Should Dockery Be Re-signed Before Free Agency Starts (next Friday)

[jbcjr14]

Can someone tell me if we have placed a franchise tag on anyone this year?

[ArtMonkDrillz]

I'd worry about how the rest of the team would feel if the FO can't get Dock to sign a new deal more than finding someone to take his place. Players have come out and publically said they want him back and if he leaves I'm afraid they might just say to themselves "there goes another guy that worked is butt off for the team with nothing to show for it" and not try as hard.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by ArtMonkDrillz

I'd worry about how the rest of the team would feel if the FO can't get Dock to sign a new deal more than finding someone to take his place. Players have come out and publically said they want him back and if he leaves I'm afraid they might just say to themselves "there goes another guy that worked is butt off for the team with nothing to show for it" and not try as hard.

But at the same time if he's asking for the world I'm sure players would understand the team's position. Sure Samuels and others want him back, but do they want him coming back as the highest paid lineman on the team? I think not.

Personally I'm not very concerned, he's just not going to command a top-flight lineman type of contact on the open market. If he wants to test the waters fine, go right ahead. Once he feels the lukewarm reception out there we'll have him right where we want him and he'll re-sign for a reasonable deal.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Personally I'm not very concerned, he's just not going to command a top-flight lineman type of contact on the open market. If he wants to test the waters fine, go right ahead. Once he feels the lukewarm reception out there we'll have him right where we want him and he'll re-sign for a reasonable deal.

My only concern is that the abundance of (if not record-setting amount of) cap space around the league and the dearth of quality free agents will cause FA price tags to skyrocket as teams compete for the few guys who hit the market. I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of free agents overpaid this offseason.

[offiss]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

But at the same time if he's asking for the world I'm sure players would understand the team's position. Sure Samuels and others want him back, but do they want him coming back as the highest paid lineman on the team? I think not.

Personally I'm not very concerned, he's just not going to command a top-flight lineman type of contact on the open market. If he wants to test the waters fine, go right ahead. Once he feels the lukewarm reception out there we'll have him right where we want him and he'll re-sign for a reasonable deal.

I agree, Dock is no star, maybe someone ponies up and overpay's but how about letting someone else blow their cap up for average talent besides us.

Personally I wouldn't give him any significant money, as far as I am concerned the biggest asset he has is his ability to stay healthy other than that I am not impressed.

[RobH4413]

I like the idea of a blocking TE as well. I think Fauria was washed out when we got him and wasn't much of a producer. After that we sort of rotated some guys and no-one really established themselves.

Cooley has obviously earned himself the reputation to be a go-to guy and will continue being a hybrid slot receiver/te.

While we're at it, I don't see a problem with looking for a really tall TE/WR. I know our receiving corps has proven that being short isn't a problem... but if we got a giant blocking TE for the occasional jump ball I think that would help Campbell out alot. We don't have that option to just chuck the ball up and have someone go get it in the red-zone.

Im hoping a certain TE from MD finds his way to the Redskins come draft time next year...so I can get some insider redskins 411. Right now he's looking at mid-late round, but he's got one more year so we'll see.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by ArtMonkDrillz

I'd worry about how the rest of the team would feel if the FO can't get Dock to sign a new deal more than finding someone to take his place. Players have come out and publically said they want him back and if he leaves I'm afraid they might just say to themselves "there goes another guy that worked is butt off for the team with nothing to show for it" and not try as hard.

Great point. And it comes from the Skins awful habit of paying huge $$ for FA's who performed for other teams, and not even blinking at waving bye-bye to FA's who performed for us. Of course, if Dockery demands more than we can afford then it won't leave us much of a choice.

[MTK]

If worse comes to worse how about re-signing Wade and sticking him at LG?

[ArtMonkDrillz]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

If worse comes to worse how about re-signing Wade and sticking him at LG?

He seemed really tall the one game he played this past season. Can he pull?

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by ArtMonkDrillz

He seemed really tall the one game he played this past season. Can he pull?

Yeah, Wade does play tall from what little I've seen. You could always slide Pucillo over to guard. Fortunately Rabach is durable enough to give us that option. Also, this Taylor Whitley was a regular starter for the 'Phins in '04. And that Whitticker kid from Michigan started 14 games for the Packers in '05 and he is young. The roster review for Centers/Guards in on Redskins.com today too....

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

If worse comes to worse how about re-signing Wade and sticking him at LG?

I'd rather see Pucillo at LG. Dude did a great job for us playing that TE position that we were paying Fauria to do.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

I'd rather see Pucillo at LG. Dude did a great job for us playing that TE position that we were paying Fauria to do.

I'd also like to see him catch a pass or two just to throw people off guard.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

I'd also like to see him catch a pass or two just to throw people off guard.

Preferably in open space. Who doesn't like to see a lineman making moves downfield on DBs?

Actually this brings me back to a point I've been on for quite awhile now: We need a blocking-style TE bad. A guy who blocks like a lineman but can catch a pass every now and then also. Pucillo was fine, but theres only so many different plays you can call with him in the game at TE. Not to mention theres a chance he will be starting at G next year.

[Skinz4life]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Preferably in open space. Who doesn't like to see a lineman making moves downfield on DBs?

Actually this brings me back to a point I've been on for quite awhile now: We need a blocking-style TE bad. A guy who blocks like a lineman but can catch a pass every now and then also. Pucillo was fine, but theres only so many different plays you can call with him in the game at TE. Not to mention theres a chance he will be starting at G next year.

Daniel Grahan is available and I think he would fill this role nicely.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Actually this brings me back to a point I've been on for quite awhile now: We need a blocking-style TE bad. A guy who blocks like a lineman but can catch a pass every now and then also. Pucillo was fine, but theres only so many different plays you can call with him in the game at TE. Not to mention theres a chance he will be starting at G next year.

You mean like Ron Middleton? I think he caught something like 5-10 passes a year. His roster weight was 270 (probably a bit off) so he was like a miniature offensive tackle.

The only thing is, that's not usually an element of Al Saunders' offense. Pucillo was brought in in the 'Jumbo' formations, but that's got Gibbs' fingerprints all over it.

Saunders' offense, along with Norv Turner's and Mike Martz are more true to the Air Coryell original -- the tight end has more of the pass catching role, while the fullback does most of the blocking. It was Gibbs who did most of the tinkering with his mentor's scheme. That's not to say the tight ends don't block. And it doesn't rule out that there could be yet another alteration to Saunders' game plan as long as Gibbs is looking over his shoulder.

I'd agree that a pure blocking tight end might be useful, as long as it doesn't throw too big of a wrench into an offense young players are still trying to learn.