Offseason after thoughts... the potential wisdom of the Redskins offseason

[kingerock]

As I sat and watched the Redskins offseason trades, moves, signings and then the draft I couldn't help but think to myself, "what in God's name is going on here!?" This isn't the Redskins offseason that I've come to know and love with midnight flights and major moves and signings. Then the draft and the seemingly wasted pick on a QB at #25 that may not play for a couple years, if at all, as a Redskins with potentially better players available for our immediate needs.

Then, at about 4:30 a.m. it all hit me. What if a team made decisions in the offseason that could payoff in the regular season? What if a not-so-flashy offseason resulted in a better than .500 regular season? That's all it takes in the NFC to make the playoffs.

So here is my conspiracy theory on the 2005 Redskins offseason:

#1. Gardner allowed to seek a trade
Why was Rod Gardner and his agent allowed to seek a trade and nothing was able to be done? I think no one expected to get alot, if anything at all, in return for him, but was there no team of the other 31 out there that could work out any deal for a big tall possesion WR looking for a change of scenery?

Maybe he was given the freedom to seek a trade to realize one thing; no one wants an under-performer. No one will spend a dime on a "potentially great" possesion WR. So, as it stands now, we have a big possesion WR with a desire for a new home coming up on a contract year and the ability to potentially write his own check for the 2006 season, based on his ability to perform. Does he pull a M Muhhamed and have a breakout season? If so, all the better for the Redskins who need a big possesion WR to compliment the speedy WRs they aquired in the offseason.

#2. The trade for the #25 spot in the draft
I, like most of you, probably thought long and hard about this one. The Redskins gave away 3 draft picks (next years #1 and 4, this years #3) to get the #25 pick in the draft. Why give up 3 picks, to move up high and draft a QB that could be sitting the bench (or worse, the practice squad) for 1 or more seasons? No one expects him to be playing anytime soon, if ever, as a Redskin. Why was he worth so much?

I see 3 reasons, the most important, our 2006 cap figures. There is no secret that the 2006 Redskins cap wont have enough room to buy groceries, let alone sign any high profile FAs or rookies in the draft. While the Redskins can afford to sign rookies this season, they really wont be able to next season. So what do you do? You make the 2006 #1 pick in 2005. You bring him (Jason Campbell, QB-Auburn) in when you have 3 QBs on your roster that you are happy with and with him having little to no barganing power for a massive 1st round rookie contract. You put him with 2 veteran QBs and what some consider to be an outstanding QB coach and you get him learning your offense and the speed of the NFL for an entire season before he will ever touch the turf. And, what most people will miss, you keep him off the Eagles roster. Donovan will be the 2006 Madden cover boy, which means he will either go down with injury or have a sub-par season. You keep a strong armed QB from being able to chunk the ball up to TO when Donovan can't.

#3. You build a team to beat the Eagles
In my opinion, 3 teams in the NFC have done there homework and figured out what needs to be done in the offseason. The Cowboys, Vikings, and Redskins all seem to be on the right track. You don't build a team to be the best in the NFL, that's impossible with the top AFC teams so stacked and only getting stronger. You build a team to beat the Philly Eagles, who have had a strangle-hold on the NFC for 4 years now. How do you beat the Eagles? You beat Donovan McNabb. You apply pressure with the blitz and you contain him in the pocket, not allowing him to use his feet. That means your focus has to be defense. With the Gregg Williams style defense, the drafted CB (Carlos Rodgers, CB-Auburn) and the players returning from injury (Arrington, Bowen, etc...) you have a defense with speed and the ability to get to the QB while creating a blanket over TO and being able to matchup 1 on 1 with any other WR on their squad. Even if the Redskins could split games with the Eagles, Giants and Cowboys this season, they have regular season games against the 49ers, Bucs, Seahawks, Bears and Cardinals, and the potential for 8 wins there. Eight wins in the NFC is almost a lock on a wild card spot.

So for what it's worth, that's my take on the not-so-normal, but not-so-bad Redskins offseason. If it works, we'll be looking back on the genius of Gibbs and Cerrato for years to come. If it fails, we'll be calling for resignations and College coaches to save us from ourselves!

[TheMalcolmConnection]

If anyone remembers my comments of last week, I was ready for mutiny if the Redskins picked a QB. The more I thought about it, the better it sounded. After reading more and more arguments here, it sounds even better. Though I'm not sold on what we had to give up to get the pick, I DO like the idea behind it.

[MTK]

This is the thing I'm going to preach all offseason.

Read Boswell's latest column and pay close attention to the part about how all the Snyderesque moves the past few years, the ones that we the fans have loved so much, have gotten us absolutely nowhere once the real season begins.

We've been the champions of the offseason since Snyder took over. As bizarre as this offseason has seemed on the surface, I'm really eager to see how things will play out once the games that count begin.

Personally I'm tired of every offseason being full of splashy signings and high hopes. Perhaps this offseason is exactly what we needed.

Gibbs is doing things his way, let's at least give his way a chance. Snyder's way hasn't worked at all.

[Schneed10]

Nice post, kingerock.

On Gardner, he will be financially motivated, that's for sure. I just hope he gets better about dropping passes, he needs to be more reliable.

On Campbell, I can't criticize that pick just yet. It's obviously a pick designed to help us down the road, as a developmental player. I'm definitely concerned about how many sources are saying how dumb he is though. That's not good.

I loved the FB picks. The Skins weren't strong in short-yardage situations last year. In a ball-control offense, you have to keep the chains moving, and a lot of our drives stalled because Portis couldn't pick up the first down on 3rd and short. I was starting to think Lamont Jordan would be a good free agent pickup. These FBs hopefully will provide sweet lead-blocking for Portis, or just punch it in themselves. We need that big time.

And I liked the LB picks. Gregg Williams seemed to go after the Stanford guy for his smarts. Pierce had those uncanny abilities to recognize and react to formations. We need a field general like that. Maybe one of these LBs can do that.

All in all, I think the Redskins will be better just because of Jansen's return, a better center, and Ramsey running the ship instead of Brunell. The offense started getting moving last year at the end, and we finished 3-2, and also had close calls with the Eagles and Steelers. I think things are looking up, I just hope Ramsey is allowed to play. We're getting there, it's not an overnight transformation, but we're getting there.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

This is the thing I'm going to preach all offseason.

Read Boswell's latest column and pay close attention to the part about how all the Snyderesque moves the past few years, the ones that we the fans have loved so much, have gotten us absolutely nowhere once the real season begins.

We've been the champions of the offseason since Snyder took over. As bizarre as this offseason has seemed on the surface, I'm really eager to see how things will play out once the games that count begin.

Personally I'm tired of every offseason being full of splashy signings and high hopes. Perhaps this offseason is exactly what we needed.

Gibbs is doing things his way, let's at least give his way a chance. Snyder's way hasn't worked at all.

Exactly what I'm thinking. We have too much conspiracy theory thinking with the Campbell signing. I reiterate, that I STILL am not happy of the price paid to get him, but I do think it IS a move to help us down the road.

I'll just say I'm cautiously optimistic. I trust that if Gibbs can build a winner of a seemingly unrelated sport, then he can do it again in the NFL.

[Schneed10]

The other thing, we all like to think we know who will be a good NFL player and who won't be when looking at the draft. And on this site, I'll bet we're more informed than most NFL fans, but in the end we just can't predict what's going to happen. McCune could end up being the next Ray Lewis for all we know. And Campbell could be the next Randall Cunningham, who knows. In the end, we're just hoping and rooting for it to all work out. In Joe we trust!

[Red Robert]

In Gibbs we trust!

Great post Kingerock..I need more positive posts.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Right... like I said in another thread. It's fine to constructively criticize but now we have people who are talking about not being fans anymore and general out-and-out chaos among many.

It was just the draft.

[joethiesmanfan]

I think Ramsey will do good keep Campbell on the bench indefinitely we'll be selecting another QB in the 2007 draft for the same reasons, or Ramsey makes it through the year but still inconsistent then its a QB competition in 2006 training camp either way Patrick is a Redskin QB and aint going now where or they let him seek a trade and he will get the same results as Gardner both have played on the same offense with the same type production.

[memphisskin]

At first I thought that Pasquarelli was blowing it, but now I'm going to go back and read some more of his articles because he definitely knew what he was talking about.

I'm still torn. I told my cousin that if we picked a qb in the first round then our franchise was in more trouble than I thought. I agree with Kornheiser, all I've really learned so far is that Gibbs doesn't like Ramsey. We definitely had more pressing needs, like say a wideout or a middle linebacker or a tight end. I just worry about Ramsey, how he handles it. I would hope that Campbell can grab a clipboard and not worry about having to play for two years, but all I can see is another qb controversy especially if Ramsey struggles any.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

Right... like I said in another thread. It's fine to constructively criticize but now we have people who are talking about not being fans anymore and general out-and-out chaos among many.

It was just the draft.

Yeah, and in my opinion, if you're talking about abandoning the team under ANY circumstances, then you were never really a true fan anyway. Being a fan doesn't mean you have to like everything the team does, but it does mean you have to stick with them through thick and thin.

[djnemo65]

The only problem I have with the whole in Gibbs we trust movement is that we trusted him on Brunell and it turned out we were right, not him. Now when I consider the arguments on espn suggesting that Campbell was at best a second round pick, and further consider what we gave up to give him, I have trouble sharing in this optimism. I know you guys only like posts that are overtly positive, but that's how I feel.

[Red Robert]

Again folks, I cannot say it enough. I have been a loyal fan of the Redskins for almost 30 years. ( brain washed by my father) I will remain loyal for the rest of my life. If we go 4 - 12 for the next 10 years I will still have faith.

Joe has given us 3 championships. There is no reason to believe he cannot do it again. Like the picks or not, stay positive and stay loyal. ANY TRUE REDSKIN FAN KNOWS THIS ALREADY.

There is a method to the madness kids, HAVE FAITH!

[EternalEnigma21]

I think its funny in every thread how someone always says how Gibbs doesn't like Ramsey. Gibbs is trying to build a Campionship team. Gibbs doesn't like losing. Ramsey may have a lot of potential, but if he doesn't harness it he will always be a could've been. Gibbs is just buying an insurance policy that he feels is a great step. Look at some of the QBs that were passed on in the draft that weren't college superstars... Brady, Bulger, Hasslebeck.

Even if this guy wasn't projected until the second round, maybe Gibbs thought he'd rather not take the chance of letting someone else grab him. Maybe SF wanting an insurance policy on Smith (God knows they've had their share of QB failures) Hell Maurice Clarett wasn't projected to even be drafted at all, or at most a 5th or 6th rounder. But someone saw talent and stepped up. Thats what we did.

So it really doesn't matter how Gibbs feels about Ramsey. I for one don't want to sit here and lose for years and wonder what it would be like if we had a decent quarterback prepped to go in and run the offense. Ramsey is being given a chance. He's been given a lot of chances and let slide on the fact that his failures have been passed on to other coaches & systems that didnt work. Most of us like Ramsey because he's got a cannon arm and thats exciting, but winning is more exciting, and if he cant get it done, how many years is it going to take before none of us like him?

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by canthetuna

I think its funny in every thread how someone always says how Gibbs doesn't like Ramsey. Gibbs is trying to build a Campionship team. Gibbs doesn't like losing. Ramsey may have a lot of potential, but if he doesn't harness it he will always be a could've been. Gibbs is just buying an insurance policy that he feels is a great step. Look at some of the QBs that were passed on in the draft that weren't college superstars... Brady, Bulger, Hasslebeck.

Even if this guy wasn't projected until the second round, maybe Gibbs thought he'd rather not take the chance of letting someone else grab him. Maybe SF wanting an insurance policy on Smith (God knows they've had their share of QB failures) Hell Maurice Clarett wasn't projected to even be drafted at all, or at most a 5th or 6th rounder. But someone saw talent and stepped up. Thats what we did.

So it really doesn't matter how Gibbs feels about Ramsey. I for one don't want to sit here and lose for years and wonder what it would be like if we had a decent quarterback prepped to go in and run the offense. Ramsey is being given a chance. He's been given a lot of chances and let slide on the fact that his failures have been passed on to other coaches & systems that didnt work. Most of us like Ramsey because he's got a cannon arm and thats exciting, but winning is more exciting, and if he cant get it done, how many years is it going to take before none of us like him?

I agree totaly. We had to either get a QB through free agency which would probaly be costly or through the draft. I won't agrue that the lost draft picks were a little to much but I do feel it was a move we had to make. If Ramsey does not step up his performace this year how would we have obtain a QB next year with the cap problems. The answer is a a late 1st round pick at a price that won't hurt the team. I think that none of use realy thought about drafting a QB when we have Ramsey, Brunell and just signed Hasselback.