Thoughts after minicamp?

[djnemo65]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

It's a minor point, and probably not one that many people care about, but I noticed that Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas were wearing jersey numbers 11 and 12. Maybe those are strictly mini-camp numbers, and will change to a number in the eighties once the season begins. But I also saw that Fred Davis had #86.

I've never been a fan of wideouts who choose a jersey number outside of 80-89. Weird, I know. I guess I have OCD with that kind of thing. The NFL did make an official change recently to allow WRs to wear numbers between 11-19 if all the eighties numbers were taken up. With more and more tight ends on rosters these days, that was apparently becoming a problem enough for the league to change its policy. I just wish they moved the tight ends out and put them in the 40's or something, like Cooley.

Oh well. Guess I'll have to get over it. Because it doesn't look like that's going to change anytime soon.

Actually, since 2004 WR's can opt to go with a number in the teens even if there are numbers in the 80's still available. NFL Rules Changes for the 2004 NFL Season

For me there just seems to be something special about those guys coming into the league wearing 11 and 12. I hope they stick with them personally.

[riggins44]

Depth on the OL and defense worries me the most right now. I think we can have a good year if we avoid the injury bug.

I see the offense putting more points on the board and taking some pressure off the defense. Honestly believe Blache is going to surprise everyone. I see us having a top ten D this year. Blache is no slouch. The Bears had a stout D under his guidance.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by Skinny Tee

I suppose winning the last 4 games of the regular season to go to the playoffs in 2 different seasons is also boring...and maybe downing the ball 3 consecutive snaps in a row to cement a victory is boring too.

Gibbs conserves wins. He got us in the playoffs twice in 4 years. Every coach since Gibbs 1.0 has only put us in the playoffs once in 12 years.



Boring or not, making the playoffs is exciting.

I'm a Gibbs fan but if our D was not ranked in the top 10 those years our O could not have carried this team to any playoff game. You can blame the QB the coach who ever you want but our O was the drag on this team 4 years in a row and the D one year.

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by riggins44

Depth on the OL and defense worries me the most right now. I think we can have a good year if we avoid the injury bug.

I see the offense putting more points on the board and taking some pressure off the defense. Honestly believe Blache is going to surprise everyone. I see us having a top ten D this year. Blache is no slouch. The Bears had a stout D under his guidance.

On the contrary, I think depth on the O-Line is great. Right now I'd give it a B+. I mean obviously no one has a problem with the five guys expected to start, though I'm pretty sure most would like to see Rhinehart take over for Kendall. Keary Brown is going to be a very good guard in his own right, and might just end up being this years version of Stephon Heyer. Which brings up Heyer who did a pretty good job filling in for Jansen last year, and on top of that the coaching staff is comfortable with him being the primary backup for Samuals, which worries me a little but I'll take it.

Fabini played decently last year, though at times it seemed like touch and go. And with that said I'd say the O-Line is pretty much set for this year.

Obviously though I agree with you that our D-Line is an area of concern, and personally I wouldn't be worried so much if they had a little more depth at linebacker, as I've become convinced our defense relys heavily on the play of our linebackers, and with one very good backup for two injury prone guys I'd say theres need for concern.

[skinsqc]

i agree.There going to use portis like philly does westbrook get him the ball in open space.The years of using safety to spy on cp are over.1500 yards rushing,1000 yds receiving.

[GhostSkins]

Originally Posted by Dirtbag359

On the contrary, I think depth on the O-Line is great. Right now I'd give it a B+. I mean obviously no one has a problem with the five guys expected to start, though I'm pretty sure most would like to see Rhinehart take over for Kendall. Keary Brown is going to be a very good guard in his own right, and might just end up being this years version of Stephon Heyer. Which brings up Heyer who did a pretty good job filling in for Jansen last year, and on top of that the coaching staff is comfortable with him being the primary backup for Samuals, which worries me a little but I'll take it.

Fabini played decently last year, though at times it seemed like touch and go. And with that said I'd say the O-Line is pretty much set for this year.

Obviously though I agree with you that our D-Line is an area of concern, and personally I wouldn't be worried so much if they had a little more depth at linebacker, as I've become convinced our defense relys heavily on the play of our linebackers, and with one very good backup for two injury prone guys I'd say theres need for concern.

Good point on the O-Line depth, and that does not even account for the fact that Lorenzo Alexander might be used as O-Line depth also giving us plenty of young depth on the O-Line. Anyone heard anything about which side of the ball they plan on using Alexander? Or is he to be the 300 pound human ping pong ball again?

[SmootSmack]

Speaking of OL depth, did anyone else notice this in the Washington Times?

"Longtime right tackle Jon Jansen, recovering from a broken right leg that ended his 2007 season in the first half of the opener, will receive some work at center, where the Redskins don't have a true backup to Casey Rabach since they didn't re-sign Mike Pucillo."

Punter Frost ready for test - - Breaking News, Political News & National Security News - The Washington Times

I can't picture Jansen at C

[EARTHQUAKE2689]

Originally Posted by skinsqc

i agree.There going to use portis like philly does westbrook get him the ball in open space.The years of using safety to spy on cp are over.1500 yards rushing,1000 yds receiving.

Lets not get crazy here okay. We didnt just draft 2 WR to have CP get 1,000 recieving yards.

[EARTHQUAKE2689]

Originally Posted by djnemo65

Actually, since 2004 WR's can opt to go with a number in the teens even if there are numbers in the 80's still available. NFL Rules Changes for the 2004 NFL Season

For me there just seems to be something special about those guys coming into the league where 11 and 12. I hope they stick with them personally.

I wish Thomas could wear 34
Davis 48
and Kelly 51

[JWsleep]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Speaking of OL depth, did anyone else notice this in the Washington Times?

"Longtime right tackle Jon Jansen, recovering from a broken right leg that ended his 2007 season in the first half of the opener, will receive some work at center, where the Redskins don't have a true backup to Casey Rabach since they didn't re-sign Mike Pucillo."

Punter Frost ready for test - - Breaking News, Political News & National Security News - The Washington Times

I can't picture Jansen at C

Saw that. It's a worry. We're going to pick up vet after the cuts, I bet. (At vet min, of course...).

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

See, I think the 'growing pains' tend to be overblown to a point. Personally, I'm tired of the excuses. I'm not saying I expect 35 points a game or anything, but these guys are professionals. No offensive system is identical to be sure, but it's not like they're 4 year-olds trying to learn Mandarin Chinese.

The New Orleans Saints seemed to adapt rather quickly to Sean Payton's quirky, wide open offense with a new quarterback and a rookie wideout. Maybe they are the exception to the rule, but as SmootSmack said awhile back, perhaps Zorn's West Coast system is precisely the type of offensive philosophy these guys are suited for.

Let's hope anyway.

I'm glad you brought that up. Brees came in and had to learn and new offense plus wasn't he coming off a serious shoulder injury?

[skinsfan69]

I also noticed Don Breux in the backround in one of the pictures. Does anyone know what the hell he does?

[Stuck in TX]

So far, I like Zorn's approach to running camp and I like the way he handled the Fred Davis situation. It could have gone worse. O line depth scares me. It doesnt matter how explosive our WR's are or how many 1000 yard rushing seasons our RB has had, without an O line we have nothing. We need some depth at C. I hope we sign some depth.

[riggins44]

From what I've heard, Lorenzo Alexander is going to be another human ping pong ball.
His ability to play OL and DL has increased his value.

Dirtbag, I know what you're saying and don't totally disagree. I prefer to wait and see
how Rhinehart and Brown do under live fire first.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

I also noticed Don Breux in the backround in one of the pictures. Does anyone know what the hell he does?

I think he's offensive quality control or some BS like that.

I was disappointed to see that DE Dotson from Oklahoma was released. I thought he had a shot. Hopefully he got an idea of what we're looking for in a DE, does some work over the summer, and get a camp invite.