OffSeason Team Needs???

williams and a blocking TE gives us the best of putting up 21 points a game... our other needs on D would be DE, (CB if smoot leaves), MLB, SS in that order, BUT we'd need a playmaker in any of those slots to provide an upgrade. We have plenty of unheralded but very competent defensive players already lined up to fill out those positions and do an alright job. If smoot leaves we may have to look for a backup CB at the very least since that'd leave our depth a bit low for GW's defensive scheme, or test some of our safeties as emergency CBs.

As for play calling, some change is definitely necessary. We have the speed now in Patten and Moss to use some serious go-routes. We've got to threaten with those type of routes, we can't just run WR screens, slants, and quick outs or else safeties will just creep up towards the line and stuff Portis. Deep passes, even if they're way over the heads of our WRs and fall incomplete, will keep the safeties deep as they're forced to respect the speed of Moss & Patten. That in turn can open up the middle for Cooley and open up running lanes for Portis.

Speaking of Portis, more of the zone-blocking schemes like he ran in Denver would be good. The old Gibbs plays that Riggins ran involved a lot of lineman pulling and hitting the point of attack. When Portis tries to run behind and in the middle of all those bodies, he just gets bounced around too easily cause he's smaller. In a zone blocking scheme, he can pick a hole and dart up into it real quickly, which allows him to get the momentum to squeak through holes for a few extra yards. Let Betts run 50-gut and the counter trey, and let Portis run the zone-blocking stretch plays.

Other needs: another backup LB (unless Clifton Smith and Chris Clemons prove adequate), another backup TE/H-B (unless we re-sign Brian Kozlowski), a third running back for short yardage situations (however, I'd prefer to see Rock Cartwright in that role), and a defensive back or linebacker for depth and special teams.
Other than that, trade Rod Gardner and Chad Morton; we don't need their help.

backup HB is thrash or mike sellers, we still have lots of LB backups (khary campbell, clemons, barnes, lemons, barrow, smith, tuipala, and jones) with campbell and clemons (pass rush) being the first backups followed by barnes (GW likes barness) and lemons (barrow excluded, cause he might be retired before being able to play).

we actually have goodspeed whos a 6'6" 315lb TE on the roster... but i've never heard of him... he's bigger than most of the O-line.

Schneed - I agree 100% with what you posted. We need some changes in the passing games, which will lead to a better running game, and zone blocking really lets Portis use the talents he has!

I will list areas of potential improvement (Iguess every position could conceivably be improvable but I am talking about what is not out totoally ridiculous). In no particular order.

Defense (assuming we don't sign Smooty Flakes)
DT
LDE
RDE
MLB
FS
CB
NB
Looks like our biggest need would be at CB. A signing or draft pick there would of course improve us at NB too so those two go hand in hand. We also have a potential need at MLB if Marshall can't cut it. Marshall comes across similar to Pierce in that he wasn't even going to make this team potentially last year and ended up contributing. Not sure if he is the answer but I am thinking he can be serviceable. Especially if Arrington is back. Our line needs should be secondary here as we should have the same guys or better (if Daniels can stay healthy) and they were successful enough last year. Nothing spectacular outside of Griffin but absolutely did what we needed them to. A pash rushing DE would have to be considered a luxury when taking into consideration our other needs but one would be nice. A more complete DT to go with Griffin would be a super luxury. I think the rotation of guys we use there gives us good well balanced play from that position which again was good enough last year.


Offense
RG
TE
WR1
WR2
WR3

Our O-line looks as set as can be right now with the possible exception of Dockery at RG. I think more is expected of him this year than in years past. He seems to have the size and athletic abaility to be a premier type guard but hasn't had that special "it" to actually get there. He is better than servicable though and upgrading here is a luxury. A blocking TE is a must for this team. A quality blocking TE would make our passing game much more complete. Imagine actually having TWO receivers on the field rather than one because we kept an extra TE in to help block. I think this is a major need and can be easily and(key) cheaply solved. Our main need is a WR that can get open. Too much last year our WRs just weren't open. Now part of that was the conservative play calling and part was Coles' inabaility to cut and be quick but that goes to the point that Coles and Gardner just didn't get it done last year. Patten can extend the field but he is not a premier guy. Nor is Thrash of course. What Jacobs can do remains to be seen. Moss looks like Patten in Jets clothing to me basically. None of them is a premier guy. Now the Pats had success with this model but... they have Tom Brady and Charlie Weis. Not saying Charlie Weis is better than Gibbs and comp. but he is at least current in offense strategy. I think they'll be better this year but who knows when they'll finally get caught up. I think a premier type guy who can do all the things you need a WR would have the greatest impact on this team next year and for years to come. Not necessarily a burner and not necessarily a huge guy but someone who makes plays. A guy who can use his body to get open and is fast in pads. A guy who is just plain hard to cover. Both Edwards and Williams fit the bill well. I think Williamson is more of a burner type in the mold of say Torry Holt and if Williams and Edwards are gone at 9 I still think we trade down and get Williamson but he is not as sure fire as Edwards and Williams. I don't care which we get becasue either one at 9 is a steal.

So basically our needs that absolutly need addressing our CB and WR. Everything else is luxury. Between the two I think I like WR the most at 9. G Williams seems to have a knack for getting the most out of players and I am not overly enamroed with any of the CB prospects this year. I think both Edwards and Williams are better prospects and since they fit a huge need we should go that direction. I think if we get Williams that gives us a receiving corps of Williams/Moss/Patten/Jacobs/Thrash. That is a fine WR corp really. There probably wouldn't be too many better in the league from 1 to 5.

you mean SS, sean taylor is our FS and, well... i think he's good enough :)

Yeah SS...my bad

I agree with your paragraphs more than the list. I feel every position besides CB (if we don't sign smoot) is a luxury, and I'd rather have stability!

Offense I think with a big WR in the draft and a blocking TE we could really be set on offense. The honeymoon period is almost over for Gibbs. If he doesn't start to turn his offense around wait and see how the media rips him. They were very tame this year, he got a free-pass year last year which most coaches in DC don't get. I think that this year he won't get that luxury.

I think the biggest need right now is a #1 reciever, after that I would like to see us grab a center/guard to groom and serve as depth especially at the center position, I don't think TE is as big of a need as other's, Cooley is going to be the guy catching the ball, as far as blocking we have Sellar's, Cooley is no slouch when it comes to blocking either, if we find a TE who can block and catch great, I just don't see at as a glaring need, I feel we would have more need to draft a MLB than TE Marshall is not a guy I am sold on in the middle, I at least want to have a legitimate backup plan if he doesn't pan out, I then would look for depth on defense and special team's.

I think the biggest need right now is a #1 reciever, after that I would like to see us grab a center/guard to groom and serve as depth especially at the center position, I don't think TE is as big of a need as other's, Cooley is going to be the guy catching the ball, as far as blocking we have Sellar's, Cooley is no slouch when it comes to blocking either, if we find a TE who can block and catch great, I just don't see at as a glaring need, I feel we would have more need to draft a MLB than TE Marshall is not a guy I am sold on in the middle, I at least want to have a legitimate backup plan if he doesn't pan out, I then would look for depth on defense and special team's.
Cooley and Sellers are the H-backs in Gibbs system, not TE's that always line up on the line. What most people are saying is that they should draft a big, blocking TE to rotate with Royal, who has better pass-catching ability...a smallish OT could even be drafted and converted into a TE. Of course, this can be done in the middle rounds. I think Marshall or one of the other unsung LB's will be able to step up for the MLB spot, but I wouldn't be surprised to see a late round LB pick, not to mention undrafted FA's...these are your special teams guys.