The official 2008 draft discussion thread

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

On the offensive line, you have to figure Jon Jansen will be in the mix this season. Like it or not, that's how it's going down. I would also have to think Stephon Heyer, only a second year player, will be better on some mechanics, strength, and maybe add some bulk. Even if he's marginally better, and no on this board would argue that kid more than held his own last year, he's a very solid back up.

Chris Samuels - Let's face it, no one is going to beat him out anytime soon. He's going to play until the wheels fall off. So I don't care how good your left tackle is coming out of the draft, that's just not a position we're looking to make any immediate changes.

Casey Rabach - Again, a very solid player that is possibly the glue to the entire offensive line. He's, and I say only 30 years old right now, and has a lot of years left at that position.

Randy Thomas - What else do we need to say here. Our best all around offensive lineman.

Peter Kendall - Here's a position where the Skins maybe looking to replace a starter, but this year isn't that year.

So from I can see, at best the Skins need to add some depth here and not look for any immediate starters or impact players. You never want to say never, but I just can't imagine the offensive line getting crippled with injuries the way they did last year. No way, no how.

Now there's optimism, and there's optimism, but this... this is a whole nuther level. Seriously though, we don't have a backup guard to my knowledge unless you think Alexander is coming through (you better not mention Fabini or I will find you). And w/ Kendell's arthritic knees and RTs struggle to stay healthy... at the very least we need a very high quality guard (if not starting caliber). I guess I can give Heyer the benefit of the doubt for when JJ goes down, but at least give me a a guard. Damn it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

You have to figure Thrash is gone and as someone alluded to earlier, I wouldn't be shocked if ARE got traded. I don't expect it to happen, but I wouldn't be shocked.

Don't forget folks we have six picks tomorrow.

I would love to see ARE traded for someone of value. I like the man, but as a WR he lacks what we need. He's too much money too.

[Tha Posse]

I'm just saying, I never saw what happened today coming. So who knows whats next. I guess trading ARE would take a large hit on the cap.

[RedskinPete]

Originally Posted by skinsnut

Well...my concerns about overcompensating on O....and ignoring bigger needs will have to wait until tommorrow...
If we do well and shore up both lines and secondary with our highest picks...it could be a great draft....
But lets be honest here....aint no way we get an impact pass rusher with whats left....hopefully Chris Wilson and Andre Carter can handle that!

It sure would have been great to get Carter some help! Now to get help for the D line or the O line is highly unlikely! We have a late 3rd,early 4th and no 5th. A 6th and three 7ths. If we get one starter here we will be lucky. I hope the lines can hold up another year!

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

Cooley aint going no where. Believe that. You don't trade an up and coming Pro-Bowler for a rookie. You'll see them both on the field together, quite a bit.

I can't really speak to Malcolm's forced smile - didn't see it. But the kid's coming to a playoff team with a lot of weapons on offense, a hard hitting defense, and a franchise with a rich, rich tradition.

Unless he was on some weed at the time, he has to be happy about that.

I didn't see the forced smile, but if he was disappointed it was probably because he was originally a 1st round projection and he fell off because of poor 40 times and acting like a baby about it.

As 12th said, he should be overjoyed to come to Washington and have an opportunity to play with Campbell, Portis, Cooley & our OL (healthy) and have a chance to start immediately for an offense-minded head coach.

I'm not thrilled with Kelly, but I haven't watched hours of film on him either. We could've taken Sweed, so hopefully the coaches and FO did their homework on him. But I don't think an argument can be made that he wasn't a value at # 51.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by The Goat

Now there's optimism, and there's optimism, but this... this is a whole nuther level. Seriously though, we don't have a backup guard to my knowledge unless you think Alexander is coming through (you better not mention Fabini or I will find you). And w/ Kendell's arthritic knees and RTs struggle to stay healthy... at the very least we need a very high quality guard (if not starting caliber). I guess I can give Heyer the benefit of the doubt for when JJ goes down, but at least give me a a guard. Damn it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No, Fabini did okay for a back up last year. Don't forget our entire right side of the offensive line went down last year. At one point, I believe only Chris Samuels was the only starter playing in his regular position.

The lineman that went high today's draft figure to start for those teams. We don't have starter need, but we do have depth need. And for the most part, I feel as though our depth is solid. Could be better, but it aint the worse in the league either.

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by The Goat

Now there's optimism, and there's optimism, but this... this is a whole nuther level. Seriously though, we don't have a backup guard to my knowledge unless you think Alexander is coming through (you better not mention Fabini or I will find you). And w/ Kendell's arthritic knees and RTs struggle to stay healthy... at the very least we need a very high quality guard (if not starting caliber). I guess I can give Heyer the benefit of the doubt for when JJ goes down, but at least give me a a guard. Damn it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They're still having rounds 3-7 tomorrow right? There are still June 1 cuts and trades that could be made right? I'm sure we will hit our needs at G and on defense tomorrow.

[The Goat]

I'm not really surprised we didn't take a DE today. I know all the boards had us taking one and it was the conventional wisdom, but I heard Blache say at least a few times he wanted a stud DT to create havoc in the middle. That's why I thought we'd take a DT (was hoping for Balmer) and two, yes two, o-lineman.

So I was wrong by how much...

[GusFrerotte]

Thrash is probably indeed toast as well as any WR that isn't Moss or Randle El, unless the latter two will be trade bait. Strange pick for a new TE. Guy is a beast, but we do need a S and a young CB real bad, so why "waste" a pick on a non necessity? Zorn must not like our depth a TE at all. Overall I am OK with today's events though. IF Cooley goes down we have a beast of a backup or even someone that can give Cooley some real competition. Moss is getting old and gets banged up too easy anymore. Still pissed at that fumble of his that cost us the Packers game and his nonchalant attitude about his crappy play that followed.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by jsarno

I would love to see ARE traded for someone of value. I like the man, but as a WR he lacks what we need. He's too much money too.

Yeah, I wouldn't mind unloading that contract of his either. He's a helleva team guy though. So whatever you gain in talent, you probably lose in terms of leadership and veteran saavy or is it spelled savvy?

I would say unload him for a defender of equal value; any position mind you.

[AlvinWalton'sNeckBrace]

Maybe its just me, and maybe this is usually the case, but does anyone else find it odd that Zorn wasn't even at the draft? He also sounded surprised with some of his comments that we got the players we got...

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

No, Fabini did okay for a back up last year. Don't forget our entire right side of the offensive line went down last year. At one point, I believe only Chris Samuels was the only starter playing in his regular position.

The lineman that went high today's draft figure to start for those teams. We don't have starter need, but we do have depth need. And for the most part, I feel as though our depth is solid. Could be better, but it aint the worse in the league either.

Alright. I know you have about a million posts here and I have 45 but Fabini? Did ok? Fabini made us the most predictable offense in the NFL for half the season because he couldn't have blocked me at DT.

Most running plays went something like this... "Portis/Betts line up in the backfield and take the hand-off to the left but oh, looks like they we're caught from behind or stopped at the LOS when the right side collapsed for Washington." And then Fabini would rub his belly hair and shake his head while looking up at the bleachers. I think I saw Fabini at a truck stop earlier this year even, I'm sure it's his job in the off-season.

[GusFrerotte]

Originally Posted by Slingin Sammy 33

They're still having rounds 3-7 tomorrow right? There are still June 1 cuts and trades that could be made right? I'm sure we will hit our needs at G and on defense tomorrow.

WE get 3 picks 7th round, but come on, how many 7th rounders actually make the team other than practice squad? Last years late rounders are no longer Skins anymore, think it will be any different this year? In my mind we really only have one pick tomorrow in the 4th round and the rest will be cut or just practice squad fodder. We might fulfill our G needs with late picks, but nothing more. The duo WR picks and the surprising TE pickup might be an indication, as others here have speculated of some impending cuts and/or trades with some vets on the squad to deal with our needs.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by AlvinWalton'sNeckBrace

Maybe its just me, and maybe this is usually the case, but does anyone else find it odd that Zorn wasn't even at the draft? He also sounded surprised with some of his comments that we got the players we got...

Honestly, this guy is behind the scense drawing up and Xs and Os and still getting adjusted to his new gig. I think after this year, he'll be more active with the draft and that sort of thing. For all intent and purposes, he's a rookie Head Coach.

[RedskinPete]

Originally Posted by The Goat

Alright. I know you have about a million posts here and I have 45 but Fabini? Did ok? Fabini made us the most predictable offense in the NFL for half the season because he couldn't have blocked me at DT.

Most running plays went something like this... "Portis/Betts line up in the backfield and take the hand-off to the left but oh, looks like they we're caught from behind or stopped at the LOS when the right side collapsed for Washington." And then Fabini would rub his belly hair and shake his head while looking up at the bleachers. I think I saw Fabini at a truck stop earlier this year even, I'm sure it's his job in the off-season.

Both lines are a big question mark!!!!