Fixing the Secondary
 

As we all well know, the secondary is in need of some help this offseason. So here's where you post your plan for fixing the secondary.


[B]Safety:[/B]

Cut/Let Walk: Reed Doughty, Trenton Robinson

Sign in FA: Chris Clemons-1 year, Kendrick Lewis-3 years

Resign: Brandon Meriweather-1 year, Jose Gumbs-1 year

Draft: No one. Unless, of course, Deone Bucannon falls to the 4th. LOL.

UDFAs: Johnathan Dowling, Daniel Sorensen. Obviously, any projected UDFA can easily be drafted, but assuming these two aren't, I'd love to bring them in to compete for depth.


[B]Cornerback[/B]

Cut/Let Walk: Josh Wilson, E.J. Biggers

Sign in FA: Alterraun Verner-5 years, Chris Owens-1 year

Resign: DeAngelo Hall-2 years

Draft: Ricardo Allen

UDFAs: Phillip Gaines, Dexter McDougle

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

I can agree with all of this except we absolutely need to cut Meriweather and I'd rather keep Doughty.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

[quote]Cut/Let Walk: Reed Doughty,[/quote]



Hell no. He's the one bright spot in the group. I'd much rather have him than BM.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

[quote=DynamiteRave;1059374]I can agree with all of this except we absolutely need to cut Meriweather and I'd rather keep Doughty.[/quote]

Well, I'm sure many fans agree that Meriweather needs to go. But my thinking is that he can stay on a 1 year deal and compete with Clemons for the starting SS spot. He played well near the end of last year, and he's our hardest hitter. And if you release Meriweather and Clemons gets hurt, then you have Thomas, who is practically a rookie, starting. I want depth in the secondary, particulary safety, this next year.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

Doughty is a solid backup and a very good special teams player. Unless his play starts to decline or we can find someone to fit both roles, I'm okay keeping him.

I think the team needs to part ways with Merriweather, but as long as we have a solid replacement.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

At Corner:
re-sign DeAngelo Hall and E.J. Biggers
Sign Tracy Porter or Sam Shields
Draft Shaquille Richardson

At Safety:
FS Jairus Byrd and SS Chris Clemmons
sign Taylor Mays
resign Reed Doughty

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

Resign hall to a 1 or 2 year deal. Sign Sam shields to a josh Wilson-like deal. Let biggers, wilson walk. Plan on Crawford, Minnefield, and Amerson back.

At SS, let Rambo, Thomas and sign a vet ss to a 1 year deal to fight it out for the position. Sign a vet to a mult-year deal at Free Safety.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

Is there a good pass rusher in the draft? A good pass rush can make a bad secondary look good.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

Louis Delmas was just cut by the Lions for salary cap reasons. I am not sure what type of $$ he'll be looking for but I would put him up there right after Byrd as far as top free agent safeties go. I think the Redskins should looking into using some of the money they'd use to sign Meriweather and put it towards signing Delmas instead.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

Cut Doughty? No! he is one of the very few players that earned his paycheck last year. The veteran minimum for a guy who is consistent and respected by his teammates is worth it.

To fix the secondary, you need to fix the Dline.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

Just to clarify Delmas is a strong safety and Byrd is a free safety. Meriweather is naturally a strong safety so that's why I'd much rather have Delmas than him. I'm just not sure what need is greater strong or free.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

add a no 1 corner and a legit starting safety.

I like merriweather and thought he was the only safety who has the ability to play above average and occasionally ball.

doughty is an ideal vet back up on a cheap deal.

we def need another legit safety. someone average to above average at least. the other safety position should not be left up to hoping rambo or thomas make huge improvements.

corner - add a legit no 1, hall at 2 and amerson as the 3 ready to step in in case 1 or 2 gets injured.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

[quote=jamf;1059404]Cut Doughty? No! he is one of the very few players that earned his paycheck last year. The veteran minimum for a guy who is consistent and respected by his teammates is worth it.

To fix the secondary, you need to fix the Dline.[/quote]

Let's not go overboard on Doughty. He's a solid special teams player and plays the run ok. He can't cover a stationary target. Great team guy, if he comes back on a low money deal and is relegated to special teams only, I'm all for it. He shouldn't get any defensive snaps after the preseason.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

The secondary is a mess. Josh Wilson? You have to go! Not a good free agent signing at all. Rambo? I understand getting beat in coverage cause you're a rookie. But why can't you tackle? Merriweather? No fundamentals in tackling. But at least he wants to hit someone. For me it's a simple solution. Improve the pass rush and hope that we get better play from the young guys and the guys that were hurt. I WOULD NOT sign Byrd because we have two drafted guys at safety that need to develop.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

Doughty is a good backup and ST player, for sure, but he's not good enough to rely on as a starter in case of injury, and he has no upside. I just think we need to move on from him.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

So Reed is irreplaceable now? wow, if that doesnt scream upgrade the secondary...

This thread is depressing. Lol

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

[quote=Chico23231;1059427]So Reed is irreplaceable now? wow, if that doesnt scream upgrade the secondary...[/quote]

Don't think anybody is saying he's a good starter. He's a good backup and provides excellent depth along with special teams play.

He's still better than BM.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

Delmas is a good safety but has ailing knees apparently. He was on a practice regimen that let him sit for two days a week.

I thought we had some interest in him last year but couldn't pony up the cash. Now Detroit is cutting him one year into his contract. I think he is a very good safety (a "legitimate starting safety") but wouldn't tie too much money in the guy or get into a bidding war over him. I am also concerned that we may not get more than 8 games out of the guy b/c of his knees.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

[quote=JoeRedskin;1059450]Delmas is a good safety but has ailing knees apparently. He was on a practice regimen that let him sit for two days a week.

I thought we had some interest in him last year but couldn't pony up the cash. Now Detroit is cutting him one year into his contract. I think he is a very good safety (a "legitimate starting safety") but wouldn't tie too much money in the guy or get into a bidding war over him. I am also concerned that we may not get more than 8 games out of the guy b/c of his knees.[/quote]

Yea, I'm with you Joe..... no more part time guys.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

[quote=JoeRedskin;1059450]Delmas is a good safety but has ailing knees apparently. He was on a practice regimen that let him sit for two days a week.

I thought we had some interest in him last year but couldn't pony up the cash. Now Detroit is cutting him one year into his contract. I think he is a very good safety (a "legitimate starting safety") but wouldn't tie too much money in the guy or get into a bidding war over him. [B]I am also concerned that we may not get more than 8 games out of the guy b/c of his knees[/B].[/quote]

Exactly. I have a much bigger problem signing guys who are oft-injuried than guys over 30. Kinda changed my mind with H. Nicks because of that. No reason to pay a guy who plays half the game or suspended a couple games (B Merriweather).

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

I understand the concern about Delmas' knees but he also played in all 16 games last year. He got cut because of the Lions' horrible salary cap situation where Suh and Stafford has them by the balls.

He is only 26 but the problem is I think he'll be asking for at least $5-6M/year but I'd rather give that to him than $3M to Meriweather.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

[quote=SkinsFanOttawa;1059466]I understand the concern about Delmas' knees but he also played in all 16 games last year. He got cut because of the Lions' horrible salary cap situation where Suh and Stafford has them by the balls.

He is only 26 but the problem is I think he'll be asking for at least $5-6M/year but I'd rather give that to him than $3M to Meriweather.[/quote]

THIS. Get merriweather and doughty out of town, both are liabilities, if we are IMPROVING the secondary, then lets improve it. Quit holding on to these sub par players who take up roster space, cap dollars, and valuable game time away from our youngsters and free agents who COULD actually make an impact, and could perform to a level where we aren't the worst secondary in the league.

New coaching staff, new secondary except our young guys and DHall. If we want sub par players who are a liablity, at least let the coaching staff choose their own liabilities.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

Brandon Meriweather was our best safety last year, as well as the defense's hardest hitter. I think the wisest move at SS is to sign a fairly cheap vet(Chris Clemons)and let them compete for the starting spot. Meriweather played quite well near the end of this season.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

[quote=SirLK26;1059487]Brandon Meriweather was our best safety last year, as well as the defense's hardest hitter. I think the wisest move at SS is to sign a fairly cheap vet(Chris Clemons)and let them compete for the starting spot. Meriweather played quite well near the end of this season.[/quote]

First of all, to say that Meriweather was our best safety last season is like putting lipstick on a pig. If he played well near the end of last season, I must have missed it. Besides, what did he do to help us win before we lost ten or eleven games?

You can forget about Meriweather because he is as good as gone. Phillip Thomas has a much better chance of becoming our starting SS than Meriweather does.

Clemons is not a SS and he won't be cheap to sign. He is a quality FS who I think could help us but he wouldn't be competing with Meriweather or anyone else if we should be lucky enough to sign him. He would be our starting FS.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

[quote=KI Skins Fan;1059500]First of all, to say that Meriweather was our best safety last season is like putting lipstick on a pig. If he played well near the end of last season, I must have missed it. Besides, what did he do to help us win before we lost ten or eleven games?

You can forget about Meriweather because he is as good as gone. Phillip Thomas has a much better chance of becoming our starting SS than Meriweather does.

Clemons is not a SS and he won't be cheap to sign. He is a quality FS who I think could help us but he wouldn't be competing with Meriweather or anyone else if we should be lucky enough to sign him. He would be our starting FS.[/quote]

Clemons plays both safety positions. The reason I have him at SS is because I had Kendrick Lewis as our FS. As for his salary, the Dolphins had him on a 1 year deal worth 2.75 million. That's in the neighborhood of Meriweather's salary.

To your last sentence in the first paragraph: I'm not sure what you're saying. Are you suggesting that Meriweather is one of the main reasons we lost so many games? Because I maintain that outside of Hall, he was the best DB.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

[quote=SirLK26;1059487]Brandon Meriweather was our best safety last year,[/quote]

No. RD played better than BM did. That said, our play from the safety position as a whole sucked balls.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

[quote=SirLK26;1059487]Brandon Meriweather was our best safety last year, as well as the defense's [B]stupidest[/B] hitter. I think the wisest move at SS is to sign a fairly cheap vet(Chris Clemons)and let them compete for the starting spot. Meriweather played quite well near the end of this season.[/quote]

I fixed that for you.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

[quote=NC_Skins;1059508]No. RD played better than BM did. That said, our play from the safety position as a whole sucked balls.[/quote]


Skins need to utilize the talent that they have:
cut/release: Merriweather
sign: FS
resign: Hall
Build with: Crawford, Amerson, Minnefield. Biggers, Thomas, Rambo

Improve the players that are here, give them an opportunity to get better, and put them in position to be good

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

[quote=DynamiteRave;1059509]I fixed that for you.[/quote]

:joecool: That's another way of putting it, yes. But a safety who has the ability to light up a receiver is a good thing.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

[quote=whistler;1059510]Skins need to utilize the talent that they have:
cut/release: Merriweather
sign: FS
resign: Hall
Build with: Crawford, Amerson, Minnefield. Biggers, Thomas, Rambo

Improve the players that are here, give them an opportunity to get better, and put them in position to be good[/quote]

Biggers has got to go. He is little more than a speed bump. I'm tired of DB's who can't tackle.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

Nahhh Doughty people?? Lol let him walk. Its time. Do we wanna fix this or not??

Resign Hall, Meriweather.
Add Verner & Byrd... omg... we could rely on Kerrakpo to force qb mistakes and were dominant. Big Barry still fills our gap up the middle still. Let Riley do his thing. Ends would be our concern but theres some cheap options we could look at.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

[quote=Skins4L;1059513]Nahhh Doughty people?? Lol let him walk. Its time. Do we wanna fix this or not??

Resign Hall, Meriweather.
[/quote]

Reed is a back up. Why do you guys keep referring to him as if we're talking about a starting position. I seriously doubt you'll find a better backup safety than RD.


Anybody who advocates re-signing BM should be laughed at.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

I would like to keep Doughty for special teams and as a serviceable back up. We need a hard hitting strong safety and a knowledgeable ball hawking free safety.
I would not be opposed to signing a player like Ryan Clark to teach Phillip Thomas and Rambo the nuances of playing in the Steelers 3-4. That is the defense that our D is based on.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

I would go [U]all out[/U] to sign Jairus Byrd. He is easily the best FS (and one of the best players) available in FA. Signing him would provide a huge upgrade to our secondary.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

[quote=NC_Skins;1059514]Reed is a back up. Why do you guys keep referring to him as if we're talking about a starting position. I seriously doubt you'll find a better backup safety than RD.


Anybody who advocates re-signing BM should be laughed at.[/quote]

Exactly.....why would you want to release one of our best backups?
Hes also a class act, if his jersey ever goes on sale I'm grabbing one.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

There is speculation that Byrd will be franchised again by the Bills. I do think he is one of the Redskins top 5 targets Free Agents not already on the team.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

[quote=KI Skins Fan;1059531]I would go [U]all out[/U] to sign Jairus Byrd. He is easily the best FS (and one of the best players) available in FA. Signing him would provide a huge upgrade to our secondary.[/quote]

There's a few problems with signing a big name FA like Bryd or Verner. If you sign one of those guys, plus resign Orakpo and Riley, that's a huge chunk of cap space gone. I'm no cap expert, but that would be well over half the available space. And you still have a lot of players to resign, and a lot of other units to upgrade. Now, I'm in favor of pursuing Verner, but I don't know how wise it would be.

The other thing is that in a few years we're going to need some cap space available to resign Griffin. We might not want to have multiple other huge contracts.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

[quote=SirLK26;1059534]There's a few problems with signing a big name FA like Bryd or Verner. If you sign one of those guys, plus resign Orakpo and Riley, that's a huge chunk of cap space gone. I'm no cap expert, but that would be well over half the available space. And you still have a lot of players to resign, and a lot of other units to upgrade. Now, I'm in favor of pursuing Verner, but I don't know how wise it would be.

The other thing is that in a few years we're going to need some cap space available to resign Griffin. We might not want to have multiple other huge contracts.[/quote]

I agree, while the secondary is a huge concern the primary focus has to be the o line. If we don't give RG3 some time we are only going to get worse.

Re: Fixing the Secondary
 

[quote=SirLK26;1059534]There's a few problems with signing a big name FA like Bryd or Verner. If you sign one of those guys, plus resign Orakpo and Riley, that's a huge chunk of cap space gone. I'm no cap expert, but that would be well over half the available space. And you still have a lot of players to resign, and a lot of other units to upgrade. Now, I'm in favor of pursuing Verner, but I don't know how wise it would be.

The other thing is that in a few years we're going to need some cap space available to resign Griffin. We might not want to have multiple other huge contracts.[/quote]

I agree, while the secondary is a huge concern the primary focus has to be the o line. If we don't give RG3 some time we are only going to get worse.