Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

This is how I would have run this draft!

With our first pick we deal down to mid to mid to late first for an additional second rd pick and take Chris Spencer C-miss st., I am sure to find a #2 from someone at the bottom of the first and probably get a 3rd or 4th as well but I am happy at this point with a second. I would then deal back again to the second rd with oakland with our #25 pick for their 2 #2's giving us a total of 3 #2's I throw in Gardner and if need be a later pick, then take Justin Miller CB out of Clemson, Vincent Jackson WR out of N.Colorodo, and Odell Thurman MLB georgia, all in the second. However I have to work the deals I come away with a mid to late 1st and 3 #2's.

Spencer
Miller
Jackson
Thurman

That IMO should have been our draft, and it realistically could have been done without going crazy. Not only do I feel we are getting tremendous talent with those picks, it also addresses all of our needs exept a pass rushing DE, and a LEGITIMATE backup QB.

Notes I do keep the #25 pick we dealt from earlier in the week, I didn't have a problem with that trade just the pick we used it on.

I like Rogers but felt Miller is so close to Rogers and maybe the best kick returner in the draft, [besides maybe Mathis], that it was worth it to deal the 9th pick down and probably lose Rogers, to come away with the quality and depth that I have proposed.

And mark this down V.Jackson will be as good or better than M.Williams, how much I am not sure, Williams is the toughest player IMO to judge in this draft, I still feel he will be a monster in the red zone.

I then look for a DE and a backup QB in next years draft.


Well maybe some of the rest of you want to put together your draft, at the end of the season we can go back to this thread and see who's crowned GM of the WARPATH.

This Actually sounds like a pretty interesting contest, any more idea's let them fly. :pi_lightb :biggthump

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

I just wish we would have taken Mike Williams with our 9th pick. :confused- We really need a good WR!!!!! I think we could have gotten a decent CB with the 25th pick. :pi_lightb Oh well time will tell.

:httr:

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

Easy to say you would have traded down, problem was there were very few trades and not enough interesting prospects that made teams want to deal up.

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

The later rounds, I don't really care, although maybe it would have been nice to take a developmental d-lineman at some point.

I think this team's only chance is on defense so I would really do what I could to load up on talent. I would have gone with Carlos Rogers with that #9 pick; and then Dan Cody at #25 instead of Campbell.

I would have also given up Gardiner for a 7th rounder if one was available.

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

[QUOTE=Mattyk72]Easy to say you would have traded down, problem was there were very few trades and not enough interesting prospects that made teams want to deal up.[/QUOTE]


Well we all know oakland was out there, and I am sure a deal could have been worked out for the 25 pick remember all those teams out there scrambling to move up to get the best QB in the draft in Campbell.

Getting 3 #2's with 2 #1's is very realistic even in this draft, someone would have traded up to get Roger's or Williams at 9, and we know Oakland was out there.

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

[QUOTE=Drift Reality]The later rounds, I don't really care, although maybe it would have been nice to take a developmental d-lineman at some point.

I think this team's only chance is on defense so I would really do what I could to load up on talent. I would have gone with Carlos Rogers with that #9 pick; and then Dan Cody at #25 instead of Campbell.

I would have also given up Gardiner for a 7th rounder if one was available.[/QUOTE]

Dan Cody is interesting I think he need's to put on some weight but I also think he will be a very good D-end within the next 3 years.

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

without speculating what trades the Skins could/could not have made...

I would have taken Shawne Merriman at 9, who is one of the best athletes in the draft, and Marlin Jackson at 25. It would have given us a huge pass rushing threat and the CB we needed. Mike Williams at 9 would have been decent as well, but i'm fairly happy with the Receiving corps as it is.

it's too bad Rodgers didn't fall one more pick...much rather have him over Campbell...

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

I was hoping Clayton would still be around at #25. Not that it would have mattered much anyway, seems like we were pretty set on Campbell.

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

we signed rabach, why would we waste a 1st on another center with other needs? that makes no sense.

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

[QUOTE=BDBohnzie]without speculating what trades the Skins could/could not have made...

I would have taken Shawne Merriman at 9, who is one of the best athletes in the draft, and Marlin Jackson at 25. It would have given us a huge pass rushing threat and the CB we needed. Mike Williams at 9 would have been decent as well, but i'm fairly happy with the Receiving corps as it is.

it's too bad Rodgers didn't fall one more pick...much rather have him over Campbell...[/QUOTE]

we wouldnt have taken rodgers, they scouted campbell and they wanted campbell, not rodgers.

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

i agree Clayton at 25 would have been wonderful but like Mattyk said we were pretty much set on this Campbell kid. I wonder if the Campbell story had not broke out if the Skins could have traded back down out of the 25 pick to early 2nd and picked up a 4th or 5th rounder.

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

[QUOTE=That Guy]we signed rabach, why would we waste a 1st on another center with other needs? that makes no sense.[/QUOTE]


I know, but this kid is worth it and he can play guard as well, take a look at what we have behind Rabach, Raymer and Friedman, neither one of them could handle the middle last season, they were getting beat and pushed all over the place, Spencer will give us a great backup for either Center or guard, especially center where we are 1 injury away from raymer, and right back where we started from last season, this kid is way above average for a center, another option would be Richie Ingognito in the second, but Spencer is the guy I target knowing I can address other needs in the second.

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

Ritchie Ingognito the Kyle Turley waiting to happen . You were jumping up and down about picking up a possible QB of the future and you want to pick up a back up Center who might be able to move to Guard ? The O line problems last year started with the loss of Jansen then the continual sthifting around.

Merriman I dunno about he might be great bad or indeferent but I like Rodgers better. As for Mike Williams, the guy has been out of football for a year what has he been doing in that year ? As has been said before offense gets bums on seats defense wins championships .

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

[QUOTE=bedlamVR]Ritchie Ingognito the Kyle Turley waiting to happen . You were jumping up and down about picking up a possible QB of the future and you want to pick up a back up Center who might be able to move to Guard ? The O line problems last year started with the loss of Jansen then the continual sthifting around.

Merriman I dunno about he might be great bad or indeferent but I like Rodgers better. As for Mike Williams, the guy has been out of football for a year what has he been doing in that year ? As has been said before offense gets bums on seats defense wins championships .[/QUOTE]


In Case you didn't notice we couldn't run the ball last year, and rest assured that can't be laid on one players injury in Jansen, teams pushed right through the middle of our line, this kid can step in either for an injury, or if Dockery faulters, instead of relying on 42 yr old Ray Brown, and last of all unlike a NONE backup QB because that's what Campbell is, he is here to develope not to backup, a backup is a player ready to step in if theres a problem with Ramsey, because if Campbell see's the field any time soon we are in big trouble, thats what we really needed someone to make sure Brunell never see's the field again in a Skin's uniform. But unlike Campbell, Spencer can play and he would provide more for our passing game in the way of blocking in 1 game, than Campbell will in 3 years.

Basically your post answered your question, constant shifting, why you ask? because we didn't have proper personel or qualified personel to deal with 1 injury, this kid would have eliminated both.

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

All I would have done different.

#9 maybe Williams or Merriman, but I don't mind the CB pick.
#25 DE - Dan Cody or best DE available

6th Round: The real QB of the future: Timmy Chang. Asian Love for Timmy Chang. I'll be honest, the main reason I like him is because he's Asian-ish. Much like myself.

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

[QUOTE=offiss]In Case you didn't notice we couldn't run the ball last year, [/QUOTE]


Clinton Portis had over 1,300 yards last year and Betts wasn't too shabby when he came in?

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

#9 Mike Williams
#25 Marlin Jackson (you look at how he fared at Michigan and i have no doubt he would have been fine in GW's system)

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

#9 Carlos Rogers (we needed a top CB) though I must admit passing on Mike Williams at this position is really hard
#25 Whichever top DE or DL was available


[QUOTE=itvnetop]#9 Mike Williams
#25 Marlin Jackson (you look at how he fared at Michigan and i have no doubt he would have been fine in GW's system)[/QUOTE]

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

[QUOTE=skinsguy]Clinton Portis had over 1,300 yards last year and Betts wasn't too shabby when he came in?[/QUOTE]


1 yard at a time, we couldn't get to the line of scrimmage on short yardage plays.

I do think Betts ran harder than Portis though. Portis is not built to run between the tackles he needs a trapping style offense.

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

1st round 9 pick- Carlos Rogers, i have no problem with this pick at all, didnt need the big names
1st round 25- no1 here i would have traded future 1st rounder for...but either Heath Miller or Chris Spencer, to play guard. Bugel could probably make a monster out of him
4th round- Stefan Lefors, to groom as a solid backup. incredibly accurate, just short really and not a huge arm
5th round- Larry Brackens, huge WR as a project
6th round- Jovan Haye, solid DE id seen goin as high as the 3rd round
7th round- Broughton is a good pick i think as the goal line back

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

I still would have liked to see the Skins take Rod Flowers. He could be the next Antonio Gates. I'm sure they could still sign him to the practice squad.

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

[QUOTE=offiss]1 yard at a time, we couldn't get to the line of scrimmage on short yardage plays.

I do think Betts ran harder than Portis though. Portis is not built to run between the tackles he needs a trapping style offense.[/QUOTE]


Still, Portis gained over 1300 yards rushing and we all know that wasn't because we only ran him in zone blocking run plays...

The short yardage plays are the reason why we DRAFTED A BIG GUY!!!! Even in the 80's and 90's, Gibbs had his big backs that came in to gain those tough yards....this draft shows that Gibbs' philosophy hasn't changed.

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

[QUOTE=itvnetop]#9 Mike Williams
#25 Marlin Jackson (you look at how he fared at Michigan and i have no doubt he would have been fine in GW's system)[/QUOTE]

I like that

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

I would have loved M. Williams and taken a Corner with the 25th pick. They could have gotten the same value with Adrian MCPherson in the 5th round than they will get with Campbell in the first.

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

[quote]Still, Portis gained over 1300 yards rushing and we all know that wasn't because we only ran him in zone blocking run plays...[/quote]

He also touched the ball more than most other backs in the league and had a rather stingy 3.8 yards a carry. That was running in a poor offensive scheme, if we let him touch the ball that many times and actually let him play how he feels comfortable it may not matter if they stack the box!

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

[QUOTE=skinsguy]Still, Portis gained over 1300 yards rushing and we all know that wasn't because we only ran him in zone blocking run plays...

The short yardage plays are the reason why we DRAFTED A BIG GUY!!!! Even in the 80's and 90's, Gibbs had his big backs that came in to gain those tough yards....this draft shows that Gibbs' philosophy hasn't changed.[/QUOTE]

I really know nothing about the FB we drafted, but I do remember back in the day when Byner would get you all the way down to the one and G. RIGGS would hammer it home. Also the HOGS dominated back then... For God's sake we had a 40+ year old on the line last year...

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

Lets be honest here I would have never made the trade for 25.

I would have tried to moved down from 9, and if i could have gotten a later one and a two then I would have drafted as follows.

Day One

1. Best Rogers or best WR
2. Best Matt Roth, DE, Iowa
3. Best Ellis Hobbs III, CB, Iowa State, even if we got Rogers

Day Two- Same Trade with Minnesota

4. Manuel White Jr, RB,UCLA
5. Robert McCune, MLB, Louisville
Trade 6 and 7 to move up and get Anttaj Hawthorne, DT, Wisconsin

On my homer picks.

Hobbs has awesome feet and will be a great nickle DB and special teams player for a few years to come. I also like Matt Roth, he has a great motor and a lot of heart. Not the smartest guy in the world but he will give his all every down.

I dont know why Anttaj Hawthorne fell so far, but he will be a great road block at NT.

On my same as Gibbs picks.
White has great size and will be a great goal line back. Lets face it Portis isn't going to move the pile in those short yardage situations. McCune is a freaking MONSTER. He will be a great MLB, and I think he could be starting for us if Barrow cant stay healthy.

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

[QUOTE=RedskinsJunkie]I would have loved M. Williams and taken a Corner with the 25th pick. They could have gotten the same value with Adrian MCPherson in the 5th round than they will get with Campbell in the first.[/QUOTE]

Agreed, but he is not a Character player. And blame Sean Taylor, but I think Gibbs will never draft another "U" type ME first player.

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

[QUOTE=RedskinsJunkie]I really know nothing about the FB we drafted, but I do remember back in the day when Byner would get you all the way down to the one and G. RIGGS would hammer it home. Also the HOGS dominated back then... For God's sake we had a 40+ year old on the line last year...[/QUOTE]


Yeah, but he came in and did what we expected him to. This year, we're getting Jansen; in addition with a better center (hopefully). I wouldn't mind seeing us picking up some big guys for a heavy jumbo package.

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

[QUOTE=Daseal]He also touched the ball more than most other backs in the league and had a rather stingy 3.8 yards a carry. That was running in a poor offensive scheme, if we let him touch the ball that many times and actually let him play how he feels comfortable it may not matter if they stack the box![/QUOTE]


Well, first of all, it wasn't a poor offensive scheme. Secondly, if Portis is unhappy with how much he's going to be used (which sounds kind of stupid in my opinion), then he doesn't belong in Washington. This scheme relies on a run first approach and run often in order to control the ball and the clock. If this was actually a poor scheme, then Gibbs would have never been successful in his first tenure - and the excuse that football was different back then is hog wash.

Our offensive line had alot to do with Portis not gaining 10+ yards per carry.

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

[QUOTE=Daseal]He also touched the ball more than most other backs in the league and had a rather stingy 3.8 yards a carry. That was running in a poor offensive scheme, if we let him touch the ball that many times and actually let him play how he feels comfortable it may not matter if they stack the box![/QUOTE]
Not to get into this but Portis touched the ball just as many times or there abouts as the top 8 or 9 backs in the league. I wont/cant dispute his yards per carry but I dont believe that Portis is all to blame for his drop in yards per carry, I mean it does take a team effort.

[url]http://www.nfl.com/stats/leaders/NFL/RYDS/2004/regular[/url]

YDS ATT AVG TD LONG
1 Curtis Martin NYJ 1697 371 4.6 12 25
2 Shaun Alexander SEA 1696 353 4.8 16 44
3 Corey Dillon NE 1635 345 4.7 12 44
4 Edgerrin James IND 1548 334 4.6 9 40
5 Tiki Barber NYG 1518 322 4.7 13 72
6 Rudi Johnson CIN 1454 361 4.0 12 52
7 LaDainian Tomlinson SD 1335 339 3.9 17 42
8 Clinton Portis WAS 1315 343 3.8 5 64

Sorry about the poor lines

With the exception of td's LaDainian Tomlinson had a very similar year to Portis, but LT's offense did have a passing attack.

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

[QUOTE=skinsguy]Well, first of all, it wasn't a poor offensive scheme. Secondly, if Portis is unhappy with how much he's going to be used (which sounds kind of stupid in my opinion), then he doesn't belong in Washington. This scheme relies on a run first approach and run often in order to control the ball and the clock. If this was actually a poor scheme, then Gibbs would have never been successful in his first tenure - and the excuse that football was different back then is hog wash.

Our offensive line had alot to do with Portis not gaining 10+ yards per carry.[/QUOTE]


That's been the point why bring in a back like Portis when he clearly doesn't fit the scheme.

Now controlling the clock with the run is not a scheme, how you control it with the run is, and what I mean by that is what kind of a running game do we use, if it's a power running game then why bring in Portis? If it's a finess running game then why not do it.

Our line wasen't as bad as it was made out to be, I prefer to listen to Portis who has some experience running in that offense when he say's the other team's know where we are running the ball, couple that with opposing defenses stating that they knew where the plays were going, that the play's we ran were very simplistic, and easy to diagnois, I say that's an indictment on gibbs not the line, granted that our line was not great but not nearly as bad as they looked. I don't care how good your line is if you can't throw it enough to keep a defense honest you wont be able to run the ball, and we didn't come close to keeping the defenses honest.

I believe you said we had no need for a center/guard in the draft, yet blame the line for our running problems last year, and after seeing what you percieve to be a shabby line you wouldn't want to take the steps neccassary to add depth so if we have an injury we aren't strapped with a line that can't block?


I think the perception by some is that Gibb's used his big back's primarly on short yardage play's, well not so, he used them as his primary back, and used the speed guy's ala J.Washington, K.Bryant, and so on, on passing downs.

As for Football being different back in Gibbs first tenure? Yes, and no, What daseal is saying is Gibbs isn't running the team like he did back in the day, that's where the problem lies, yes with free agency, salary cap, clock management, things are different, but so is Gibbs, there is also something different about Gibbs now that wasen't back in the 80's, he had Bobby Beathard to bring in the players for him to succeed, I can tell you this Beathard found Schroeder in the 3rd, and Rypien, and Humphries in the 6th rd. About the same area we should have found Campbell.

Beathard left the Skins because he was fed up fighting with gibbs on personell, and I will give the trade that did it, it was the Gerald riggs for our #1, in which Beathard was going to use to draft Icky Woods, he allowed Gibbs to have his way and then left, his exact words "well Joe got his RB".

Gibbs of the past is gone he now has to reprove himself again, as he would be the first to agree, and after our abismal offensive effort last season he has a lot to prove.

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

[QUOTE=drew54]Agreed, but he is not a Character player. And blame Sean Taylor, but I think Gibbs will never draft another "U" type ME first player.[/QUOTE]
I know he had some issues in the past, but this is past the times of Bosic, Monk, Green, Etc... I think the guy has been very humble and he played well in Arena. I love the Mccunes pick too. I really think they needed to go WR Mike Williams with number 9 or like you said trade back and at least get Roddy White and a D lineman...

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

I just feel like we'll regret not picking Williams. I know if we DID get him it would have COMPLETELY changed our strategy for the draft. I just think he might be something special for Detroit.

And that pansy-ass Harrington throwing him passes... argh.

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

[QUOTE=TheMalcolmConnection]I just feel like we'll regret not picking Williams. I know if we DID get him it would have COMPLETELY changed our strategy for the draft. I just think he might be something special for Detroit.

And that pansy-ass Harrington throwing him passes... argh.[/QUOTE]
I am with you... He is special, Everyone was nuts about Braylon but he had 39 TDs in 4 years and M. Williams 30 in 2??? Even if he is a redzone target that is still MIGHTY impressive...

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

But I will say that since we didn't take him. I hope he's a bust. :)

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

Keep an eye on Vincent Jackson in San Diego he will be better than williams.

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

Vincent Jackson will be a playmaker. To me, it just might be history but a lot of times it seems like half the players taken in the top 10 are COMPLETE busts.

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

I really like the Troy Williamson pick as well. I was and am pretty impressed by what Minnesota has done this off season. (Especially D) They are going to be tough and if they had a half of a coach they would be LIGHTS OUT

Re: Draft Contest, What Would You Have Done?
 

[QUOTE=offiss]That's been the point why bring in a back like Portis when he clearly doesn't fit the scheme.

Now controlling the clock with the run is not a scheme, how you control it with the run is, and what I mean by that is what kind of a running game do we use, if it's a power running game then why bring in Portis? If it's a finess running game then why not do it.

Our line wasen't as bad as it was made out to be, I prefer to listen to Portis who has some experience running in that offense when he say's the other team's know where we are running the ball, couple that with opposing defenses stating that they knew where the plays were going, that the play's we ran were very simplistic, and easy to diagnois, I say that's an indictment on gibbs not the line, granted that our line was not great but not nearly as bad as they looked. I don't care how good your line is if you can't throw it enough to keep a defense honest you wont be able to run the ball, and we didn't come close to keeping the defenses honest.

I believe you said we had no need for a center/guard in the draft, yet blame the line for our running problems last year, and after seeing what you percieve to be a shabby line you wouldn't want to take the steps neccassary to add depth so if we have an injury we aren't strapped with a line that can't block?


I think the perception by some is that Gibb's used his big back's primarly on short yardage play's, well not so, he used them as his primary back, and used the speed guy's ala J.Washington, K.Bryant, and so on, on passing downs.

As for Football being different back in Gibbs first tenure? Yes, and no, What daseal is saying is Gibbs isn't running the team like he did back in the day, that's where the problem lies, yes with free agency, salary cap, clock management, things are different, but so is Gibbs, there is also something different about Gibbs now that wasen't back in the 80's, he had Bobby Beathard to bring in the players for him to succeed, I can tell you this Beathard found Schroeder in the 3rd, and Rypien, and Humphries in the 6th rd. About the same area we should have found Campbell.

Beathard left the Skins because he was fed up fighting with gibbs on personell, and I will give the trade that did it, it was the Gerald riggs for our #1, in which Beathard was going to use to draft Icky Woods, he allowed Gibbs to have his way and then left, his exact words "well Joe got his RB".

Gibbs of the past is gone he now has to reprove himself again, as he would be the first to agree, and after our abismal offensive effort last season he has a lot to prove.[/QUOTE]


Okay, lets get a few things straight, Offiss. I think you're going on alot of assumptions of what I'm saying, instead of actually fact of what I am saying. First of all, I never suggested we didn't need to use the draft or free agency to get a linemen....especially center. Just because I didn't state we needed to use either avenue to upgrade our OL, doesn't mean I don't believe we needed it. Heck, if we used our top two picks for the OL, that would have been fine with me.

Secondly, I never suggested we ONLY used the big running backs for short yardage downs, but 9 times out of 10, the big backs were in the lineup for the short yardage plays. That does not mean I am suggesting that these backs were not primary backs. I'm not neccessarily disputing that Joe Washington was used on third downs....I'm not disputing that John Riggins was a primary back. I know this stuff Offiss, I WATCHED THE GAMES!

What I am saying is, by US drafting big guys in THIS DRAFT, it gives us a BIG GUY to pick up the SHORT YARDAGE that PORTIS didn't do so well on this past year. That is ALL I am really trying to say about the big backs Offiss...instead you're pointlessly arguing about how John Riggins was used...an arugment I didn't start.

As for Portis, I brought up him gaining 1300+ yards this season because you basically were saying he wasn't effective...only gaining one yard per carry. I'm trying to look at this from a logical stand point..and for the record, I haven't offered my opinion on Portis as a system back or not, but only pointing out the obviously logical fact. That fact is, for a running back to gain over a 1,000 yards rushing to be considered not so effective isn't logical. Portis would have more than likely had another 1500 yard season if not for his injury. I would say with numbers like that, he had a heck of a year for being a Denver system back, wouldn't you agree?

Now, I don't feel Portis is the best fit in Gibbs' system....but for a back not being the best fit, he didn't do so bad in the system. The numbers don't lie. I have stated in the past that if I could choose between Portis and a healthy Stephen Davis; I would pick Davis. The reason why is that I felt Davis was more of a "Gibbs" type of back than what Portis is. Now, I'm not getting into an argument of Davis nowadays, but merely giving an example of what type of back I believe works best in Gibbs system. That IS NOT to say, though, I think Portis won't be successful in Washington.

Finally, the argument about the offensive line. Our protection was no where near what Gibbs and Bugel wanted it to be. It WAS alot better than the previous year, but nothing like what I believe the expectations are according to the coaching staff. We had Jansen out for the entire season - our best offensive linemen. Samuels had an okay year but not a pro bowl year. As the season progressed, the protection got better, but it wasn't anywhere where it should have been. I do believe we needed to upgrade the center...and hopefully we did that. Seeing him play will tell the tale. We're getting Jansen back and if Samuels can have better than a so-so year, the offensive line will play better this year. So, to address the line in conjunction to the thoughts on the running game, the OL wasn't always opening up big holes. Sure, defenses not respecting our passing game and putting people up on the line played a part in our running game, but to say our offensive line had zero to do with it was pure bunk. Now, I am NOT putting all the blame on the offensive line....don't even argue that point.

BTW, speaking about the running game in the 1980's...and the early 90's, our running game did switch to the smaller backs being featured...such as Timmy Smith and Earnest Byner. Maybe that contributed to the fact that Riggs and Rogers were not the John Riggins of football. My simple point in stating this is, Gibbs was just as successful with having the smaller backs used as primary backs as he was with the big backs. A prime example is our Super Bowl season of '91.