building for a superbowl?

Len Pasquarelli basically said (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=5058639) the same thing just after the trade for Donovan McNabb:



I've been thinking about this, because for a long time I've wanted to see this organization build from a foundation of young, promising players, stockpile draft picks, and essentially tough it out for a season or two while the young guys learn even if it means sucking it up with some losing seasons.

Clearly though, Shanahan and Allen don't see it that way. But then I thought, who really does anymore? When was the last time you saw a team truly blow everything up, start from scratch ? The Colts with Peyton Manning come to mind, back in 1998. They had an awful season in '97, wound up with the first overall pick, but put together a long term winner with Polian built mainly with draft picks and had a long, slow climb to the top.

I just don't think you see that anymore. The Saints brought in a free agent QB in Drew Brees that got them to pinnacle, and the Cards had to do the same thing with Kurt Warner. With free agency, and now especially with the end of the salary cap, nobody seems to want to wait for two to three seasons for a slow, plodding build-up to championship status.

When you stop and think about it, we're doing what just about everyone else is trying to do, the only difference is that we haven't been successful.

I agree......and to prove your point, most coaches in the game today only get a short period of time to develop their young players and win simultaneously. Coaches that are in a position where the pressuse is on to win or be gone feel the need to gravitate towards the older player in hopes of producing immediate results.

It always helps to have that established QB like in the Eagles case. Reid and McNabb have been together from the beginning, having that foundation has made it easier for them to year after year continue to add good young talent to an already productive nucleus.

i for one am excited regarding this move. We bring in a QB that wins games, that brings that winning feeling into the locker room. Guy that has played in meaningful games year in and year out. Building for superbowl? who cares! We haven't won shit in 10 years. wouldn't it be great to go to the playoffs every year...compete for 10 - 11 wins every year?? Not that this is a guarentee but the guy wins games. As far as building, i think we still have the opportunity to get younger and stronger. Adding a 33 year old QB doesn't change that. We have young WR, young TE, Oline is getting younger with the drafting of Olineman(hopefully) Our D is getting younger with Haynesworth, Orakpo, McIntosh. the corners are young the safeties are young. I think we have made some good moves this offseason. and usually I am the biggest hater on here. I think McNabb has 3 to 4 very good years left. This offense is capable of putting up 35 points a game next year. My worry is the D switching to a new scheme may hurt us a little, but we still have ballers on that side of the ball. I honestly think this is going to be a great year for us Skins fans!!!

I just heard a rumor on the radio that part (not sure how much of a part) of their reasoning for trading McNabb to the skins was to discourage them from drafting Bradford if he were to be available at 4. They said that the Eagles don't want to face him for the next 10 yrs. Another typical stretch rumor leading up to the draft. On a side note, I read that they are going to implode the old Cowboys stadium soon. I'd love for them to sell of the opportunity to press the switch the bring that place to the ground!

They actually auctioned off the button pushing responsibility
Kraft Foods to sponsor demolition of Texas Stadium - ESPN Dallas (http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/news/story?id=4786874&campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines)

I believe that what you are seeing from the front office and coaching staff is a direction the team wants to go in. Sure, they might not have the youth or talent that we want them to have but success is not usually immediate. We do have the next two or three years to see how the team pans out. We got to see two years of Cerrato & Zorn and we all can see the hugh strategy differences immediately from them to the current admin. It's too early to be talking superbowl but I like the drive, determination and focus this entire team has in the making.

They actually auctioned off the button pushing responsibility
Kraft Foods to sponsor demolition of Texas Stadium - ESPN Dallas (http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/news/story?id=4786874&campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines)

Watch the implosion live on ESPN3.com Sunday morning from 7-9am

I think that the moves that Shanahan and Allen are making this year are to win now and in the future. What's the one position that teams struggle the most to get 'right'? The QB position. With the McNabb trade we have immediately (and dramatically IMO) improved that position for hopefully the next 3-4 years. Perhaps that could have been done with a draft pick as well but at least some people thought that was done twice already in the past 10 years with the Ramsey and Campbell picks. The risk/reward on McNabb is far less than on a drafted QB.

The other moves they've made, adding depth to the backfield, signing Hicks to a 3 year deal, extending M. Williams to a 3 year deal, bringing in Buchanon, signing Ke'Moataue (or whatever), etc. are all moves to win and build depth at positions. They are not going to be able to change a stale, poorly constructed 4-12 roster overnight-especially with the restrictions on free agents this year.

I get the whole notion of 'stockpiling draft picks' but it takes a couple of things in order to do that. We need to have players that are desirable in a trade that we can move without suffering an impact on the roster. For all of the geniuses who want to trade Cooley, what happens if Davis pops a hamstring week 2? Then what? For everyone who is saying trade Landry and Moss, are you that comfortable with Chris Horton and Marko Mitchell? Those same fans will be bitching up a storm come October when we're sitting at 2-5 and those players are thriving elsewhere.

The same goes for trading down in the draft. There's a simple reason why that seldom, if ever happens anymore. No team wants to be on the hook for top 5 guaranteed money unless they are targeting a very specific player like the Jets with Sanchez last year and they didn't get a ransom of picks.

Teams like the Eagles and Pats didn't stock up by depleting their roster of impact players, they used players that fit a role well for them but they had depth enough to absorb the loss. Those teams also were not stuck in a position of drafting for need with every pick, they had a talented enough roster that they could afford to not take a player at a position because they had a gaping hole, which is a position that we've found ourselves in for more than a decade and quite frankly most teams are in as well.

Sorry for the long post, but to answer the OP question, yes, I believe we are building for a Super Bowl but not THIS Super Bowl.

I think that the moves that Shanahan and Allen are making this year are to win now and in the future. What's the one position that teams struggle the most to get 'right'? The QB position. With the McNabb trade we have immediately (and dramatically IMO) improved that position for hopefully the next 3-4 years. Perhaps that could have been done with a draft pick as well but at least some people thought that was done twice already in the past 10 years with the Ramsey and Campbell picks. The risk/reward on McNabb is far less than on a drafted QB.

The other moves they've made, adding depth to the backfield, signing Hicks to a 3 year deal, extending M. Williams to a 3 year deal, bringing in Buchanon, signing Ke'Moataue (or whatever), etc. are all moves to win and build depth at positions. They are not going to be able to change a stale, poorly constructed 4-12 roster overnight-especially with the restrictions on free agents this year.

I get the whole notion of 'stockpiling draft picks' but it takes a couple of things in order to do that. We need to have players that are desirable in a trade that we can move without suffering an impact on the roster. For all of the geniuses who want to trade Cooley, what happens if Davis pops a hamstring week 2? Then what? For everyone who is saying trade Landry and Moss, are you that comfortable with Chris Horton and Marko Mitchell? Those same fans will be bitching up a storm come October when we're sitting at 2-5 and those players are thriving elsewhere.

The same goes for trading down in the draft. There's a simple reason why that seldom, if ever happens anymore. No team wants to be on the hook for top 5 guaranteed money unless they are targeting a very specific player like the Jets with Sanchez last year and they didn't get a ransom of picks.

Teams like the Eagles and Pats didn't stock up by depleting their roster of impact players, they used players that fit a role well for them but they had depth enough to absorb the loss. Those teams also were not stuck in a position of drafting for need with every pick, they had a talented enough roster that they could afford to not take a player at a position because they had a gaping hole, which is a position that we've found ourselves in for more than a decade and quite frankly most teams are in as well.

Sorry for the long post, but to answer the OP question, yes, I believe we are building for a Super Bowl but not THIS Super Bowl.
+
DAMN.........I was JUST preparing to post the same thing! good post

I think that the moves that Shanahan and Allen are making this year are to win now and in the future. What's the one position that teams struggle the most to get 'right'? The QB position. With the McNabb trade we have immediately (and dramatically IMO) improved that position for hopefully the next 3-4 years. Perhaps that could have been done with a draft pick as well but at least some people thought that was done twice already in the past 10 years with the Ramsey and Campbell picks. The risk/reward on McNabb is far less than on a drafted QB.

The other moves they've made, adding depth to the backfield, signing Hicks to a 3 year deal, extending M. Williams to a 3 year deal, bringing in Buchanon, signing Ke'Moataue (or whatever), etc. are all moves to win and build depth at positions. They are not going to be able to change a stale, poorly constructed 4-12 roster overnight-especially with the restrictions on free agents this year.

I get the whole notion of 'stockpiling draft picks' but it takes a couple of things in order to do that. We need to have players that are desirable in a trade that we can move without suffering an impact on the roster. For all of the geniuses who want to trade Cooley, what happens if Davis pops a hamstring week 2? Then what? For everyone who is saying trade Landry and Moss, are you that comfortable with Chris Horton and Marko Mitchell? Those same fans will be bitching up a storm come October when we're sitting at 2-5 and those players are thriving elsewhere.

The same goes for trading down in the draft. There's a simple reason why that seldom, if ever happens anymore. No team wants to be on the hook for top 5 guaranteed money unless they are targeting a very specific player like the Jets with Sanchez last year and they didn't get a ransom of picks.

Teams like the Eagles and Pats didn't stock up by depleting their roster of impact players, they used players that fit a role well for them but they had depth enough to absorb the loss. Those teams also were not stuck in a position of drafting for need with every pick, they had a talented enough roster that they could afford to not take a player at a position because they had a gaping hole, which is a position that we've found ourselves in for more than a decade and quite frankly most teams are in as well.

Sorry for the long post, but to answer the OP question, yes, I believe we are building for a Super Bowl but not THIS Super Bowl.

Guess that means me ... :rolleyes:

If anyone pops a hamstring, snaps their Achilles, tears an ACL, it harms the team, there's nothing you can do about it. You could say the same for the Eagles if Kolb tears his rotator cuff in Week 3 of preseason.

Trading away marquee players in exchange for gobbling up multiple draft picks obviously has its drawbacks. That's the biggest risk you're taking if you go that route, but injuries can still happen regardless.

The crux of the issue here is whether you rely on young, unproven, but inexpensive players with anticipated potential or do you cast those aside for proven veterans. Looks like we're opting for the latter, and I'm willing to put more trust in Shanahan and Allen to do that rather than Vinny Cerrato.

If a team makes it to the playoffs, they have a good shot at the SB. Just look at the Cardinals a few years back for an example. Everyone thought they were just a playoff team but not a super bowl caliber team and they were a game winning drive away from the ring.

Also, McNabb is still a very capable QB. I believe the Eagles made a terrible mistake by not only pissing him off but trading him to a team that plays them twice. He might say it's just another game but that's press conference speak. He wants to prove to them that he's still got it