The O-Line has been a problem area for the Redskins for several years now. Last year, the problem became a festering boil. Last year's O-Line was certainly in the bottom third of the league and maybe in the bottom 5. That unit stunk. Deal with it.
So, the Redskins used a high first round pick to get a new OT. Good move. Trent Williams surely looks like a player they can build around.
The rest of the Skins O-Line for 2010 fall into one of two categories:
1. Holdovers from 2009
2. Question marks/retreads
The problems with the O-Line go back to the Vinny Boombatz days; he did not use draft picks to select guys who might be developed into big time offensive lineman nearly often enough. When Samuels and Jansen were anchoring the line at either end, that covered a multitude of personnel sins, but when both of them began to slip - - age + injuries - - the whole fabric came unraveled.
Ignoring injuries for the moment, the 2010 offensive line is better than the 2009 offensive line.
At the same time, the 2010 offensive line is not nearly good enough to call it one of the team strengths.
Absent some kind of miracle off-season - - such as the one that delivered Mark May, Russ Grimm and Joe Jacoby to the Redskins - - it will take a couple of years of drafting smart, developing players and getting lucky with a free agent here or there. That is what is needed and it will take time.
The Redskins have 3 offensive linemen on the Practice Squad - - if I recall correctly. Hopefully, the coaches have selected the right guys to put there and to invest the time and energy to develop them and hopefuly, the players will "get it". It will be a
big help for 2011 - - assuming there is a season in 2011 - - for one of the Practice Squad guys to push out some of the holdovers and retreads that are here now.
Patience is a virtue. This is the time for Skins fans to demonstrate virtuosity...
09-22-2010, 01:35 PM
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