Debate the Redskins offseason in the Football Fan Forum
2010 Preview:
The Redskins were a miserable 4-12 last year. Why? Well going 2-8 in games decided by 8 or fewer probably had a lot to do with it. A mere 4 games of 21 points or higher didn’t do them any favors either. You think having a true franchise quarterback in Donovan McNabb helps? His supporting cast on offense may not be as great as his was in Philadelphia, but McNabb has done it before with bad supporting casts. Until Terrell Owens, he didn’t have a true #1 receiver for most of his career. He’s the type of guy whose favorite target is the open one.
The offensive line may still be a question mark, because I don’t think Trent Williams is as NFL ready as some of the other tackles who went in the first round this year. Their running game is also nothing to get excited about, really, with a bunch of washed up vets passed their prime at the running back position. However, I think McNabb will be fine. If Jason Campbell can throw for 3618 yards and 15 touchdowns last year, then McNabb should be able to do at least that and actually close some games out.
Pair a better offense with a good defense and you’ll get something good. This defense has a few issues in the secondary and they are moving to a completely different scheme in the 3-4, but I think they fit it well with guys like Andre Carter and Brian Orakpo. They had 40 sacks last year despite having a stagnant offense. With more early leads, they’ll be able to blitz more. This is an extremely talented bunch, especially in the front 7. I think they’ll compete for a playoff spot this year, even in an extremely competitive NFC East.
Projection: 9-7 3rd in NFC East
Power Ranking: 15
Last season: 4-12
Draft:
#4 OT Trent Williams (Oklahoma)
Bad pick taking Williams over Okung. Okung would have been perfect for the scheme and been able to protect Donovan McNabb’s blindside right away. However, they liked Trent Williams more which I don’t understand. He has upside, but right now he’s a tweener without a true position. He’s really just a fast right tackle who isn’t a dominant run blocker. He didn’t show himself to be anywhere near good enough as a pass protector to warrant the 4th pick over Russell Okung.
Grade: C
# 103 MLB Perry Riley (LSU)
There’s nothing wrong with Perry Riley as a player, but he doesn’t fit the scheme well and he doesn’t fill a need. The Redskins have a ton of needs and not a lot of picks so they can’t waste one like they did here.
Grade: C-
#174 TE Dennis Morris (Louisiana Tech)
The Redskins have a ton of needs and not a lot of picks ane need to make each one count. Tight end was probably the one position they didn’t need and Morris is a reach by 1-2 rounds. He can also play fullback, but drafting a backup fullback (Mike Sellers is still a decent player), especially one who has limited experience at the position, is not a smart move with other needs.
Grade: D
#219 WR Terrence Austin (UCLA)
Wide receiver is somewhat of a need, but not a huge need like their offensive line, secondary, or running back position is and Austin is not a good player. He never played well at the college level and has no business being drafted. The Redskins really suck at making picks count, even though Austin has an outside shot at both kick/punt returning jobs. However, with 22.7 yards per kick return in college and 8.7 yards per punt return, he doesn’t exactly jump off the charts there either. He’s never had a special teams touchdown.
Grade: D
#229 C Eric Cook (New Mexico)
At least it’s the right area of the field they are focusing on. They gave up 43 sacks last year and even with the addition of Trent Williams they still need offensive line help. Cook was not the best offensive lineman available, but he’s in the range and he can play multiple positions.
Grade: A-
#231 OT Selvish Capers (West Virginia)
Back in January, Capers could have gone in the 2nd. Then he embarrassed himself at the Senior Bowl and didn’t live up to his athleticism at the Combine. Still, he is a very raw player with good upside and a good pick here. He fits the scheme and has upside at multiple positions, including left tackle, for the Redskins. Another solid pick for the ‘Skins, but it may be a case of too little too late.
Grade: A
Overall:
The Redskins had very few picks coming in and had to make them count. They did make a nice trade turning 1 7th rounder into 2, but they also gave up Jason Campbell and didn’t get a pick in this draft. They had two good picks, but both were 7th rounders and the rest of their picks were pretty awful. They have already improved themselves this offseason with the addition of McNabb, but if they had made all of these picks count, they could have established themselves as a team that could win the division. Instead, they fall back into the pack of the good NFC East teams and, in my opinon, may have even taken a step back. They really needed to have that #4 be a good player and they didn’t.
Grade: C-
Key undrafted free agents
S Anderson Russell (Ohio State)
QB Darryl Clark (Penn State)
RB Keiland Williams (LSU)
TE Logan Paulsen (UCLA)
Positions of need:
Offensive Tackle:
Jason Campbell took 43 sacks last year. Jason Campbell isn’t the worst quarterback in the world and who knows, maybe in Mike Shanahan’s system, which he fits better than Jim Zorn’s, and with better protection he can become a good quarterback. He certainly has the physical tools and he’s coming off of a career year stats wise. There is some talk about them taking a quarterback in the first round, but I think they should only do that if Jimmy Clausen is available. Taking Sam Bradford and sticking him behind this line next year is not a good idea with his history of shoulder issues and there’s no guarantee they can get a franchise left tackle in the 2nd round.
Drafted Trent Williams (#4), Drafted Selvish Capers (#231), Traded for Jammal Brown
Quarterback:
Now if someone bids a ton of money for Jason Campbell, they do need a quarterback, in fact maybe two. They shouldn’t overpay Campbell, so in that case, they should let him leave, get a veteran stopgap guy, draft someone with the 4th pick and sit him for a year while you fix the offensive line problems and wait to make a playoff run in 2011 and beyond.
Traded for Donovan McNabb
Running Back:
Clinton Portis looks to be on his last wheels and was really struggling even before the concussion injury which could have cost him his career. Portis has experience in Shanahan’s offense before from his days in Denver, but Shanahan’s offense is a one running back offense that requires one guy to carry the ball 300 times a year and not get hurt. I don’t think Portis can do that and I don’t think Shanahan thinks so either. He’ll be looking for some young blood at the position.
Signed Larry Johnson, signed Willie Parker, signed Ryan Torain
Safety:
They haven’t had a good safety in a while, since the death of Sean Taylor (RIP). LaRon Landry is great against the run, but sucks hard in pass coverage, and opposite him they don’t have much. There are bigger needs, but I could imagine them using a mid round pick on a safety.
Middle Linebacker:
London Fletcher made the Pro Bowl this year for the first time in his career, and deservingly so, but he’s going to be 35 before next season starts so they may want to be looking for some younger blood at the position.
Drafted Perry Riley (#103)
Center
Casey Rabach is probably one of the worst starting centers in the league. Having an upgrade at the position, though not extremely important, is only going to help Jason Campbell or whoever the quarterback is next year. If they draft Jimmy Clausen, they may want to consider using a mid round pick on Erik Olsen, Clausen’s center at Notre Dame, just for comfort and consistency.
Drafted Erik Cook (#229)
Free agents:
QB Jason Campbell (restricted)- resigned 1 year 3.1 million
QB Todd Collins
QB Colt Brennan
RB Quinton Ganther (restricted)- not tendered, signed with Seahawks
RB Rock Cartwright- signed with Raiders
RB Marcus Mason- claimed by Chargers
RB Anthony Alridge
RB PJ Hill- claimed by Saints
WR Antawn Randle El- signed with Steelers 3 years
WR Marko Mitchell- claimed by Lions
TE Todd Yoder
OT Stephon Heyer (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.6 million
G Randy Thomas
G Will Montgomery (restricted)- resigned 1 year
C Casey Rabach- resigned 3 yrs 12.3 million
DE Phillip Daniels- resigned 2 years 2.1 million
DE Chris Wilson (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.6 million
DT Anthony Montgomery (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.1 million
DT Kedric Golston (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.7 million
DT Lorenzo Alexander (restricted)- resigned 3 years
DT Cornelius Griffin
DT Anthony Montgomery
MLB Rocky McIntosh (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.7 million
CB Carlos Rogers (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.5 million
CB Fred Smoot
S Reed Doughty (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.7 million
P Hunter Smith
Offseason moves:
Redskins re-sign CB Carlos Rogers
Redskins waive QB Colt Brennan
Redskins acquire QB John Beck from Ravens for CB Doug Dutch
Redskins acquire OT Jamaal Brown from Saints
Redskins re-sign MLB Rocky McIntosh
Redskins re-sign S Reed Doughty
Redskins waive RB Anthony Alridge
Redskins waive WR Marko Mitchell
Redskins waive RB P.J. Hill
Redskins waive DT Anthony Montgomery
Redskins trade QB Jason Campbell to Raiders for 2012 4th-round pick
Redskins sign WR Joey Galloway
Redskins sign RB Ryan Torian
Redskins sign NT Howard Green
Redskins re-sign DT Kedric Golston
Redskins re-sign DT Anthony Montgomery
Redskins re-sign OT Stephon Heyer
Redskins re-sign QB Jason Campbell
Redskins sign RB Willie Parker
Redskins sign CB Phillip Buchanon
Redskins re-sign DE Chris Wilson
Redskins sign P Josh Bidwell
Redskins sign QB Rex GROSSman
Redskins re-sign G Will Montgomery
Redskins sign RB Larry Johnson
Redskins sign NT Maake Kemoeatu
Redskins sign G Artis Hicks
Redskins re-sign OT Mike Williams
Redskins re-sign DE Phillip Daniels
Redskins re-sign DT Lorenzo Alexander
Redskins cut WR Antwaan Randle El
Redskins re-sign C Casey Rabach
Redskins tender G Will Montgomery
Redskins tender DT Anthony Montgomery
Redskins tender DT Lorenzo Alexander
Redskins cut QB Todd Collins
Redskins cut RB Marcus Mason
Redskins cut CB Fred Smoot
Redskins cut DT Cornelius Griffin
Redskins cut G Randy Thomas
Redskins cut RB Rock Cartwright
Redskins tender QB Jason Campbell
Redskins tender CB Carlos Rogers
Redskins tender OT Stephon Heyer
Redskins tender DE Chris Wilson
Redskins announce retirement of OT Chris Samuels
Redskins tender OLB Rocky McIntosh
Redskins tender S Reed Doughty
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