Lots of RBs, DBs, LBs, but why no DT or DE?

I'm sure that we are still looking hard to find a stud DE, but I think that Williams thinks we can get it done with Daniels, Evans, and Clemons.

Next years may be the year we try to shore up those position a little more.

If we could get it done with Clemons just EMERGING as a great pass rusher and Daniels out of the line-up for most of the season, I think we can REALLY get it done at full strength.

If we could get it done with Clemons just EMERGING as a great pass rusher and Daniels out of the line-up for most of the season, I think we can REALLY get it done at full strength.
Great point!
I don't really see any major upgrades out there for our D-Line. Maybe somone will get cut Jun 1st that would help us. But there is nothing to drool over out there right now.

This is definately a focus-area for the next off-season. If they can't sign someone early in free agency, they are sure to look at trying to use either their 2nd or their 3rd rounder on a DE, possibly both considering their draft tactics this year and last - drafting double at positions of need in the hopes that one of the two will work out.

We tried to grab Courtney Brown but he didn't like our offer. I think it's cool that we can finally say to guys "Hey, come over and be part of the best defense in the league" and let them take it or leave it. Trying to buy our way to a winning roster didn't work.

And that was my point exactly in starting this thread. We have seen many free agent DT and DEs go by the board, and we saw many DT and DEs getting drafted. The only D-Lineman we've considered was Courtney Brown, and the 4 UNDRAFTED rookies that are on our squad. SO, SURE, there's may be no quality D-Linemen out there now, but my question remains: Why have we being going after soo many LBs and DBs and not any D-Linemen? We can spend the $$$ on LBs and DBs, but not DLs?? I think the most intelligent response I've seen is that we may be considering the using the 3-4 a lot more.

I think Carlos Rogers is going to be key. I believe one reason we didn't have to rely on a bigtime DE to get sacks last year was that Springs and Smoot could man cover and that basically gave you an extra player or two to blitz.

So the question is Rogers and his man-coverage abilities. Or Walt Harris or whoever it is that starts.

I think the main reason we have so many RBs, LBs, and TE types is for special teams. You don't send big DEs and DTs out on kickoff coverage units. You need powerful and fast players who can cover ground and are willing to take on big collisions.

I think when Joe Gibbs looked at our team this offseason, he said priority 1 was improving special teams. Then after that, he figured WR and CB were practically secondary priorities.

I understand the concern about the Dline; conventional wisdom says a good defense starts with a good front four. The thing is, Williams' doesn't run a coventional defense. He uses backs and linebackers to get the job done.

Moreover, why mess with success. We were the #3 defense last season and the only D-lineman we had to speak of was Cornelius Griffin.

Finally, D-Linemen don't come cheap - especially pass-rushing D-Linemen. Where would we get the money to get one? (If you're thinking the draft.....remember, D-Linemen usually take several years to develop).

I think the main reason we have so many RBs, LBs, and TE types is for special teams. You don't send big DEs and DTs out on kickoff coverage units. You need powerful and fast players who can cover ground and are willing to take on big collisions.

I think when Joe Gibbs looked at our team this offseason, he said priority 1 was improving special teams. Then after that, he figured WR and CB were practically secondary priorities.

Yes, if you read my post which started this thread, I stated that you can usually win a ball game if you win on 2 of your 3 teams, and that perhaps the Skins we're bringing in many LBs and DBs because they were trying to win games on Defense AND Special Teams. So, I understand what you're saying. It still doesn't explain why we didn't pick up a single stud DT or DE. I'm starting to think GW will surprise everyone and start using the 3-4 a lot more.

I agree that it would be nice to have a pass rushing DE but I like the fact that we can effectively stop the run forcing the other team beat us with there passing attack. I mean look at how many games we made teams one diminsional. Personaly I would rather have a team try to beat us with there air attack rather than rushing. And since no one could run on us last year, well that puts the game in the hands of the D, our D forced the opposing offense to become predicable...