Will we draft a WR or get a free agent

[Shane]

Originally Posted by smootsmack

I don't want to read too much into this, but I did find it kind of interesting that in his press conference Gibbs reiterated that finding a WR was a priority, as if to say, once again, that the person lined up behind center wasn't reallly the issue regarding the poor offense

I thought his singling out of the wide receiver position as the top priority was interesting. It says, along with some other comments he made, a few things to me:

1) Coles is no longer regarded as the receiver the Redskins will build around. There will be no surgery, and there is no feeling that we can count on him returning to peak form, though we all hope that it happens.

2) Gibbs said we are going to look at free agency to see if we can get a wide receiver we can build around, and to me what he left unsaid out of politeness is - to replace Coles' role as the cornerstone receiver.

3) Gibbs has very high hopes for Taylor Jacobs and the implication is that Gibbs sees him as a very productive starter in the reasonably near future, and maybe for next season. Yet, he is not seen as the cornerstone at this time.

4) If Jacobs becomes a starter, then he may pair with the cornerstone we hope to get in free agency. That leaves Coles as the #3 receiver.

5) Gibbs talking about free agency and cornerstones does lead me to think he has one receiver in particular in mind: Plaxico Burress. I'm not sure who else is out there as a free agent WR that would be likely to be seen as a cornerstone.

6) Yes, it suggests that Gibbs is saying that the quarterback is not the issue. Patrick Ramsey is seen as a guy who can do all the things you need to win a Super Bowl, and we have a lot of hope that we will have a solid offensive line to protect him - and thereby allow Clinton Portis to have a chance to shine, which in turn will make life much easier on Ramsey.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by Daseal

FRPLG:
Roy Williams
Anquan Boldin
Lee Evans
Michael Clayton
Andre Johnson

Williams-54 817 15.1 8
Boldin- 101 1377 13.6 8
Evans- 48 843 17.6 9
Clayton- 80 1193 14.9 7
Johnson-66 976 14.8 4

These are their first year numbers. With the exception of Boldin(who was one of the "2 or 3" I was referring to) none except maybe Clayton had the type of impact we are looking for. Boldin wasn't even a first round pick while Evans and Clayton were 13th and 15th selections. Of course Johnson was the 3rd pick and Williams the 7th. Some people around here seem to think we can draft a WR and he's going to help us.What I think(and many more qualified draft "experts" think also) is that drafting a WR requires you to assume that he will take at least two years to mature into a real impact player. Impact I think means more than simply the numbers too. Williams, Johnson, Boldin and Clayton didn't do squat to make their teams much better in the rookie campaigns.

On the other hand...
Freeney 46 13.0
Kearse 57 14.5
Peppers 37 12.0
Henderson 54 6.5
Seymour 45 3.0
I would argue these type of guys had at least as much of the type of impact we need at WR. I just think we cannot afford to spend the ninth pick in the draft on a position that is the biggest hit or miss spot historically(well other than QB I would say). With free agency, good scouting and proper draft strategy we can get an impact WR on the market and a WR later in the draft that can take a year or two to mature. We need to also let Jacobs more involved as he seems capable of being a big play guy if he can stay healthy. Lets just take the sure fire type of guy and not jump on the band wagon for skill players like WR. None of the WRs are big time...they just aren't...otherwise they'd be talked about as top five picks. They are probably good NFL receivers(health permitting) but not one of them screams draft me and you'll be happy right away.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by PSUskinsfan11

Troy Williamson, he would be a great pick up in a later round but I have heard some people have him as the second WR in the draft so I don;t think he will last out of the first round but if he does he would be a great pick up in the second round if we get a pick in there. I still wouldn't sleep on Fred Gibson in the 2nd or 3rd round

These are the type of WRs we need to talk about...the guys who we can get in the 2nd and 3rd rounds and will end up being productive guys.

[diehardskin2982]

I think alot of you don't understand the nature of our offense. If you noticed McCants was inactive for atleast 10 games this season, the reason being that our offense uses the Tight end in a major way.
Cooley is a H-back not a Tight end/ H-Back combination player. He's a natural at the position. He lacks the size to be a true tightend. The Joe Gibbs offense uses the run to move the chains and establish tempo.

Secondly the game has changed because of the five yard contact rule, the game is made for Tighends now. Coachs realize that and so do smart fans. The Patriots have drafted a tight end the past 2 years in the first round... has any of you actualy realized that. That is why they have a great running game and red zone completion rate as well 3rd down conversion rate.

Third: Tony Gonzalez, Jeremy Shockey, Todd Heap were trully big stars until after their first season. You be able to make a judge on how someone will do in the NFL until after they play. Hell look at KW2 right now he's doesn't look so great just injury prone, the same with Charles Rogers of Detroit.

Heath Miller of Virginia has a tremendous up side, he's currently rated 4th on mel's big board and he's known as a monster blocker and pass catcher. That just what the skins need not a glammer pick but someone that will move the chains.

All those that feel well pick defense think agian... this year we had the #3 defensive team in the league (1st in NFC) without our so called number 1 defensive player on the field most of the season. Our offense on the other hand was 31 rated scoring offense, so u tell me which side of the ball would u draft for? u gota score points to win games.

That is why the plaxico/ Miller combination would be the best combination for us. We don't need a second round just for the hell of having one... with the second round who ya gonna get? Teams know things like that already and draft accordingly. lets not forget about other possible players to get at Wideout like Joey Porter, he would be cheap and might have a monster year in the right system. Remember he was the deep threat for the superbowl Raiders so please people sit and think before u speak

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by diehardskin2982

I think alot of you don't understand the nature of our offense. If you noticed McCants was inactive for atleast 10 games this season, the reason being that our offense uses the Tight end in a major way.
Cooley is a H-back not a Tight end/ H-Back combination player. He's a natural at the position. He lacks the size to be a true tightend. The Joe Gibbs offense uses the run to move the chains and establish tempo.

Secondly the game has changed because of the five yard contact rule, the game is made for Tighends now. Coachs realize that and so do smart fans. The Patriots have drafted a tight end the past 2 years in the first round... has any of you actualy realized that. That is why they have a great running game and red zone completion rate as well 3rd down conversion rate.

lets not forget about other possible players to get at Wideout like Joey Porter, he would be cheap and might have a monster year in the right system. Remember he was the deep threat for the superbowl Raiders so please people sit and think before u speak

I think most, if not all us understand the nature of the offense, and we realize the importance of a TE in that offense. But we also understand that having wide receivers who can make plays is important as well. And in 2003 McCants was a big-time playmaker for the Skins. So it's only natural to wonder why someone else wasn't deactivated to make room for DM.

I didn't realize that Ben Watson had played such a pivotal role in the Pats' drive to the Super Bowl.

I agree that Porter is definitely someone to consider. I hear though, that he's anxious to reunite with Gruden in Tampa and that he can be a pain in the locker room if things aren't going his way.

[KLHJ2]

You have all forgotten about McCants and Jacobs all they need is a shot. The problems were not at WR this year, though Gardner had his fair share.

QB sacks, we were the middle of the pack. Clinton Portis had no room to run behind the line and still managed 1300+ yards. Yes Jansen was gone, but Samuels wants more money.

Also take into consideration how thin we were at Defensive back since towards end of the season. Smoot's (hope we resign him) contract is up, and Spring's is injury prone. I am a firm believer in if it isn't broke then don't fix it, but the first round should be a CB.

The rest of the picks should be used on O and D linemen. Get some quick, rookie, 300lb hogs to learn under Bugel. Add some youth to our D line that time forgot. The rest of our necessities should be picked up in free agency.

You are not sound offensively unless you can block, but if you can, then even someone as bad as Emmit Smith can look good. By the way, this theory is to help us with the future, not next year, but the year after.

[KLHJ2]

You don't understand Gibb's. In his offense a TE is not typically a receiver, he is a blocker.

Cooley is the receiver at H back.

Coles will still be primary.

McCants possession, or whatever Gardner is supposed to do.

However, I still feel that you all are missing the fact that our yards per carry rushing were lacking, not our passing game, if you focus on the weeks that Ramsey started toward the end of the season.

[SmootSmack]

angryssg, first off welcome to the board and thank you for stepping up to the plate and serving our country

I think that unless we lose Smoot, CB should not be our first round priority. I think the notion that Springs is injury prone is misleading. Except for one season (2001) he has played in nearly every game.

[KLHJ2]

Just because he is hunting down another WR doesnt meanthat Coles is no longer the man. Remember 1991 our last Super Bowl winning season; Monk, Clark, and Sanders. It's a formula that he is trying to re-create in my eyes. Coles, ?, and McCants. The whole Coles is not going to be at his peak again is a coy. You do know that other teams representatives watch and listen to other coaches press confrences. Coles had a record high receptions this year, although his yardage was lacking he still caught the ball. What did Monk do? He caught the ball!

[KLHJ2]

I appologize for making him sound like Michael Westbrook as far as the injuries, but he did get horribly beat in the second Dallas game, and he is no Spring(s) chicken.

[SKINSnCANES]

we could probably trade down, and still get mike williams. expecially if he doesnt put up a fast time at the combine

[KLHJ2]

All we need to do to move the chains is have a more successful running game. The YDS were there, but the YDS per carry were not. I am not in a position to scrutinize Gibbs, but I feel that in today's game you need to run more in between the tackles and with a lead blocker not a pulling lineman or H-back.
The majority of the league's top defenses rely on a speedy defense, which is able to defend the counter, off tackle, and outside running. The reason is not only speed, but defenses are more aggressive because they blitz not only with LB's, but DB's as well. By doing this they take away the outside running game. You have to expose that type of blitz by running up the middle with a lead blocker and just keep pounding. If you don't think that I know what I am talking about, then look at what happened to our defense against the Ravens in the second half last year. Why run 20 YDS to gain 3 when you can run 20 and gain 15?

[KLHJ2]

tell me why do we need to draft a WR

[Shane]

Originally Posted by angryssg

Just because he is hunting down another WR doesnt meanthat Coles is no longer the man. Remember 1991 our last Super Bowl winning season; Monk, Clark, and Sanders. It's a formula that he is trying to re-create in my eyes. Coles, ?, and McCants. The whole Coles is not going to be at his peak again is a coy. You do know that other teams representatives watch and listen to other coaches press confrences. Coles had a record high receptions this year, although his yardage was lacking he still caught the ball. What did Monk do? He caught the ball!

Our offense was just about the worst in the NFL. Our passing game downfield was nonexistent almost. Coles was brought in to be the cornerstone, and unfortunately, unless and until he recovers he is not physically capable of doing it, in my opinion. Coles can still play as you point out - he just doesn't threaten anyone with his downfield speed at this point.

Taylor Jacobs is being set up to be a starter soon.

We are told that we are looking to bring in a free agent WR to build around. To me, the guy you build around means a top flight #1 receiver with a long term future. Coles at this point is possibly above average, but not by a lot.

I'm adding this up and coming up with Coles being the #3 receiver once we get our cornerstone free agent if we do, and Jacobs ascending to the starting position.

If we draft a top receiver on top of signing Plaxico Burress, then the clock is ticking before Coles drops down to a #4 WR.

If Coles were healthy, we would not be talking about a WR crisis at this point. Unless he heals to the point where he can recover his full capacities, he is holding a spot until he can get replaced as far as I can see.

[KLHJ2]

Muhammad is out of the question. He is a dinosaur in football terms. If we are going to pick up a receiver he had better be somewhat young. I personally do not think that we need a WR. We just need a powerfull offensive line.
Coles= not out to pasture yet.
McCants= Needs to be given a shot for the possession WR spot.
Thrash= Played for us, Started for Philly, pretty fast and experienced.
Jacobs= should be better than what he is.
Antonio Brown= fast as anything
Nathan Black= Who is Nathan Black?
Ok maybe pick up a WR free agent, but just for the depth value we have potential playmakers. Otherwise they wouldn't be in the NFL.