Commanders Post at The Warpath - View Single Post - Make a Decision on London Fletcher's Future

GTripp0012 · 11-08-2011, 01:30 PM

With Fletcher, I think the decline will be sharp. I think he can maintain a level of consistent play until the day he loses the will to be great, at which point, there's really not a whole lot there behind that will. I think part of our perception of Fletcher is that he's better than Rocky McIntosh, who is out there doing the same things, in every single facet of the game of football. So it looks like Fletcher still has a lot left.

In reality, I think Fletcher is still very valuable, but he's more just getting by on his veteran savvy versus what he was in the past, a physical force that went sideline to sideline to hunt running backs. Fletcher had an outstanding year in pass coverage last year that he couldn't have repeated even if he was 27, but he's been merely adequate this year in coverage. He doesn't get sideline to sideline anymore, and while he's still quick enough to deceptively get to running backs as they turn the corner, he doesn't get off blocks that well anymore.

Still, I think it's a no-brainer that the Redskins resign him. I didn't like what happened with Kendall, and I won't like what happens with Fletcher if it's a season of Keyaron Fox and a free agent acquisition at LB next year. I don't hold the opinion that his leadership is rubbing off on anyone, but it's motivating Fletcher, which is the important thing. Group motivation is usually a blank check to say whatever you want, but there's absolutely no doubt that Fletcher is motivated to play football on every snap.

I don't think it's a given that he will always be motivated like he is now, and I don't think the "great leader" tag will always stick to him; at some point the failure of the team just becomes too much, which is a good argument to not bring him back. Again, I think it's a pretty easy decision to bring him back. The team can not afford any resources beyond a mid-level free agent or late round trade or undrafted free agent at a position where they already have a pretty big hole. Fletcher's job security is unquestioned at least through 2012.

11-08-2011, 01:30 PM	#36
GTripp0012 Living Legend Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Evanston, IL Age: 37 Posts: 15,994	Re: Make a Decision on London Fletcher's Future With Fletcher, I think the decline will be sharp. I think he can maintain a level of consistent play until the day he loses the will to be great, at which point, there's really not a whole lot there behind that will. I think part of our perception of Fletcher is that he's better than Rocky McIntosh, who is out there doing the same things, in every single facet of the game of football. So it looks like Fletcher still has a lot left. In reality, I think Fletcher is still very valuable, but he's more just getting by on his veteran savvy versus what he was in the past, a physical force that went sideline to sideline to hunt running backs. Fletcher had an outstanding year in pass coverage last year that he couldn't have repeated even if he was 27, but he's been merely adequate this year in coverage. He doesn't get sideline to sideline anymore, and while he's still quick enough to deceptively get to running backs as they turn the corner, he doesn't get off blocks that well anymore. Still, I think it's a no-brainer that the Redskins resign him. I didn't like what happened with Kendall, and I won't like what happens with Fletcher if it's a season of Keyaron Fox and a free agent acquisition at LB next year. I don't hold the opinion that his leadership is rubbing off on anyone, but it's motivating Fletcher, which is the important thing. Group motivation is usually a blank check to say whatever you want, but there's absolutely no doubt that Fletcher is motivated to play football on every snap. I don't think it's a given that he will always be motivated like he is now, and I don't think the "great leader" tag will always stick to him; at some point the failure of the team just becomes too much, which is a good argument to not bring him back. Again, I think it's a pretty easy decision to bring him back. The team can not afford any resources beyond a mid-level free agent or late round trade or undrafted free agent at a position where they already have a pretty big hole. Fletcher's job security is unquestioned at least through 2012. __________________ according to a source with knowledge of the situation.