Peppers says he wants to explore free agency

Here we go again as redskins thinking about the fools gold. Peppers was a beast about a few years ago. But after injuries he isn't worth more then the pen the check is writen with. Haven't we learned anything from Jason Taylor?

There are so many rumors being floated around, as is customary at this point, that starting a new thread would be all over the place. I hinted at most of what I know a few posts back with my somewhat educated guess.

Happy to answer any questions

Alright, who do you think they're going after in the draft? You've been talking to the scouts. Is there anyone that the FO is rumored to be looking at with interest in the draft and FA?

No high priced FAs please!!!!!! Unless you guys want to root for a crappy team for the better part of this decade we need to really get smart with the draft scouting and try ti get more picks if necessary via trading someone of value.

I believe that SLB is the easiest position to handle on the entire defense, and while "strong side" would imply that you need a bigger, stronger player there, the fact that you spend a lot of time taking on blocks from the tight end instead of a tackle or guard makes me think that a smaller guy should be able to handle SLB better than WLB.

That, and I think it's somewhat easier, without having curl-flat coverage responsibilities and all.

Much appreciated breakdown but it leads to another question: why didn't Marcus and Rocky swap sides long ago being that Marcus struggles to keep up w/ most in coverage (he usually looks hurt when he sprints IMO)?

Much appreciated breakdown but it leads to another question: why didn't Marcus and Rocky swap sides long ago being that Marcus struggles to keep up w/ most in coverage (he usually looks hurt when he sprints IMO)?Fear of the unknown maybe? Marcus has been a SLB his whole career, and if his 2004 contract is any indication, he was valued like one in the free agent market.

Our chasing of Lance Briggs in the free agent market makes it seem like we were never going to consider moving Marcus into the heavier WLB responsibility role. We drafted Rocky, in my opinion, because we had in mind the fact that he would fill the WLB role vacated by Arrington, and we just haven't at any point had someone who could handle that role since we released LA.

I think we should try Blades there, since for two years now, his numbers have been absoultely unbelievably impressive. I think he can handle that responsibility.

Of course, we then have to build the DL while keeping in mind that we have no LBs over 240 lbs, and there are bruising OLs like Carolina's who pose impossible matchup issues (see preseason, game 3).

My somewhat educated guess says the following:

-We're going to show some interest in Peppers and Jordan Gross but it won't be all that intense. And, much to my dismay, we're not likely to go after Karlos Dansby either.

-We're going to offer a lot of money to Albert Haynesworth mainly because he's exactly what Blache has been asking for, a dominating interior lineman. Personally, I think the concerns about Big Al's character issues are a bit overrated. The bigger concern is really durability issues, he's only played one 16 game season in seven NFL seasons.

-Blache is really hoping Daniels' knee is up for at least one more year so he can put him back at DE opposite Andre Carter and allow the team to...

-Move Jason Taylor (who I think they figure out a way to keep) to weakside linebacker.

-If Daniels can't go, maybe they go with Evans again. Either way, I know that at this point DE is not high on their list (probably some late round pick if they get some extra picks) so I expect the 2009 starters are already on the roster

-Marcus Washington is probably gone (along with Griffin especially if they are able to get Haynesworth)

-McIntosh moves to the strongside but could be benched pretty quickly if they are able to get the guy they hope might fall to them in the draft...

-Aaron Curry. If he's there at #13 (not likely) the Redskins will probably take him and hope to trade late into the first round or into the top third of the second round to take an OT (deep class) like Beatty or Loadholt

-If Curry isn't there, they'll probably take an OT there at #13 and then hope to trade late into the first round or into the top third of the second round take an OLB like Cushing or Sintim. I think Cushing might actually be the guy they most want (little worried about that) but not at #13

-If they keep their third round pick, it may be an interior OL but it's more likely to be a running back

That's all for my somewhat educated guesses for now

All this scares me because it sounds very plausible.

Alright, who do you think they're going after in the draft? You've been talking to the scouts. Is there anyone that the FO is rumored to be looking at with interest in the draft and FA?

Well to be clear, I haven't been talking with Redskins scouts (not yet at least), but I've talked to some scouts and other execs in the league who have given me their impressions (based on observations and conversations) and everyone pretty much at this point believes the Redskins want to add an OLB and an OT first and that they will probably draft RB before DL, I think the Skins like this guy Jeremiah Johnson in the 3rd round potentially.

This is going to change so many times but if the draft was today, my suspicion is they'd take Cushing at 13.

Interestingly enough, one of the scouts was talking about Vinny and Snyder and he said they have the right idea but he doesn't understand their execution. For example, he thinks it was absolutely the right idea to go after a couple of WRs last year because beyond Crabtree and Maclin he doesn't believe the class is as strong this year. But he thinks they could have done better than Kelly and Thomas. He thinks they could have afforded to wait a round or two and take another receiver deeper in the draft. For what that's worth.

Interestingly enough, one of the scouts was talking about Vinny and Snyder and he said they have the right idea but he doesn't understand their execution. For example, he thinks it was absolutely the right idea to go after a couple of WRs last year because beyond Crabtree and Maclin he doesn't believe the class is as strong this year. But he thinks they could have done better than Kelly and Thomas. He thinks they could have afforded to wait a round or two and take another receiver deeper in the draft. For what that's worth.I agree with this scout (wow, I just wrote that?). Trading down, drafting for value, grabbing long term positions first, all good things, actual evaluation of said players: awful bordering on irresponsible.

It's clear that Vinny and co. know what they need to do to be successful. It seems like it might be more of a crapshoot for the current unit then the Gibbs-lead front office.

I'm pretty much basing this on 1) the selection of Devin Thomas, and 2) the lack of evidence to disprove this theory.

Small sample, I know, but that's what I'm getting. They do a lot of things better than the Gibbs-led front office, but tell a good prospect from a bad prospect at the same position does not appear to be one of those things.

A crap shoot is a lot better than trading all of your picks for FAs. At least they're trying to draft now. If they keep making the right moves I'll find it harder and harder to bad mouth the FO. The final book hasn't been written on last years draft, just the introduction.
From what Smoot Smack has been saying, that crap that Vinny spewed about not drafting for need is hog-wash. When the coaches tell you they need this and that, you have to take that into consideration.
I'm not a DS or VC fan but I think they're starting to learn. Who knows what will happen? The next lesson for them that they should've learned a long time ago is not to go after retirement players. I'd go after some more reliable cheaper FAs then one big name. That's just me. Every time I see some big team winning a big game it's usually a no-name player that makes the difference.
I'd be happy with a 2005 repeat and blow out Dallas and Filthy with a split with Jersey. I was so happy about that.
Good Smack, Smooter. Keep us in the down low.

you seem to forget we had the #4 ranked defense in the league

We could not beat anyone that had won more than 9 games. We had an 8-8 record. We have a good defense. We could have a great defense with one or two elite DL.

I know this statistic - which is based on yardage yielded. Yet, our defense got few sacks and few turnovers and points for their team.

In the NFL you've got to be able to generate turnovers and points on the defense. We could not; nor could not stop the best QB.

This justification is why this team can't improve past 8-9 wins because for a decade we've drafted WR and DB, or used our FA money to chase aged players. Our overall win-loss statistics shows the result of that philosophy regardless of the coaches.