Quote:
Originally Posted by sportscurmudgeon
#56fanatic:
I hope I fit your description as someone who can look at the team situation objectively. If you went to Las Vegas right now and got the sportsbooks there to post a line on the Redskins winning the NFC East, the Skins would not be even-money. They'd be a long-shot.
The Skins have limitations but they are not insurmountable. The problem here is that far too many fans buy into the "simple/quick fix is all we need" mentality that infests the front office. The fix is not simple and the team needs more than one of them. And here's a news flash: There isn't a "Football Fairy Godmother" who will magically appear and wave a wand and turn a pumpkin into an All-Pro. It'd be nice if there were, but ...
Here are four areas where the Redskins MUST improve next year to get out of the NFC basement. If they significantly improve all four, they might actually win the NFC East. The probability that they will do so is far less than 50/50.
1. The wide receivers have to do a whole lot better. Moss' season was disappointing to be polite and significantly below the worst that could have been expected from him to be more honest. Lloyd is a loser and a locker-room problem waiting to happen. Patten was AWOL for the second year in a row. Randle-El is a third down receiver and a good return man. Frankly, I think their second best receiver this year was James Thrash when you consider his blocking for the running game.
2. The linebacking has to get at least 100% better than it was this year. They need to get a middle linebacker who can actually play middle linebacker without the luxury of a huge DT or two in front of him to keep every blocker on the planet off him. And unless Rocky Boy uses the off-season to figure out what the hell he's supposed to be doing in that defense, they need to find an outside linebacker too because neither Holdman nor Rocky Boy were productive last year. And before anyone talks about Rocky's "potential" let me remind everyone that "potential" means he hasn't done jack-sh*t yet.
3. They must acquire a safety who can cover pass recievers in the middle of the field because they do not have anyone on the roster at the moment who can do this reliably for an entire game. Without that change, the Skins will continue to lead the league in "big plays given up" - and that's a formula for a losing season not a division championship.
4. The current roster has one - as in ONE - defensive lineman who is above average at his position. Unless they change that, they will have the ball run down their throats by the good running teams and they will give up huge gobs of passing yards to the good passing teams. They'll contain the teams who have bad offenses to begin with - - but once again that's not the formula for a division championship.
The draft will not resolve all those problems and if history is any judge neither will the Redskins whirlwind free agency signings during the first week of March. The best thing to hope for is that the coaching staff works a lot harder on the draft this year and acquires several players who actually play and contribute next year on more than the punt coverage team for the entire season. And the second best thing to hope for is sound health for Shawn Springs, Marcus Washington and EVERYONE on the OL for 16 games next year. The roster needs help and getting back-ups for those guys will not happen if the team focuses on its other imminent needs.
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I for one have always been against the quick fix mentality of our franchise. I would prefer solid drafts, with the addition of maybe 1 to two players at the most that will put us over the top. You look at past winners, that is exactly what they have done. Patriots did it with corey dillon the first super bowl. Eagles with TO. Saints add Drew Breese.
I believe we have the talent on the offensive side of the ball. I have a hard time giving up on lloyd. I know he stunk, but how much of that was brunell unwillingness to throw deep, which is pretty much the routes he ran all year. The few times they did throw to him, on Randel El threw to him, he drew PI penalties. I believe with Campbell working this offseason, and the preseason as the #1, we will be a lot better in that area. Plus with Portis and Betts, teams will have to pay more attention to that area, leaving open the possibility of Lloyd, Randel El, Cooley working 1 on 1 with safeties or #2 corners.
Defensively, I agree with the MLB. I have never been a fan of Marshall. Rocky may be a player, who knows. but he has to be given a fair shot. Dline could be solid, Golsten, Montgomery, Carter, Griffen are good players. We may need another DE, but Daniels is a run stopping end, which is what I like about him. Face it, no one on that D played worth a damn, so the whole unit looked bad. Arch has to be given a shot to play. GW wanted him, then they need to spend the time with him, get him to understand what he is doing, so he reacts naturally and doesn't have to think so much on the field. Springs moving to safety, not so sure. I think he will be injured more than he is. Safeties have to hit, have to blitz up the middle and I just dont know at his age if he can take the beating.
Corner wise, that is where I would go get someone. Clemmons from the Bills. that is the only signing I would agree with. Corners are such a crap shoot in the draft. I would trade the #6 for a later first, 2nd, and maybe 5th through 7th, what ever we could get. There are quality players out there to be had.