SI.com - Gibbs, 'Skins feeling more comfortable
 

[URL=http://www.thewarpath.net/showthread.php?p=89550#post89550]http://www.thewarpath.net/showthread.php?p=89550#post89550[/URL]

The only thing I didn't like about this article is the complete absence of McCants mentions. They went into some detail about the WR's, and left Darnerian off the list. Maybe SI knows something we don't?

Re: SI.com - Gibbs, 'Skins feeling more comfortable
 

I noticed that as well, Brudlee. Darnerian has fallen way off the radar lately.

Re: SI.com - Gibbs, 'Skins feeling more comfortable
 

He could be a candidate to be released during training camp. Cutting him would save us $545,000 on this year's (2005) cap. Next year (2006), he would count $1.33 million against our cap in dead money if we did cut him. He's actually scheduled to count $1.66 against the 2006 cap as it is, so cutting him in the next month would actually save us $0.33 million in 2006 as well. Of course, we'd have to pay someone to replace him, which would basically wash out on the 2006 cap to a net effect of zero.

Basically, he could be cut during camp to create cap room for this year, while not really hurting or helping the cap much in 2006. I think he's a prime candidate for the axe, especially now that Barrow has gotten his knee issues cleared up.

But I think Gibbs will give him a fair shot. If he beats out Dyson or one of the other receivers for the 6th slot, then Gibbs will keep him fair and square.

I think the definites at WR are:
Moss
Jacobs
Patten
Thrash
A Brown

It's that 6th spot that's up for grabs.

Re: SI.com - Gibbs, 'Skins feeling more comfortable
 

With the emergence of Brown and the signing of Dyson, things sure seem to be working heavily against McCants. He'll really need to step it up in training camp.

Re: SI.com - Gibbs, 'Skins feeling more comfortable
 

I don't know. We need someone that can get it done in the Redzone, I really don't want to rely on old man Dyson for those duties. He's a good solid vet, but how many games has he missed in the last two years? I think McCants will be okay.

Re: SI.com - Gibbs, 'Skins feeling more comfortable
 

I always like Royal and Cooley as our redzone targets. They have a tendency to be somewhere in the vicinity for a touchdown.

Re: SI.com - Gibbs, 'Skins feeling more comfortable
 

yeah so do i. i don't understand why people underrate them. they are great redzone targets, they usually find a way to get open. chris cooley led the team in touchdown catches last season.

Re: SI.com - Gibbs, 'Skins feeling more comfortable
 

I agree that Cooley will be a red zone threat, and perhaps even Royal. We do need a player that will keep the corners honest, though.

Re: SI.com - Gibbs, 'Skins feeling more comfortable
 

By looking at the videos of minicamp, you can always tell where McCants is......he really stands out with his height and size.

Re: SI.com - Gibbs, 'Skins feeling more comfortable
 

He's going to have to make an impact on teams to make it this year. Don't know if he can really do that, though, with all the LBs and FBs we brought in. I really hope he finds a way to make it--he's a good target, and a change from all the little guys.

Re: SI.com - Gibbs, 'Skins feeling more comfortable
 

If I recall from last year, I think Joe Gibbs had a problem with how McCants looked during practice. McCants may not look good during practice, but I think he really shines during game-day. He was scoring on every sixth catch for the past two years. If we do incorporate 3 or 4 WR set, McCants will a great possession type receiver. 6'3 211 lbs...he's a giant target among our speedy smurfs receivers.

Re: SI.com - Gibbs, 'Skins feeling more comfortable
 

I know the crucifiction is coming, but I think Cooley may have a drop off this year. Not that he's not a great player but how many TEs have great rookie years then hit the sophmore slump once some film gets out on em, etc. I think he'll be productive, but I could see him being a bit more tightly covered next year. I think we should have at least one big target on the outside. it takes a long time for Cooley/Royal to get to where you'd throw a fade to.

Re: SI.com - Gibbs, 'Skins feeling more comfortable
 

If D'Mack does not make it as the 4th or 5th receiver it may be difficult to see just where he fits in. I recall last year he did not have the neccessary desire to play ST, nor was he a good practice player. If he's not going to play teams, and he's not going to be one of the four receivers suited up for game day, then where does he play and when? His salry indicates he must play somewhere, and he can't be inactive for most games like he was last year.

Re: SI.com - Gibbs, 'Skins feeling more comfortable
 

While I defer to Gibbs' judgment as to who should make the roster, I'd like to see McCants stick around.

Re: SI.com - Gibbs, 'Skins feeling more comfortable
 

[QUOTE=Daseal]I know the crucifiction is coming, but I think Cooley may have a drop off this year. Not that he's not a great player but how many TEs have great rookie years then hit the sophmore slump once some film gets out on em, etc. I think he'll be productive, but I could see him being a bit more tightly covered next year. I think we should have at least one big target on the outside. it takes a long time for Cooley/Royal to get to where you'd throw a fade to.[/QUOTE]

Off the top of my head I can't think of any TEs who hit sophomore slumps after a great rookie year

Cooley
 

We didnt get in the red zone much. And when we did, Patrick looked for Cooley. And he would catch it. 6 times. The downside was obviously his yardage.
314 yards on 37 carries. For all starting tight ends, he ranked 21st in yardage. Behind the likes of Ben Troupe, Jerramy Stevens, and a gentleman that calls himself Kris Mangum. Wow, what a bad ass!

If Patrick remains at quarterback through the entire season, then Cooley has a good chance of catching more than 6 td's this year. As for yardage, if they dont make a concerted effort to involve him before we get knee deep in their 20, then he will continue to be an effective endzone threat, and nothing else.

If Patrick is not starting for one reason or another, then his numbers are a toss up.

P.S. He averaged less than 20 receiving yards a game.

Re: SI.com - Gibbs, 'Skins feeling more comfortable
 

Monksdown, I respectfully and strongly disagree with your assessment of Cooley.

First, Cooley didn't even PLAY in 3 games last season (that won't happen in 2005).

Second, Gibbs has expressly stated that he didn't realize just how good Cooley was until mid-way through the season. Expect Cooley to get much more work in 2005.

Third, in the first half of the season, Cooley had 10 catches for 87 yards. In the latter half of the season Cooley had 27 catches for 227 yards and 4 TDs. If Cooley just plays at the level that he did in the latter half of the season for all of next year (which is highly likely given how piss poor our passing offense was last year), he projects to score 8 TDs on 54 catches for 454 yards - that's a damn good season. That sort of season would put him behind only the likes of Gates, Gonzalez, and Witten.

Re: SI.com - Gibbs, 'Skins feeling more comfortable
 

Cooley had 37 catches as a rookie and wasn't even thrown to much until later in the year.

Personally I think he'll have no problem topping 50 catches this year as his role in the offense should only increase over last year.

He's got soft hands, he knows how to get open, and he's got decent enough speed and power after the catch.

Re: SI.com - Gibbs, 'Skins feeling more comfortable
 

Ramseyfan - I yield.

Re: SI.com - Gibbs, 'Skins feeling more comfortable
 

[QUOTE=Monksdown]Ramseyfan - I yield.[/QUOTE]

:food-smil Trust me, I'll yield on many other occasions.

Re: SI.com - Gibbs, 'Skins feeling more comfortable
 

Ahhhh...I love where this thread has gone. Needless to say I am a Cooley fan, but my bias is not the only reason I agree with Ramseyfan when I say his numbers will go up.

I believe the biggest factor that will lead to an improved year is his relationship with Ramsey. They are good friends and Cooley's sure hands made him an easier target than, say, fiddy-fiddy. The trust Ramsey has in Cooley moves him from a second or third option to a first or second option. That is even more true in the Red Zone.

I don't expect him to make the Pro Bowl, but I think he will steadily improve over the next few years.

Re: SI.com - Gibbs, 'Skins feeling more comfortable
 

[QUOTE=TAFKAS]Off the top of my head I can't think of any TEs who hit sophomore slumps after a great rookie year[/QUOTE]

Winslow jr., last year he at least played the pre-season. :biggthump

Re: SI.com - Gibbs, 'Skins feeling more comfortable
 

[QUOTE=offiss]Winslow jr., last year he at least played the pre-season. :biggthump[/QUOTE]

LOL...walked right into that one

Re: SI.com - Gibbs, 'Skins feeling more comfortable
 

[QUOTE=Daseal]I don't know. We need someone that can get it done in the Redzone, I really don't want to rely on old man Dyson for those duties. He's a good solid vet, but how many games has he missed in the last two years? I think McCants will be okay.[/QUOTE]


Daseal, I think our red zone problems were more of a team problem, rather than a big WR problem. Our WR's [from all that I can gather from what's coming out of camp this year] couldn't get any seperation last year, and the word is these guy's can, big time.

As for McCant's, the dyson signing is an indictment on what Gibbs thinks of McCants, he just doesn't like the guy, it sound's to me like McCant's is not a big effort guy, and for a coach who believes effort is synonymus with winning that's a big problem, I am a McCant's supporter, and believe he's far better than Dyson, and a particular favorite target of Ramsey's, he's a player who can make the big play's, but if he doesn't see the field it's all for not.

Gibbs has made some mistakes on personel since his return, he has conceeded that Betts is a much better back than he first thought, hopefully he will come around to McCants, or McCants will come around to him.

Re: SI.com - Gibbs, 'Skins feeling more comfortable
 

[QUOTE=Daseal]I know the crucifiction is coming, but I think Cooley may have a drop off this year. Not that he's not a great player but how many TEs have great rookie years then hit the sophmore slump once some film gets out on em, etc. I think he'll be productive, but I could see him being a bit more tightly covered next year. I think we should have at least one big target on the outside. it takes a long time for Cooley/Royal to get to where you'd throw a fade to.[/QUOTE]


Daseal, I don't believe he will be more tightly covered, in fact I believe he will have more room to rome, if indeed our WR's start pressuring the secondary the way Gibbs I believe intends, that will force more double coverage on the outside and leave more room in the middle. With that said if he does drop off it will be more so because Ramsey will be throwing more balls to the WR's rather than the TE's and H-back's.

From watching Cooley this kid is a very smart football player, and he's second to no one in the hand's department, he's a hard worker who strides to get better, I think we will see an over all better TE this season especially in the blocking department, and keep in mind he's at this point Ramsey's favorite target, which means plenty of balls to Cooley.