Rebuilding the Redskins

I'm going to avoid getting emotional because of the last several games and try to share some more rational thoughts on what I believe this organization needs to do to get moving in the right direction.

1. Figure out who is going to be responsible for managing personnel. The Skins brought A.J. Smith, who has a solid track record, to help in this area. I'm not sure if he is the right guy but they need to decide whether its going to be home or whether they need to acquire a first-rate personnel guy who believes in building through the draft and developing younger players.

2. This coaching regime just seems like they are on their way out, which at this point seems like the right move. As much as I hate the instability that comes with coaching turnover, it just feels like it isn't going to happen with this group of coaches. I'd like to see the Redskins bring in a young, sharp coordinator with NFL experience and work with him to get a talented veteran staff in place with a clearly articulated vision and principles.

3. As for the team:

Offense

Quarterback - I think they are basically set here. Unless there is an opportunity to acquire a 2nd or more for Cousins, this unit is set. I'd assume that whatever regime comes in will replace Grossman with someone else.

Receivers - They have one solid player (Garcon); two marginal players (Hank & Aldrick) and two guys (Moss and Morgan) who are done at the end of this season. Finding a legitimate starter is a need.

Running backs - They are set here.

Tightends - Set.

Offensive line - This is the one unit on offense that needs significant work. Other than Williams, you have four marginal starters (regardless of how well Polumbus is playing according to PFF this year). They are going to need to figure out how to get two starters to add to this unit. I haven't really done much analysis of individual performance but I'd say it certainly seems as though Chris Chester and Kory need to go. Will and Tyler are marginal (both would be ideal upgrades) but there is so much work to be done to get this line into shape that in one offseason, you may only be able to fix half the problem.

Defense

Defensive line - In a 3-4, you have one solid starter (Cofield) and a bunch of marginal players. If they shift to a 4-3 and relocate Kerrigan to end, they still have two spots they'll need to find legitimate starters to fill.

Linebackers - In a 3-4, they have good outside backers (if they re-sign Orakpo) , one marginal ilb (Riley) and then one hole after London Fletcher retires this season. They need a top-tier / borderline all-pro inside linebacker to get this unit on track.

Secondary - I think their assets here are an emerging young cb (Amerson), a solid veteran (Hall) and nothing in the backfield. They are going to need to get a top-tier safety to play in the backfield and at least a solid, 2nd-tier player to join the cb group.

Overall, this team is going to have 6 draft picks and a significant amount of cap room with loads of holes to fill. I'd say the things they really need:

1. 1st tier interior offensive lineman
2. 1st tier safety
3. 1st tier defensive lineman
4. 2nd tier interior offensive lineman
5. 2nd tier cornerback
6. 2nd tier wide receiver
7. 2nd tier offensive lineman

They might have younger, unproven players who have the ability to fill the holes. Somewhere between that group, the free agency market and upcoming draft, they'll need to figure out how to fill those holes.

You think a lot more of Polumbus than most of this board.

RT should be a priority. Draft needs to include more than 1 O-Lineman and a quality DB, MLB, and WR.

I think the defensive roster is (still) far better suited to a 4-3.

LDE Kerrigan
DT Cofield/backup
DT Jenkins/Golston/Bowen rotating
RDE Orakpo

MLB Riley
SLB Jackson
WLB Tapp

Hall and Amerson at corners. One of Rambo/Merriweather/Jackson starts and we need a starter at the other safety spot.

Maybe bring in a FA over Tapp, but I definitely think Riley and Jackson can hold down the other two spots.

Depth is still and issue at many positions, but at least we're making the most of our assets. Rak especially will be a beast at RDE and Kerrigan is plenty stout enough to play LDE and create some pressure too.

The offense needs more help than defense in terms of adding players/talent. 3 or even 4 new olineman and at least another starting WR.

I think the defensive roster is (still) far better suited to a 4-3.

LDE Kerrigan
DT Cofield/backup
DT Jenkins/Golston/Bowen rotating
RDE Orakpo

MLB Riley
SLB Jackson
WLB Tapp

Hall and Amerson at corners. One of Rambo/Merriweather/Jackson starts and we need a starter at the other safety spot.

Maybe bring in a FA over Tapp, but I definitely think Riley and Jackson can hold down the other two spots.

Depth is still and issue at many positions, but at least we're making the most of our assets. Rak especially will be a beast at RDE and Kerrigan is plenty stout enough to play LDE and create some pressure too.

The offense needs more help than defense in terms of adding players/talent. 3 or even 4 new olineman and at least another starting WR.


Agreed. defense should go back to 4-3

I think it is irrelevant if its a 4-3 or 3-4 "roster" right now, because who ever comes in is going to blow it up and no matter what the scheme is the players as currently assembled are still going to suck. There is not much talent on the Skins right now, specifically defense.

Cowboys went from a 3-4 to a 4-3... might have the worst defense ever.
Saints went from a 4-3 to a 3-4... went from having the worst defense to a top 10 one in less than a year.

It is not the scheme, its the players and coaches.

Also remember when Orakpo was moved from DE to a 4-3 OLB... Yea Rob Jackson would be just as bad at that position.

Fixing the players is only a tiny part of what's needed to fix this organization.

Offensively it's pretty clear the O-line needs an upgrade, again, in order to be effective. Wouldn't mind spending in free agency on Michael Oher and sticking him at RT. He's not perfect, too many penalties and a little inconsistent but still would be a huge instant upgrade. Baltimore has to decide if they're going to pay him or Eugene Monroe so there's a pretty good chance he's available. Draft a center in the 3rd round, develop LeRibeius and find out if Chester or Montgomery can hold down RG for one more season before they can be replaced.

Finally address WR like an NFL team does. Love Garcon but outside of him, blah. Draft a WR with the 2nd round pick, try to sign Dexter McCluster in free agency and fix both the return game and create a 'weapon' in the passing game. Hankerson is a #4 WR, Robinson is maybe, MAYBE a #5 but he's the definition of a one trick pony.

I wouldn't be opposed to keeping our TE as is, including Davis. Again, he's far from perfect but from what we've seen out of Reed he's dangerous but fragile. Paulsen and Paul are not viable pass options long term so we need talented depth at that spot.

Defensively we can add someone in free agency and/or the draft to the line to go with Cofield and Jenkins, I don't see this position as a huge position of need. At LB, re-sign Rak and Riley and then depending on scheme see where a healthy Keenan Robinson fits and/or again, address depth via the draft (love the Stanford kid Shayne Skov) or a mid level free agent.

On the back end, bring back Hall, promote Amerson to a starter and go after Jarius Byrd in free agency. We haven't figured out safety for years, let's just fix it. Thomas returning will potentially give us an option at starter but at worst, he's a depth player. Crawford coming back will help the depth, Minnifield developing will improve the depth, bringing back Biggers is good for depth so at CB I don't think any free agent dollars need to be spent.

Not looking to go nuts in free agency (retain Rak, Riley, Hall, Biggers, sign Oher, McCluster, Byrd) but be smart about spending the available cap dollars, focus on interior WR, LB and OL in that order in the draft. Just have to have the right GM and coach making those decisions.

Drift Reality:

AJ Smith is merely a consultant. I don't think he really figures into the front office much at all, especially if the front office is going to be making changes soon (promoting Allen, moving up Moroco possibly.)

Secondly, saying Tyler Polumbus is a marginal player is an insult to all marginal players in the NFL. He can't handle the job and should be priority one in getting replaced. I'd follow that up with Chris Chester. I would consider Montgomery more of a marginal/decent player and Cory L, but that right side of the line is horrible. Basically, everybody who is not named Trent Williams should be upgraded.

Everything else I pretty much agree with. DeAngelo Hall, while I commend him for upping his game this year, he's pretty old. Time to replace him with some young blood. He could stay on for cheap next year but I don't see a lot of value in that move.

Biggest thing you didn't mention was replacing special teams coach Keith Burns. Special teams has lost us more games than anything else this year.

Nice organized post Drift.

My re signs right off the bat would be P. Riley, D Hall(1 year), and multi-year for Orakpo.

My focus on Defense would be acquire players who are good tacklers. My focus would be getting 3 new starters: Free Safety, MLB, and D-Line. The free safety needs to be proven vet, not a drafted rookie.

My focus on Offense would be WR and O-line. Much work is needed here. The right side of Oline should be replaced (Chester, Polumbus). So cut both and look for 2 starters at RT and RG. The question mark is Gettis, could he play RG? Also what about cutting Wil and moving Kory L to center? Lots of questions, so lets keep the need just as interior Oline. Polumbus needs to go period.

Folks Im not joking when I say our WR core needs to be completely replaced outside of Garcon. Id focused on 1 outside starter at WR, but slot WR will be a need as well.

Special teams: We cant continue to overlook this obvious problem. We need a Kick/punt returner, a punter, and possibly a kicker. So Kick Returner and Punter for sure.

We can get more specific with actual players later but my list of needs would be:

1. MLB
2. Free Safety
3. WR
4. D-Lineman
5. Right Tackle
6. Interior Olineman
7. Cornerback (slot)
8. Kick returner
9. Punter
10.WR (slot)

Thats alot of problems

i like the overview.