Putting the Redskins in Perspective

[Defensewins]

Originally Posted by SouperMeister

Ware, Woodley, and Harrison are 3-4 outside LBs. BTW, I agree with the earlier assessment of Jason Taylor's poor fit for our scheme. He's a disaster against the run when we face a strong offensive line. It is time to draft a strong 2-way DE and a stud DT. We could have had Phillip Merling last draft, but Vinny felt that trading down and drafting WR's was the way to go. I will always maintain that championship caliber clubs are almost always strong on the O and D lines. We will not become an elite team until that is addressed.

Andre Carter is also not very good against the run either. When both Carter and Taylor are in at the same time against a power running team we are in trouble. Carter got used in the Dallas game. Even a TE - Jason Witten, by himself moved Carter 5 yards on a sweep in the first half. It was embarrassing. Made Carter look small and weak. Flozzell Adams was manhandling Carter most of the game. Andre Carter, Jason Taylor and Erasmus James are all the same player. Speed rush, weak side right defensive end. It is poor planning and poor player management to have three of the same player for only one position. We have only one run stopping DE. A defense has to stop the run first in this league. Your season is over if your front seven cannot stop the run.

[GTripp0012]

Also, the Jason Taylor trade: officially horrible. We got waxed.

We're going to have to make a decision next off-season between Daniels and Taylor. And by no means is this a simple decision. Vinny needs to realize that the 2nd round pick we send for Taylor is a sunk cost, and that if a 36 year old Daniels can help us more than a 35 year old Taylor, Daniels needs to stay and Taylor must go.

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Also, the Jason Taylor trade: officially horrible. We got waxed.

We're going to have to make a decision next off-season between Daniels and Taylor. And by no means is this a simple decision. Vinny needs to realize that the 2nd round pick we send for Taylor is a sunk cost, and that if a 36 year old Daniels can help us more than a 35 year old Taylor, Daniels needs to stay and Taylor must go.

Oh thank God someone finally said it (pretty sure you're the first anyway).

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Also, the Jason Taylor trade: officially horrible. We got waxed.

We're going to have to make a decision next off-season between Daniels and Taylor. And by no means is this a simple decision. Vinny needs to realize that the 2nd round pick we send for Taylor is a sunk cost, and that if a 36 year old Daniels can help us more than a 35 year old Taylor, Daniels needs to stay and Taylor must go.

We definitely got waxed, because we are a stop the run first, generate pressure second defense. I'm so glad we gave up a 2nd round pick and $8M per for a guy who is only playing on situational 3rd downs.

After reading this, I don't think anyone here should anticipate any more sacks any time soon. This is frustrating. We suck up front on both sides of the ball.

Jason La Canfora - Redskins' Pass Rush Is Stuck in the Slow Lane - washingtonpost.com=

[Schneed10]

Yeah I think there's a lot of truth to this. When it comes to the offensive line, we have a major weakness at RT, we have a major strength at LT (though Samuels has had some disappointing moments), and the rest of the line is solid but is overmatched against very talented defenders.

When it comes to the defensive line, we have solid DTs in the middle, but no playmakers. Andre Carter is a playmaker at end, but teams have been able to neutralize him with Taylor not himself on the other side.

Our lines have games where they show up and play well, but other games where they're sub-par. It's hard to establish the upper hand needed to put together a serious playoff run and beat 3 or 4 playoff teams and take a Super Bowl title.

You're right, we'll struggle to ever be a dominant team unless we can get some trench players in house who are capable of dominating not just one game, but multiple games in a row against various opponents.

With these lines, it's kind of hard to see how we can ever be much better than 10-6. Not that 10-6 is bad, but ya know, we kinda want to win the whole thing.

[Defensewins]

I agree about drafting linemen. Snyderatto - NO MORE WR's, TE's or RB's.

The other point of concern for me about the Redskins is the way we throw money around. We are getting better but still we have a ton of our 2009 salary cap tied up on just a handful of old players that are either injured a lot or are under-performing. We have $39.5 million committed to just these six players:

In 2009:
1) Jason Taylor $8.5 million
2) Andre Carter $6.5 million
3) Marcus Washington $6.5 million
4) Jon Jansen $5.6 million
5) Shawn Springs $8.5 million
6) Fred Smoot $4.15 million

None of these players are playing up to level to deserve their high salary. Shawn Springs and Marcus Washington play well when healthy. But they are injured all time in 2008. The others do not play at a high level anymore. We could do alot to invest this $39.5 million on young players to develop for the future.
By the way the Cowboys, as did the Giants exposed that Andre Carter and Jason Taylor are weak against the run. Team that have a strong running game will exploit this.

[GTripp0012]

I also don't think it has anything to do with scheme. JT has always been awful vs. the run, he's not providing any pass rush, and he's making rookie esque mistakes in play recognition that Daniels/Evans/Golston, and possibly even Chris Wilson would never make.

I'll elaborate more in my breakdown, but it's pretty embarassing to have a player making 8 million dollars who wouldn't be starting for most teams in the NFL right now.

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

I also don't think it has anything to do with scheme. JT has always been awful vs. the run, he's not providing any pass rush, and he's making rookie esque mistakes in play recognition that Daniels/Evans/Golston, and possibly even Chris Wilson would never make.

I'll elaborate more in my breakdown, but it's pretty embarassing to have a player making 8 million dollars who wouldn't be starting for most teams in the NFL right now.

Unfortunately JT isn't the only player on our roster making a truckload of cash who wouldn't start for most teams... on the other hand we're the only franchise paying Hall, a top pick, a mere million for his services through the remainder of '08. If we use him as a punt returner, he continues to get picks and behaves himself then... well it still doesn't really balance out but it's something.:thumb:

[GMScud]

I totally agree with the first post as far as the trenches are concerned.

I've said it forever. Run the ball and stop the run. That's it. If you can do that, everything else is easy.

[backrow]

I count three guys on the OL that were brought in. That whole line, less CS, of course is not holding up well, and CS has a bad wheel.

I count three guys brought in on the DL with Griff on the IR.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by GMScud

I totally agree with the first post as far as the trenches are concerned.

I've said it forever. Run the ball and stop the run. That's it. If you can do that, everything else is easy.

Unless you can't stop the pass. Then you're just the 07 Vikings.

[Jake2008]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Unless you can't stop the pass. Then you're just the 07 Vikings.

True, but a dominant defensive line can make a secondary look alot better. If the QB has to get rid of the ball quick, then you only have to ask your secondary to cover for a few seconds which most can do. If your defensive line sucks and the QB has time, then even the best cornerback is going to give up passes against the good WRs.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Unless you can't stop the pass. Then you're just the 07 Vikings.

I suppose I should have prefaced my statement with "if you have a decent secondary." But your point is well taken.

[firstdown]

Well we dominated Dallas in week 4 and we ran the ball in week 4 alot more. The past two games against the Steelers And Boys we have ran the ball 33 times v/s 77 pass plays. If your having trouble protecting the QB running the ball helps slow down the rush. Maybe its play calling as much as protection. I feel Zorn is going away from the run way too early when its not working. How many times have you seen a team pound the ball in the first half with little success and then in the second half the running game starts to move the ball and opens up the passing game. It seems that when the running game is not clicking Zorn goes to the pass and teams start to key in on JC. I'm not saying that our Oline is getting the job done but I do feel the play calling is not helping at all.

[SouperMeister]

Good post D.R. - I've been saying that we've ignored bolstering our play in the trenches through the draft for years. LaConfora mentioned today that we haven't spent a draft pick before the 5th round on a D-lineman since Kennard Lang was picked in the 1st round ELEVEN YEARS AGO!!!

Yes we've added some free agents on both lines, but there is no long term substitute for drafting young talent, which is much more cap friendly, especially after the 1st round. The Giants have been masterful at this, getting Justin Tuck in the 3rd round and Osi Umenyiora in the 2nd.

The Gibbs 1.0 teams were great in the trenches. Until we get serious about bolstering the O and D lines through the draft, I believe that the most this team will achieve is squeeking into the playoffs via wild card, which usually means an early exit.