Redskins Defensive Oriented Draft

[johno]

Alright guys, this is my first thread but I feel like it needs to be asked.... Why would'nt we just make the early picks in the draft about the defense?

Now before you jump on the offensive line needs, I understand we have needs on the oline, but I say we assemble a gnarly defense with the first 2 picks and then address the offensive needs down the line. We have a solid defensive core (4th best last year mind you), add Haynesworth&Hall and a talented DE with the 13th pick, and there is a defense worth talking about. Add talented LB in the 3rd round and we are on to something.

There have been teams with mediocre offenses that go deep into the playoffs on the back of their defense right? Maybe I am crazy.

[redskingrove]

No matter how well you stack a defense, if you don't have the offensive game rolling to supplement the defense, any defense (no matter how outstanding) will tire quickly if the offense is constantly 3 and out. The offense has to be balanced to supplement your idea of defense. The Redskins were #4 overall, but look at the offense... They were average at best. Imagine if we had the offensive weapons to supplement our #4 defense; they would have been even better. So the Redskins should make the first 2 picks as offense and supplement an already strong defense in the later rounds.

[Ruhskins]

I think given the addition on defense through free agency and the fact that no matter what type of players we field, the defense is always strong, I would say that we need to go offense.

[wilsowilso]

If they really love one of these mid first round defensive ends then I'm all for it, but I am thinking Oher is going to fall to 13 and we are going to take him or we will trade down.

RT is such a glaring need I don't know if it's even possible not to take a RT with one of the first two picks.

[Dirtbag59]

Lavar vs Samuals (my new favorite argument): Just ask yourself who has lasted longer and made more of an impact on our team. If we can find an OLB and a LT with around the same value we need to go with the LT. Besides the defense was ranked fourth overall last year . On the other hand Jason Campbell spent a lot of time looking at the clouds and Portis couldn't go anywhere at the end of last year plus Samuals proved he's human last year. At the very least we need to make Eben Britton a Redskin. There will be little excuse for not drafting a tackle at 13.

[53Fan]

I for one would love to see us have an intimidating, bad ass defense. The offense should improve if only because of being in the second year of this offense and our rookies are now in their second year. Now, having said that, even I, who loves hardhitting smashmouth defense above all else, cannot forget how bad our o-line was last year and how pathetic it became after a tremendous start. We need o-line help and we need it sooner rather than later. The more we put it off, the longer we will have to deal with mediocrity. A "tremendous" start is probably stretching it a little.

[freddyg12]

There's another reason we need to shore up the o line; to determine if we have our qb of the future & if he should get a long-term deal. As it is now, he's more likely to get hurt than have a career year.

[johno]

you guys make good points, i guess thats why i am still a camp scrub.

[SmootSmack]

Don't sell yourself short. Good first thread. A lot better than others we've seen

[RedskinPete]

with the 13 pick maynot be a O line man! Why at 13th you have to go best player! Yes you might trade down but there is a good chance you may reach for need not best player on the board. The way the draft looks two weeks away the best OT will be goen when lucky 13 comes up. I am not sold on Smith or Oher. With so little inthis draft right now in picks for the Skins to miss this pick with a bad pick could really hurt this team. We really need to hit a home run on this pick if we have to draft at 13. Don't get me wrong I love to get that RT spot filled but not on a reach. Take best player then move on! The fact that we didn't fill this spot with a FA is a so so FA season this go around. We reach on a OT years back in the draft[1st round trade with the Boys] and that didn't go will. So go best player!

[Eknox]

I would love a DE or LB with 13, but if you look at our collapse last year 2-6 , we have to go O-LINE

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by johno

Alright guys, this is my first thread but I feel like it needs to be asked.... Why would'nt we just make the early picks in the draft about the defense?

Now before you jump on the offensive line needs, I understand we have needs on the oline, but I say we assemble a gnarly defense with the first 2 picks and then address the offensive needs down the line. We have a solid defensive core (4th best last year mind you), add Haynesworth&Hall and a talented DE with the 13th pick, and there is a defense worth talking about. Add talented LB in the 3rd round and we are on to something.

There have been teams with mediocre offenses that go deep into the playoffs on the back of their defense right? Maybe I am crazy.

As often happens, I'm with 53Fan. There is nothing better in football than a knock-your-teeth-out, inpenetrable defense. I've thought myself about the question of this thread. And if we use the draft to build an overwhelming defense, I will not cry.

However, although sometimes great defenses do go far in the playoffs as you indicate, quite often they do not. Every year a really good defensive team does not make the playoffs at all or makes an early exit from the playoffs because they cannot get their defense off of the field or cannot overcome mistakes made by the offense or special teams. The Bears are an example of this. A 7-3 loss is still a loss.

I think to win consistently in the NFL you need some balance. For example, the Colts and the Patriots became dominant once they had talent on both sides of the ball, not just one.

[Redskin Jim]

O-line fo sho! We MUST score more points than we did last year. In order to compete in the NFC East and the playoffs we must have a better offensive unit than we have had in the past. Remember the last few times we went to the playoffs? 1 win in the last three playoff appearances. The reason? The Redskins have squeaked into the playoffs on the backs of our above average defenses, and run into a brick wall in the playoffs when the offense sputters.

[redskins1974]

Let me sum it up with this statement. The Detroit Lions scored more points then we did last year.

We need more offense, particlulary JC to step up for once and draft O-line help to give him some time. Our D is not the problem.

[freddyg12]

Johno, like Smoot said, not a bad thread at all.

Another reason we need O line help; Zorn is the head coach & playcaller. In order to get his system running & gain the respect of the team (& the danny), he needs the personel. Right now our RT spot is so weak! I don't know if Heyer or Jansen could even make the rosters of half the nfl teams, much less start.

Hopefully both of those guys come to camp much improved, but I don't expect either to be starting. I think a decent rookie can win that job right off the bat & improve the line.