What are we going to do at DE?

[BeastsoftheNFCeast]

Its pretty apparant that we will not draft a DE with the 6th overall pick (but we might if we trade down), how will we address this problem. With Daniels, a 34 year old who sucked last year with 3 sacks and 27 tackles (thats less than 3 tackles every 2 games), starting, and our backups being horrible, how will we manage with such a weakness? The only thing I can think of is trading down and picking up a 2nd rounder, and drafting a DE in the 1st or 2nd and a DT in the first or 2nd. That might solidify our line. And if we pick Landry, our DT's might be ok if Golston turns out to be a stud, but there is no way our DE's will be ok.

[Southpaw]

Drafting an end won't matter, because as Coach Gibbs has stated, there isn't really a starting position on the team where a rookie could come in and perform better than the established vets...

[Daseal]

Rotate Daniel and Wynn, Golston put on 30 lbs, and let our dline play how they always played. Against the run and absorbing blockers so the blitz can pressure the quarterback. With much more depth in the secondary this year it will allow Williams to actually run his scheme.

I really don't feel Dline is as important as it's being made out to be. The Redskins have a ton of talent on both sides of the ball. Stay pat, take a stud, and prepare for another top 10 D.

BTW, those interested in drafting a DE, you have to go back to 2002 before you find any ends who have done much of anything in the NFL. That year was huge, Peppers, Charles Grant, and Freeney. Busts happen far too much at that position for me to want to invest the amount of money required for the 6th overall pick.

[Schneed10]

Don't rule out the possibility of us nabbing either Landry or Okoye and then a DE in addition in round 2 or 3. We signed Smoot and David Macklin for a reason; I think there's a good chance the team unloads Shawn Springs for a 2nd or 3rd round pick somehow.

That move could be to target a G or a DE.

[BeastsoftheNFCeast]

Originally Posted by Daseal

Rotate Daniel and Wynn, Golston put on 30 lbs, and let our dline play how they always played. Against the run and absorbing blockers so the blitz can pressure the quarterback. With much more depth in the secondary this year it will allow Williams to actually run his scheme.

I really don't feel Dline is as important as it's being made out to be. The Redskins have a ton of talent on both sides of the ball. Stay pat, take a stud, and prepare for another top 10 D.

BTW, those interested in drafting a DE, you have to go back to 2002 before you find any ends who have done much of anything in the NFL. That year was huge, Peppers, Charles Grant, and Freeney. Busts happen far too much at that position for me to want to invest the amount of money required for the 6th overall pick.

Wait, were u suggesting that golston put on 30lbs or were u saying that he did? And even if we rotate Daniels and Wynn, that doesnt matter, they will both be 34 and they both sucked last year, so this year Im not expecting anything different.

[Schneed10]

Yeah Daseal, what's up with that Golston should magically put on 30 pounds suggestion? Are you suggesting he just get really fat? Because putting on 30 pounds of muscle in 5 months is pretty damn hard, and darn near impossible when you consider how hard it will be to keep the weight on through the August training camp heat.

[MTK]

Geez it's like like Golston is some chump, he was listed at 292 last year. If he can put on about 10lbs he'll be fine. Any more would probably hurt his quickness and stamina.

[Paintrain]

Since the days of Dexter Manley we've never had a stud DE that was a consistent QB killer. It wasn't a big deal in '04 and '05 when we had a top 10 defense but the lack of quality in the secondary as well as the significant dropoff of Marshall last year made it seem like it was a desperate need.

If we draft Landry, tweak the scheme a little to help Rogers and have a healthy Springs and Smoot we will get to the QB more with what we have. Last year receivers were running free and QBs had all day to find them.

With rare exceptions (Freeney, Merriman, etc.) most teams don't have a QB killer and rely on coverage or blitz/coverage sacks. Grilliams relies on blitz/coverage sacks moreso than 4 man rush with DT or DE sacks and success of his scheme is dictated by a combination of pressure and coverage..

[themightyjoegibbs]

I like the idea I heard earlier this spring. Draft a DE and have the option to move Daniels to DT. I think GIbbs may be telling the truth, there may be no starting position, but the way the Skins are going to compete is with depth. Coach Williams has plenty of different pacakages. Using people to their strengths and the right amount of substitution mixed with the fact we will have a stronger LB core and that the secondary has removed the training wheels the focus should remain at the D-Line. They are the oldest group and (no pun intended) the first line of defense to which everything can go wrong. I would approach this season expecting Daniels/Wynn will retire next year and it is imperative to get a guy into the system now.

Draft a D-Lineman. One who can stop the run/pass rush. I say Adams, or Okoye or a later 1st rounder.

If Daniels moved to the inside that would surely remedy the lineup to having to depend on Golston who is undersized. Montgomery had my initial support but he is not the one.

What would it take to switch to a 3-4 defense ???

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by Daseal

Rotate Daniel and Wynn, Golston put on 30 lbs, and let our dline play how they always played. Against the run and absorbing blockers so the blitz can pressure the quarterback. With much more depth in the secondary this year it will allow Williams to actually run his scheme.

I really don't feel Dline is as important as it's being made out to be. The Redskins have a ton of talent on both sides of the ball. Stay pat, take a stud, and prepare for another top 10 D.

BTW, those interested in drafting a DE, you have to go back to 2002 before you find any ends who have done much of anything in the NFL. That year was huge, Peppers, Charles Grant, and Freeney. Busts happen far too much at that position for me to want to invest the amount of money required for the 6th overall pick.

I agree but it seemed last year that every team knew where our blitz where coming from and picked them up about 99% of the time.

[bigm29]

One position no one is talking about drafting is linebacker. I think Fletcher will play well but whos gonna take his place when he retires, I think hes 32 years old already. Plus we have little depth at the position. Im not saying draft one with the 6th pick, but if we trade down it would be wise to pick one. trust me i know everything

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by bigm29

One position no one is talking about drafting is linebacker. I think Fletcher will play well but whos gonna take his place when he retires, I think hes 32 years old already. Plus we have little depth at the position. Im not saying draft one with the 6th pick, but if we trade down it would be wise to pick one. trust me i know everything

Well, there's talk that Lance Briggs may not be out of the question just yet.

Even so, the linebackers are set this year with Washington, Fletcher, and McIntosh/Marshall. The problems along the D-line far outweigh the need for a long-term project to replace London Fletcher.

[bigm29]

I will be pissed if we trade for Briggs

[ArtMonkDrillz]

Part of the reason that I want to draft a stud d-lineman (like I hope Okoye will be) is that it will take some of the pressure off of Carter and he'll be a more effective pass rusher. He started to look really good at the end of the season and I don't see any reason that he he can't be even better this year; especially if he has some help right next to him.

[GMScud]

I heard Charles Mann was at Redskins Park for a workout yesterday...

I think Okoye could be a DE/DT tweener if we draft him. He's got good burst and is very quick for his 298lb frame. Man I hope we land him.