Randy Thomas placed on IR

[MTK]

Losing Thomas really hurt the running game this season. You really have to wonder what could have been had our OL been intact and healthy all year.

[GoSkins!]

That sucks.

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Losing Thomas really hurt the running game this season. You really have to wonder what could have been had our OL been intact and healthy all year.

First, props to Randy for trying. He is one of my favorites and I hope he comes back strong next year.

Second - given the age of our line, I think that any expectation that it would be "intact and healthy" all year would be unreasonable.

IMHO - To expect success from our line this year, the staff needed to have quality depth (not pro bowl depth, but solid starter depth) to cover for at least two long term injuries. I do not believe it did. It brought in retreads who have no future here and expected a committment to exellence from them. As has been shown, not gonna happen.

I am not sure whether the problem lays in talent aquisition (i.e. - we want a player but haven't been able to get him), the inability to coach'em up (we got someone with talent but just can't get them up to snuff), or the inability to judge ability (we thought he had talent but, instead, he's just a turnstile with legs). For whatever reason, we have had a number of young lineman through and none have stuck.

I keep harping on it, we have not developed good talent to back up our quality starters. As such, the O-line is and will be (for the forseeable future) the main thing holding this team back. It is unconscienable that THIS staff - which built championships founded in solid line play - failed on this fundamental aspect.

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

First, props to Randy for trying. He is one of my favorites and I hope he comes back strong next year.

Second - given the age of our line, I think that any expectation that it would be "intact and healthy" all year would be unreasonable.

IMHO - To expect success from our line this year, the staff needed to have quality depth (not pro bowl depth, but solid starter depth) to cover for at least two long term injuries. I do not believe it did. It brought in retreads who have no future here and expected a committment to exellence from them. As has been shown, not gonna happen.

I am not sure whether the problem lays in talent aquisition (i.e. - we want a player but haven't been able to get him), the inability to coach'em up (we got someone with talent but just can't get them up to snuff), or the inability to judge ability (we thought he had talent but, instead, he's just a turnstile with legs). For whatever reason, we have had a number of young lineman through and none have stuck.

I keep harping on it, we have not developed good talent to back up our quality starters. As such, the O-line is and will be (for the forseeable future) the main thing holding this team back. It is unconscienable that THIS staff - which built championships founded in solid line play - failed on this fundamental aspect.

I'll agree w/ you on virtually all points, but I think given the circumstance that you have to give the front office & coaching staff credit for how they handled the o line THIS year. Of course, some of the poor personel decisions that led to dead cap space impacted our ability to get quality depth. In addition, if we'd have been able to sign dock before he hit the market, it would've helped too.

Yet, they were able to make the deal for Kendall & sign a couple vets, plus they've developed Heyer. That's all they could do given the cap situation.

They could've drafted an o-linemen instead of Palmer, Sartz or Blades, but maybe they thought none of the players available by then would make the team over a free agent vet. Go back to the 04 draft; Gibbs drafted Wilson & Molinaro in the 5th & 6th rounds. Good idea, bad outcome. Neither player is still w/the team. If at least one of those guys had developed it could've been a big help.

[Bill B]

Originally Posted by freddyg12

I'll agree w/ you on virtually all points, but I think given the circumstance that you have to give the front office & coaching staff credit for how they handled the o line THIS year. Of course, some of the poor personel decisions that led to dead cap space impacted our ability to get quality depth. In addition, if we'd have been able to sign dock before he hit the market, it would've helped too.

Yet, they were able to make the deal for Kendall & sign a couple vets, plus they've developed Heyer. That's all they could do given the cap situation.

They could've drafted an o-linemen instead of Palmer, Sartz or Blades, but maybe they thought none of the players available by then would make the team over a free agent vet. Go back to the 04 draft; Gibbs drafted Wilson & Molinaro in the 5th & 6th rounds. Good idea, bad outcome. Neither player is still w/the team. If at least one of those guys had developed it could've been a big help.

Freddy - you hit it with the misses on Wilson and Molinaro - I thought one of those guys would pull through just on athletic ability but it didn't happen. Also, when I watch the draft it drives me crazy when the Skins make a selection and they don't address a huge need but picked the best player they thought at the time was available. I know that sometimes you can't fill all your needs at draft time, but when the Skins needed a offensive lineman and picked Palmer, Sartz and Blades like you mentioned I was diappointed (although I think Blades was a steal). Maybe the Skins can luck out and pick up some lineman next draft - just no more trading picks away (unless it is to trade down and get additional picks!).

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by Bill B

Freddy - you hit it with the misses on Wilson and Molinaro - I thought one of those guys would pull through just on athletic ability but it didn't happen. Also, when I watch the draft it drives me crazy when the Skins make a selection and they don't address a huge need but picked the best player they thought at the time was available. I know that sometimes you can't fill all your needs at draft time, but when the Skins needed a offensive lineman and picked Palmer, Sartz and Blades like you mentioned I was diappointed (although I think Blades was a steal). Maybe the Skins can luck out and pick up some lineman next draft - just no more trading picks away (unless it is to trade down and get additional picks!).

The most glaring example of this point is the 2004 draft -- With nothing but aging veterans along the D-line (Wynn, Daniels, Salave'a, Brandon Noble) Gibbs and Co. passed up a chance to take Chris Canty (DE - UVA) for Manuel White Jr. Canty is now a solid starter for the Cowboys.

Thankfully they atoned for that with the selections of Anthony Montgomery and Kedric Golston -- without a doubt, they have been the two most stunning success stories in recent draft history for the Redskins.