What do we need personnel wise to be great?

Yeah you're right. I'm with you on this. But I think you're arguing in favor of a general philosophy instead of what should be done this year. We do need to stop trading away picks, but that doesn't help us for 2006. We don't have picks for 2006, so if we're going to stick to the topic of the thread, we've got to get free agents to fill personnel needs this year. And we have to avoid trading our 2007 draft picks in the process.

You are right Schneed, I am advocating a organizational philosophy. As for 2006 it will be the same old story, Plug & Chug.

The problem the owner has is that he views the Skins as a fan, as such we are always "just a couple of players away" from contending. The reality is that you can't go out and add a bunch of players each year and expect them to gel in one season. However we add players, free agency or the draft, we need to keep them here and stop developing talent for other teams.

1. Make the d-line a position of emphasis in the draft. When's the last time we drafted a defensive lineman? Mario Mounds in 2001? Unacceptable, especially considering how generic our d-line is and that we've needed a pass rushing end for what 10, 12 years? The last defensive end we drafted, Kenard Lang in 1997! Anyone wondering why our d-line can't get any pressure can just look at our past drafts for the reason. Draft a couple of young kids and develop them.

2. Get either a bigger wideout (like McCants) or a pass catching tight end (unlike Royal). I love Cooley, but he's an h-back and as I've watched the offense if we had another tight end with hands we would have won a couple of the games we threw away. Sellers has 6 tds, 5 receiving, so the touches are there.

3. Trade Ramsey for Abraham. It's hard for me to type and walk as I have all my fingers and toes crossed that this deal goes through. A rare win-win, a straight up deal with these two guys gets the Jets the strong-armed qb that their offense desparately needs and gets us the pass rusher who can make our defense go from good to gawd-damn good.

4. Hang out a sign that says, "Now accepting applications for short yardage and goal line runners." I love Rock, but at 5'7" he can't get the tough yards. Hopefully we can give the 250 lb rookie Nemo a look soon, but running Portis and the not much bigger Cartwright into the line on 3rd and short and expecting them to break tackles, well let's just say that leads to a 5-6 record. Time for a switch.

You know, i figure ill prolly get some reactionary comments for this...but here goes...

I have seen a number of people suggest that we ought to get rid of Ramsey at the end of the season and get whatever we can for him...whether that be a 2nd (unlikely), a 3rd, or a 4th.

Now i just dont agree. I mean if nothing else having a quality back-up is something on which you simply cannot place enough emphasis.

Look at what happend to the Jets this year. They were a playoff team last year...and they didnt really lose too many guys, and even picked up Ty Law. But their QB goes down and look at them now...they may be one of the top candidates to win the Reggie Bush sweepstakes.

Now whether you liked the pick or not...i suppose it is true that we drafted Jason Cambell as our QB of the future. However, none of us know how far along he is in his development. In fact many analysts on draft day...and many guys on this board were saying that he was a project...that he was brought in here to ride the pine and learn for 2 years...and then take over eventually.

So i mean considering we are looking to make a serious run at the playoffs and possibly looking to become a contender next year...I think it would be silly to stake the entire season on Mark Brunells shoulders. Mark Brunell will be 36 and if Cambell is not ready, then the skins really ought to think long and hard before giving up a damn good back-up QB in Ramsey (in my humble opinion starting material) for a measly 4th rounder. They need to at least make sure they get something worthwhile for him...or shouldn't trade him.

Now here is the part i know ill get shit for...

It is my opinion that despite the fact that he has proven to be a good leader and an admirable competitor...and a seemingly good guy...that the Mark Brunell signing has not been a good thing for the redskins. Here is why i think that...

One should not only consider a players performance in deciding whether or not he was a good signing. You also have to consider the cost to benefit ratio. The first example that comes to mind is that of Randy Moss and the Oakland Raiders...

I read an article recently that questionned whether or not Moss was actually helping the raiders or not. The guy is putting up good numbers...but look at his paycheck. While he was out injured...the raiders focused more on their running attack and actually played good winning football while moss was out or not playing a large role in the offense. When he is in the game...his contract necessitates that a certain amount of the offensive plays are based on him...and thus the raiders run less. So while just looking at the guys stats you might say he was a great signing...just consider the huge commitment the raiders have made in taking on his 75 million contract...and the fact that they are still only 4-7. If they hadnt signed him...they could still have a good offense...and could have invested the money his contract eats up...elsewhere.

Now how is this related to Brunell? Well while it seems unfair to criticize Gibbs an Co. for the initial signing now...since hindsight is always 20/20 and they didnt have the luxury of knowing how things would turn out when they signed Brunell. I do believe that it is legitimate to judge a signing based on the results you get vs what you gave up to get those results.

Brunell is getting paid alot. (more than our other 2 QB's i believe). His first season here was a disaster, and now despite vastly improved play on his part...the team still may not make the playoffs.

In addition to the dollar cost of his contract, his signing also led us to waste any viable cotribution that Ramsey MIGHT have been able to make to this team.

Of course no one can tell what would have been if it had been ramsey starting in place of Brunell. However, Ramsey was a first rounder, a big investment for this franchise, and considering that he never was given an opportunity comparable to the oppurtunities that other first rounders normally get...we may never find out whether Ramsey would have turned out to be another Drew Brees...or another bum.

He might have been great. He might have been terrible. Or he might have been mediocre.

But it is the not knowing that constitues a wasted investment...and should in my mind be considered as part of the cost we undertook in signing Brunell.

You can take it even further and suggest that the cost of Brunells contract could have been even more than just 1 wasted first rounder. For IF...and i do say IF Ramsey did prove to be a Viable starter...then we would of course never have drafted Jason Cambell. And so it could even be possible...though noone will ever know...that in addition to the actual dollar investement...Brunell's signing also cost us 2 first rounders (QB investments - Ramsey drafted before his arrival...who we wont know about. Campbell drafted after his first season...precisely because we didnt know about Ramsey, or Brunell- both of whom only played a portion of the season and neither played exceptionally well.)

So in conclusion i would just like to state...that in my opinion the cost to benefit ratio of signing Brunell has not even come close to panning out. You know i mean maybe im wrong...and he will come back and lead us to the playoffs or a superbowl and that would be great. But frankly...at this point...i would really have rathered seen what we had in Ramsey...before going out and getting a guy who when it is all said and done...may have only led us to 2 mediocre seasons...but cost us so very very much.

Sorry about the length...i just got kinda carried away...

I wasn't suggesting a free agent pick up, a draft pick, 3rd or 4th round or even later. Maybe even move Mcune into the mix. I wouldn't overpay. However, Joe said he made a big mistake by letting trotter leave. He wasn't 100% when he came back from his knee injury. then we cut him , he gets healthy and was a probowler last year. He plays very physical, and is a beast against the run.

no, he said letting pierce leave was a mistake. He didn't give a rats #$% about trotter.

We currently only have 17 players on our team/practice squad that were drafted in the last 7 years. Jon Jansen is the oldest draft pick on our team.

This year we have a 2, 3, 5, 6, 6, and 7. The 1 & 4 were traded for Jason Campbell and the extra 6 for Rod Gardner.

So when the front office gives you lemons, you look for free agents with vodka.

no, he said letting pierce leave was a mistake. He didn't give a rats #$% about trotter.

The 1st year Joe got here they let trotter go before they even got on the practice field. And after watching him play he said he made a mistake on TROTTER.

We currently only have 17 players on our team/practice squad that were drafted in the last 7 years. Jon Jansen is the oldest draft pick on our team.

This year we have a 2, 3, 5, 6, 6, and 7. The 1 & 4 were traded for Jason Campbell and the extra 6 for Rod Gardner.

So when the front office gives you lemons, you look for free agents with vodka.

Traded for a guy who had 1 good year, and benched in previous years. and is 3rd on the depth chart now. wouldnt you think if they are getting Rid of Ramsey that Campbell may have moved up by now. he has been here long enough to know what the hell is going on. Bad moves AGAIN. Besides the fact Campbell would have been there in the second round. Dont forget about the 3rd we lost for Brunell last year. Quality picks given away for nothing. and a 35 year old QB.

a pass rushing front four will do for our defense
as for our offense, we need a wide receiver

The 1st year Joe got here they let trotter go before they even got on the practice field. And after watching him play he said he made a mistake on TROTTER.

link please? I know he said the ONE mistake he made so far was letting pierce go in an earlier interview on redskins.com.

Gibbs said they made a mistake by letting Trotter go??

I'd really love to see that quote.