Peppers says he wants to explore free agency

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by TheSmurfs22

He is a great player but not worth the price tag. The Skins need to stick to the draft and build that way.

Once again, a rookie player may or may not have an impact on the defense. Signing or not signing peppers has nothing to do with "building through the draft" (unless we were trading for Peppers, and that's not the case).

The Redskins have some decisions to make on the defensive side of the ball. One would be to sign one of these big time free agents in hopes that they would make immediate impact, which a lot of us agree would not be a good decision.

An alternative to this would be to sign less expensive players (i.e. Bernard from Seattle and/or Karlos Dansby...although with AZ going to the SB he may not be that inexpensive) as well as drafting a young d-lineman. Hope that those inexpensive players contribute while any defensive rookie(s) develop.

Otherwise you are stuck with the same players and you can sign rookies. But once again, rookies may or may not contribute. Yes, I would hope that we can sign a DE or DT that can contribute right away (a la Horton) but it may not happen.

So please don't say: "let's not sign Peppers and build through the draft." Unless you want for our defense to be the same next year or however many years it takes for those rookies you pick up to contribute. Last draft the Redskins were building through the draft by picking up Kelly, Thomas, and Davis. But building through the draft doesn't mean that they contributed right away, many times it means that you pick up rookies to develop over a season or two so they can contribute later on.

[A10sROCK]

Stubblefield
Big Daddy Wilkenson
Bruce Smith
Jason Taylor

All DL players who we paid MASSIVE DOLLARS to bring here - with huge fan enthusiasm over the last decade. Then they came here and underperformed. They all were tremendous failures.

Draft for the DL and OL and build that way, like the best teams in the NFL. Otherwise we'll be adding another $1-3 million per sack player to this list above.

[A10sROCK]

We have the lowest number of draft picks toward the DL in the last decade. I wonder if our low win percentage has ANYTHING to do with that neglect.

We choose flash players (mostly WR) over the trenches every year.

[MrIcon]

I am a UNC fan so I have followed Peppers since college, though I like him I don't want him to die here.

[SmootSmack]

My somewhat educated guess says the following:

-We're going to show some interest in Peppers and Jordan Gross but it won't be all that intense. And, much to my dismay, we're not likely to go after Karlos Dansby either.

-We're going to offer a lot of money to Albert Haynesworth mainly because he's exactly what Blache has been asking for, a dominating interior lineman. Personally, I think the concerns about Big Al's character issues are a bit overrated. The bigger concern is really durability issues, he's only played one 16 game season in seven NFL seasons.

-Blache is really hoping Daniels' knee is up for at least one more year so he can put him back at DE opposite Andre Carter and allow the team to...

-Move Jason Taylor (who I think they figure out a way to keep) to weakside linebacker.

-If Daniels can't go, maybe they go with Evans again. Either way, I know that at this point DE is not high on their list (probably some late round pick if they get some extra picks) so I expect the 2009 starters are already on the roster

-Marcus Washington is probably gone (along with Griffin especially if they are able to get Haynesworth)

-McIntosh moves to the strongside but could be benched pretty quickly if they are able to get the guy they hope might fall to them in the draft...

-Aaron Curry. If he's there at #13 (not likely) the Redskins will probably take him and hope to trade late into the first round or into the top third of the second round to take an OT (deep class) like Beatty or Loadholt

-If Curry isn't there, they'll probably take an OT there at #13 and then hope to trade late into the first round or into the top third of the second round take an OLB like Cushing or Sintim. I think Cushing might actually be the guy they most want (little worried about that) but not at #13

-If they keep their third round pick, it may be an interior OL but it's more likely to be a running back

That's all for my somewhat educated guesses for now

[A10sROCK]

Some say the "DL is fine" and their are others who always argue for more DB picks. The truth is that our defense could not hold the best QB down because we have no pass rush. A quick review:

Gholston and Montgomery are decent but would be backup on other teams.
Griffin is on his last legs and the far downside of his career.
Taylor, Carter and Evans together had less sacks then a single, good DE.
The age and level of play of our DL is below average and getting worse. It needs talent and new blood.

The best defenses constantly draft for the DL - every year. They can constantly apply pressure on the QB, get turnovers and points for their teams.

Yet, Blache and Vinny seem to want to reject the winning philosophy of the elites and look for experienced DL players who cost huge dollars against the cap and then coast to retirement on Danny's and our fans dime.

The DL is NOT fine!

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by A10sROCK

Some say the "DL is fine" and their are others who always argue for more DB picks. The truth is that our defense could not hold the best QB down because we have no pass rush. A quick review:

Gholston and Montgomery are decent but would be backup on other teams.
Griffin is on his last legs and the far downside of his career.
Taylor, Carter and Evans together had less sacks then a single, good DE.
The age and level of play of our DL is below average and getting worse. It needs talent and new blood.

The best defenses constantly draft for the DL - every year. They can constantly apply pressure on the QB, get turnovers and points for their teams.

Yet, Blache and Vinny seem to want to reject the winning philosophy of the elites and look for experienced DL players who cost huge dollars against the cap and then coast to retirement on Danny's and our fans dime.

The DL is NOT fine!

Well, yeah, if you go out of your way to create weaknesses for all of our current guys, then I would say the correct conclusion is that we need new players.

[A10sROCK]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Well, yeah, if you go out of your way to create weaknesses for all of our current guys, then I would say the correct conclusion is that we need new players.

Are you saying you think we have a good pass rush or even a decent DL?

All I'm saying is that a couple good draft DL picks over the next two years could bring this line back to the top. Something this team hasn't done over the last decade.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by A10sROCK

Are you saying you think we have a good pass rush or even a decent DL?

All I'm saying is that a couple good draft DL picks over the next two years could bring this line back to the top. Something this team hasn't done over the last decade.

I'm in no way saying that we shouldn't pick some defensive lineman high in the next few drafts. What I am saying is that we already have a considerable amount of talent there. In the case of the ends, it's certainly older talent, there's no doubt about that.

It would be a mistake for us to go cutting everyone though. Our line is much stronger against the run than the pass, and what we can't do consistently against the pass is not evidence that we can't do anything right with the current guys.

Here's the bare bones point: if we can't get to the passer with the talent we already have, bringing in other players isn't going to help us get there. Which, again, doesn't mean I think we should ignore the position in the draft continually. We should take defensive linemen in the draft when it makes sense to do so.

[RedskinMike]

Originally Posted by A10sROCK

Are you saying you think we have a good pass rush or even a decent DL?

All I'm saying is that a couple good draft DL picks over the next two years could bring this line back to the top. Something this team hasn't done over the last decade.

you seem to forget we had the #4 ranked defense in the league

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

-Aaron Curry. If he's there at #13 (not likely) the Redskins will probably take him and hope to trade late into the first round or into the top third of the second round to take an OT (deep class) like Beatty or Loadholt

-If Curry isn't there, they'll probably take an OT there at #13 and then hope to trade late into the first round or into the top third of the second round take an OLB like Cushing or Sintim. I think Cushing might actually be the guy they most want (little worried about that) but not at #13

I'd be surprised if Aaron Curry wasn't the No. 1 overall guy on Vinny's board.

What do you think the plan for the offensive line really is, considering there's a significant portion of it we are already committed to cap wise?

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

I'd be surprised if Aaron Curry wasn't the No. 1 overall guy on Vinny's board.

What do you think the plan for the offensive line really is, considering there's a significant portion of it we are already committed to cap wise?

Well the latest on Curry is he's skyrocketing to probably being a top 3 pick so that improves the likelihood at this point that we're taking Cushing at 13 (assuming he's there). I really like the idea of adding a young, playmaking OLB but I'm not convinced entirely that Cushing is the right choice that high.

I think the plan for the offensive line is Samuels is the LT until he has to carted off; at LG they really (and so do I) want to see Rinehart take that spot this summer, though I think they'll probably bring back Kendall for cheap if they can regardless, C is kind of a toss up position right now-I don't think they're in love with Rabach but I also get the sense they don't think it's all that important a position relative to others-I think they take a C very late in the draft and have Rabach, Geisinger (if healthy) and the draft pick battle it out in training camp with Jansen and Kendall being long shots. At RG, Thomas probably stays there. RT is the wild card, I think they're really trying to trade into the 2nd round to get an OT there. There are probably 7-8 draft picks who could start at RT right away and who knows when that will happen again.

So to summarize-Samuels, Rinehart, Any old bloke, Thomas, Rookie is probably their ideal starting scenario.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

So to summarize-Samuels, Rinehart, Any old bloke, Thomas, Rookie is probably their ideal starting scenario.

I'm wondering what's the deal with Thomas, because not only did he struggle to grasp zone blocking concepts, he also started to struggle with things he is historically strong at, such as one on one pass blocking and pulling to hit the end.

We've seen instances of players who just perform terribly for a year with no real warning signs and then bounce right back the next year, which I think can happen with Thomas, but man, was he awful this season.

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Well the latest on Curry is he's skyrocketing to probably being a top 3 pick so that improves the likelihood at this point that we're taking Cushing at 13 (assuming he's there). I really like the idea of adding a young, playmaking OLB but I'm not convinced entirely that Cushing is the right choice that high.

I think the plan for the offensive line is Samuels is the LT until he has to carted off; at LG they really (and so do I) want to see Rinehart take that spot this summer, though I think they'll probably bring back Kendall for cheap if they can regardless, C is kind of a toss up position right now-I don't think they're in love with Rabach but I also get the sense they don't think it's all that important a position relative to others-I think they take a C very late in the draft and have Rabach, Geisinger (if healthy) and the draft pick battle it out in training camp with Jansen and Kendall being long shots. At RG, Thomas probably stays there. RT is the wild card, I think they're really trying to trade into the 2nd round to get an OT there. There are probably 7-8 draft picks who could start at RT right away and who knows when that will happen again.

So to summarize-Samuels, Rinehart, Any old bloke, Thomas, Rookie is probably their ideal starting scenario.

I can't help but be worried that we might not take a truly top OT in this year's draft. For all practical purposes we don't have a RT and Samuels while still very, very good is no spring chicken. A franchise tackle gives us so many options at this point where we can shore up both tackle positions for the foreseeable future.

... I understand OLB is def a need. Also realize it's just my opinion that a franchise OT is the best move but it will be sooooo unfair to JC (and the fans) if the FO fails to significantly upgrade the line.

I would just add that w/ Thomas struggling so bad last season and his resurgence as an effective guard questionable, but the near certainty he is retained because of the cap hit) it's all the more important we put a monster at RT.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by The Goat

I can't help but be worried that we might not take a truly top OT in this year's draft. For all practical purposes we don't have a RT and Samuels while still very, very good is no spring chicken. A franchise tackle gives us so many options at this point where we can shore up both tackle positions for the foreseeable future.

... I understand OLB is def a need. Also realize it's just my opinion that a franchise OT is the best move but it will be sooooo unfair to JC (and the fans) if the FO fails to significantly upgrade the line.

I would just add that w/ Thomas struggling so bad last season and his resurgence as an effective guard questionable, but the near certainty he is retained because of the cap hit) it's all the more important we put a monster at RT.

I think the feeling is there are a lot of top OTs