Gibbs: Redskins, Holdman Agree
 

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Head coach Joe Gibbs said Wednesday that the Redskins have agreed to terms on a deal with versatile linebacker Warrick Holdman.


Holdman is a 6-1, 235-pounder who played for the Cleveland Browns last season after five years with the Chicago Bears. He started 14 of 16 games last season with the Browns and logged 78 tackles and 0.5 sacks.

With a new coaching staff in place in Cleveland, Holdman's future was in doubt. He was released by the Browns on Feb. 23.

"We tried to sign Warrick last year and he wound up going to Cleveland," Gibbs said. "We've added a veteran guy with a lot of experience. With Warrick and Brian Allen, we've added two veteran guys at the linebacker spot. So we'll announce that [signing] on Thursday."

Holdman is familiar with Redskins' defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Greg Blache and linebackers coach Dale Lindsey. Holdman, who played for the Bears from 1999-2003, was previously coached by Blache from 1999-2003 and Lindsey from 1999-2001.

"He's somebody who our coaches here know a lot about because they've coached him," Gibbs said.

Holdman has played all three linebacker positions in his career and will bring solid depth to the team's linebacker corps.

"The Brown s released him this year due to the new coaching staff," Gibbs said. "He's somebody we liked last year and we thought he fit in good with us, so we jumped on it. He came in for a quick visit and we reached a quick agreement."

In his career, Holdman has recorded 424 tackles, four sacks and one interception. His best statistical season was 2001, when he logged a career-high 93 tackles, 1.5 sacks, eight forced fumbles and eight passes defended. Holdman played linebacker at Texas A&M from 1995-98. He started 40 games during that span, recording 249 tackles, 16.5 sacks and seven forced fumbles. He is a native of Alief, Texas.
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Re: Gibbs: Redskins, Holdman Agree
 

hes a good linebacker. We definitly have a ton of depth at linebacker now and dont hvae to worry about who plays middle or if someone gets hurt

Re: Gibbs: Redskins, Holdman Agree
 

meh. well at least we know he can play middle linebacker. im not sure how i should react to this, seeing as how linebacker is probably the position we have the most depth at.

Re: Gibbs: Redskins, Holdman Agree
 

I think that this will be an upgrade over Pierce. He has the experience, size, toughness and speed needed in the middle. We tried to get him last year and I think that he will be a great fit in our defensive schemes. I just hope we didn't pay too much to get him. Great pick up anyway. He will be solid for 2-3 years until Robert McCune is ready to man the middle.

Re: Gibbs: Redskins, Holdman Agree
 

[QUOTE=REDSKINS TANK]I think that this will be an upgrade over Pierce. He has the experience, size, toughness and speed needed in the middle. We tried to get him last year and I think that he will be a great fit in our defensive schemes. I just hope we didn't pay too much to get him. Great pick up anyway. He will be solid for 2-3 years until Robert McCune is ready to man the middle.[/QUOTE]

Great i agree and welcome that was your first post HTTR:)

Re: Gibbs: Redskins, Holdman Agree
 

Also just wanted say that this was the "Big news that was a year in the making". I was really hoping that it was gonna be Darrell Green. GO SKINS!!!

Re: Gibbs: Redskins, Holdman Agree
 

Eight forced fumbles? That's pretty good for someone who hasn't played much.

Re: Gibbs: Redskins, Holdman Agree
 

Does anyone have any idea why we have this many LB's on our roster when, from what I can think, we have two probowlers on the outside who will be more than just mainstays in the lineup to say the least! I like the Holdman move.....with Blache and Lindsay being familiar with him......does anyone think that Lavar is going to be coming off the edge A LOT more this year....just a strange thing to pick up another LB when we run the 4-3.......could Williams mix the 3-4 a little this year since we haven't really looked hard at DT's or DE's.....except for UDFA???? I know its a long stretch....but just wondering what others thought??????

Re: Gibbs: Redskins, Holdman Agree
 

Hey saden1, that's sweet. How you get that?

Re: Gibbs: Redskins, Holdman Agree
 

He won a bet with Matty about the draft!

Anyhow, big deal. Just what we needed, another mediocre LB. We have Arrington and Washington as bookends with good OLB options (Marshall, Clemons, etc) MLB is still a question, but on gameday how many "LB's" will we carry? I know lots will be special team players, but still.

Re: Gibbs: Redskins, Holdman Agree
 

I would think that this pretty much puts the final nail in the coffin of Barrow's Redskin career. And I'm guessing Holdman and Marshall battle it out for the starting MLB position

Re: Gibbs: Redskins, Holdman Agree
 

[QUOTE=skinnyfan]Does anyone have any idea why we have this many LB's on our roster when, from what I can think, we have two probowlers on the outside who will be more than just mainstays in the lineup to say the least! I like the Holdman move.....with Blache and Lindsay being familiar with him......does anyone think that Lavar is going to be coming off the edge A LOT more this year....just a strange thing to pick up another LB when we run the 4-3.......could Williams mix the 3-4 a little this year since we haven't really looked hard at DT's or DE's.....except for UDFA???? I know its a long stretch....but just wondering what others thought??????[/QUOTE]

Nice post. Good thoughts. Welcome to the board!

Re: Gibbs: Redskins, Holdman Agree
 

Holdman can play; this is a valuable addition - - assuming of course that he doesn't break his leg or go into a coma between now and Labor Day.

Signing him tells me that the Skins are not counting on a lot of participation from Mike Barrow this year. If Holdman catches onto the system, Holdman can be the starter in Game 1; if it takes a while, he ought to be the starter by mid-October.

As to all the LBs on the roster, several will play special teams and nothing else. And don't be surprised if more than one of them is released before the opening kickoff.

Re: Gibbs: Redskins, Holdman Agree
 

[QUOTE=sportscurmudgeon]Holdman can play; this is a valuable addition - - assuming of course that he doesn't break his leg or go into a coma between now and Labor Day.

Signing him tells me that the Skins are not counting on a lot of participation from Mike Barrow this year. If Holdman catches onto the system, Holdman can be the starter in Game 1; if it takes a while, he ought to be the starter by mid-October.

As to all the LBs on the roster, several will play special teams and nothing else. And don't be surprised if more than one of them is released before the opening kickoff.[/QUOTE]
Good points all, Curmudgeon. Holdman was the guy they wanted before Barrow. Greg Blache made the push for him, and he was his coordinator for several years in Chicago. We should assume that they expect him to step into an active role.

Re: Gibbs: Redskins, Holdman Agree
 

Yeah this is ominous for Mr. Barrow. But, depending on contract terms, this could be one their best off season moves. If they got him at a bargain price (read:less than pierce), they got a quality starter with versatility at a value. Of course the terms aren't public yet to my knowledge so that is TBD. I like it. I know I feel better immediately about our LB corp. Marshall is a fine player and all but I don't know if he was the answer they need at MLB. Now he can be a total miss and it is not a huge deal.