Addressing the LB position

[GMScud]

The LB position, particularly OLB, is a big area of need for the Redskins. We currently are limited to 4 draft picks, and aside from cutting Marcus and re-signing Fincher (a net loss in my opinion), we have not been active whatsoever.

Here's how it would go down ideally for me: I'd like to make a modest play for one of the three OLB's available in FA (Crowell, June, Keiaho). Then I'd trade out of the 13th pick, and take one of the three USC LBs, preferrably Maualuga, and still get a good tackle.

Play GM (or whatever Vinny's title is). How would you fill our linebacking needs?

[Ruhskins]

damn it, i started one too. my bad

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

damn it, i started one too. my bad

Beat ya to it by one minute.

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by GMScud

Beat ya to it by one minute.

I know, that's what I get for trying to be too efficient and include the "2009" in the thread topic. LOL.

Here's the JLC story about the Skins wanting to sign MW...

Re-signing Marcus Washington a Possibility - Redskins Insider

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by GMScud

The LB position, particularly OLB, is a big area of need for the Redskins. We currently are limited to 4 draft picks, and aside from cutting Marcus and re-signing Fincher (a net loss in my opinion), we have not been active whatsoever.

Here's how it would go down ideally for me: I'd like to make a modest play for one of the three OLB's available in FA (Crowell, June, Keiaho). Then I'd trade out of the 13th pick, and take one of the three USC LBs, preferrably Maualuga, and still get a good tackle.

Play GM (or whatever Vinny's title is). How would you fill our linebacking needs?

I no longer want Crowell because I've realized that he would just block Blades.

1) I would bring Marcus back if I could get him at the vet min. He would instantly be re-inserted at SLB, and would force Rocky to the bench.

2) One of our first two draft picks is going to be an undersized college defensive end who would play WLB in our scheme. This player would be predominantly a pass rusher for us who has better scheme flexibility than Blades or Rocky. The pick must show some degree of coverage ability, and should have the ability to drop down to LE in the dime defense.

3) HB Blades would play nearly 50-50 with Marcus, who would be the de-facto starter.

4) Rocky and Fletch handle special teams and backup duties. Should Rocky ever get the defense on straight and/or put his knee troubles in the past, I would use him to take some of Fletch's reps in an attempt to keep him healthier later in the season.

[ChickenMonkey]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

I no longer want Crowell because I've realized that he would just block Blades.

1) I would bring Marcus back if I could get him at the vet min. He would instantly be re-inserted at SLB, and would force Rocky to the bench.

2) One of our first two draft picks is going to be an undersized college defensive end who would play WLB in our scheme. This player would be predominantly a pass rusher for us who has better scheme flexibility than Blades or Rocky. The pick must show some degree of coverage ability, and should have the ability to drop down to LE in the dime defense.

3) HB Blades would play nearly 50-50 with Marcus, who would be the de-facto starter.

4) Rocky and Fletch handle special teams and backup duties. Should Rocky ever get the defense on straight and/or put his knee troubles in the past, I would use him to take some of Fletch's reps in an attempt to keep him healthier later in the season.

We should most definately go get Crowell...Trade down in the first and take a (1st) DE Tyson Jackson & (2nd) Ebon Britton...Marcus Freeman or Mckenzie in the 3rd

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by ChickenMonkey

We should most definately go get Crowell...Trade down in the first and take a (1st) DE Tyson Jackson & (2nd) Ebon Britton...Marcus Freeman or Mckenzie in the 3rd

You do know trading down doesn't get you picks, though. You're entitled to trade down as far as you want to, but if you want picks then someone else needs to trade up.

Basically, we can't make second round projections for picks we don't and won't have. It sort of changes the long term plan when you think about it that way, doesn't it?

It's a nice suggestion and all, but we want to hear what your going to do with the Redskins picks, not with someone elses draft.

[BigHairedAristocrat]

Originally Posted by GMScud

The LB position, particularly OLB, is a big area of need for the Redskins. We currently are limited to 4 draft picks, and aside from cutting Marcus and re-signing Fincher (a net loss in my opinion), we have not been active whatsoever.

Here's how it would go down ideally for me: I'd like to make a modest play for one of the three OLB's available in FA (Crowell, June, Keiaho). Then I'd trade out of the 13th pick, and take one of the three USC LBs, preferrably Maualuga, and still get a good tackle.

Play GM (or whatever Vinny's title is). How would you fill our linebacking needs?

I like your plan although Maualuga probably wont be there if we trade down - he might not even be there at 13. If we want him, we need to take him at 13.

If I were senior executive vice president of football and Snydersuckingup relations, id address the LB position this way:

-Attempt to sign Washington to a deal close to the vet minimum.
-Sign Matt Sinclair
-Use our natural 1st round pick on Michael Oher and use our 3rd round pick to draft the best available LB, hopefully Marcus Freeman from Ohio state or Aaron Maybin from Penn state.

In camp, Fincher and Sinclair would fight for a roster spot.

[BigHairedAristocrat]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

You do know trading down doesn't get you picks, though. You're entitled to trade down as far as you want to, but if you want picks then someone else needs to trade up.

Basically, we can't make second round projections for picks we don't and won't have. It sort of changes the long term plan when you think about it that way, doesn't it?

It's a nice suggestion and all, but we want to hear what your going to do with the Redskins picks, not with someone elses draft.

well-said. while its not a given that we can trade down, i think we could probably find a partner if we wanted to move down badly enough. I think the dilema is going to be: do we trade down and take two lesser-caliber players or keep the pick and draft a stud. If Oher or Maualuga is there at 13, it would be really hard for me to trade down. yes, we dont have a lot of picks, but id rather have one stud to lock down a position for a long time than 2 or 3 average players who are nominal starters/backups. There are plenty of those type of guys available in free agency every year.

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

I like your plan although Maualuga probably wont be there if we trade down - he might not even be there at 13. If we want him, we need to take him at 13.

If I were senior executive vice president of football and Snydersuckingup relations, id address the LB position this way:

-Attempt to sign Washington to a deal close to the vet minimum.
-Sign Matt Sinclair
-Use our natural 1st round pick on Michael Oher and use our 3rd round pick to draft the best available LB, hopefully Marcus Freeman from Ohio state or Aaron Maybin from Penn state.

In camp, Fincher and Sinclair would fight for a roster spot.

I know this dude has dropped from the top 10, but 3rd round? I haven't heard anything to indicate his stock at this point would put him in the 2nd even.

A guy I like a lot who Kiper says is likely a high 2nd rounder is Clint STintim of Virginia. If he or the guy English from N. Illinois happen to fall to the 3rd they would be a relative bargain (at this point, I know a lot can happen between now & then, pro days, etc.).

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by GMScud

The LB position, particularly OLB, is a big area of need for the Redskins. We currently are limited to 4 draft picks, and aside from cutting Marcus and re-signing Fincher (a net loss in my opinion), we have not been active whatsoever.

Here's how it would go down ideally for me: I'd like to make a modest play for one of the three OLB's available in FA (Crowell, June, Keiaho). Then I'd trade out of the 13th pick, and take one of the three USC LBs, preferrably Maualuga, and still get a good tackle.

Play GM (or whatever Vinny's title is). How would you fill our linebacking needs?

I agree, but how many games did MW play last year? What was our w/L w/him in the lineup?

I think he did a lot for the whole unit when healthy, but did we really win more w/him last year?

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

I like your plan although Maualuga probably wont be there if we trade down - he might not even be there at 13. If we want him, we need to take him at 13.

If I were senior executive vice president of football and Snydersuckingup relations, id address the LB position this way:

-Attempt to sign Washington to a deal close to the vet minimum.
-Sign Matt Sinclair
-Use our natural 1st round pick on Michael Oher and use our 3rd round pick to draft the best available LB, hopefully Marcus Freeman from Ohio state or Aaron Maybin from Penn state.

In camp, Fincher and Sinclair would fight for a roster spot.

I've seen a few mocks recently that have him in the 20's...

NFL Draft - CBSSports.com Football

However he wouldn't be a reach at 13, and I'd be happy taking him there, as long as we find another way to seriously address the tackle position.

[Paintrain]

We need to address LB with the 13th pick. For all of our hope to trade down, it takes two teams to trade so spinning our minds around 'trading down' being a solution to any draft questions is just wasting time. If Orapko is there he should be option one, then either Cushing or Rey if Orapko is gone. We can go into next season with Heyer as our starting RT but we can't enter the season with HB Blades as a starting OLB.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

We need to address LB with the 13th pick. For all of our hope to trade down, it takes two teams to trade so spinning our minds around 'trading down' being a solution to any draft questions is just wasting time. If Orapko is there he should be option one, then either Cushing or Rey if Orapko is gone. We can go into next season with Heyer as our starting RT but we can't enter the season with HB Blades as a starting OLB.

Uh, well, I agree that it's not going to kill us to see what we have in Heyer, but we've seen two abbreviated years of each, and Blades has been much better.

So, from that perspective, I'd say OT is a more pressing need. But the defense in general needs another pass rusher just as bad.

So, long story short, I don't know.

[Paintrain]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Uh, well, I agree that it's not going to kill us to see what we have in Heyer, but we've seen two abbreviated years of each, and Blades has been much better.

So, from that perspective, I'd say OT is a more pressing need. But the defense in general needs another pass rusher just as bad.

So, long story short, I don't know.

You think so? Blades is so overmatched, IMO, at OLB it's not even funny. He can't cover the TE. If I was an offensive coordinator I would be running my offense thru the TE if I saw that matchup.