The rest of the season

What I really think Gibbs will try to do with the rest of the season is identify the 15 or so players that he will keep as a "core" while cutting the rest of the players loose. Essentially the rest of the season will be an on the job try-out.
That's probably what Gibbs has started doing since he put Ramsey in at quarterback, but I think he also tries to keep that objective in line with the overall and ultimate goal of winning every game. I think he's playing Ramsey now because he feels Ramsey gives the team a better opportunity to win, and I think we've seen more opportunities for McCants and Jacobs and Cooley because he feels those guys are simply performing as well or better than their teammates, and they also give the team a chance to win.

Gibbs will never knowingly tank games for the sake of better draft picks or "looking to next year". But he will play the best guys that give the team the best chance to win, and he will get what he can for the guys that don't fit that bill. I think we'll see some trades this offseason, and I think guys like McCants, Jacobs and Cooley could become a part of that long-term core of players that Gibbs will lean on in the future, as long as they perform well in these last games of the season.

This is definitely try-out time for everybody on the roster, but looking for Redskins players means looking for winners, and winning will always be goal number one with Joe Gibbs, no matter what the record or the draft stakes.

goota try and win them all and try to build something positive for next year

A postive ending to this season will do much more for us than a top 3 pick. We need confidence going into next year, not one extra star player.

if we could meet all possible needs right now we'd need a WR, C, DE, TE (blocking), OG, DE, DT, SS in roughly that order...

maybe try out rock as a short yardage guy? he filled that role pretty well last year...

I would agree with WR, C, DE and DT. I think we are ok at blocking TE with Royal, OG with Thomas and Dockery and SS Ryan Clark. He doesn't get beat like a drum, also known as Matt Bowen. I would like to jettison Gardner and draft Mike Williams.

bowen fits williams system so well though... if only he could cover he'd be a perfect fit...

This is going to be a weak draft this year. The core players on our team need to be sorted out over the next few weeks so the organization can be very specific in the offseason in addressing the needs. You have to play to win. Let the 49ers and Fish fight over Leinart and Williams.

Even if they finished 8-8 that usually equals a top 20 or even top 15 pick.

I don't see that happening though, I see them finishing 6-10 at best.

6- 10? I'm as optimistic as the next, but I think a review of the remaining games spells 4 - 12 tops. They should beat the 49ers. Does a Rothlisberger type exist?
a mid-major QB we can steal in the draft?

Build a positive, winning attitude, and evaluate who the "Core Redskins" are on this team. Absolutely no way Gibbs would EVER tank a game, btw.

HTTR: C'mon! Are the Giants and Cowboys really that good, in your opinion? The Gints are 5-6 and have lost a bunch in a row, have big time injuries, and a rookie QB; the boys are 4-7 and very unsettled. We could well win both those games. Of course, we need to play better than we have, but they are winable, and 6-10 is very realistic. I hold out hope of 7-9, meaning we upset either the iggles or vikes. But 6-10 would be a nice finish, given that we're 3-8.