Current Redskins Salary Cap Status - 2009

I don't think we should get rid of ALL of our older players, but we should be selective and not be so damn worried about keeping together a core group for a "one last run at it" kind of thing. The Ravens, Flacons, and Dolphins all proved that if you build the lines, you can succeed (overnight) in spite of other weaknesses. IMO, we should adopt that strategy and move forward.

The Ravens, Falcons and Dolphins had losing seasons before they got better. I wonder if the fan base and to some extent, the ownership/front office has the patience to go through a losing season of rebuilding. These losing seasons allowed these teams to make good acquisitions with high draft picks (Ravens got Flacco, Falcons got Matt Ryan, and the Dolphins got Jake Long).

The Ravens, Falcons and Dolphins had losing seasons before they got better. I wonder if the fan base and to some extent, the ownership/front office has the patience to go through a losing season of rebuilding. These losing seasons allowed these teams to make good acquisitions with high draft picks (Ravens got Flacco, Falcons got Matt Ryan, and the Dolphins got Jake Long).

I was just going to say this exact thing. The Ravens come to mind, they built their lines over the course of several drafts. They didn't suddenly draft 12 new linemen in one draft. They got Grubbs a few years ago, just as one example.

Besides, changing ourselves overnight is not an option for us, at least not through the draft (which is the right way to do it). We have 4 (or 5? I can't remember) draft picks. That's not going to make a difference overnight.

If you want an overnight impact you'd have to go to free agency. But again, with the cap situation, as much room as we could clear by cutting older guys, it would still take up significant space to replace them (because of the last-capped-year rules). It's just not feasible from a cap standpoint to replace Griffin, Springs, Taylor and Washington with a replacement AND build depth on top of their replacements.

What we're talking about here is a potential commitment to a youth movement. If we're going the route of cutting old expensive guys, then we have to find moderately priced free agents to replace them with now (ie no impact players) and draft well over the course of two or three seasons. I don't see how it can happen overnight for the Redskins. We're not the Dolphins with the luxury of picking Jake Long, we're not the Ravens sitting here with 10 draft picks.

What we're talking about here is a potential commitment to a youth movement. If we're going the route of cutting old expensive guys, then we have to find moderately priced free agents to replace them with now (ie no impact players) and draft well over the course of two or three seasons. I don't see how it can happen overnight for the Redskins. We're not the Dolphins with the luxury of picking Jake Long, we're not the Ravens sitting here with 10 draft picks.

I understand the Ravens built their current team through a few drafts. What I meant by changing overnight was with regard to record. Baltimore and Miami were shitty teams in '07, and they both made the playoffs this year.

The Redskins are not a shitty team, but we are old. I don't think we should blow it up, but we have to get younger. It doesn't have to happen all at once, but I'd like to see us to do a few things moving forward (not just this offseason, every offseason):

1) Focus more on improving the lines
2) Put more of a premium on draft picks
3) Stop constantly restructuring the contracts of aging players with declining skills

Trying to look at this from another slant.....maybe, and there's the Vinnie. IMO there are many ways to creatively build a team and not isolated to soley the draft, FA only, Divine intervention, etc.
That having been said, much has been said of late regarding the Skins trouble in fielding the team they are "paying for". Additionally, it has been suggested (by several people that should know) that VC is not a bad FO guy. NOT a good one either......average. If you have ever heard him speak for any length of time it is apparent, he has an ego. I think in his mind he is the second coming of Bobby Beatherd, and delivering inspired work through brilliant thought process, in creative ways and means. I disagree. I think as has been stated that he is hovering somewhere around average.
I think if you are not succesfully breaking new ground, and developing great success through previously unthought of means.............you should stick to ways that most "plodders" can also have prosperity.
Stick with the draft, and keep your nose in the wind for the occasional FA bargain, and undrafted UM grad/soon to be star.

I understand the Ravens built their current team through a few drafts. What I meant by changing overnight was with regard to record. Baltimore and Miami were shitty teams in '07, and they both made the playoffs this year.

The Redskins are not a shitty team, but we are old. I don't think we should blow it up, but we have to get younger. It doesn't have to happen all at once, but I'd like to see us to do a few things moving forward (not just this offseason, every offseason):

1) Focus more on improving the lines
2) Put more of a premium on draft picks
3) Stop constantly restructuring the contracts of aging players with declining skills

Our hand will be forced on point #3. The last-capped-year rules prevent us from restructuring contracts drastically this year. And then if 2010 is uncapped the contract structure won't matter.

Nice post by JLC here, giving some source info on potential player personnel decisions. The numbers never lie; much of what he says here jives with the top post in this thread.

Initial Personnel Ratings Completed - Redskins Insider (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2009/01/skins_first_set_of_personnel_m.html#more)

Griffin is likely to stay, Washington is almost surely gone, Jason Taylor and Shawn Springs are up in the air - the team intends to approach them with paycuts/restructuring possibilities, but JLC believes they're not likely to be receptive.

Nice post by JLC here, giving some source info on potential player personnel decisions. The numbers never lie; much of what he says here jives with the top post in this thread.

Initial Personnel Ratings Completed - Redskins Insider (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2009/01/skins_first_set_of_personnel_m.html#more)

Griffin is likely to stay, Washington is almost surely gone, Jason Taylor and Shawn Springs are up in the air - the team intends to approach them with paycuts/restructuring possibilities, but JLC believes they're not likely to be receptive.

Disappointing to hear that they don't think Rinehart is at least ready to compete for significant playing time in 2009. Maybe I was actually wrong about him. Wouldn't that be something?!

Disappointing to hear that they don't think Rinehart is at least ready to compete for significant playing time in 2009. Maybe I was actually wrong about him. Wouldn't that be something?!
I am much like Desert Storm I.........Shocked and Awed!

Nice post by JLC here, giving some source info on potential player personnel decisions. The numbers never lie; much of what he says here jives with the top post in this thread.

Initial Personnel Ratings Completed - Redskins Insider (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2009/01/skins_first_set_of_personnel_m.html#more)

Griffin is likely to stay, Washington is almost surely gone, Jason Taylor and Shawn Springs are up in the air - the team intends to approach them with paycuts/restructuring possibilities, but JLC believes they're not likely to be receptive.

This process that JLC is referring to by the way is basically what I was explaining here.

http://www.thewarpath.net/523135-post23.html

Though it seems I forgot to include the part where they review their own players before the meeting to discuss free agents

PLLLLEEEEEEAAAAASSSSSEEEE

Cut Springs!