HB Blades or Stephon Heyer?

[warriorzpath]

I think that the defensive coaches, in general, are more capable of coaching up players than the offensive side of the ball. Historically (recent history) with this team, developing defensive players has been the strength of the coaching staff, while a weakness appears to be developing the offensive players.

With this thinking, I would prefer picking up an offensive player that has already matured enough to be able to play at a high level rather than relying on developing Heyer. That would mean picking up a proven free agent (which the redskins still may do) or pick one of the top 4 OTs in draft. I would think the lesser of the 2 evils is going into the season with a weakness at LB rather than OT because -

1. The defense is the stronger of the 2 units.
2. The defense is better at developing players.
3. The strength of a offensive line is measured by it's weakest link IMO.

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by warriorzpath

I think that the defensive coaches, in general, are more capable of coaching up players than the offensive side of the ball. Historically (recent history) with this team, developing defensive players has been the strength of the coaching staff, while a weakness appears to be developing the offensive players.

With this thinking, I would prefer picking up an offensive player that has already matured enough to be able to play at a high level rather than relying on developing Heyer. That would mean picking up a proven free agent (which the redskins still may do) or pick one of the top 4 OTs in draft. I would think the lesser of the 2 evils is going into the season with a weakness at LB rather than OT because -

1. The defense is the stronger of the 2 units.
2. The defense is better at developing players.
3. The strength of a offensive line is measured by it's weakest link IMO.

Nice post...I agree w/ your points basically across the board. Offensively we've got a line coach in Buges who just flat out prefers vets to younger guys...he says so himself. I don't think it's a matter of Buges not wanting to develop a younger player as much as a trust factor. Hixon is a different story. He's never developed a player in the NFL...not one. And you could make the argument the veterans he gets tend to decline under his tutelage - Moss had a phenom season when he was newly signed (sort of picking up where left off) but hasn't been anything great since and Thrash had better seasons w/ the Eagles before working under Hixon. Basically, I don't think any of Hixon's players have ever improved...that's actually hard to fathom IMO but I believe it's really true.

...all that said any offensive rookie may carry a higher "risk" outside of QB and RB, which aren't really needs for us. Maybe it's wise to draft defense and spend our offensive dollars in FA. Levi Jones over Micheal Oher...? Draft Rey or Matthew...?