The Roster Equation: Depth or Special Teams Demons

[Schneed10]

Thinking about Ade Jimoh and his impending free agency, I started to wonder whether Gibbs' preference for players who make an impact on special teams hurt the team in any way this season.

We all know Ade is virtually worthless in pass coverage or even in run support. But Gibbs has kept him around because he comes up with huge hits on punt coverage, and downs lots of punts pinning the opponent deep in their own territory.

But this season, when Prioleau and Springs were hurt, and Carlos Rogers and Kenny Wright and Adam Archuleta were stinking up the joint, did our lack of depth in the secondary hurt us more than the Ade helped us on special teams?

Are we better off with a 4th CB who can cover well, but can't play teams worth a lick? Or are we better off with the Ade, a guy who can't cover at all but who can kick ass on special teams? This is an analysis that should apply to all positions, like LB and Khary Campbell in particular.

I know there is affection for The Ade. But the depth problem did bite us this season. If Springs and Prioleau weren't hurt this season, it wouldn't have been an issue. But the fact is they were hurt, and you just don't know when your guys are going to get hurt next.

How should the Skins handle this? Special teams demons? Or depth? Which is more important?

[TheMalcolmConnection]

I say keep the Ade. We sign people all the time to play on teams. There's no way we're going to be able to afford any type of decent depth behind our starters. That being said, I definitely don't mind using draft picks on late rounder DBs and see how they pan out.

[jdlea]

One of the problems with getting a guy who can cover to be your #4 guy is that most coverage CBs are kinda...prima donnas. They don't like to get hit or make big ones. That means you don't have them on special teams. Short of Sellers and Sean Taylor, I can't think of starters who do play on special teams, so it's gonna be tough to go get guys who can step in and play behind your corners and still have a good special teams unit.

Also, I think Kenny Wright would be a decent nickel back, but not much more. And Williams needs to stop lining guys up so far off of wide receivers.

[Schneed10]

Yeah. We wouldn't have had a problem if we didn't sign Archuleta and Kenny Wright. They were mistakes, and if we had solid players in their place, then the depth going down 4-deep wouldn't be an issue.

I'd like us to find more starter caliber players willing to play special teams. They bring an attitude and set a tone. It'd be nice to have that tone being set by starters as well as specialists.

[RobH4413]

Very good thread. I think building the special teams up is a very smart move, it's a way for your back-ups to still contribute to the team without actually having to start a game.

Obviously, when injuries come, it will hurt. I think that this was a particularly unlucky year, and the current philosophy still remains a good one. I don't think it should be an issue normally, and this year was doomed from the start.

[FRPLG]

I think any corner who can cover can play well on special teams. Special Teams doesn't require some set of different skills more than it requires a mindset. If a guy can cover a WR with any respectability then he should be able to cover punts. Find a guy who can cover.

[wilsowilso]

The one thing we don't need to mess with is our coverage unit.

[MTK]

I don't think Ade is nearly as bad in coverage as he used to be. Outside of that taunting call against NY I thought he played ok. His play on special teams makes him a keeper.

[dmek25]

i agree with Matty. i think jimoh has improved. and ill take a corner thats aggressive, over rogers 10 yard cushion, any day

[MonkFan4Life]

Man this is a good one ! When I first read this thread I thought about how for the past couple of years Ade Jimoh has been a guy that you make jokes about because he stunk covering receivers. Besides the every now and then "Who was that ADE ?" play. Now over the years he has improved greatly. He's not a Shut Down Dieon Bailey-Green-Law or anything but he can cover a guy pretty well now. As we all know he is a beast on Special Teams but I think it's good you keep a guy like him as well as Khari Cambell because these are your core Redskins. These are the guys who know they don't have the overall talent as the starters but they bust their asses to stay on the team.

We had a guy named Darneiran McCants ( Sp ? ) who I f'n loved ! That guy was a baller in the making, he was supposed to play the Art Monk role in Joe Gibbs offense but his main setback was that he didn't play Teams. What Gibbs did there was he showed his loyalty for those core guys. The ones that don't make a whole lot of bread but they play like they know they should be. Khari isn't all that bad in spurts on defense. Those two are Redskins, I'm not saying that the higher paid guys are not but you need those team veterans sometimes. To show that the coaches are not lying when they say they are trying to build a team to compete for years to come. Now all we have to do is get them to do that with the stars they bring up through the system. If you're playing Madden and you're killing your homie 35-3 you don't say alright let me give some points back because I think I can win without them. Hopefully someone caught that if not,.... I apologize...believe me I do. But if you got that then you get my point. Once we get that down pact then the Skins will be in great shape.

Think if Pierce, Clark, and Smoot were still here ? How would we be ? One cannot predict the future but seriously. We hold onto Robert Royal and we jave a guy who would drop the flu but he busted his tail for the team, what if he was out there on offense ? He was a good run blocker and could provide a play or two from time to time. We've got a couple of corners that have to stink for Jimoh to play a lot of defensive miniutes anyway. This year you had Springs go down for 1, then you have Carlos Rogers playing like crap, then you have Pierson Preilou out for the year, no Walt Harris, not to mention the guys who were supposed to replace Harris, Preilou, and Springs in Rogers,Wright, Rumph, Archuletta, then the aformentioned Ade Jimoh.

Had we had the quality depth that we did before compared to this one then things may have went but a little bit smoother. I know Walt Harris became all world this year but when he was here he could play a little, at times he could make you want him to start but the familiarity of the defense and the bond with the teammates is something that this team is missing. Resigning Betts was good in my opinion, keeping Dockery will be as well. It's time they do what they said they would do and that's make The Washington Redskins a team again.

HAIL TO THE REDSKINS !!!!!!

[SmootSmack]

MonkFan I broke your post into paragraphs, makes it easier to read.

I think you keep Ade. I think we've seen, throughout the NFL, that many games are won or lost on good special teams play. I'd rather have an Ade who I know can pin the opponent's offense back on a good special teams play.

[JWsleep]

I agree with Schneed's comment that if Wright and AA can play, there isn't an issue.

Special teams has been the one real bright spot for us, winning at least 2 games for us (blocked FG, blocked punt).

THe issue is scouting and FO analysis. But lets go with the assumption that each coordinator gets to pretty much pick his players. Then Gibbs/Saunders are doing ok, Williams is looking very weak, and Danny Smith looks very good. The issue seems to be defensive scouting, not too much emphasis on specials, IMO.

Good thread.

[MonkFan4Life]

Originally Posted by TAFKAS

MonkFan I broke your post into paragraphs, makes it easier to read.

I think you keep Ade. I think we've seen, throughout the NFL, that many games are won or lost on good special teams play. I'd rather have an Ade who I know can pin the opponent's offense back on a good special teams play.

Thanks I knew I forgot something !

[EternalEnigma21]

Well for a few years guys like Marshall and Pierce were only ST'ers. I think the ST realm is a spot where young guys have a chance to contribute while polishing their position skills to try to develop into talent, but unless they're returners or kickers, you shouldn't keep a guy around that is just for special teams.

Look at thrash... a STer that can seriously contribute if needed to. He may not have the gifts of other recievers, but you can line him up and count on him... unlike Ade...

We've always kept a plethora of LBs around that were just a bit "undersized" or whatever to pay ST's, and they usually wind up doing all right...

[SouperMeister]

Originally Posted by wilsowilso

The one thing we don't need to mess with is our coverage unit.

Agreed. Danny Smith is the only coach I'd give a grade better than C this season. The coverage units were the best I remember in years here, plus they blocked 2 punts plus the FG that led to the Dallas win. You have to assume guys like your #4 receivers and DBs can play special teams also.