How are we replacing Dockery?
 

All this draft talk has gotten us off track...what are we planning to do about the fact that we have a huge hole to fill at guard?

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

Todd Wade is the front runner.

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

WADE: [url]http://www.redskins.com/team/profile.jsp?id=349[/url]

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

I'm really not sold on Wade as a replacement for Dockery. I think he's going to be quite a downgrade. Maybe somewhere in the draft we could get a LG prospect.

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

With mirrors and slight of hand.


Seriously, I guess Wade and a late round pick.

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

A huge hole at one of the guard spots is what 75% of NFL teams have. The position is filled by late rounders and unsigned free agents across the league. We have downgraded, but I just don't think that it really matters especially because the other four returning guys are all very good players.

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

[QUOTE=wilsowilso;301774]A huge hole at one of the guard spots is what 75% of NFL teams have. The position is filled by late rounders and unsigned free agents across the league. We have downgraded, but I just don't think that it really matters especially because the other four returning guys are all very good players.[/QUOTE]

That's what we've said before then paid for it. I hope this doesn't really kill our line.

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

[QUOTE=Daseal;301767]I'm really not sold on Wade as a replacement for Dockery. I think he's going to be quite a downgrade. Maybe somewhere in the draft we could get a LG prospect.[/QUOTE]

When healthy Wade is an above average left tackle. He is athletic and has very good technique. I think he is actually a significant upgrade over Dock. Sorry but Dock was only an average guard. Good run blocker but only below average pass blocker. Didn't pull all that athletically and made mental mistakes. I wanted to keep Dock for the sake of chemistry but Buffalo gave not just way too much but ridiculously too much. Wade will slid over and be fine. Durability is the issue.

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

[QUOTE=FRPLG;301800]When healthy Wade is an above average left tackle. He is athletic and has very good technique. I think he is actually a significant upgrade over Dock. Sorry but Dock was only an average guard. Good run blocker but only below average pass blocker. Didn't pull all that athletically and made mental mistakes. I wanted to keep Dock for the sake of chemistry but Buffalo gave not just way too much but ridiculously too much. Wade will slid over and be fine. Durability is the issue.[/QUOTE]

Wow, I am very surprised at that comment. Dockery did a very good job last year, I just don't see Wade filling his shoes. But I hope you're right.

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

Dock was solid but nothing overly special. Certainly not worth $49M that's for sure. I think Wade is a good short-term solution.

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

[quote=Mattyk72;301810]Dock was solid but nothing overly special. Certainly not worth $49M that's for sure. I think Wade is a good short-term solution.[/quote]

Agree

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

[QUOTE=Daseal;301767]I'm really not sold on Wade as a replacement for Dockery. I think he's going to be quite a downgrade. Maybe somewhere in the draft we could get a LG prospect.[/QUOTE]

Well I agree that I'm not 100% sold on Wade, but I would have to think that anyone we would draft wouldnt start anyways.

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

Switch Wade to Jansens spot, and Jansen to the LG spot. Or, not!

Durability is an issue for Wade. Hope he holds up.

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

I think Wade will be ok for us.

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

Looks like Wade is going to be the man, and before I go off talking about what he can, or cannot do or be, I'm going to wait for him to prove he can't do the job. If he proves he can't do the job then we'll look elsewhere, but until then, I have faith he can be the man.

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

Guard is the easiest position to fill on the line and we have several viable candiates.

There are much bigger fish to fry.

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

[QUOTE=Mattyk72;301810]Dock was solid but nothing overly special. Certainly not worth $49M that's for sure. I think Wade is a good short-term solution.[/QUOTE]

There is no doubt that he's not worth 49 mil.
But do you think Wade can fill Dock's shoes?

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

[quote=jsarno;301868]There is no doubt that he's not worth 49 mil.
But do you think Wade can fill Dock's shoes?[/quote]

Why not? Wade has the talent to be a starting tackle. Tackles are more skilled than guards.

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

With another "Dirt Bag".

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

[QUOTE=Grim21Reaper;301870]Why not? Wade has the talent to be a starting tackle. Tackles are more skilled than guards.[/QUOTE]

Then why has he been on the back burner? Why didn't he beat anyone out last year? Why is he not starting at the tackle position somewhere else?

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

[QUOTE=jsarno;301879]Then why has he been on the back burner? Why didn't he beat anyone out last year? Why is he not starting at the tackle position somewhere else?[/QUOTE]


This is just an atempt to answer all three of your questions: He wasn't necessarily what you would call on the back burner, he was recovering from a knee injury the year before with the Texans and the Redskins gave him an opportunity as a back-up at RT. He didn't beat out anyone because there was no one for him to beat out, Jansen was/is firmly entrenched at the RT position. He's not starting somewhere in the league because obviously he has the chance now to be a starter with the Redskins, and has decided to stay. Plus, there was not a great demand for RT's on the market this year, could be he's found a home for the rest of his career here in DC. Let's give the guy a chance and hope he works out.

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

Don't get me wrong, I didn't expect a late round guard to start. Wade will be okay, but I don't want him as a long term solution. Luckily for us, offensive linemen actually have the lowest bust rate of any position!

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

[quote=Grim21Reaper;301870]Why not? Wade has the talent to be a starting tackle. Tackles are more skilled than guards.[/quote]

It's not that simple.

Dockery was huge, 340 pounds or whatever, and an incredible drive-blocker. Wade is 6'8" and 315 pounds or whatever. He's very athletic, I think he'll be an upgrade over Dockery in terms of his ability to get out into space and lead-block on pulls. But in terms of goalline and short yardage packages, he's a significant downgrade from Dockery. When it comes time to just line up and mash the opposition, Wade's height is going to become a problem. When you're that tall, it becomes a lot easier for a DT to get underneath you and gain leverage. Plus, Dock was just bigger and stronger.

Wade can be a decent fill in, as long as Saunders manages to scheme to take advantage of his abilities. Luckily, Saunders likes to run on the edges and likes his linemen athletic. KC's line was never all that big, and he turned them into a great running team. He'll need to get Portis and Betts out on the edge and let Wade do a lot of pulling into space. But if he relies on Wade to drive-block and expect him to do as well as Dockery, we're in for a rude awakening.

Ideally we'd find a G in the draft who is built like a big G (rather than a T like Wade is) and who is fast enough to get into space. Wade may be a solid option as a stopgap, but I definitely don't like him as a long-term solution. I want to see us trade down from 6 and secure a pretty talented G in the 2nd or 3rd round.

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

One thing's for sure with the line; Dock leaving has caused a significant disruption in our continuity. Samuels is going to have to learn to communicate with and play next to a new player (whether it's Wade or somebody else). We can't expect the line to begin week 1 with the same level of cohesion as they had at the end of last season. Incorporating the new G is going to take time before they're all acting instinctively as a unit. Hopefully Saunders will lean on the right side of the line on running plays and let Jansen and Randy Thomas do a lot of the damage until the left gets up to speed.

Randy Thomas is way underrated anyway. He's right behind Chris Samuels as the best lineman on the team. And when I say right behind, I mean RIGHT behind. He should have been to several pro-bowls by now.

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

I do think Wade will be perfectly fine in pass protection though. Physically he'll hold up real well, he has great technique. The only issue with pass protection would be on communication between Rabach, Wade, and Samuels. Early in the season we could see them miscommunicate at times and miss assignments.

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

[quote=Schneed10;301969]I do think Wade will be perfectly fine in pass protection though. Physically he'll hold up real well, he has great technique. The only issue with pass protection would be on communication between Rabach, Wade, and Samuels. Early in the season we could see them miscommunicate at times and miss assignments.[/quote]Hopefully they give them ample preseason and practice time to iron that out so its not an issue. I really don't think it will be come September.

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

[quote=GTripp0012;302099]Hopefully they give them ample preseason and practice time to iron that out so its not an issue. I really don't think it will be come September.[/quote]

He'll have a leg up because he's spent some time in the offense already, just looking at it from the T's point of view instead of the G's. Hopefully you're right.

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

How are we ever going to find another average to above-average lineman???

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

[quote=Schneed10;302104]He'll have a leg up because he's spent some time in the offense already, just looking at it from the T's point of view instead of the G's. Hopefully you're right.[/quote]Hey, hopefully if they make one mistake in communication that leads to a sack, they go talk it over, get it sorted out, and it never happens again. We as fans would never know it even took place.

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

maybe worth 2 late round picks, depending on the "best player available" at the time. We need to look to the future on the o line anyway. Gibbs tried this in 04 w/Wilson & Molinaro, but it didn't work out too well. Can't expect every 5th rnd. pick to make the team though.

Is Wilson still on the roster?

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

i think wade played some guard at Houston. but i also think he had some injury issues. man, i hope this works out. towards the end of last season, the dirt bags were playing as good as anyone in the league

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

I'm not sure how a career RT is all of a sudden going to be thrown in at LG. This has disaster written all over it. But Gibbs mentioned that they were happy with some OL they picked up at the end of last year. He said they fit in real well with what we do. I have no idea who these players are.

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

I'm just glad they didn't go out and overpay the first name they recognized to replace him. Wade looked great against N.O. last year. I think if yu can play tackle you can play guard, so we can move Wade or Jansen down the way.

How much you want to bet Dockery is overweight and gets hurt in Buffalo next season?

Re: How are we replacing Dockery?
 

[quote=jsarno;301879]Then why has he been on the back burner? Why didn't he beat anyone out last year? Why is he not starting at the tackle position somewhere else?[/quote]

Probably because he is under contract here.

He was a solid player and a starting tackle until he got hurt. We took a chance on him and it looks like that will pay off.