Gruden Says Start Cousins

Other than Snyder in 1999, has anyone ever really built a fairly successful team based almost exclusively from free agency?

I know some have pointed to Manning and the few FA's they bought, but i mean has anyone ever did like we did in 1999 and just bring out the check book and buy everyone they wanted?

That's not really saying much is it?

I agree I think they wanted to keep the starting 5 together and build off last year, I don't think they anticipated things going south so quickly with basically 4 of those 5.To be clear, the OL performance going south is not something I hold against the coaching staff. Letting the team regress to the point where the OL performance becomes a weekly topic is something I hold against the coaching staff. I thought the plan to retain all five OL would be at least adequate to win half our games.

They've been exposed as inadequate, but the failure of the team has been complete, and cannot be pinned on a single unit.

Could have done all that with the guys in camp in preseason too. Coaches chose to go with this group.

The safety situation seemed sloppier than the other position groups. I don't know for sure that this was their plan A, but I'm not sure who was available in August that they could have gone to get if only they had more cap dollars. I thought tanard Jackson was their plan a

They had to have known the chances of Jackson being reinstated right away were slim to none.

I thought tanard Jackson was their plan aI hope not.

Apart from P Manning, I can't think of a single team that's gotten to the next level recently (great up to elite for example) based on FA. Brees before that. Hmmmm I see a pattern there with QBs lol. You can make the argument for Seattle here, based on Lynch, Harvin, Rice and several defensive players brought in via FA. But then you remember Rice and Harvin are non-factors, and Lynch never had this kind of success until paired with Wilson. The whole offense revolves around Wilson. And their drafted WRs are balling. Defensively, the best players are drafted guys like Sherman (6th rounder).

The point is it all comes back to the draft, with FA signings complimenting the core you build through the draft. I tried to give Mike lots of credit up to this year for building a core through the draft, but I think it's average at best given what we see. In four years he hasn't drafted a single impact WR and only one olineman (a can't miss prospect IMO). That's pathetic. Really, really pathetic.

All good points. Every year we see a team go out and over spend and it never seems to translate to more wins. Last year it was Philly, this year Miami. Yet come March, Redskin One will be gased up, free agents will be signed, new jerseys will be in the stores to sell and the fans will think it's X-mas.

However, because of the RG3 trade and the cap penalty, we have no choice but to go out and sign guys. I just hope that whoever picks the players knows what the hell they're doing. No more Josh Morgan, Josh Wilson signings.

You think it's a circus in Washington now, start Kirk Cousins and see what happens... You don't play Cousins unless RGIII is hurt, period...

Here's another circus scenario - RGIII gets seriously hurt in the next to last game and everyone advocating for RGIII to take every single snap will collectively change their tune to, "why the hell was Shanny playing RGIII in a meaningless game at the end of a lost season? Fire Shanny!!!"

See also: Brees, Drew. Shoulder.

All good points. Every year we see a team go out and over spend and it never seems to translate to more wins. Last year it was Philly, this year Miami. Yet come March, Redskin One will be gased up, free agents will be signed, new jerseys will be in the stores to sell and the fans will think it's X-mas.

However, because of the RG3 trade and the cap penalty, we have no choice but to go out and sign guys. I just hope that whoever picks the players knows what the hell they're doing. No more Josh Morgan, Josh Wilson signings.

There will always be excuses for the Skins to spend money. It is all part of the insanity of being part of the Redskins organization recently.

All good points. Every year we see a team go out and over spend and it never seems to translate to more wins. Last year it was Philly, this year Miami. Yet come March, Redskin One will be gased up, free agents will be signed, new jerseys will be in the stores to sell and the fans will think it's X-mas.

However, because of the RG3 trade and the cap penalty, we have no choice but to go out and sign guys. I just hope that whoever picks the players knows what the hell they're doing. No more Josh Morgan, Josh Wilson signings.

Well, I would hope they spend up to their full cap limit. Is there anyone who wants them to keep spending $18mil less than they actually can? While this regime hasn't batted 1000 (nobody does), they have shown a propensity to go after young free agents that don't necessarily break the bank. Pretty good value for the most part.

Apart from P Manning, I can't think of a single team that's gotten to the next level recently (great up to elite for example) based on FA. Brees before that. Hmmmm I see a pattern there with QBs lol. You can make the argument for Seattle here, based on Lynch, Harvin, Rice and several defensive players brought in via FA. But then you remember Rice and Harvin are non-factors, and Lynch never had this kind of success until paired with Wilson. The whole offense revolves around Wilson. And their drafted WRs are balling. Defensively, the best players are drafted guys like Sherman (6th rounder).

The point is it all comes back to the draft, with FA signings complimenting the core you build through the draft. I tried to give Mike lots of credit up to this year for building a core through the draft, but I think it's average at best given what we see. In four years he hasn't drafted a single impact WR and only one olineman (a can't miss prospect IMO). That's pathetic. Really, really pathetic.

The difference is every other team in the league is trying to improve their teams through free agency by spending the same amount of money they spent the previous year. The Skins will be trying to improve their team with $18mil more than they had the previous 2 years.

Doesn't guarantee success, but I, for one, hope they spend it on free agents. What are the other options? Don't spend it? Just give everyone raises?