Make the cuts and add some depth...

[724Skinsfan]

DEFENSE Position
1st String/2nd String/3rd String

LDE 99 - Andre Carter /97 - Renaldo Wynn /78 - Joe Sykes

LDT 96 - Cornelius Griffin /94 - Anthony Montgomery /73 - Ryan Boschetti

RDT 95 - Joe Salave'a /64 - Kedric Golston

RDE 93 - Phillip Daniels /92 - Demetric Evans

SLB 54 - Marcus Washington /58 - Jeff Posey


MLB 98 - Lemar Marshall


WLB 57 - Warrick Holdman /52 - Roger McIntosh

LCB 24- Shawn Springs /25 - Kenny Wright

RCB 22 - Carlos Rogers /32 - Ade Jimoh


SS 23 - Troy Vincent /40 - Adam Archuleta /39 - Vernon Fox

FS 21 - Sean Taylor /37 - Reed Doughty


Since depth is key, who do we cut in order to add quality depth to our Defense?

[TheMalcolmConnection]

For this year, I'm all about building our LBs through the draft. Cut Posey and Holdman and hopefully acquire some picks to draft a couple. Resign Fox because he was good depth, even though I wouldn't want him at starter. I like our depth at both ends, even though I'm on TAF's Justin Smith bandwagon after reading about him.

I'm betting a lot of people would restructure to make sure we can keep our own. Honestly, I'd keep Wright. He really was good when he played only in nickel packages. He really shut down the opposing team's slot guy. Had lots of batted passes.

[Redskins_P]

I think the depth on the LB position will be revamped. I doubt we'll keep Posey and Holdman.

On the d-line....I think Salave'a is gone. But they might keep him since he's fairly cheap and knows the system. He just needs to stay healthy. Griff and Golston will be the starters. I think they'll keep Daniels, and either draft a young pass rushing DE or sign a FA.

At safety, I see them keeping Fox and either drafting a young SS or signing a FA. Archuleta is as good as gone...I think.

Cornerback....sign Clements, restructure Springs contract and move him to Safety. They'll probably draft a corner in the late rounds. I do not want to see Ade Jimoh on the field unless its on punt/kickoff coverage. He cannot cover anyone. He totally pissed me off with his penalty against the Giants. Just keep your mouth shut and play Ade.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Yup. I love the idea of Springs at safety. If we have to pick ONE free agent signing this year, I'll go with Clements.

That's it, just him. Let's do the rest through the draft.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by 724Skinsfan

DEFENSE Position
1st String/2nd String/3rd String

LDE 99 - Andre Carter /97 - Renaldo Wynn /78 - Joe Sykes

LDT 96 - Cornelius Griffin /94 - Anthony Montgomery /73 - Ryan Boschetti

RDT 99 - Alan Branch (Michigan) /64 - Kedric Golston

RDE 93 - Phillip Daniels /92 - Demetric Evans

SLB 54 - Marcus Washington /58 - Jeff Posey


MLB 98 - Lemar Marshall


WLB 52 - Roger McIntosh (the kid has to play) (FA pickup)

LCB 24- (insert FA) /25 - Kenny Wright

RCB 22 - Carlos Rogers /32 - Ade Jimoh


SS 24 - Shawn Springs/Troy Vincent/Pierson Priouleau /39 - Vernon Fox

FS 21 - Sean Taylor /37 - Reed Doughty


Since depth is key, who do we cut in order to add quality depth to our Defense?

I just shuffled a few names really.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Speaking of Rocky, the few instances I've seen him play, he's played pretty well. At least he looked better than Holdman.

[724Skinsfan]

Nice 12thMan! Although I think AA is staying which means Fox or Vincent. Glad you remembered Priouleau.

I'm not sold that both Griffin and Daniels can ever be counted on playing 16 (17?, 18?, 19?) games anymore. Haven't paid a lot of attention to Boschetti. Is he "quality depth" or can we upgrade there?

I sort of like keeping Posey mainly due to his familiarity with GW's defense. Holdman should be calling Long & Foster right about now. Only as depth, mind you. Wright seemed to play the pass very well in nickel coverage.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

Speaking of Rocky, the few instances I've seen him play, he's played pretty well. At least he looked better than Holdman.

For the life of me, I'm trying to figure out why Rocky just got in toward the end of the season.

So I go back to the draft of '06, Rocky's class, same position, and looked at all the linebackers drafted ahead of him and the one drafted directly behind him.

All of those kats had major impacts or started on their teams. The kid drafted behind Rocky, Thomas Howard, had a killer season for the Raiders. He had like 110 tackles.

So, I say to myself..."self, Rocky was just as good as these guys coming out of college and got drafted ahead of one guy who had a break out season. Did his skills suddenly diminish when he got to the Pros?"

I can't tell you what 'self' said back!

[724Skinsfan]

My only thought on Rocky not making a immediate or earlier impact is maybe they didn't want to rush him onto the field after his (shoulder ?)surgery. Give him a plenty of time to heal and learn the defense. I doubt having him play any more would have resulted in 4 or 5 more wins.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Yeah, I noticed that too. If anything, I hate the way GW does his rookies. 99% OF OTHER TEAMS play their guys from the start and let them take their lumps. It's not like GW is an innovator at making players better by benching them most of the season. I want to see our rookies start from square one, but you know what? GW won't do it because he didn't do it for even Taylor and we'll miss out on some promising rookie prospects early in the season.

[The Zimmermans]

I don't think we should make cuts on any of our starters, just demote some of them to second string and renegotiate as many contracts as we can, so we can afford to sign our draft picks. WE HAVE NO ROOM FOR FREE AGENCy, we are a projected 1 million under the cap....that's horrible. I don't buy Dan Snyder's cap maneuvering because it kills your depth, cannot win superbowl without depth.

[redsk1]

The problem that we have here is the #'s don't add up. We have to keep the same guys basically b/c we only have 1 top draft pick, so that's one defensive starter, maybe (and we know all about that).

I think that Daniels & maybe Golston would be backups at best anywhere else although Golston has real potential and could prove me wrong. Holdman and Marshall would most likely be backups anywhere else. Fox would be a backu...(oh yeah he was cut during the year right). BTW i do like Fox but it's hard to tell if he is starter material w/ such a bad defensive team. So add a safety to the list. So all day we need 1-2 lineman, 2 lb's, at least 1 cb for better depth w/ SS and 2 w/out SS, 1 safety.

That makes 5 defensive players that we need and only 1 pick "top" pick to do this. I doubt we will "raid" the FA market again. I'm sure we'll pick up at least one or two though. Over the last few years we have run our well dry. I have much respect for GW and i do think that he will have a better year next year. He is going to have to do it w/ players overachieving though.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by 724Skinsfan

My only thought on Rocky not making a immediate or earlier impact is maybe they didn't want to rush him onto the field after his (shoulder ?)surgery. Give him a plenty of time to heal and learn the defense. I doubt having him play any more would have resulted in 4 or 5 more wins.

Man, in today's league the trend is increasingly toward 'right now' or your first year is your year. From coaches on down to the players. The thing that happened to Mora and Green, that's about to be the standard for coaches. Three years and let's sit down and talk about your job buddy. Seriously. Same with players. The pressure is enormous on QBs coming out of college to step in and play. Thank God for the year Jason sat on the bench, because he'll be okay. But look at how many rookie QBs were/are starting now. I think it's unprecendented.

My point is, you can no longer hold a guy on the bench until he learns the system. Those days are quickly evaporating. The NFL is progressively moving into the 'now' like never before. Rocky came out of system that plays a Pro style defense and they competed against college teams that gives Pro style looks, if you will. The kid drafted behind him came from a much smaller program, and yet is making impact. Even if you don't want them starting, pe se...you have to let them take their lumps.

This is where I feel Gibbs failed the team this year. It seemed like he didn't step in and say hey, how come this kid or that kid isn't playing? Week after week he had to dance around questions about why Rocky isn't playing. I honestly think the kid can play.

Bill Parcells had two rookies starting last year. This year, one of them is in the Pro Bowl!

[jamf]

Springs wouldnt last a full quarter of football at safety...
He is too fragile for corner, Safety is a no no.

[Schneed10]

If I'm in charge, I'm not making too many personnel changes. I'm a big believer in the theory that a defense is a chain - if one link is weak, the whole thing breaks and makes the rest of the links look feeble.

Our weak links are at CB, SS, and DT in my opinion. With horrendous safety play, the CBs had to be perfect. Which they weren't, because Springs was hurt and Rogers should only be covering #2s. We also were a bit too weak at the point of attack in the middle of the line.

Marshall and Washington didn't forget how to play football. They're still the same guys who were part of our 9th ranked D in 2005.

My moves are cap driven:
- Cut Archuleta post June 1
- Force Renaldo Wynn to accept a paycut, if he doesn't, cut him.
- Don't resign Warrick Holdman, start Rocky.
- Let Salave'a go.
- Let Kenny Wright go.
- Sign Nate Clements, CB
- Draft Alan Branch, DT
- Let Springs play SS on running downs, nickel CB on passing downs.

DE: Carter, Daniels
DT: Griffin, Branch
LB: Washington, Marshall, McIntosh
S: Taylor, Springs (Prioleau as SS in nickel packages)
CB: Clements, Rogers (Springs as nickel CB)

Keep Doughty, Khary Campbell, Vernon Fox, Troy Vincent, Demetric Evans, Renaldo Wynn, Kedric Golston, Anthony Montgomery, Ade Jimoh, Pierson Prioleau as special teamers/depth. Add some LB depth from free agency (there are lots out there, if cap space permits, get a starter type like Lance Briggs, Cato June, London Fletcher).