A Clarification on whether the Redskins are Re-Building

Yeah, not like we're getting arguably the best prospect in the draft but we won't have a pick in the 2nd round!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! The horror, the shame, the soul piercing agony!

lololololololololol!!

I don't really think there needs to be a clear-cut distinction between "rebuilding" and trying to "win now". I think quite simply, the team is trying to improve. And the leadership knows that there are still a lot of holes.

Trading the picks for Griffin was a wise move from both the immediate future perspective and the long term perspective. A top notch franchise quarterback will deliver more win shares over the next 10 to 15 years than three non-QB first round picks would. And the likelihood of Griffin not panning out is about the same as the three picks it took to get him going bust, so downside risk does not come into the equation in my mind.

Aside from that, you simply fill every hole you can with young players, whenever you can. Who cares whether it's rebuilding or what. Just get better.

I agree, though I think if the team had gotten pre-2006 Mike Shanahan instead of what we've had on the sideline the last two years, its very possible (maybe probable) that we'd have at least a winning season with him.Good point that leads to a whole other discussion about the differences between Kyle and Mike as playcallers that most turn a blind eye towards.

As a huge fan of the Mike Shanahan's Denver WCO, I feel confident in saying that Kyle and Mike, although they coach in the same system, same scheme, are fundamentally different playcallers.

Not to say that Kyle is a bad playcaller, I don't think he is, but for my money I have very little doubt that Mike Shanahan's run centered focus as the primary playcaller would have netted in different on the field results.

(Flame suit on) I know it pointless to mention but I will always wonder whether the conflict between Kyle and McNabb would have occured between Mike and McNabb, I don't think it would've.
But, I digress....

How would you rectify this outline with Shanahan's belief that he had already built a playoff offense his first two years here, and then obviously the talent upgrades from the 2012 draft?

Mendacity, son, mendacity! Mr. Mike simply didn't tell us the truth. He knew he didn't have a playoff offense, just like he knew that Grossman and Beck couldn't get the job done at QB.

You seem to think that Mike Shanahan lacks the ability to realistically evaluate the talent on his team. I don't. I just think that he doesn't mind telling a few fibs about what he thinks of the talent level on his team.

For some reason I don't understand, the entire Redskins management team refuses to admit that they are rebuilding.

rebuilding is kind of a myth. we've been "rebuilding" since when? norv? gibbs I?

after 3-4 years you start losing as many players as you get due to age/expiring contracts/etc. navigating might be a better word.

this year, for example. I expect our offense to be better, but our secondary and LB corp may be worse. that's more like a trade off than an upgrade, but those are the choices you make and you just hope that overall you've done enough to win more games. I think RGIII will be huge in that regard, maybe even in year 1 and 2, but that, talent for dollar, garcon and morgan are a bit borderline.

It's easy to upgrade your top 53 with sub $2mill/year deals. upgrading the top 22 usually takes real money, but it's important to pick correctly there, since the contracts kind of marry you to those players. when you pick incorrectly (mcnabb/haynesworth/etc etc) it really stunts the team, since you've waste time developing players and cap space not signing guys that could actually help you win. It's MUCH better to not sign someone over giving big money to the wrong guy. you can't win via free agency with a 50% hit rate (which is what vinny had). BA has done better on that front.

going foward there's only a couple bleh contracts left, and they're immediately disposable (hall etc) without big cap penalties for the most part (stupid jamal brown).

anyways, back the the question. I think shanny came i and did the house cleaning bit, wasted 2 years with the wrong QBs, and now I expect a solid season... if RGIII had been here two years ago, I'd expect playoffs now, but the rookie QB learning curve can be harsh, so that tempers things. I don't really buy rebuilding as a concept, but I think once you've got the right QB you can't really be considered rebuilding, only competing for the postseason (and if you're not, it's either the wrong QB or a mismanaged roster/player aquisition system).

I wouldn't call what the Redskins did at the quarterback position last season rebuilding with QB being the most important position on the field. Mike Shanahan did no better than guessing. Both Beck and Grossman were below average in terms and of play, and Shanahan went with both of them and we know how awfully that turned out. With veteran leadership already on the roster, we had a good draft last spring in conjunction with that. NFL teams don't rebuild in this era like in the past. Teams just get better at the positions they need to, and improve until they are contenders and champions.

If RGIII lives up to the number 2 pick? This team won't rebuild for long

this trade was a bargain you will see that in the years ahead

I think we are a victim of circumstance in terms of the secondary because of the cap penalty. Now, we are hoping that the front 5 will create enough pressure to make up for the decline in the secondary.

RG3 is going to be 100x better Grossman and Beck last season. Can you imagine the bootleg with a 4.37 fast QB that can throw an accurate deep arm. I think we will lead the league in plays for over 20 yards per catch and we'll have the number 1 rushing offense. The defense will struggle because they will have to deal with more desperate offenses.

Who Knows? I'm tired of ****ing loosing. The NFL is set up so a 5-11 team can go 11-5 next season. If RG3 is who they think he is then we can be very competitive next year.

I think we are a victim of circumstance in terms of the secondary because of the cap penalty. Now, we are hoping that the front 5 will create enough pressure to make up for the decline in the secondary.

RG3 is going to be 100x better Grossman and Beck last season. Can you imagine the bootleg with a 4.37 fast QB that can throw an accurate deep arm. I think we will lead the league in plays for over 20 yards per catch and we'll have the number 1 rushing offense. The defense will struggle because they will have to deal with more desperate offenses.

I could definitely see that happening yardage-wise because everyone will be throwing to catch up (hopefully). Will be so nice to see us have a decent lead and be able to send a ton of blitzers though. There was maybe one game last year where we actually had a lead and just sent the wolves. Was OUTSTANDING to watch.