Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

In a recent post on his blog JLC concerning the interior portion of our O-Line, Rabach was praised as one of the few bright spots. In fact the actual portion refering to Rabach goes as follows:

[I]"Rabach is still the linchpin, although for the first time there were a few cracks in his game. He committed more penalties and had some significant problems with big 3-4 nose tackles (most people do, especially those who are more athletic than bulky, as Casey is). He was getting little help from his teammates at times and being asked to do a lot. He plays through pretty much all pain and has been vital to Jason Campbell's growth reading defenses and making checks and adjustments. He is the glue to the line and should have two or three more strong seasons."[/I]

[url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2009/01/l2008_positional_review_-_inte.html#more]Redskins by Position: Interior Offensive Line - Redskins Insider[/url]

At the same time the general concensus around the fan base seems to indicate that Rabach should at the very least be demoted in favor of younger talent that could be acquired through the draft. So with that said whats the truth concerning Rabach. Do we need to replace him ASAP or can we bide our time and dedicate our resources to acquiring Tackles, Guards and DT's?

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

I think we would be well served to get Alex Mack and let Raback play out another season until Mack can play. I think he's a good player that has a future with the team because he knows the system and he can play other positions if need be. We should rebuild out O-line through the draft to get the best out of a player. He did comit some penalties this year and he's getting older. Is he still worth keeping on the team, absolutely.

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

He also had nothing to say about Kendall's stellar season except that he's old. (Which is true, obviously), and refered to Randy Thomas as our only "proven player at Guard" even though he's also old and was SIGNIFICANTLY worse than Kendall this season in the new scheme.

I mean, given that, I can only assume that he didn't actually know anything about the interior OL going into writing this.

There's generally going to be differing opinion when we discuss whether we should bring back a player or not, but La Canfora obviously just ignores the fact that there is absolutely no nose tackle in the league he can block one on one. Which is a big problem for the offense.

I'm not saying that we can't win 10 games next year without replacing Casey Rabach at Center. I'm saying that if we don't, we'll have the same interior OL problems as last year, and that no one should be surprised with the result.

I mean, given this review, you'd think that we had one of the five best interior lines in the league and ran between the guards with ease, when in fact, quite the opposite was true. There's seeing things in a different light, and then theres ignorance. This clearly appears to be the latter.

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

It just sucks we have so many needs with so little draft picks. I don't think the center position is our biggest need but its up there. I could see Rabach playing one or two more seasons at most. Tackles and Guards is #1.
Trading for more picks is the way to go at this point. You never know who will be a beast or a bust. A place kicker is a real concern as well.

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

I kept hearing praise about him.. one game one of the announcers said he was having a Pro Bowl contending season. I'll just trust that these people have been watching the film and him getting murdered by NT's and committing penalties stood out more due to camerawork following the ball.

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

I don't see how Rabach is anything above average. As the trained eyes have pointed out he gets destroyed by nose-tackles and generally does not seem to be an effective blocker. Then there's the intelligence factor. Center needs to be the smart guy on the line to make adjustments etc and as the line just looked pitiful as the season wore on how much of that rests on Rabach's shoulders? As well the penalties are just appalling. The f'ing "smart guy" on the line has two consecutive TDs called back.
R I D I C U L O U S.

I think what may save Rabach's bacon is Zorn's hesitancy to bring in another center in the middle of JC's development. That said, if Rabach gets to stay a la Zorn/Campbell it's that much more imperative we upgrade the line elsewhere: namely a franchise tackle to play right or left (depending on what Samuels can do) and an upgrade @ guard. My guess is either Kendell or Thomas gets replaced by Jansen or Rinehardt. At this point I'd bet a wad Jansen starts again next year... I'm just hoping it's inside somewhere because we've invested in a franchise tackle. Anyway, Jansen is a fighter and will compete like hell to start anywhere.

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

[quote=The Goat;520391]I don't see how Rabach is anything above average. As the trained eyes have pointed out he gets destroyed by nose-tackles and generally does not seem to be an effective blocker. Then there's the intelligence factor. Center needs to be the smart guy on the line to make adjustments etc and as the line just looked pitiful as the season wore on how much of that rests on Rabach's shoulders? As well the penalties are just appalling. The f'ing "smart guy" on the line has two consecutive TDs called back.
R I D I C U L O U S.
[/quote]

The job of calling adjustments was Campbell's this year.

Furthermore:

"We never changed protections at the line of scrimmage in years past," Rabach said. "Now that we're doing it, people are getting more comfortable with it, with Jason, and with the offense as a whole. It's working out well in a number of instances."

That was said after week 4 I believe.

source:

[url=http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/20081005_Redskins__Jason_Campbell_steps_forward.html]Redskins' Jason Campbell steps forward | Philadelphia Inquirer | 10/05/2008[/url]

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

[quote=The Goat;520391]I don't see how Rabach is anything above average. As the trained eyes have pointed out he gets destroyed by nose-tackles and generally does not seem to be an effective blocker. Then there's the intelligence factor. Center needs to be the smart guy on the line to make adjustments etc and as the line just looked pitiful as the season wore on how much of that rests on Rabach's shoulders? As well the penalties are just appalling. The f'ing "smart guy" on the line has two consecutive TDs called back.
R I D I C U L O U S.

I think what may save Rabach's bacon is Zorn's hesitancy to bring in another center in the middle of JC's development. That said, if Rabach gets to stay a la Zorn/Campbell it's that much more imperative we upgrade the line elsewhere: namely a franchise tackle to play right or left (depending on what Samuels can do) and an upgrade @ guard. My guess is either Kendell or Thomas gets replaced by Jansen or Rinehardt. At this point I'd bet a wad Jansen starts again next year... I'm just hoping it's inside somewhere because we've invested in a franchise tackle. Anyway, Jansen is a fighter and will compete like hell to start anywhere.[/quote]

I had forgotten about the TDs being called back because of his penalties.

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

Like it or not we're not going to be able to overhaul the entire OL in one offseason. Samuels, Thomas, and Rabach are all pretty much locks to be back in their starting spots next year. It's LG and RT that will likely see changes.

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

[quote=Trample the Elderly;520395]I had forgotten about the TDs being called back because of his penalties.[/quote]

Pretty sure it was Rabach in the Dallas game we won. Had we lost, as we well could have w/ two TDs called back, i'm sure the doubts surrounding Rabach would emerged much earlier and by now a lot of folks would be calling for his head.

Center for us is a real tough call IMO. Rabach is just average and we don't have someone waiting in the wings. Yet Zorn wants continuity and we've got just 4 picks this year. Again I just think if Rabach is retained we have to do some serious upgrading around him or we're gonna see the same bullshit next year: JC sacked close to 40 times and getting just one or two seconds to throw against better defenses.

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

[quote=Mattyk72;520397]Like it or not we're not going to be able to overhaul the entire OL in one offseason. Samuels, Thomas, and Rabach are all pretty much locks to be back in their starting spots next year. It's LG and RT that will likely see changes.[/quote]

Why Thomas Matty? I thought w/ the neck injury, surgery etc he was kind of a question mark...

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

[quote=Mattyk72;520397]Like it or not we're not going to be able to overhaul the entire OL in one offseason. Samuels, Thomas, and Rabach are all pretty much locks to be back in their starting spots next year. It's LG and RT that will likely see changes.[/quote]Well, I don't like it, but I do think there is a better than 50% chance that Rabach is the Center on opening day.

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

[quote=Mattyk72;520397]Like it or not we're not going to be able to overhaul the entire OL in one offseason. Samuels, Thomas, and Rabach are all pretty much locks to be back in their starting spots next year. It's LG and RT that will likely see changes.[/quote]

Thats to be expected. Though it would really be a treat to come away from the offseason with 2 or 3 new guys that could either come in immediately or easily gain a starting spot in 2010.

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

I doubt we'd keep Rabach if he isn't starting. He can't play anywhere else on the line and a backup center has to be able to play guard in a pinch considering we'll usually have no more than 8 active linemen come game day. I too was confused by JLC's interior line piece...I agree that he probably goes off his biases towards players on a personal level. Rabach is a fun guy who gets along with the media and does Thomas while Kendall is just a normal guy doing his job. That probably affects these writings more than anything.

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

Rabach is ok, but JLC is making way too many excuses for the guy. It's "analysis" like that that leads one to believe Rabach must be one of his "sources"

Didn't Rabach cost us the Chargers game back in 2005?

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

AND Devin Thomas his only touchdown CATCH of the year. :doh:

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

[quote=SmootSmack;520432]Rabach is ok, but JLC is making way too many excuses for the guy. It's "analysis" like that that leads one to believe Rabach must be one of his "sources"[/quote]That's what I'm getting from this.

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

[quote=TheMalcolmConnection;520448]AND Devin Thomas his only touchdown CATCH of the year. :doh:[/quote]That was Heyer, I think.

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

It seemed like our Oline was penalized....A LOT this year in general. It could be a result of their inability to legitamately protect and need to supplement a new technique. "Extreme Holding"

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

[quote=GTripp0012;520451]That was Heyer, I think.[/quote]

Yeah it was, he blasted someone from the Cards d-line, Dockett maybe?

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

[quote=The Goat;520400]Why Thomas Matty? I thought w/ the neck injury, surgery etc he was kind of a question mark...[/quote]

Thomas described it as a minor procedure that he had to have done.

[quote]
Right guard Randy Thomas is scheduled to undergo a minor procedure on his neck next week, Thomas told Jason Reid today.

"I don't want to get too specific with it, but it's just something I need to get done," he said. "I played with it, so it's not that serious."

link: [url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/12/offseason_surgery_for_randy_th.html?wprss=redskinsinsider]Thomas, Golston Headed for Surgery - Redskins Insider[/url]
[/quote]

And, his cap hit is over $9M. He'll be back.

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

It IS disheartening to see such HUGE cap hits on potentially questionable players.........

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

[quote=SmootSmack;520432]Rabach is ok, but JLC is making way too many excuses for the guy. It's "analysis" like that that leads one to believe Rabach must be one of his "sources"

Didn't Rabach cost us the Chargers game back in 2005?[/quote]That loss was more Robert Royal than anyone else. He dropped about 3-4 passes that would have resulted in first downs, handing the ball back to the Chargers on each. Rabach was called for holding SD's huge NT at the end of the game that forced us from 40+ yard FG range to 50+ yard range, but I felt Royal's drive killing drops were more costly.

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

[quote=Mattyk72;520462]Thomas described it as a minor procedure that he had to have done.



And, his cap hit is over $9M. He'll be back.[/quote]

Guess so... hopefully '08 was just a down year. In the past Randy was the guy you'd see plowing people downfield so our RB could pick up big gains. This season I noticed very little downfield blocking and I think it hurt us badly.

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

Man do I hate JLC. He is the most biased reporter I think I have ever come across. Top it all off with terrible analysis and what is the point. Rabach is a mediocre player and I would be happy to move back in the first round and take a center with the number one pick. There are several excellent centers in this upcoming draft.

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

[quote=wilsowilso;520551]Man do I hate JLC. He is the most biased reporter I think I have ever come across. Top it all off with terrible analysis and what is the point. Rabach is a mediocre player and I would be happy to move back in the first round and take a center with the number one pick. There are several excellent centers in this upcoming draft.[/quote]

From everything i've heard and read this draft is loaded w/ o-line talent across the board. So frustrating we don't have more picks to work with.

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

everyone here realizes that randy thomas is a back up for the probowl right? and to get there you have to impress fans, players and coaches. if your sorry then you just dont get that kind of respect. i think he is still good for us for at least another 2-3 years. now if we draft a starting LG and then get a solid back up center that would help out our line. as far as right tackle goes maybe get gross or another FA or keep JJ/ heyer over there for another season. the line is not going to get fixed overnight

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

As far as Thomas goes, I think he may have been hampered a little bit from that torn bicep from last year. It takes a while to get it healed and then to get the motion (without pain) and then to get the strength back. I think a healthy offseason could get him back to top tier level again.

.... and with his cap hit we should all hope for that!

As for Rabach... he seems like an adequate center in the NFL. Nothing more, nothing less. I doubt he goes anywhere next year. We can only address so many needs. There are more pressing needs for sure. Maybe a Jason learns to call out protections better Casey's role will be less important and easier to fill.

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

[quote=wilsowilso;520551]Man do I hate JLC. [B] He is the most biased reporter I think I have ever come across. [/B]Top it all off with terrible analysis and what is the point. Rabach is a mediocre player and I would be happy to move back in the first round and take a center with the number one pick. There are several excellent centers in this upcoming draft.[/quote]

LMAO, I think this guy has something to say about that

[IMG]http://realestate.halogenguides.com/ul/images/v1/sean_hannity.jpg[/IMG]

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

[quote=Dirtbag359;520564]LMAO, I think this guy has something to say about that

[IMG]http://realestate.halogenguides.com/ul/images/v1/sean_hannity.jpg[/IMG][/quote]

nice

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

I meant Sports reporter.
No one can compete with regards to bias reporting with Fox news.

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

People actually listen/read JLC?

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

[quote=30gut;520666]People actually listen/read JLC?[/quote]

Same reason people read the National Enquirer I guess. :)

Re: Casey Rabach and the Center Position
 

i hope we juss improve overall on the line