Updated: Redskins Trade for Vikings DE Erasmus James

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by steveo395

Hopefully the deal is that we give a 7th if he makes the team and nothing if he doesn't make it.

I think you're right

[wilsowilso]

This is a great move. James is an absolute handful as a pass rusher. We just need to get lucky with his knees. If he can stay healthy he makes the team easily. Buzbee and Wilson are just nowhere near James in terms of strength at the point of attack and talent. This guy is definitely someone you want to take a gamble on.

[SeanTaylor21]

Good move, hopefully when Erasmus and Chris Wilson hit the field at the same time hopefully they can bring a good pash rush.

[Dirtbag59]

I'll be damned. Guess Cerrato wasn't kidding when they said they like adding guys who have experience with the coaching staff. Oh well we got the fan base screaming low risk, high reward, which is true but when 45 people say it like they're the first ones to notice, it gets annoying.

Anyway even though this falls under the fans acting like kids in the cereal aisle with "this guy was released lets get him, or this guy this guy and this guy how about that guy mom I want him he's a 1st round pick buy me a country" its still nice to have some news at this point, and on top of that it's not the type that makes me say what were they thinking, kind of like my initial reaction during the draft or the signing of a deviant like Mathis, but I guess that balanced out when they signed the equally righthous JT Mapu, because you know thats how the world works.

In other news we've lost mini-Strahan aka Dorian Smith as a result. Fire Cerrato.

Also Scouting report from 2005. Things to notice:
1. 8 sacks his senior year
2. His nickname is the eraser
3. Durability concerns

Strengths: Has adequate overall size, a terrific frame and the potential to get bigger. Has a powerful upper body. Knocks offensive linemen back upon initial contact. Is athletic and smooth. Has the COD skills to work back inside as a pass rusher. Has long arms and has learned to use them well. Has shown much improved array of pass rush moves. Is quicker than fast. Has very good anticipation and initial quickness. Fires off the ball quickly and with good leverage Has good instincts and does a fine job of locating the ball. Is disciplined for such a productive pass rusher. Does a good job of keeping contain. Played with a much higher motor in 2004. Fights through double teams and shows terrific stamina. Shows very good closing burst to the quarterback. Is a powerful tackler that also has improved in terms of wrapping up in space. Will chase and pursue versus the run.

Weaknesses: Lack of ideal base is a concern. Still needs to improve lower body strength. Must be able to hold his ground better at the POA in the NFL. Has adequate top-end speed for an edge rusher but not elite. Won't be able to turn the corner as easily in the NFL. Durability is a severe concern.

Overall: James improved his draft value as much or more than any other prospect in the 2005 class as a senior in 2004. After sitting out the entire 2003 season with a hip injury there were lots of questions about James' durability, shape, explosiveness and strength. With 34 total tackles, including 11.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks in 10-of-11 regular season games played in 2004, the fifth-year senior put a lot of those fears to rest. James did miss one game in 2004 due to an ankle injury but it was not serious and he showed no ill effects from the previous season's hip injury. James lacks elite top-end speed and he still must improve his bulk and lower body strength, but his improvement as a senior shocking. He played with better technique, a much higher motor, showed more power at the POA and also showed much more explosive burst when closing in on the quarterback/ball carrier. He could slip a little bit due to his durability concerns but James played his way into the first round of the upcoming draft.

* Player biographies are provided by Scouts Inc.

More Recent Scouting Report:

2007 Scouting Report - Scouts Inc.
Grade: 62 | Key
Alert: EI

Comment: James brings tremendous potential having shown flashes of explosive ability as a pure pass rusher especially the second half of his rookie season finishing with four sacks, two passes defended and 29 combined tackles only to tear his ACL early in his second season. James brings an explosive first step, terrific edge speed and excellent athleticism in the pass rush. His lateral explosiveness may be affected following his knee surgery as well as his change of direction skills. James has impressive football instincts along with body control and outstanding use of his hands that help him both separate from blockers and win in pass rush situations. James compensates for being undersized playing with good knee bend and leverage, yet versus the run he struggles to hold point and cannot anchor against bigger offensive linemen. This lack of bulk and strength is a liability especially when opponents attack his edge in the run game. The major question will be how this young athlete whose game depends on speed, quickness and athleticism will return from major knee surgery.

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by SeanTaylor21

Good move, hopefully when Erasmus and Chris Wilson hit the field at the same time hopefully they can bring a good pash rush.

Why are you taking Andre Carter out?

[SeanTaylor21]

Originally Posted by Dirtbag359

Why are you taking Andre Carter out?

Everyone needs rest.

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by SeanTaylor21

Everyone need rest.

Alright thats fair, but not every 3rd down situation. We don't exactly have a Justin Tuck type that can move inside (save Daniels but he might be moving to DT anyway).

[SmootSmack]

I don't care that the Vikings cut him, or thought about cutting him. That means nothing. My only concern is his health, or lack thereof. How long until his next crippling injury?

[J. Spanky]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I don't care that the Vikings cut him, or thought about cutting him. That means nothing. My only concern is his health, or lack thereof. How long until his next crippling injury?

or jansen's or thomas' or griff's or marcus' or moss' or springs' or... you get my point.

of course his injuries are a concern. but i'd say our pass rush is a far greater concern. considering we did virtually nothing to address it in the draft/free agency, i'd say the potential reward here far outweighs the risk.

[wilsowilso]

He had three operations on the same knee. The first two were performed by a doctor not named James Andrews. The last surgery performed in early December was performed by Dr. James Andrews. Hopefully he will be all fixed now because if Andrews can't fix it you are done.

[skinsfan_nn]

There's nothing about this move that has me jumping for joy, like problem answered OR we now have some stud at DE, couldn't be any further from the truth. This guy has proven he can not stay healthy could not even pass a recent physical in Minn., what makes me think he all of a sudden will? Nothing!

I will take a wait and see approach on him, first off just see if the kid can pass the physical tomorrow. If so we didn't as it appears give up much of anything for him IF he happens to make the team. If we get VERY lucky maybe the kid can provide depth at DE for us something that surely would not hurt. But with his injury track record I'm not very optimistic about him providing much of anything to our team.

[Rajmahal33]

Originally Posted by skinsfan_nn

There's nothing about this move that has me jumping for joy, like problem answered OR we now have some stud at DE, couldn't be any further from the truth. This guy has proven he can not stay healthy could not even pass a recent physical in Minn., what makes me think he all of a sudden will? Nothing!

I will take a wait and see approach on him, first off just see if the kid can pass the physical tomorrow. If so we didn't as it appears give up much of anything for him IF he happens to make the team. If we get VERY lucky maybe the kid can provide depth at DE for us something that surely would not hurt. But with his injury track record I'm not very optimistic about him providing much of anything to our team.

It's not often you can "answer" a problem or find a "stud" at DE for a conditional 7th round pick. I would be content if this guy could be a 3rd down pass rush DE. It brings up an interesting point...how many sacks/tackles/hurries etc does James have to produce before ppl will be saying that this guy was "worth it"?

[skinsnut]

Originally Posted by Rajmahal33

...how many sacks/tackles/hurries etc does James have to produce before ppl will be saying that this guy was "worth it"?

That, my friend, depends on how much we are paying him.
I say...1 sack for every 150k...for example, if we are paying him 600k...he better give us 4 sacks

[That Guy]

Originally Posted by skinsnut

That, my friend, depends on how much we are paying him.
I say...1 sack for every 150k...for example, if we are paying him 600k...he better give us 4 sacks

so for 1.5mill we get 10 sacks? for 3mill we get 20? that's the best value ever :P

i mean, there's not a single team that'd pass on paying a DE 16$mill a year if he got 32 sacks every season (and that's over three times your retail sack value).

the problem, of course, is that the NFL sacks for cash equation isn't linear by any means.

also, such a thing would be a bit shortsighted, since, by that standard, making 8 game winning tackles while having 0 sacks would be a failure to attain value...

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by That Guy

so for 1.5mill we get 10 sacks? for 3mill we get 20? that's the best value ever :P

i mean, there's not a single team that'd pass on paying a DE 16$mill a year if he got 32 sacks every season (and that's over three times your retail sack value).

the problem, of course, is that the NFL sacks for cash equation isn't linear by any means.

also, such a thing would be a bit shortsighted, since, by that standard, making 8 game winning tackles while having 0 sacks would be a failure to attain value...

And by that rational theres little incentive to play the run, since the players livlihood would be based on how many sacks he got.