
New Englands QB Brady is a 6th round pick. Their star WR's were picked up for cheap on trades. Since 2000 they invested heavy in the draft by picking Offensive and Defensive lineman. Look at what Parcells did in Miami in 2008. He drafted a ton of lineman and picked up his QB in a trade for cheap. See a trend?
It is not flashy but it works. It is a proven way to build a team.
Build you lines first.
Skill position players are easy to get. Every offseason there are a good quantity of quality QB's, WR's and RB's available that are released for cap reasons.

^....but your bashing a team that picked the best available player at the time?

and...I stand corrected the preseason catcher was Maurice Mann. He's available also. All three or four are 6-1 or above. Pick them all up Danny and hire a WR's coach and get them on the field.

Hail to the Redskins,
Look where drafting WR's has gotten Detroit Lions: 0-16, GM fired, Coach fired.

Detroit's 1st round picks:
2002 QB
2003 WR
2004 WR
2005 WR
2006 OLB
2007 WR

This is not Fantasy Football or a Madden video game.
In the real world NFL flashy-glamorous picks are not usually successful.
Look at consistently good/talented teams like Pittsburgh Steelers or NE Patriots.
They draft (1)defense and (2) lineman.
New Englands QB Brady is a 6th round pick. Their star WR's were picked up for cheap on trades. Since 2000 they invested heavy in the draft by picking Offensive and Defensive lineman. Look at what Parcells did in Miami in 2008. He drafted a ton of lineman and picked up his QB in a trade for cheap. See a trend?
It is not flashy but it works. It is a proven way to build a team.

Are you tyring to agree with me here or disagree?

I DEFINITELY did not even come close to saying that we should draft a receiver...

If you read the post, I said get a PROVEN receiver and use the all of our draft on both lines (well.. maybe one LB would be nice if not picked up in FA)

If what you are saying is that we should go after receivers a different way, other than the draft, then yeah... I totally agree.

Bottom line is that receivers are NOT guaranteed out of college. Look at Colston in New Orleans and then look at the Ashlie Lelies, Troy Williamsons of the NFL and you realize that trading for them or free agency is a MUCH better idea in that you get a PROVEN commodity... which is EXACTLY what we need right now.

Why is it that every other NFL team knows how to draft a quality rookie who can produce in their first year and we are always trying to feel out how our rookies can contribute next year. (I.E. the eagles and Jackson). Didn't these WR's all have first round grades? I think that Zorn should have started Thomas after a few games opposite Santana and put Randel El in the slot, and for god sake he should have replaced Randel El in the return game at the beginning of the season.......Oh I'm sorry, I'm getting off track..

1. Keep Moss as the number one.

2. Have D. Thomas and Kelly battle for the number two spot, Devin has great speed and just needs a little more coaching and some patience by the fans and the coaches and I think he can eventually move into the number one spot in a couple of years. (I'm pulling for Devin).

3. Have the loser of the Thomas/Kelly battle fight with Randel El for the slot position. This would be and ideal position for Kelly, given his size.

4. Seriously think about trying to trade Randel El, I personally like Randel El, however I just don't think he is a quality starting receiver.

5. Pick up a receiver in the draft or via free agency.

6. We have two quality tightends, we need to get Davis involved in the off. more, he looks like he could be a mini A. Gates.

7. Hey just get Cooley the ball as much as possible and stand back and watch him work.

That's fair enough.

However, why are you picking on the defense that was #4 in the NFL in yards/points allowed, while our offense (passing in particular) was #28 overall ... and obviously sucked?

When was the last time we had a top 10 offense? When Mark Rypien was QB? (JK) I mean... Trent Green had a good year moving our pass offense, as did Brad Johnson, but since then... we have been NO CONSISTENT threat to a team's secondary. We have relied on Moss to carry our pass game for too long... we NEED another receiver to help. If some think that a new WR Coach would make Thomas and/or Kellyquality NFL starters, OK. But to say that reveiver isn't the weakest group on the team is tough to understand.

I think that a large part of our offensive woes could be handled if we reinforced our offensive line.

If our OL can dominate a game then any NFL receiver would be able to get open. Last year Romo had forever to throw balls and was getting it to the likes of Sam Hurd and Crayton, who is a 7th round pick. Granted dallas is pass heavy but if you give your offense time, ANY NFL QB & WR are going to be able to connect.

Skill position players are easy to get. Every offseason there are a good quantity of quality QB's, WR's and RB's available that are released for cap reasons.
Not many QB's, WR's probably the top for skill.. RB's are here and there, often seem to be trades

maybe I'm wrong, just what I've noticed

Sorry but I strongly disagree that Wide Receiver is an issue on this team. We have to solid targets in Moss and Cooley, as well as talent coming up in Davis, Thomas, and Kelly. Sure one or two of them might end up as bust but the fact remains that we have two receiving threats off the LOS and in the NFL that's more then enough.

This receiving corps was more then enough during 6-2 when we were running the ball like mad men. It was when the running game broke down where the passing game fell apart. If you remember during those first 8 weeks CP led the league in rushing with 944 yards (on pace for 1,888) and 7 TD's. In the second half of the season he averaged 3.5 ypc with 2 TD's.

So with the running game gone our O-line, who was breaking down from old age at midseason, started to become a liability when teams decided they could unload on our QB and easily get the ball back after 3 and outs.

If anything we need new blood on the O-Line. Even if it means adding a RT, G, and C with our first three picks in the first three rounds (in this scenario we trade back) or better yet we get Jordan Gross in Free agency, draft Duke Robinson in the late first and find a quality center that falls through the cracks like Alex Mack. Maybe get a DT in between. Of course maybe I'm just a dreamer. Anyway we're a team that lives and dies with the running game just like the Vikings. I mean does anyone here think for a second that Tavaris Jackson is half as good as he is without the Vikings running game?

Trust me, O-Line play means much more then Recievers. I mean look at the Cardinals they got two of the best receivers in the league paired with a quality QB in Warner and they barely went 9-7 in possibly the worst division in football. Of course we're not much better going 8-8 but our problems started when the running game went downhill.

Join me brothers in helping the Redskins rebuild a glorious offensive front.

^ I agree with you but I still say this;

Then I would say we are screwed. Not cause I don't want an elite WR but cause we have basically a college coach trying to teach pros how to run routes. It has not worked in 5 yrs, we have had no production from our WR's in the last 5yrs, and anyone we picked up in the hopes they will make this team better appear to suck or can't get on the field due to lack of knowlege of the plays/routes. But lets not hold anyone accountable cause we can always pick up more next yr or draft another WR in hopes he will work out. The only reason Moss, ARE, and Thrash have worked out for us is cause they were trained prior to Hixon being here. Moss trained with the Jets, ARE trained with Pitt, and Thrash started here and got fine tuned in the WCO with the Eagles. No one else has produced. No one else has been developed since Hixon has gotten here. Everyone who had talent according to the team came, did ok or nothing at all, left and did better then here...ie; Coles, Patton, and Lloyd ring a bell. I'm afraid to ask where Mix went.

We can draft for the Lines. pick up some good LB, S, CB in free agency and if the coach had any balls replace Hixon with someone who will make a difference at their position and bring back Maurice Mann, McMullen, Mix, and pick up Marcus Monk....all WR's over 6-1 and have been cut by their teams. Develope them the right way and we have several decent WR's to use.

^ I agree with you but I still say this;

We can draft for the Lines. pick up some good LB, S, CB in free agency and if the coach had any balls replace Hixon with someone who will make a difference at their position and bring back Maurice Mann, McMullen, Mix, and pick up Marcus Monk....all WR's over 6-1 and have been cut by their teams. Develope them the right way and we have several decent WR's to use.

I'm sure there'll be more 6'4''+ WR's coming out in this years draft that you can get just as excited for. Though unless their receiving skills catch up with their physical dimensions they won't be able to make an NFL roster.

Having an OL that can dominate the LOS will pinpoint where problems lie in our offensive skill positions. Until then it is speculation as to who exactly is the liability in our offense.

^ again agreed. If we can't stop the rush or can't give JC time to let plays develope it won't matter who is back at QB we won't have a decent passing game.

but I'll add Hixon has not developed anyone in the 5 yrs he's been here. Not one WR. We have no young talent except for Thomas and Kelly whome we picked up last yr and some are calling them busts. So we pick 2-3 WR's in hopes that one works out? McMullen didn't even though we didn't draft him, Maurice Mann didn't, Mix was supposed to be the next Plexico. What happened? We let him go but keep Thrash based solely on his ST play? Cartwright did most of the tackling on kick offs. and Horton. Basically we kept a vet WR on the team cause of his ST abilities alone and he didn't even use them all that much cause Cartwright made most of the tackles. I'd of rather let him go as much as I was a fan of him and kept the younger guys for the future.

again though it doesn't matter who you bring in if our WR coach can't coach anyone or develope anyone. All will suck in the end.