Grade the Redskins Draft!

Perhaps "setting up to fail" is not the right term. Maybe "not doing a D--- thing to help him succeed" would be more appropriate.

They did several things to help the O in last year's draft. You know, guys that are still on the team and need to step up this year.

I'm pleased with the overall draft and signing of undrafted free agents. I think the defense will be just as competitive this year. The only real issue with the offense was scoring in the red zone. We have a 3,000 yard passer, 1,450+ rusher and 1,000 receiver, hopefully with the new additions and improved play from last year's personnel we can score more often. I'm really feeling the signing of the UDFA's more than the day 2 signings. Overall, a B+.

They did several things to help the O in last year's draft. You know, guys that are still on the team and need to step up this year.

but there are no garantees they WILL step up. I'm hopeful about Thomas and Davis, but if the decline of Moss and ARE continues, it may be a wash.

Whats up with all this optimism going on here? The next thing I know, someones going to be telling me that at the end of last season, our lines were the teams primary concern, and now we've infused 33% of those lines with excellent young players and I should be focusing on what we have done instead of what we have not.

but there are no garantees they WILL step up. I'm hopeful about Thomas and Davis, but if the decline of Moss and ARE continues, it may be a wash.

Whats up with all this optimism going on here? The next thing I know, someones going to be telling me that at the end of last season, our lines were the teams primary concern, and now we've infused 33% of those lines with excellent young players and I should be focusing on what we have done instead of what we have not.
Can I simply tell you, that we have made good moves at the opening bell of FA, good moves at the very least in the opening moments of the draft, and now we are in a different stage and have one basic need to hammer home, and several teams getting ready to cut serviceable if not high mark talent because of their drafts. It is the off-season, I will live with my Forever optimistic Skins Glasses proudly!

The question shouldn't be the grade of the draft but the grade after being developed. How is it that the Steelers, Colts and Patriots draft this mid-draft players and they become stars. We can draft a pro like Edgar Allen Orakpo but if we dont work with them and surround them with equal or better talent then your bust rate goes through the roof.

Without making this post a quote-fest a few points:
-Football is the ultimate team sport. Improving the defense will improve the offense. We've added 3 key pieces to the "4th ranked defense" (which is meaningless really) which should make a significant difference. Haynesworth pushes the middle of the pocket, which has been needed for years. Hall is a playmaking CB with great ball skills. He will get beat occasionally but will make plays as well. Orapko provides pass rush which should increase turnovers and improve field position. By default, over the span of the season, will improve the offensive production. We were top 5 in the league in overall offense but bottom third in turnovers and sacks. I'd rather be the 12th ranked defense and be top 8 in sacks turnovers than top 5 with fewer changes of the ball.

-I know I am nearly alone in this but once we past our pick at #13 and we got Oprapko, which everyone is universally happy with, so what we didn't draft an o-lineman? Would you want us to 'mortgage our future' to trade back into the end of round one or round two for Oher, Britton or Loadholt? That would cost us our '10 1st round pick. Do you want us to reach for a player graded as a 5th or 6th rounder in the 3rd just for the sake of picking an OL? The fact that very few OL (and no tackles) were taken immediately or nearly after our 3rd round pick would have meant that we immensely reached. The other point is if most of you aren't patient enough to let Rinehart develop and are calling him a bust, what are your expectations for a 5th round G or T?

I don't know, maybe I am naive but I don't get the gloom and doom going around. Damn, cheer up, it's spring time and we're 0-0. Let the preseason (at least) play out before we start firing coaches and starting over in 2010. Would the '09 outlook be that dramatically different if we had gone with Oher (who lasted another 10 picks) or traded down to pick up an additional 4, 5 or 6 (what teams were paying to move up) later in the draft?

You are not alone. I am in considerable agreement with you.

If just a couple of things had gone differently last year we might have finished 10-6. And now I think we are better. One step at a time.

but there are no garantees they WILL step up. I'm hopeful about Thomas and Davis, but if the decline of Moss and ARE continues, it may be a wash.

Whats up with all this optimism going on here? The next thing I know, someones going to be telling me that at the end of last season, our lines were the teams primary concern, and now we've infused 33% of those lines with excellent young players and I should be focusing on what we have done instead of what we have not.

And there would be no guarantees of a rookie taken this year for the O that he would be ready to step up.

Decline of Moss and ARE? I think that's overstating things a bit.

As for the optimism, if you can't be optimistic in April before any games have even been played, I guess you never will be.

Can I simply tell you, that we have made good moves at the opening bell of FA, good moves at the very least in the opening moments of the draft, and now we are in a different stage and have one basic need to hammer home, and several teams getting ready to cut serviceable if not high mark talent because of their drafts. It is the off-season, I will live with my Forever optimistic Skins Glasses proudly!

You rule bro.

Without making this post a quote-fest a few points:
-Football is the ultimate team sport. Improving the defense will improve the offense. We've added 3 key pieces to the "4th ranked defense" (which is meaningless really) which should make a significant difference. Haynesworth pushes the middle of the pocket, which has been needed for years. Hall is a playmaking CB with great ball skills. He will get beat occasionally but will make plays as well. Orapko provides pass rush which should increase turnovers and improve field position. By default, over the span of the season, will improve the offensive production. We were top 5 in the league in overall offense but bottom third in turnovers and sacks. I'd rather be the 12th ranked defense and be top 8 in sacks turnovers than top 5 with fewer changes of the ball.

-I know I am nearly alone in this but once we past our pick at #13 and we got Oprapko, which everyone is universally happy with, so what we didn't draft an o-lineman? Would you want us to 'mortgage our future' to trade back into the end of round one or round two for Oher, Britton or Loadholt? That would cost us our '10 1st round pick. Do you want us to reach for a player graded as a 5th or 6th rounder in the 3rd just for the sake of picking an OL? The fact that very few OL (and no tackles) were taken immediately or nearly after our 3rd round pick would have meant that we immensely reached. The other point is if most of you aren't patient enough to let Rinehart develop and are calling him a bust, what are your expectations for a 5th round G or T?

I don't know, maybe I am naive but I don't get the gloom and doom going around. Damn, cheer up, it's spring time and we're 0-0. Let the preseason (at least) play out before we start firing coaches and starting over in 2010. Would the '09 outlook be that dramatically different if we had gone with Oher (who lasted another 10 picks) or traded down to pick up an additional 4, 5 or 6 (what teams were paying to move up) later in the draft?

I don't think it's quite gloom and doom, Pain, just a questionmark??

After the 1st and 3rd round, it all seemed ????????Questionable????????? to me, although I liked the video of the WR Marko Polo.

I agree with what you and others have said about the Defensive improvements, but we also have three young OLs Rinehart, Clark, and Batiste, who have been working on their game. Dock returned and the FA Williams (4 Bill$$$$) signed Friday! Throw in the UDRFAs and we have some depth!

The Draft, overall, I give it a C Passing.
The RDFAs - A

I was pissed off when we drafted the two linebackers. I was like what the hell Cody was not even expected to be drafted and apparently he just started playing LB. Henson is not a household name either. But now that I have had enough time to calm down, I realized that this draft might be allot like our 2006 NFL draft. We took Montgomery and he was of the radar screen also. In-fact he was a Olineman converted to Dline from what I remember and after him in the 6th they took Golston. Awesome draft. Maybe this one will be like that.