Our WRs in 2009... My Thoughts

[tryfuhl]

Agree for the most part Goat

I'm not sure why we took Kelly honestly.. he could be electric but his knee issues were already well known, I would've rather taken someone with good NFL skills but maybe not as big of a name and taken a slightly bigger gamble.. hopefully I can come back to eat those words, but if he has one rebuilt knee and the other is arthritic.. kinda hard to imagine that

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by tryfuhl

Agree for the most part Goat

I'm not sure why we took Kelly honestly.. he could be electric but his knee issues were already well known, I would've rather taken someone with good NFL skills but maybe not as big of a name and taken a slightly bigger gamble.. hopefully I can come back to eat those words, but if he has one rebuilt knee and the other is arthritic.. kinda hard to imagine that

Yeah Kelly doesn't seem like a wise pick where we sit today, however the '08 draft class overall looks less than stellar IMO (i know that's way too general to really back up but outside 2 good QBs, a few good WR/TE/RB, three o-lineman and a small group of defensive players like Mayo there's not a whole lot to have fallen in love w/ from last year). Still, as a franchise you've got to make strides w/ the hand your dealt and we don't look to have played our cards well in the '08 draft considering the opportunity cost of Thomas/Kelly if they're busts.

[SmootSmack]

Well, maybe JLC was right about DT. I talked to some of my media friends down in DC who cover the Redskins and they told Thomas was a pain to deal with in the locker room. A lot of "It's time for you guys to get out of here" even when the reporters weren't even around him (which was more often than not). It's not something he can't grow out of though, others in the past were like this and changed. Still, his biggest problem isn't the attitude, it's understanding the routes. They said the other teammates don't dislike him or anything like that, they just want him to grow up...now.

On the other hand, they love, love, love, love Kelly. Reporters, players, coaches. Great personality, fun to be around, loads of potential. Just has to stay healthy.

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Well, maybe JLC was right about DT. I talked to some of my media friends down in DC who cover the Redskins and they told Thomas was a pain to deal with in the locker room. A lot of "It's time for you guys to get out of here" even when the reporters weren't even around him (which was more often than not). It's not something he can't grow out of though, others in the past were like this and changed. Still, his biggest problem isn't the attitude, it's understanding the routes. They said the other teammates don't dislike him or anything like that, they just want him to grow up...now.

On the other hand, they love, love, love, love Kelly. Reporters, players, coaches. Great personality, fun to be around, loads of potential. Just has to stay healthy.

Def a piece of good news for all Skins fans. Doctors/trainers can work miracles anymore w/ our bodies too so i'm staying positive on MK.

[GTripp0012]

I don't see Kelly really getting going until his third season here, but I think the passing game is going to make leaps and bounds with the guys it already has next year.

[44Deezel]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

I don't see Kelly really getting going until his third season here, but I think the passing game is going to make leaps and bounds with the guys it already has next year.

I think it could be as well. The Skins had weapons, but didn't use them effectively (or at all in some cases). The backs were almost non-existent in the passing game, the rookies couldn't get on the field and pass protection was shaky at times, although I think they could have schemed better to compensate for any weaknesses in the O line. They really only had trouble blocking the better defenses, like the Ravens, Giants, Steelers and Cowboys. Can't blame pass protection for the losses to the Bungles, Rams and 49ers.

I'm optimistic that the coaches will be better, because they can't be any worse, and that the young guys emerge. They only need a middle of the pack offense to be a playoff team, assuming the defense remaints stout. Better offense makes for better defense anyway.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by 44Deezel

I think it could be as well. The Skins had weapons, but didn't use them effectively (or at all in some cases). The backs were almost non-existent in the passing game, the rookies couldn't get on the field and pass protection was shaky at times, although I think they could have schemed better to compensate for any weaknesses in the O line. They really only had trouble blocking the better defenses, like the Ravens, Giants, Steelers and Cowboys. Can't blame pass protection for the losses to the Bungles, Rams and 49ers.

I'm optimistic that the coaches will be better, because they can't be any worse, and that the young guys emerge. They only need a middle of the pack offense to be a playoff team, assuming the defense remaints stout. Better offense makes for better defense anyway.

If we keep neglecting the D-line, that becomes a bigger assumption each year. Sooner or later, Cornelius Griffin is going to run out of gas. As the keystone of the line, once he goes, the whole thing could blow up in our face.

Not only that, but in season after season it seemed like we did nothing but draft linebackers. Robert McCune, Jared Newberry, Rocky McIntosh, Kevin Simon, Dallas Sartz, and H.B. Blades were all drafted linebackers beginning in 2005. Only two of them panned out (Rocky and H.B.). And some might argue that the jury is still out on those guys. Now, even that position is in need of a makeover.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

If we keep neglecting the D-line, that becomes a bigger assumption each year. Sooner or later, Cornelius Griffin is going to run out of gas. As the keystone of the line, once he goes, the whole thing could blow up in our face.

Not only that, but in season after season it seemed like we did nothing but draft linebackers. Robert McCune, Jared Newberry, Rocky McIntosh, Kevin Simon, Dallas Sartz, and H.B. Blades were all drafted linebackers beginning in 2005. Only two of them panned out (Rocky and H.B.). And some might argue that the jury is still out on those guys. Now, even that position is in need of a makeover.

We have used multiple picks on LBs in recent years, but aside from Rocky, all those picks (I believe) have been 5th round or later. Using one late round pick after another on LBs with the belief that one will become a reliable starter is kind of dumb. Sure, HB has turned into a good backup/spot starter and a solid special teamer, but if we want some stud starters, we need to draft some better players in higher rounds.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by GMScud

We have used multiple picks on LBs in recent years, but aside from Rocky, all those picks (I believe) have been 5th round or later. Using one late round pick after another on LBs with the belief that one will become a reliable starter is kind of dumb. Sure, HB has turned into a good backup/spot starter and a solid special teamer, but if we want some stud starters, we need to draft some better players in higher rounds.

Blades is going to be a very good player in this league, but I don't think he'll be in the starting lineup until Fletch moves on, simply because that would create a very undersized unit, and offenses could expose that.

I think Rocky will probably start again next year, but that we will move him over to the strong side, and Blades will get a lot of his playing time. The WLB next year, I'm convinced, will be someone who isn't currently a Redskin.

Unlike Lance Briggs, Karlos Dansby has every incentive to come here because he played his college ball on the same team as Rogers and Campbell. I don't think he was part of the undefeated 2004 team though, I believe that was his rookie year.

[SBXVII]

^Can't get any worse? does Detroit ring a bell?...0-16. I think we will be better next year though. Atleast I'm trying to hold out hope. I still would like to see the team bring in new young WR's and call it open camp or what ever. Make known the only jobs not on the line are Moss and ARE. Scare Thomas and Kelly into working their arsses off and then hope that some decent young talent comes out of it for the future.

Oh and get a new WR's coach.

[44Deezel]

Originally Posted by SBXVII

^Can't get any worse? does Detroit ring a bell?...0-16. I think we will be better next year though. Atleast I'm trying to hold out hope. I still would like to see the team bring in new young WR's and call it open camp or what ever. Make known the only jobs not on the line are Moss and ARE. Scare Thomas and Kelly into working their arsses off and then hope that some decent young talent comes out of it for the future.

Oh and get a new WR's coach.

Because ARE had such a stellar year That guy dropped more balls than Carlos Rogers. If we really drafted guys who need to be scared into working hard, then we have much bigger problems. I'm not buying that they're lazy, shiftless and incapable of reading a playbook. DeSean Jackson is a tremendous knucklehead, but the Eagles got him on the field and he produced.

[SBXVII]

Originally Posted by 44Deezel

Because ARE had such a stellar year That guy dropped more balls than Carlos Rogers. If we really drafted guys who need to be scared into working hard, then we have much bigger problems. I'm not buying that they're lazy, shiftless and incapable of reading a playbook. DeSean Jackson is a tremendous knucklehead, but the Eagles got him on the field and he produced.

No don't get me wrong. ARE is no CJ. but I do think they used him in the wrong way. I think he can produce as long as he's not asked to be the #1 or #2 WR. He should be the #3 or #4 WR and when he's in the defense should always worry as to if he's running a route or trick play.

[GTripp0012]

I don't think Devin Thomas needs any sort of psychoanalysis. There's nothing wrong with him character wise. He's just not that good, and seems to be short on potential.

We'll have plenty of years to squeeze what we can out of him. He's never going to be a dependable starting WR here, but that doesn't mean he will be totally useless. Far from it. We'll figure out a way to use him.

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

I don't think Devin Thomas needs any sort of psychoanalysis. There's nothing wrong with him character wise. He's just not that good, and seems to be short on potential.

We'll have plenty of years to squeeze what we can out of him. He's never going to be a dependable starting WR here, but that doesn't mean he will be totally useless. Far from it. We'll figure out a way to use him.

Ahem... GT I respect/appreciate you're analysis as much as the next Warpather but wrt DT the guy's whole story is/was based on potential. He probably had a thin scout file overall, which made him riskier than some other WRs in the draft, but that one monster season in college led a lot of people to figure his potential was special.

Now there seem to be substantiated reports that Devin isn't really committed to working his ass off for the people who took a risk on him... i would want to sit him down if i'm Danny/Vinny/Jim/Stan.

Also, i believed i saw serious potential in Devin the few times he got his hands on the ball. Extremely athletic IMO - even athletic like Tana. However being that Devin is a WR he's got to do so much, and do it so much better, in order for Jason to get the ball into his hands.

[30gut]

Originally Posted by Hail to the Redskins

What are your thoughts on our WR crew for 2009? Who will line up for us? Who should? Do you have faith that Thomas & Kelly will help us win next year?

I think that we need more production from all our receivers.
Especially from our #2 and #3 receivers.
I think Moss should remain as the #1 option but not as the X receiver, i would rather see Moss as the Z receiver and either Devin Thomas or Malcolm Kelly as the X. ARE becomes the slot receiver and we mix in more 4 wide packages to get them all on the field at times.


I don't know, it seems like the staff is content to bring them along slowly.
Unless Moss or ARE doesn't return i would expect about a combined 50 catches from them.

But my gosh, the potential. If only our coaches could unleash it.