Overall Draft Grade for the Redskins

[GTripp0012]

C-

There were a bunch of good things that happened to us on draft day. For one, we fixed a Tight End gap that was quietly a huge hole with the Fred Davis pick. Chad Rinehart and Justin Tryon filled some pretty critical needs for us and could end up being steals. Colt Brennan could one day be traded for a first round draft pick if he impresses the league in limited playing time.

This team has a problem with taking players who we will never be able to feature. Last year we took Landry with the 6 overall pick. Excellent value, but again, we had Sean Taylor. That situation solved itself in the worst way possible, but that doesn't mean the pick was a great fit or anything.

Same thing with the overkill in the 2nd round. There's only one football. You can't feature more than two players in the offense. There just isn't enough footballs to go around. I understand that Fred Davis isn't going to be the featured TE. But who will be our featured wide receiver? It can't be both Thomas and Kelly. Teams that feature two wide receivers can't afford to throw the ball to the tight end, unless of course the quarterback is Manning or Brady.

The cold reality is one player is going to beat the other out, and the more inferior of the two receivers isn't going to play a big role for us. Maybe if they start playing the game with two footballs, or we sign Peyton Manning, but otherwise not.

Top to Bottom, we did alright, deserving of a C. We did alright, but we should have done better, especially after the tone setting trade. Trevor Laws, Calais Campbell, and Malcolm Kelly could have all been Redskins if we had done it the optimal way, but we got played by the Eagles and Cardinals respectively, and we lost out.

The only inexcusable part is that we used too many picks at the same position. You generally want to figure out what type of offense you want to be before the draft, and we did not do that.

I am glad that we didn't start trying to load up on defensive linemen on the 2nd day. I thought we had a strong, efficient, second day, and potentially pulled out two future starters.

[SeanTaylor21]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

C-


Top to Bottom, we did alright, deserving of a C. We did alright, but we should have done better, especially after the tone setting trade. Trevor Laws, Calais Campbell, and Malcolm Kelly could have all been Redskins, but we got played by the Eagles and Cardinals respectively, and we lost out.

Trevor Laws got picked right before our second round choice, and so did Calais Campbell.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by SeanTaylor21

Trevor Laws got picked right before our second round choice, and so did Calais Campbell.

Ah, but Trevor Laws did not get picked before our first choice, and Campbell did not before our second.

Merling was gone, and that was fine, but we did drop the ball ball to an extent in predicting who would take what player.

[GTripp0012]

I think if we were to rate the entire process, which would be inclusive of the draft day haul, as well as what we didn't do with the pick (trade for CJ), I'd bump it up to a B- or C+.

If instead of picking Devin Thomas, we selected Trevor Laws, this would be a pretty impressive haul. Laws, Kelly, Davis, Rinehart, Tryon...etc. That would help both sides of the ball immensely.

Instead, we helped one side of the ball immensely, and on the other side, we are just a year older. Thusly, we did alright, but we should have done better.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

I think if we were to rate the entire process, which would be inclusive of the draft day haul, as well as what we didn't do with the pick (trade for CJ), I'd bump it up to a B- or C+.

If instead of picking Devin Thomas, we selected Trevor Laws, this would be a pretty impressive haul. Laws, Kelly, Davis, Rinehart, Tryon...etc. That would help both sides of the ball immensely.

Instead, we helped one side of the ball immensely, and on the other side, we are just a year older. Thusly, we did alright, but we should have done better.

I hope I'm wrong but I get the feeling the defense could slip back to 06 form.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

I hope I'm wrong but I get the feeling the defense could slip back to 06 form.

We are too deep in the secondary for it to be that bad, however, the run defense should be the worst it has been in awhile this year. Sean Taylor was awful in 2006, and I personally expect Landry to improve over his impressive rookie season. Remember, we were historically bad in 2006

Although, as every year, Griffin is a wild card. If he's healthy, he's still dominant. The front office just likes to bank on him being healthy every year, which last happened back in 2005.

It seems likely that we won't be as good as last year on defense or overall. That's not really a draft problem though, we just happen to be the oldest team in the league.

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

I think if we were to rate the entire process, which would be inclusive of the draft day haul, as well as what we didn't do with the pick (trade for CJ), I'd bump it up to a B- or C+.

If instead of picking Devin Thomas, we selected Trevor Laws, this would be a pretty impressive haul. Laws, Kelly, Davis, Rinehart, Tryon...etc. That would help both sides of the ball immensely.

Instead, we helped one side of the ball immensely, and on the other side, we are just a year older. Thusly, we did alright, but we should have done better.

Valid points all around, but again if six months from now the offense has exploded - 30+ pts every game and all the weapons used consistently - then the FO looks very clever. On the other hand if the offense does not improve much there will be a lot of criticism, w/ or w/o significant injuries to the o line.

But here's what I've been wondering since yesterday... what does this strategy say about JC and specifically what Zorn and Co see in him? I wonder if adding so much potential firepower on offense means they think JC is ready to break out and dominate. If they did not believe in him might have they instead spread the picks out among our needs: d line, o line (maybe G and OT), CB and LB? It's just conjecture on my part but I'd like to think this peculiarity of picks says something about JC's progress and the kind of season Zorn and Co anticipates from him.

[skinsfan69]

This is off topic but I'm very very impressed with what Miami is doing.

[GTripp0012]

At least we have youth at receiver. But for those of you who don't think Santana Moss is good enough to be a number one, I doubt these draft picks will satisfy you. Devin Thomas' upside looks something like Eddie Kennison's career, and Malcolm Kelly's upside looks something like Keyshawn Johnson. Both of those guys were starters in this league for a long time, but that's a best case scenario. Additionally, some people on the WP would argue that neither of those guys was ever a number one receiver.

If he can rebound, I think Santana's job is safe.

[ChickenMonkey]

im going with a B until I find out how the late roung D-End pans out and see if we get any FA LB's ....Namely Erin Henderson.....

[SouperMeister]

Had we selected DE Calais Campbell instead of TE Fred Davis in the 2nd round, then this would be a solid A in my book. I haven't seen anyone else who had Fred Davis rated as a first round talent, yet we graded him that high. If Calais drops 10-15 lbs and develops into the dominant DE that he projected two years ago, we'll regret following our draft board to the T when it came to selecting Davis.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by SouperMeister

Had we selected DE Calais Campbell instead of TE Fred Davis in the 2nd round, then this would be a solid A in my book. I haven't seen anyone else who had Fred Davis rated as a first round talent, yet we graded him that high. If Calais drops 10-15 lbs and develops into the dominant DE that he projected two years ago, we'll regret following our draft board to the T when it came to selecting Davis.

FoXSports.com (1st round, 24th overall)

FOX Sports on MSN - COLLEGE FOOTBALL - CFN's 2008 NFL mock draft

In at least one of Kiper's mocks he had Davis going 25th to the Seahawks. So Davis wasn't a sleeper necessarily.

[That Guy]

Originally Posted by SouperMeister

Had we selected DE Calais Campbell instead of TE Fred Davis in the 2nd round, then this would be a solid A in my book. I haven't seen anyone else who had Fred Davis rated as a first round talent, yet we graded him that high. If Calais drops 10-15 lbs and develops into the dominant DE that he projected two years ago, we'll regret following our draft board to the T when it came to selecting Davis.

i too, would have liked campbell (btw, if he wasn't drafted, he'd be heading to iraq right now (army)), but he won't lose 10 lbs and turn into a sack machine. he's the slow run stopping type (like wynn or daniels). run stoppers just don't get labelled dominant. merling is the same type, just a bit better/faster.


oh yeah, it's pretty funny GB had another top 15 QB drop into their laps... why do they have it so easy up there... favre, hasslebeck, brunell (when he didn't suck), bart starr, i mean... damn. I think brohm probably sends rodgers back to the bench this year or next...

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by That Guy

i too, would have liked campbell (btw, if he wasn't drafted, he'd be heading to iraq right now (army)), but he won't lose 10 lbs and turn into a sack machine. he's the slow run stopping type (like wynn or daniels). run stoppers just don't get labelled dominant. merling is the same type, just a bit better/faster.

You sure you're not thinking of Caleb Campbell?

[That Guy]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

You sure you're not thinking of Caleb Campbell?

yeah, my bad. see what happens when you have to work 7-7 on weekends?

btw, you're now a level 3 CB, so start putting the smackdown on those receivers.