Redskins Offensive Line: 2012 Unsung Heroes

[BigHairedAristocrat]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

How exactly are we planning to add depth to the offensive line?

Is there not going to be a draft or free agency next year?

Originally Posted by Mattyk

The OL is far better than we expected. We have a few young guys for depth who are still developing. The OL chicken littles need to chill.

Taken 2 was far better than i expected... but it still wasnt very good.

Our OL has done a decent job, but not heroic. RGIII is hit or knocked down on almost every single drop back. He is our franchise quarterback, andits not like hes a stocky guy like newton or rothlisberger. He's young now, but eventually, his body wont be able to recover as quickly and those hits will start taking a toll.

we've invested a fortune (in draft picks) in RGIII. we need to protect that investment by doing everything we can to upgrade the line so that he doesnt get knocked down so much when he's in the pocket. When your ranking team needs in the offseason, i cant imagine how improving the Oline is not 2nd... preferably guys like polumbus and Chester can become our backups/depth and we have better starters in front of them.

[Hail to the SteelSkins]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

Is there not going to be a draft or free agency next year?

Yeah, but we are still screwed with Cap Adjustments, and to fix the other major issues as well we may simply run out of money... It'll be nice to have non-league adjusted funds in 2014.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

Is there not going to be a draft or free agency next year?

I think it's funny when people say we need to draft for depth and then seemingly forget about the young depth we currently have. But I suppose we'll just cast Gettis, LeRibeus, Compton, even Hurt aside and expect instant depth from the rookies next year.

[los panda]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I think it's funny when people say we need to draft for depth and then seemingly forget about the young depth we currently have. But I suppose we'll just cast Gettis, LeRibeus, Compton, even Hurt aside and expect instant depth from the rookies next year.

yeah, all those guys are over the hill anyways. just like our backfield...

[Hail to the SteelSkins]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I think it's funny when people say we need to draft for depth and then seemingly forget about the young depth we currently have. But I suppose we'll just cast Gettis, LeRibeus, Compton, even Hurt aside and expect instant depth from the rookies next year.

Yeah, I didn't even mention we have rookies currently growing in the system. Thank's Smoot for picking up my slack.

[BigHairedAristocrat]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I think it's funny when people say we need to draft for depth and then seemingly forget about the young depth we currently have. But I suppose we'll just cast Gettis, LeRibeus, Compton, even Hurt aside and expect instant depth from the rookies next year.

I'd hope a 2nd round lineman could beat out some of those late round scrubs. Teams get better through competition. By your logic, we shouldnt bother drafting/signing free agent players at any positions, since we already have young depth on the roster.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

I'd hope a 2nd round lineman could beat out some of those late round scrubs. Teams get better through competition. By your logic, we shouldnt bother drafting/signing free agent players at any positions, since we already have young depth on the roster.

Not at all the point I was making

[REDSKINS4ever]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I think it's funny when people say we need to draft for depth and then seemingly forget about the young depth we currently have. But I suppose we'll just cast Gettis, LeRibeus, Compton, even Hurt aside and expect instant depth from the rookies next year.

Smoot, I would like to see Gettis, LeRibeus, and Compton get some reps at some points before the season is over. They all have been riding the pine all season long. Our starting offensive line has been doing a fine job, but if by chance the Redskins build a lead and it's late in the game, the coaches should put them in so they can attain game experience.

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I think it's funny when people say we need to draft for depth and then seemingly forget about the young depth we currently have. But I suppose we'll just cast Gettis, LeRibeus, Compton, even Hurt aside and expect instant depth from the rookies next year.

If those guys are quality depth why is Polumbus starting then? But I see your point SS we've already spent resources on the oline, but I guess more for the interior.

[BigHairedAristocrat]

Originally Posted by The Goat

If those guys are quality depth why is Polumbus starting then? But I see your point SS we've already spent resources on the oline, but I guess more for the interior.

I dont know why everyone is opposed to using FA and the draft to improve our o-line. Lets look at some of our other position groups -

We are STOCKED with talent at the rest of the offensive positions. We are SET with our starters and backups at QB, WR, RB, and TE (assuming we resign davis). obviously, shanahan will draft a RB in the late rounds, but we are more or less set with the rest of those positions.

Looking at our defense, our LB corps is excellent and our DL is pretty darn good too.

Other than secondary and OL, i dont see any major, glaring, weaknesses on our team. Obviously our secondary has to be our #1 concern, but we dont have a third startable tackle on our team. If Williams or Polumbus went down, we'd be screwed. Polumbus has played well better than i could have hoped for this year, but ideally, he's your backup swing tackle.

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

I dont know why everyone is opposed to using FA and the draft to improve our o-line. Lets look at some of our other position groups -

We are STOCKED with talent at the rest of the offensive positions. We are SET with our starters and backups at QB, WR, RB, and TE (assuming we resign davis). obviously, shanahan will draft a RB in the late rounds, but we are more or less set with the rest of those positions.

Looking at our defense, our LB corps is excellent and our DL is pretty darn good too.

Other than secondary and OL, i dont see any major, glaring, weaknesses on our team. Obviously our secondary has to be our #1 concern, but we dont have a third startable tackle on our team. If Williams or Polumbus went down, we'd be screwed. Polumbus has played well better than i could have hoped for this year, but ideally, he's your backup swing tackle.

Agreed. Draft and FA emphasis has to be on secondary and RT.

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

I dont know why everyone is opposed to using FA and the draft to improve our o-line. Lets look at some of our other position groups - ...

Other than secondary and OL, i dont see any major, glaring, weaknesses on our team. Obviously our secondary has to be our #1 concern, but we dont have a third startable tackle on our team. If Williams or Polumbus went down, we'd be screwed. Polumbus has played well better than i could have hoped for this year, but ideally, he's your backup swing tackle.

From what I am reading, I don't think anyone is opposed to drafting additional developmental talent or looking for upgrades along the OL. In fact, I think all are in agreement that RT is in need of upgrade.

At the same time, those asserting that the line is horrible or inadequate as currently constructed are simply wrong. We have a high performing offense and due in the main to RGIII but also, certainly in part, to the improvement and consistency of the line. Further, and as others have noted, we have spent draft picks on developing depth - are they ready to start this year? nope. Do they have the talent to do so next year? Maybe. I would suggest, with our current needs in the secondary, and our draft pick position, we will not be drafting "Starter" quality guys next year anyway.

I would agree that, if reasonable upgrades are out there or well thought of developmental players present themselves in the draft, by all means take them. At the same time, the priority, as you seem to agree, must be the defensive secondary. Once that has been addressed, additional depth and talent along the O-line is probably the priority.

BUT - our line is not horrible as currently constituted. Let's see how it holds up Monday night.

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

Is there not going to be a draft or free agency next year?



Taken 2 was far better than i expected... but it still wasnt very good.

Our OL has done a decent job, but not heroic. RGIII is hit or knocked down on almost every single drop back. He is our franchise quarterback, andits not like hes a stocky guy like newton or rothlisberger. He's young now, but eventually, his body wont be able to recover as quickly and those hits will start taking a toll.

we've invested a fortune (in draft picks) in RGIII. we need to protect that investment by doing everything we can to upgrade the line so that he doesnt get knocked down so much when he's in the pocket. When your ranking team needs in the offseason, i cant imagine how improving the Oline is not 2nd... preferably guys like polumbus and Chester can become our backups/depth and we have better starters in front of them.

It's still TBD whether a smaller oline (perfect for the ZBS) can also pass protect effectively against the myriad dominant dlines we face every season. Many of us had concerns about the ZBS here. It's been great for the ground attack, but long term if it can't protect your franchise QB from getting trucked multiple times a game is it worth it? Keeping in mind there are still better rushing teams out there that don't suffer pass protection because they don't rely on a smaller, ZBS oline.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

Is there not going to be a draft or free agency next year?



Taken 2 was far better than i expected... but it still wasnt very good.

Our OL has done a decent job, but not heroic. RGIII is hit or knocked down on almost every single drop back. He is our franchise quarterback, andits not like hes a stocky guy like newton or rothlisberger. He's young now, but eventually, his body wont be able to recover as quickly and those hits will start taking a toll.

we've invested a fortune (in draft picks) in RGIII. we need to protect that investment by doing everything we can to upgrade the line so that he doesnt get knocked down so much when he's in the pocket. When your ranking team needs in the offseason, i cant imagine how improving the Oline is not 2nd... preferably guys like polumbus and Chester can become our backups/depth and we have better starters in front of them.

A bit of a stretch.

RT is the only spot in need of an upgrade.

Given how they've performed and with some young guys waiting in the wings, I'd rather focus on upgrading the secondary.

[BigHairedAristocrat]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

A bit of a stretch.

RT is the only spot in need of an upgrade.

Given how they've performed and with some young guys waiting in the wings, I'd rather focus on upgrading the secondary.

uhhh, no its not. For the past two games, during the newscast theyve shown stats of RGIII hurried/hits/knockdown/sacked on pass attempts. In both games, there were only 1 or 2 dropbacks where one of those did not occurr. the vast majority where in the Hits and Knockdown columns. RG3 takes a beating, and the worst hits are when he's in the pocket, not when he runs. Griffin is TOUGH, but we need to protect him long-term.

No one is saying not to focus on the secondary. Generally, teams can upgrade more than one position group in an offseason. Unless theres some new rule i'm not aware of that says teams have to pick one group and spend on their draft picks and make all their free agency acquisitions at one position.

As ive already said, in my perspective, the only position groups that actually require upgrading on our team in the offseason are the secondary and o-line. The secondary is - by far- the most glaring need, and one where we probably need 3 new starters, but i dont see why we couldnt add 3 new starting DBs and a new RT in the offseason.