Current Redskins Salary Cap Status - 2009

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

My gut (which seems to grow larger with each passing day) tells me we may not address RT at all in FA or with a significant draft pick. I think our line will stay very much like it is and Heyer or Jansen will likely start opening day. I think our first two picks will be DE and LB, but not necessarily in that order. I know i have no facts to base this on, other than comments from the park about Heyer and Jansen competing for the RT starting spot and the fact we are sitting on our hands and not doing much of anything to address DE and LB, other than offering (likely) vet min contracts to Daniels and Wynn.

I hope not, because that would mean an epic failure of an attempt at protecting JC adequately. Of course if we get a stud pass rusher out of that deal then I'd complain a lot less. If Vinny doesn't go RT at 13 then he BETTER hit and hit big on whatever he does choose.

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by Trample the Elderly

Look at it this way. I heard the Cowpukes are 22 under right now but haven't really picked up anyone. Seeing how most of the good FA are gone they'll not be able to do much even with all of that money.

they just signed the DE from SD - Olshansky(sp?), but it looks like they didn't try to re-sign Canty to save space for Ware. Maybe that's their plan, but WAre's agent is holding off to see what happens w/the cba next year.

Haynesworths' deal definitely jacked up what JJ will have to offer Ware.

[BigHairedAristocrat]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

I hope not, because that would mean an epic failure of an attempt at protecting JC adequately. Of course if we get a stud pass rusher out of that deal then I'd complain a lot less. If Vinny doesn't go RT at 13 then he BETTER hit and hit big on whatever he does choose.

I'm personally hoping for a stud LT with the 13th pick, but I could see the logic behind addressing the defensive holes on our team this year.

1) If Stephon Heyer does have the ability to be a long-term solution at RT, it would be a better use of our resources.
2) Right now, weve got a great defense and an offense that - theoretically should be much better its 2nd year, especially if last years 2nd rounders step up.
3) If we did get Ray Maualuga at 13 and he becomes the next Ray Lewis as many predict, then he would have more of an impact on our defense than any RT could have on our offense.

I guess it comes down to: do we want to put all our eggs in one basket and have a the most dominant defense in the NFL while having an average offense (Ravens) OR do we want to have a great defense and a slightly above-average offense (Titans)?

The way i see it, this team is really two years away from being able to fill all its holes - no matter what Vinny does, we're going to be somewhat thin at 2 of our three main areas of need (DE, LB, OT) when the 2009 season starts. However, if we make the right choices at hit big at 13 like you say, whatever needs arent addressed this year can be addresssed in the 2010 draft - assuming we dont trade more picks away of course.

[jdlea]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

I hope not, because that would mean an epic failure of an attempt at protecting JC adequately. Of course if we get a stud pass rusher out of that deal then I'd complain a lot less. If Vinny doesn't go RT at 13 then he BETTER hit and hit big on whatever he does choose.

I think that's the most important thing, if we're going to take a RT, he's gotta be ready to play. If he can't step right in and make Heyer a backup, this year will look a lot like the end of last season. Jason barely had time to finish his dropback a lot of times before he was getting smothered. This team needs to get better protecting the Q and that's gotta come from the O Line.

I would even go so far as to say that if we take a 1st round tackle, maybe he should move Chris Samuels. I think that would sure up the line a whole lot if the rook could be close to what Samuels was, that'd a huge upgrade to the line.

I also think that bringing back Dockery will really help the O Line, but C, RG, and RT are all still a concern. We have to go for one of those high in this year's draft, IMHO.

[BigHairedAristocrat]

Originally Posted by jdlea

I think that's the most important thing, if we're going to take a RT, he's gotta be ready to play. If he can't step right in and make Heyer a backup, this year will look a lot like the end of last season. Jason barely had time to finish his dropback a lot of times before he was getting smothered. This team needs to get better protecting the Q and that's gotta come from the O Line.

I would even go so far as to say that if we take a 1st round tackle, maybe he should move Chris Samuels. I think that would sure up the line a whole lot if the rook could be close to what Samuels was, that'd a huge upgrade to the line.

I also think that bringing back Dockery will really help the O Line, but C, RG, and RT are all still a concern. We have to go for one of those high in this year's draft, IMHO.

Just to play devils advocate, i think the interior of our line was far weaker than the OT positions last year. Weve already upgraded there by getting Dock. Heyer never got much of a chance to play RT, so if he's on one end and Samuels is on the other, then our OL should be significantly better than it was last year. I'm not saying RT isnt a glaring weakness, but just pointing out that we've already put ourselves in a position where JC should have better protection (assuming everyone stays healthy).

That said, I agree with you that any OT we take needs to be able to start this year. If we take Oher, he has he potential to start at LT immediately for us, moving Samuels to RT... if that happened, our line would be pretty dominant if Thomas can hold it together one more year.

[jdlea]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

Just to play devils advocate, i think the interior of our line was far weaker than the OT positions last year. Weve already upgraded there by getting Dock. Heyer never got much of a chance to play RT, so if he's on one end and Samuels is on the other, then our OL should be significantly better than it was last year. I'm not saying RT isnt a glaring weakness, but just pointing out that we've already put ourselves in a position where JC should have better protection (assuming everyone stays healthy).

That said, I agree with you that any OT we take needs to be able to start this year. If we take Oher, he has he potential to start at LT immediately for us, moving Samuels to RT... if that happened, our line would be pretty dominant if Thomas can hold it together one more year.

For the record, I do agree with this assertion, but there isn't an interior lineman I would take at 13. We could move out, but I don't feel like dealing with trade scenarios right now. I believe that might be the best option, but operating under the assumption we pick at 13, I don't think there's any C I would take that high (ever), but there could be a great T on the board when we come up, so I'd go that direction.

EDIT: In looking at it we could get the 22 and the 54 from Minnesota based on points (we'd be giving away 10). Where (according to Todd McShay) we could go Mack, Unger, Britton, or Meredith. (I'd probably go with Mack) and then in the 2nd round hope that one of the other 3 fall to you. I really can't see any of the other 3 making it to 54, though, so we'd have to with a lesser T, if we took one.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Definitely agree with that point. It's all on Zorn to get this offense up to speed, and then it's up to JC to take another step forward. I'm really not overly concerned about the defense, the offense on the other hand needs to put up some points.

It's because of this that I'm more worried about the defense than the offense. The stars are in place on offense, we just needed to plug in the gaps and add depth. Right now, Haynesworth is the entire front seven on defense (whether Fletch can remain a factor I think is dependent on the big guy in front of him). We lost two of our most talented players on defense, two of our biggest stars made cap casulties, and even at age 31, Washington was no slouch himself either.

[MTK]

I hate our current options at RT. Heyer has a lot to prove and Jansen's best days are behind him.

[GTripp0012]

Yeah, but I actually think the bigger issue at tackle is that we're even more heavily reliant on Samuels now than we were at this time last year, and he's going to be 32 before the season. If we land one of the big four, we have a guy who could theoretically handle the LT position for 2-3 weeks if Samuels is hurt.

The current lineup just offers Heyer and Jansen as bookends should Samuels get hurt. That, is the disaster.

We need to grab an LT prospect to give the line some depth, if nothing else.

[SmootSmack]

Alfred Fincher is back (not sure for how much though)

[BigHairedAristocrat]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I hate our current options at RT. Heyer has a lot to prove and Jansen's best days are behind him.

Do you hate our options at RDE and SLB more or less? How would you prioritize these needs, both at who we have penciled in as starters and in terms of depth?

This is how i Prioritize our needs:

Need for an immediate upgrade at the starting position
1. SLB (Blades is not, and never will be, starting SLB material)
2. OT (Heyer is a better RT than Blades is an SLB IMO)
3. DE (who do we have? Rob Jackson? Chris Wilson? This would be #1 if not for the fact that Haynesworth instantly makes whoever lines up at DE better)

Need for an upgraded depth

2. OT - Heyer and Jansen provide adequate depth if someone else were starting... but we're completely screwed if Samuels goes down.
1. LB - I cant name a single LB on our roster other than McIntosh, Fletch, and Blades - thats scary. (EDIT: Looks like Finch is back)
3. DE - Wilson and Jackson are what you expect a team to have as depth. If we bring back Daniels and Wynn as expected, we have even more depth here, but no true starter.

If we bring back Washington at the vet minimum, then we clearly need to take an OT with the first pick. However, if we dont, then i think SLB is a more pressing need. The question then becomes, would a 3rd round LB be better than a 3rd round OT - 99% of the time, id say yes. So the next question becomes, who has the most potential to provide the biggest immediate and long-term impact of the players available at 13? Someone like Oher or someone like Maualuga?

[WestCoastSkinsFan]

To update the Fincher signing...

Redskins Re-sign Fincher

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

Do you hate our options at RDE and SLB more or less? How would you prioritize these needs, both at who we have penciled in as starters and in terms of depth?

This is how i Prioritize our needs:

Need for an immediate upgrade at the starting position
1. SLB (Blades is not, and never will be, starting SLB material)
2. OT (Heyer is a better RT than Blades is an SLB IMO)
3. DE (who do we have? Rob Jackson? Chris Wilson? This would be #1 if not for the fact that Haynesworth instantly makes whoever lines up at DE better)

Need for an upgraded depth

2. OT - Heyer and Jansen provide adequate depth if someone else were starting... but we're completely screwed if Samuels goes down.
1. LB - I cant name a single LB on our roster other than McIntosh, Fletch, and Blades - thats scary. (EDIT: Looks like Finch is back)
3. DE - Wilson and Jackson are what you expect a team to have as depth. If we bring back Daniels and Wynn as expected, we have even more depth here, but no true starter.

If we bring back Washington at the vet minimum, then we clearly need to take an OT with the first pick. However, if we dont, then i think SLB is a more pressing need. The question then becomes, would a 3rd round LB be better than a 3rd round OT - 99% of the time, id say yes. So the next question becomes, who has the most potential to provide the biggest immediate and long-term impact of the players available at 13? Someone like Oher or someone like Maualuga?

No reason to trash Blades who has done nothing in the NFL except put together a pair of excellent seasons off the bench, and can probably start in the NFL at any position.

I agree with your assessment of our needs though. But the reason isn't because Blades is camp fodder. It's because even as our 2nd best LB, Blades doesn't help answer the question "who is going to get to the quarterback".

We had Jason Taylor. We let him go. Now we need to replace him, but the FA market is simply too light on players who can do that.

Thankfully the draft is deep, but we're probably going to have to move up from the third round to take advantage of that. One name: Cody Brown from Connecticut (I like how they're UConn in basketball, but not in any other sport).

[SmootSmack]

Cody Brown is someone we spoke to back at the Combine, but as I understand we talked to a lot of linebackers (more so than any other position)

[That Guy]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

No reason to trash Blades who has done nothing in the NFL except put together a pair of excellent seasons off the bench, and can probably start in the NFL at any position.

great! i'm so glad we finally found our new RT