Redskins Receivers Rotation

I wouldn't say that at all. Hankerson could easily step into the #2 role once he gets some experience. I think there's definitely room for the young guys to move up once they get their feet wet. Tough to expect them to be ready for prime time with no offseason. I think Gaffney was brought in to help bridge that gap.

I was thinking that too. And if Hankerson takes awhile to develop then Gaffney's not all that bad and can be very productive in the meantime at #2.

I wouldn't say that at all. Hankerson could easily step into the #2 role once he gets some experience. I think there's definitely room for the young guys to move up once they get their feet wet. Tough to expect them to be ready for prime time with no offseason. I think Gaffney was brought in to help bridge that gap.I can buy Gaffney as the guy who will gradually give reps to Hankerson as he earns them over the next two years, setting up a breakout (in receiving yards) 2013 for Hankerson when Gaffney is out of his way. But I also think the best thing that you can do for Hankerson if they really like him is just play him. Instead of playing Gaffney until Hankerson knows everything about everything, just throw him out there and let him fail a few times.

We screwed up a lot about the Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly draft, but one thing they didn't do is acquire a vet to block them. Either Chad Johnsoncinco was going to be the acquisition that offseason, or it was going to be Thomas. And even then, Devin Thomas' lack of grasp of an NFL offense was probably the single biggest reason the 2008 team failed to make the playoffs. But that was justifiable because the idea was that the 2009 team would benefit from that.

I firmly believe that having Jabar Gaffney or Donte Stallworth in 2008 would have put that team in the playoffs, but I think it's a different animal entirely when talking about the difference between 4 wins (receiver position is total crap) and 6 wins (receiver position performs better than expected).

With a normal offseason I might agree with tossing Hankerson to the wolves. Given the circumstances of the lockout though I would look to ease him in there and maybe have him starting by week 4, assuming he's got the basic grasp of things.

I can see this is going nowhere. The young guys will play... when they earn their spots.

Ok so why not let all the young guys compete against each other??? Makes no sense to bring in middle age and old guys on a team that's rebuilding, especially at the wr position. He even tried to bring in Brandon Stockley. The Eagles put in DeShawn Jackson and Jeremy Maclin right away. I didn't see them signing older guys.

I was thinking that too. And if Hankerson takes awhile to develop then Gaffney's not all that bad and can be very productive in the meantime at #2.

I think the young guys can remember 30 pass plays. We don't need the Al Saunders playbook.

And even then, Devin Thomas' lack of grasp of an NFL offense was probably the single biggest reason the 2008 team failed to make the playoffs.

I think it had more to do with his work ethic and inability to run proper routes. He was one of those club guys that Willie Parker was referencing on this way out of town.

I think it had more to do with his work ethic and inability to run proper routes. He was one of those club guys that Willie Parker was referencing on this way out of town.He was also pretty much responsible for every illegal formation we took as a team that year. Ridiculous.

Luckily, we were able to replace his contribution in 2009 by having Heyer line up off the line of scrimmage.

Ok so why not let all the young guys compete against each other??? Makes no sense to bring in middle age and old guys on a team that's rebuilding, especially at the wr position. He even tried to bring in Brandon Stockley. The Eagles put in DeShawn Jackson and Jeremy Maclin right away. I didn't see them signing older guys.

Well, as I've said repeatedly this wasn't a normal offseason. Trying to get these guys ready to play day 1 with just a month of training camp is expecting a lot.

I think the young guys can remember 30 pass plays. We don't need the Al Saunders playbook.

You think that's all they've got?

Well, as I've said repeatedly this wasn't a normal offseason. Trying to get these guys ready to play day 1 with just a month of training camp is expecting a lot.But the alternative is cutting some of the more high upside guys. If in fact they have less time to determine the relative learning curve of the young players, is the answer really to say "screw it" and just go find some purdy veterans who will screw up less in Weeks 1-6?

Is a 3-3 start to the 2011 season really the end game? Is this how we will remember Mike Shanahan as Redskins coach: did everything in his power to stay in the hunt into early November?