Time to Build an Offensive Line

[terpsez11]

Originally Posted by HolyLandSkinsFan

This is a great thread.

Here's what I would do:

Try to build a team rather than a few stellar players.

I would try to pick up a veteran LT in FA. Trade down in the first round to try to pick up an extra second rounder. I would trade Portis since I think between his health and work ethic he won't be an asset to the team. Maybe we can get another second rounder for him. Then I would keep Dockery and fill the rest of the line with the best available guys using the now 4 picks in the second round. I would then look for CBs and developmental O-linemen in the rest of the draft.

I would hope this would build a solid O-line - though maybe not stellar. I think if Campell had 1 more second per play we would be a significantly improved team.

Next year I would take a LT with the first pick.

great Campbell and a couple rookies...for Portis and the
#4 overall where there is top-grade talent available at many positions

people will be trashing the Shananhans if that is what they bring to the table..I've heard experts say the talent on the Redskins is not too far off at all..the entire division was blown out bad by somebody at some time last season

if that is the case..good chance that left tackle in 2011 will be the first pick overall...not Mike's style at all

[SmootSmack]

2nd round-Charles Brown or Bruce Campbell (one will be available)
3rd round-Kyle Calloway (after we trade into the 3rd round)
FA-Ben Hamilton

LT: Brown or Campbell
LG: Dockery
C: Hamilton (Shanny moves him to C and Rabach is gone)
RG: Rinehart/Mike Williams camp battle (loser goes home)
RT: Levi Jones (until week 10 when Calloway and Jevan Bradford join the starting lineup)

[MTK]

Rabach isn't a bum but he's not much more than an average player on the decline. He's serviceable but it's probably time to look elsewhere at center.

[SirClintonPortis]

First, wait for the combine and check out the Olinemen who do well in the three-cone drill, then draft a few of them.
Sign Kevin Mawae.
Sign some old Denver Olinemen.
Cut Heyer, Rhinehart, and Will Montgomery. Let Rabach go.

[Longtimefan]

It's so difficult at this time to predict or project because of the uncertainty surrounding FA's; Who will be available and at what cost. I do like the thread concept because without a doubt the O-line should be priority number one, but FA offers little help in this area because there's so little to chose from.

However, I am interested in seeing what leftover linemen we have that the new coaching staff will deem worthy of keeping, if any. So many uncertainties and possibilities is what continues to make this one of the most interesting off-seasons in a very long time.

[Lotus]

LT: resign Levi Jones / draft Charles Brown in 2nd
LG: Dockery
C: Rabach, but use our 4th rounder on a C to groom
RG: Williams / Rinehart / Ben Hamilton
RT: sign Kaczur from NE

Notice that we can do this and still draft a QB at #4.

In the unlikely event that a trade-down happens, the choices become more numerous.

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by Lotus

LT: resign Levi Jones / draft Charles Brown in 2nd
LG: Dockery
C: Rabach, but use our 4th rounder on a C to groom
RG: Williams / Rinehart / Ben Hamilton
RT: sign Kaczur from NE

Notice that we can do this and still draft a QB at #4.

In the unlikely event that a trade-down happens, the choices become more numerous.

As long as the FO puts an emphasis on the OL, then we ought to be able to bring a lot of pieces here, from the draft, through FA like Kaczur, and put together an OL that allows our offense to compete. I would love to see the first 2 picks go OL, but I can live with it as long as they demonstrate that emphasis.

[Chico23231]

Originally Posted by Lotus

LT: resign Levi Jones / draft Charles Brown in 2nd
LG: Dockery
C: Rabach, but use our 4th rounder on a C to groom
RG: Williams / Rinehart / Ben Hamilton
RT: sign Kaczur from NE

Notice that we can do this and still draft a QB at #4.

In the unlikely event that a trade-down happens, the choices become more numerous.

I like this...actually the top 3 centers right now in the draft could probably beat out Rabach. Hamilton is a nice stop/gap and probably would be Shanny preference for starting over Busthart and Williams. Kaczur would be a nice addition probably for not too much cash too.

[sportscurmudgeon]

Ruhskins:

Good thread. Thank you.

The Redskins' OL will not be reconstructed in a single off-season unless there is another miraculous draft event like the one that brought in Mark May, Russ Grimm and Joe Jacoby in a single year. (I think that was 1981 but it could have been 1982.) It could happen again; it just isn't likely...

The key for this offseason seems to me to acquire at least one - - and prefereably two - - young offensive lineman who will be the anchors of the reconstructed OL in the future. I really don't care what position(s) the new anchor(s) take up on the OL, but having two young studs there would be a real positive sign for the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

Waiting to see how "the young guys on the roster" develop is frought with danger. Waiting to see how they might play is what put the Skins in the position of having to sign Levi Jones at the last minute - - actually in mid-season - - last year. Other eleventh-hour tinkering with the OL produced other players who just couldn't play all that well.

If the Skins do not have new bodies on the roster before training camp starts, they will be looking for culls later on down the line. And what is on the roster now is "too many culls"...

[Pocket$ $traight]

Is anyone intrigued by Mawae if even for one year? IMO he is the definition of a professional offensive lineman. Since $ is not a factor, I don't see a downside to having him in the locker room even if it is for a short time.

I am definitely nostalgic, but I hope that they give Randy Thomas another year here (of course they need to tear up the old contract).

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by Pocket$ $traight

Is anyone intrigued by Mawae if even for one year? IMO he is the definition of a professional offensive lineman. Since $ is not a factor, I don't see a downside to having him in the locker room even if it is for a short time.

I am definitely nostalgic, but I hope that they give Randy Thomas another year here (of course they need to tear up the old contract).

I am interested. He would only be a stopgap but he would be a good one.

[SmootSmack]

Not sure anyone has mentioned him, but Kory Liechtensteiger has a strong chance to make the team and potentially start at C or G

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Not sure anyone has mentioned him, but Kory Liechtensteiger has a strong chance to make the team and potentially start at C or G

I had him in there last night, but I think he has to make the team before we (myself included, apparently) concern ourselves with having to spell Liechtensteiger. People still struggle with Rinehart. And he's been here for two years.

[30gut]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

With that being said, here is your challenge. You are the GM (or Shanahan), how do you build the Redskins offensive line? Who do you keep? Who do you cut? Who would you draft? And which free agent would you go after?

I've tried to envision a scenario where we upgrade the OL independent of the 4th pick and while i can come up with improvements its only because of how bad the OL was last year.

LT-Stephon Heyer-it would require hope that a healthy Heyer can show the promise he showed at the end of 2008 when he took over the LT spot from an injured Samuels, Heyer played the majority of the season with a knee injury that often prevented him from practicing: Ratng... Serviceable to good,

LG-Dockery-Good

C-Edwin Williams-- I think its time to find out if Edwin Williams is ready to step up, as a rookie UDFA pressed into playing out of position at RG he played well. Maybe moving him to his natural position of Center will make the middle of the OL more stout then its been with Rabach. Rabach is a decent center but he's a FA and he's not strong at the point (and Ratliff owns him twice err!!) On the flip side he could provide veteran leadership on an OL in tranisition-but on the flip side of that why wait to build the OL into a young cohesive unit ready to grow and improve togother starting with the Center?-Rating: Serviceable to good

RG-Rinehart i thought he played well after he was finally placed into the starting line-up after needless handwringing and concern. One thing i never understood was why they let Rinehart get all the reps while Randy Thomas was recovering from his injuries then broke the cohesion by putting Thomas in as the starter when he returned from his injury. But when Thomas was injured again the acted like Rinehart wasn't ready to play and tried playing Montgomery and Williams instead? And imo Rinehart played better then both those guys.

RT-2nd round pick hopefully Bruce Campbell but that's unlikely maybe... Duccase or Charles Brown lasts they could play RT until/if they show they're ready to play LT or they could stat at LT until they show they can't handle it, i would prefer they start at RT then move over, but if there is a run on OT which is likely Ducasse and Brown might not even being around when we pick in the 2nd and don't like hope as a strategy for landing OL via the draft

FA:
Tony Pashos via FA he's cheap and familiar with new OL coach Forester
Pashos could challenge for the RT against a rookie and provide some depth

I think this OL or a similiar OL would be an improvement because they would be young players building cohesion and could grow together and improve with playing experience

But, imo it would be easier and yield greater improvement if we began fixing the OL by solidifying either OT with the 4th pick:

LT-Okung / Davis-Good
LG-Dockery-Good
C-Ed Williams-Seriveable to Good
RG-Rinehart-Serviceable to Good
RT-Heyer-Serviceable to Good

Cut/Released/Retired:

Chris Samuels
Randy Thomas
Casey Rabach
Mike Williams

[sportscurmudgeon]

Originally Posted by 30gut

I've tried to envision a scenario where we upgrade the OL independent of the 4th pick and while i can come up with improvements its only because of how bad the OL was last year.

LT-Stephon Heyer-it would require hope that a healthy Heyer can show the promise he showed at the end of 2008 when he took over the LT spot from an injured Samuels, Heyer played the majority of the season with a knee injury that often prevented him from practicing: Ratng... Serviceable to good,

LG-Dockery-Good

C-Edwin Williams-- I think its time to find out if Edwin Williams is ready to step up, as a rookie UDFA pressed into playing out of position at RG he played well. Maybe moving him to his natural position of Center will make the middle of the OL more stout then its been with Rabach. Rabach is a decent center but he's a FA and he's not strong at the point (and Ratliff owns him twice err!!) On the flip side he could provide veteran leadership on an OL in tranisition-but on the flip side of that why wait to build the OL into a young cohesive unit ready to grow and improve togother starting with the Center?-Rating: Serviceable to good

RG-Rinehart i thought he played well after he was finally placed into the starting line-up after needless handwringing and concern. One thing i never understood was why they let Rinehart get all the reps while Randy Thomas was recovering from his injuries then broke the cohesion by putting Thomas in as the starter when he returned from his injury. But when Thomas was injured again the acted like Rinehart wasn't ready to play and tried playing Montgomery and Williams instead? And imo Rinehart played better then both those guys.

RT-2nd round pick hopefully Bruce Campbell but that's unlikely maybe... Duccase or Charles Brown lasts they could play RT until/if they show they're ready to play LT or they could stat at LT until they show they can't handle it, i would prefer they start at RT then move over, but if there is a run on OT which is likely Ducasse and Brown might not even being around when we pick in the 2nd and don't like hope as a strategy for landing OL via the draft

FA:
Tony Pashos via FA he's cheap and familiar with new OL coach Forester
Pashos could challenge for the RT against a rookie and provide some depth

I think this OL or a similiar OL would be an improvement because they would be young players building cohesion and could grow together and improve with playing experience

But, imo it would be easier and yield greater improvement if we began fixing the OL by solidifying either OT with the 4th pick:

LT-Okung / Davis-Good
LG-Dockery-Good
C-Ed Williams-Seriveable to Good
RG-Rinehart-Serviceable to Good
RT-Heyer-Serviceable to Good

Cut/Released/Retired:

Chris Samuels
Randy Thomas
Casey Rabach
Mike Williams

Sorry, I cannot let this one go by...


Heyer is not "servicable to good". Heyer is like your emergency 3rd string QB. When he has to go into the game in the second quarter, the s*hit has already hit the fan and you are downwind.


Edwin Williams did not "play good" at guard. He did not soil himself; he did not embarrass his family. Other than that, you would have to look really hard to come up with positive statements about his play on the line.


Rinehart has never - - as in not ever - - done anything on a Sunday in Washington that would distinguish him from an off-duty piano mover in a Redskins' uniform. MAYBE he will blossom into an offensive guard someday; maybe he will go back to his home and take up needlepoint for a living. So far, the performance on the field in real NFL games on Sundays tends to make me think about the "needlepoint option".


If the Redskins OL for 2010 has E. Williams, Rinehart and Heyer as starters, maybe we need to sign Barry Sanders to play QB - - because the QB will be running for his life for much of the season...