Youth Movement Underway?

[12thMan]

I thought someone would have mentioned this by now. But as I was watching the last brutal moments of the Jaguars game, I couldn't help but notice Jason Cambell, Sean Taylor, Carlos Rogers, and Laron Landry all congregating together on the sidelines chatting amongst themselves.

That scene along with the recent release of three core vets: Renaldo Wynn, LeMar Marshall and Joe Salave'a, and not so important Omar Stoutmire. Guys like Golston, Montgomery, Heyer, and Blades are making their presence known on the roster. All this has led me to believe the Skins are slowly undergoing a gradual makeover. After the 2008 draft is over, we'll be deeper and younger than we've been in years.

From everything I've read and heard most people are split on what to expect from the Redskins this year. One half is saying, no way a team like this can improve more than three games this year. Others are predicting a break out season. I think both perspectives are valid, to be honest.

Regardless of what people are predicting, we'll lineup a younger team. A good portion from the past two drafts are still on the squad which is promising.

[jbcjr14]

I thought it was interesting in Gibbs presser yesterday on redskins.com. He clearly stated that he has never looked at a persons age or the make up of the team from an age standpoint.

I too believe a youth movement is taking place in Ashburn. It will bode well for us in the coming years when he turns over the reigns to another coach in the next year or two.

[freddyg12]

Gibbs was never scared to cut vets in his first stint here, he just stuck w/them longer than most coaches. I remember Alvin Walton getting cut fairly young, and of course Joe T. & Riggins got the axe cause they refused to retire.

I still think there may have been some cajoling from the inner circle that Gibbs needed to cut Joe S, Lemar & Wynn. I think Gibbs probably valued them for their leadership, but ultimately faced the fact that they were avg. players when young but aren't young anymore. Just my gut feeling that there was a lot of input from the front office & staff. Since these cuts were on D, you've got to wonder how much weight GW has, since he is the heir apparent.

[MTK]

I'm not sure if this "youth movement" is intentional or not, but it's clear that we're shedding some of our veteran players in favor of the younger guys.

I think it's just a case of the younger guys outplaying the older ones, and some of the vets that were brought in here in 2004 have peaked and are clearly on the downside of their careers.

NFL rosters tend to take new shape every 3 years or so, and I think that's what we're seeing here now.

[manditorybidness]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I'm not sure if this "youth movement" is intentional or not, but it's clear that we're shedding some of our veteran players in favor of the younger guys.

I think it's just a case of the younger guys outplaying the older ones, and some of the vets that were brought in here in 2004 have peaked and are clearly on the downside of their careers.

NFL rosters tend to take new shape every 3 years or so, and I think that's what we're seeing here now.

Definitely!! Cris Wilson will take Daniels job by week 5

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I'm not sure if this "youth movement" is intentional or not, but it's clear that we're shedding some of our veteran players in favor of the younger guys.

I think it's just a case of the younger guys outplaying the older ones, and some of the vets that were brought in here in 2004 have peaked and are clearly on the downside of their careers.

NFL rosters tend to take new shape every 3 years or so, and I think that's what we're seeing here now.

Good assesment.

[70Chip]

Originally Posted by manditorybidness

Definitely!! Cris Wilson will take Daniels job by week 5

Unlikely. Wilson is a situational pass rusher. Daniels can play the run and they're moving him inside on third downs so his role is secure.

[RMSkins]

I do not know if the "youth movement" is intentional either, but if there is one it's definitely on the Defense.
FS Sean Taylor
SS Laron Landry
CB Carlos Rogers
WLB Rocky McIntosh
DT Kedric Golston
DT Anthony Montgomery
MLB H.B. Blades
These guys should all be stalwarts on our defense for years to come.

[SouperMeister]

Originally Posted by RMSkins

I do not know if the "youth movement" is intentional either, but if there is one it's definitely on the Defense.
FS Sean Taylor
SS Laron Landry
CB Carlos Rogers
WLB Rocky McIntosh
DT Kedric Golston
DT Anthony Montgomery
MLB H.B. Blades
These guys should all be stalwarts on our defense for years to come.

Now that Cooley is locked up for the longterm, The Danny should focus on giving Taylor an extension before he has the big breakout season that Gregg Williams is predicting. I can't wait to see Taylor and Landry wreaking havoc this season.

[SmootSmack]

I think this is Joe Gibbs thinking he can probably milk another year out of guys like Salavea, Marshall, and Wynn but at what expense? Maybe, big maybe, those guys can put forth a better effort on the field this year than the likes of Blades, Wilson, Montgomery but long-term the team isn't necessarily better off from that.

This is Joe Gibbs, in my opinion, saying to himself that as head coach he has little to nothing left to prove in the NFL. But as a team executive the book is still out on Gibbs. These moves are, again in my opinion, designed to prepare the next coach two or three years from now to be successful. And in turn, make President Joe Gibbs successful as well.

[JoeRedskin]

In line with the whole "youth movement" idea, and if Jason LaCanfora is to be believed, it looks like our young depth was in high demand.

"I know some people are down on the Skins for keeping so many kids, but I can tell you this. I spoke with people on various teams who were ready to pounce if Reed Doughty, Leigh Torrence or Chris Wilson were cut, for instance."

Things To Watch - Redskins Insider

[Stacks42]

Originally Posted by RMSkins

I do not know if the "youth movement" is intentional either, but if there is one it's definitely on the Defense.
FS Sean Taylor
SS Laron Landry
CB Carlos Rogers
WLB Rocky McIntosh
DT Kedric Golston
DT Anthony Montgomery
MLB H.B. Blades
These guys should all be stalwarts on our defense for years to come.

After years of picking up other teams cast offs and trading draft picks for players past their prime, its good to see that the Skins have learned their lesson and are trying to build through the draft, and some good undrafted pick ups

[budw38]

It is too early to know how the team will come together and play . But , it looks like we could use the 08 F/A period to bring in 2 or 3 high energy type guys < L. Fletcher > < Kendall > ,then we could use our draft for DE / OL , and maybe an eventual replacement for Springs . Why the hell couldn't we open the season THRASHING the cowpukes ?

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by budw38

It is too early to know how the team will come together and play . But , it looks like we could use the 08 F/A period to bring in 2 or 3 high energy type guys < L. Fletcher > < Kendall > ,then we could use our draft for DE / OL , and maybe an eventual replacement for Springs . Why the hell couldn't we open the season THRASHING the cowpukes ?

If things go according to plan, the Dolphins will be a nice tune up for the Cowboys.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

I thought someone would have mentioned this by now. But as I was watching the last brutal moments of the Jaguars game, I couldn't help but notice Jason Cambell, Sean Taylor, Carlos Rogers, and Laron Landry all congregating together on the sidelines chatting amongst themselves.

That scene along with the recent release of three core vets: Renaldo Wynn, LeMar Marshall and Joe Salave'a, and not so important Omar Stoutmire. Guys like Golston, Montgomery, Heyer, and Blades are making their presence known on the roster. All this has led me to believe the Skins are slowly undergoing a gradual makeover. After the 2008 draft is over, we'll be deeper and younger than we've been in years.

From everything I've read and heard most people are split on what to expect from the Redskins this year. One half is saying, no way a team like this can improve more than three games this year. Others are predicting a break out season. I think both perspectives are valid, to be honest.

Regardless of what people are predicting, we'll lineup a younger team. A good portion from the past two drafts are still on the squad which is promising.

Great points as usual 12th.

There definately has been a decision to make a decisive youth movement in the last two weeks. And it makes a lot of sense. You have a 3rd year guy at QB, lots of youth all over the secondary, a WLB who is in his first year as a starter, and an impending cap hurdle in the near future. Why not put the team in the hands of the future right now?

It's not going to hurt us in the long run. We did not get rid of any key cogs in our team from last year. Portis, Springs, Washington, Betts, Moss, and Griffin are all back despite sizable cap numbers next season. In anticipation that one or more of those players may not be back next year, it seems like a good idea to make Campbell/ST/Rogers/Rocky Mac the unofficial team motivators. Meaning as you replace those guys with youth, you don't have to worry about losing leadership as the transition to the youngsters leading the locker room already happened this year.

I would still set our over under this year at 8.5 wins, but if we could overachieve that, this could be the start of a great few years here.