Skins expected to sign Fletcher

I don't think Rocky is a complete bust or that the coaches were promoting their agenda (unless promoting their agenda consists of putting the best players on the field). As of last season, Marshall was probably the better player. Everything that I heard of Rocky is that he is very physically gifted, but did not totally understand the system. Rocky might be the better player next season, but his lack of any significant time on defense strongly suggests that he was not last season.

I'm not saying that Marshall is some Pro-Bowl MLB stud, but I don't think he's as bad as you are saying (i.e., that he is a "role player"). Again, I'm not sure how you can honestly attribute our woes on defense last season to Marshall and call him a role player, and simultaneously give him no credit for the defense's play in 2005.

They didn't draft Rocky to replace Marshall, they drafted him as an OLB. You cannot tell me that Warrick Holdman was better than Rocky. I don't care what the coaches were saying, they lied. They lied when it came to Lavar and Holdman they lied when it came to Rocky and Holdman (unless Rocky is a complete bust).

In '05 Marshall was average (had a decent amount of tackles and made some nice interceptions). Last year he was hurt so he was below average. In '05 they had better line and secondary play so Marshall didn't stick out. Last year, the line and secondary played worse (Holdman played the same) and Marshall was exposed. Don't take my word for it, ask Brian Mitchell. He pointed it out several times last year (along with many other analysts).

he's definately not as good as ray lewis in the middle. never said he was to begin with.

there is no infatuation, i just think he was a good mlb and a very good olb.

absolutely taylor gets just as much blame for the defensive struggles as marshall does. taylor had a bad year, compared to his first two.


If Marshall is a "good" middle linebacker, why is MLB their #1 priority in the offseason? When he was an OLB he had 48 tackles. How does that make him "very good"?

We will have to agree to disagree. A middle linebacker should be the heart and soul of a defense, not a free safety. I have said it several times. Show me a defense where a safety leads the team in tackles and I will show you a bad defense.

Taylor had 30 more tackles than Marshall last year. That is unacceptable even for an average MLB.

buffalo has the cheapest tickets and don't make nearly the kind of revenue that the skins do. so they don't insist on spending up to the cap every year.

buffalo has the cheapest tickets and don't make nearly the kind of revenue that the skins do. so they don't insist on spending up to the cap every year.

Their front office is also one of the few that makes our's look competent.

If Marshall is a "good" middle linebacker, why is MLB their #1 priority in the offseason? When he was an OLB he had 48 tackles. How does that make him "very good"?

We will have to agree to disagree. A middle linebacker should be the heart and soul of a defense, not a free safety. I have said it several times. Show me a defense where a safety leads the team in tackles and I will show you a bad defense.

Taylor had 30 more tackles than Marshall last year. That is unacceptable even for an average MLB.

MLB isn't their #1 priority, the D-line is and for good reason. Marshall is a small MLB and when the D-line can't keep O-linemen off of the LBs (as they couldn't in 2006), it's not surprising that a smaller LB doesn't perform at a high level (particularly when he is suffering from an ankle injury all season long).

MLB isn't their #1 priority, the D-line is and for good reason. Marshall is a small MLB and when the D-line can't keep O-linemen off of the LBs (as they couldn't in 2006), it's not surprising that a smaller LB doesn't perform at a high level (particularly when he is suffering from an ankle injury all season long).

Straight from the post: "Middle linebacker London Fletcher (Buffalo) is Washington's primary free agent target, team sources said"

Straight from the post: "Middle linebacker London Fletcher (Buffalo) is Washington's primary free agent target, team sources said"

If you know something that the Washington Post doesn't, please fill us in.

"primary free agent target" is not the same thing as priority. Just so happens that free agency occurs before the draft.

"primary free agent target" is not the same thing as priority. Just so happens that free agency occurs before the draft.

You guys are dealing with semantics. All I know is a week before free agency they essentially have a deal completed with a middle linebacker. Not a D end and not a D tackle. What Snyder wants, he gets immediately and he wants Fletcher.

I hate to break this to everyone but the bottom line is that Lemar Marshall is not what you are claiming he is. If he was, they wouldn't have a deal in place with a free agent MLB a week before free agency starts. You can argue with me all day long but I am correct on this one. Don't get upset when he is behind Rocky next year either. The only way that I see Marshall starting is if Washington takes longer to return.

Marshall provides us with great depth next year but he does bring to the table what Pierce did and G Williams understands better than anyone else that this defense needs a big time tackler in the middle. Lemar Marshall in two years in the middle has not provided the production that our teem needs.

Don't get me wrong, I love the guy. He made a big play against Dallas this year and the interception against Philly last year was incredible but our team is better with him on the bench.

You guys are dealing with semantics. All I know is a week before free agency they essentially have a deal completed with a middle linebacker. Not a D end and not a D tackle. What Snyder wants, he gets immediately and he wants Fletcher.

I hate to break this to everyone but the bottom line is that Lemar Marshall is not what you are claiming he is. If he was, they wouldn't have a deal in place with a free agent MLB a week before free agency starts. You can argue with me all day long but I am correct on this one. Don't get upset when he is behind Rocky next year either. The only way that I see Marshall starting is if Washington takes longer to return.

Marshall provides us with great depth next year but he does bring to the table what Pierce did and G Williams understands better than anyone else that this defense needs a big time tackler in the middle. Lemar Marshall in two years in the middle has not provided the production that our teem needs.

Don't get me wrong, I love the guy. He made a big play against Dallas this year and the interception against Philly last year was incredible but our team is better with him on the bench.


well put london fletcher baker is one of the smartest signings we have done and lemar off the bench would be great cause rocky gotta start sometime we gave all that stuff up for him

Hey! Remember, there are no starters in a Greg Williams Defense. Honestly, I hope there aren't too many people that would poo-poo the team for having Washington, Fletcher, McIntosh and Marshall as their linebacking core. That's not too bad, really.