Most likely to be back with the team next year?

[JoeRedskin]

I am hoping the off-season is much like the one two years ago where the only major move was to sign Rabach. Maybe go after Clements, but don't blow it out of proportion.

As for AA and Lloyd, I am with the group that says they will both be back lacking a LaVar type payback. Given the cap hit they both represent (even with a post June 1 cut), I think it is simply better to carry them for a year even if they just end up inactive through the whole season - maybe they pan out after two years, maybe not. If they end up just sitting for a year, maybe they will be more willing to buy out after the second year.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

Again, after all the smoke is clear this offseason, MUCH like last season, one or two key players puts us right back in the race. NO OVERALL this year. Just maybe two key defensive players and we're set.

Isn't that what we say every year? That we're just one or two players away from a championship? That's exactly what gets this team into trouble.

I happen to think we're 3-4 seasons away from a top ten defense again. Apart from Golston and Carter the entire defensive line got old. Washington is the only solid linebacker on the roster, and Sean Taylor is the only solid defensive back -- and he still needs some tooling. That's a whole lot of filling in to do with the other 7 starters. And doesn't even touch the problems with capable depth.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

That's interesting to note. Rabach is the only huge signing and we end up a couple games away from the Super Bowl.

There's a lot to be said for continuity. Not only that, I always thought Rabach was the weak link in our offensive line. He's greatly improved this past year and I was the one thinking we should have drafted center or signed another free agent.

I think it's hard to think about the intangible issues that go on behind the scenes. All we see are stats and whatever we might see on Sunday. The media is usually the only glimpse into the minds of the players, and even that has it's own slant.

I know it sounds a bit Clay Aiken of me, but football players are people too and if no matter how hard you try, your try is going out trying to sign the next big thing, it doesn't exactly belabor you to go out and improve now does it?

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

Isn't that what we say every year? That we're just one or two players away from a championship? That's exactly what gets this team into trouble.

I happen to think we're 3-4 seasons away from a top ten defense again. Apart from Golston and Carter the entire defensive line got old. Washington is the only solid linebacker on the roster, and Sean Taylor is the only solid defensive back -- and he still needs some tooling. That's a whole lot of filling in to do with the other 7 starters. And doesn't even touch the problems with capable depth.

Sure, we say that, but what does the team go out and do? Attempt to put together a "Dream Team" of FA acquisitions and look where it gets us. Just as JoeRedskin mentioned above, we went out and got Rabach and were otherwise quiet in FA and we excelled and made it to the playoffs, even with Brunell behind center.

[squrrelco3]

I can't see either one going...too much of a cap hit and Joe Gibbs has already said that the 'Skins are going to be aggressive in the FA market (again... ) so they will need all the funds they can get for more overpriced bitter apples.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

Isn't that what we say every year? That we're just one or two players away from a championship? That's exactly what gets this team into trouble.

I happen to think we're 3-4 seasons away from a top ten defense again. Apart from Golston and Carter the entire defensive line got old. Washington is the only solid linebacker on the roster, and Sean Taylor is the only solid defensive back -- and he still needs some tooling. That's a whole lot of filling in to do with the other 7 starters. And doesn't even touch the problems with capable depth.

But I think just the same way that players can get old overnight the reverse can happen as well. All of a sudden next year, Rocky can become a beast, Taylor can be the player we envisioned when he was drafted, we could add a Clements (which should make Rogers better), etc.

[MTK]

In today's NFL 3-4 seasons is an eternity.

Williams turned this D around pretty quick when he got here, I believe he can get them turned around again.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

See, that's what I'm thinking. The coaches probably thought they knew best last year and decided to just spend and spend and spend. If they go out and overspend this year the Skins will be on the verge of mutiny.

If I'm Joe Gibbs, I'm meeting with all the players during off season or prior to OTAs and I'm telling them how important their individuals efforts are and that their wants and needs are important.

[Bill B]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

I am hoping the off-season is much like the one two years ago where the only major move was to sign Rabach. Maybe go after Clements, but don't blow it out of proportion.

As for AA and Lloyd, I am with the group that says they will both be back lacking a LaVar type payback. Given the cap hit they both represent (even with a post June 1 cut), I think it is simply better to carry them for a year even if they just end up inactive through the whole season - maybe they pan out after two years, maybe not. If they end up just sitting for a year, maybe they will be more willing to buy out after the second year.

Joe - after the whole Lavar fiasco the NFL changed the cap rules and teams can no longer get salary cap relief when a player returns a portion of their money. So even if AA gave back part of his bonus the team gets no salary cap hit reduction.

[The Zimmermans]

I really don't know what they should do in the offseason, right now things are a mess, especially within the coaching staff. And we had arguably the worst defense in the league (not taking into account our TOP type offense which should have improved our defensive numbers) DEFENSE wins superbowls, and it's quite difficult to go from first to worst with an aged D-line and secondary. I'd say our best chance is suring up what we have aka... building depth on our O-line, and working with Campbell. The defense is a work in process, and we should probably trade down for as many picks as we possibly can in this draft, and hope these late round picks become nice surpises.

What we shouldnt do......
getting rid of Arch is counterproductive
getting rid of Lloyd is more counterproductive
signing a big time defensive free agent is the most counterproductive thing we can do.

We have the WORST defense in the leage, it's tough to have 2007 superbowl aspirations with that.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Then what do you propose happened with this year's unit? It's basically the same as it was in 2005 and almost the same as in 2004.

[The Zimmermans]

offenses have figured out the cover 2. We lost some defensive talent and replaced it with less talented players. The players no longer buy into the GW scheme. Our D-line keeps getting older. Not a good situation....I hope GW can throw his ego aside and let someone else make personnel decisions for him and switch up his scheme a bit.

[Bill B]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

In today's NFL 3-4 seasons is an eternity.

Williams turned this D around pretty quick when he got here, I believe he can get them turned around again.

Matty - I think Williams will get it turned around as well - the one thing I am worried about is the Post article reports today that Jerry Gray may be leaving to become the Defensive coordinator at I believe the Univ. Of Minnesota - so with that I would assume that Steve Jackson will become coach of the entire secondary - this is a bad thing in my opinion and if it takes the Skins firing Jackson and giving complete control of the secondary to Gray to keep him I think they should do this. I just don't know how close Jackson and Greg Williams are.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

I think he did realize that and began to change the scheme some towards the end of the season. He ran more man-to-man and it worked great. Before Springs went out, Rogers and him were covering people great man-to-man.

As far as losing talent, who did we really lose? Ryan Clark is the only one I wish we had back. If I could have predicted all the injuries, I would have wanted him back as well. That's about it though.

[The Zimmermans]

Well we pretty much ignored the ROLB spot since lavar was benched. Last year teams began to realize that you can run left on us whenever you like. Now that Holdman isnt improving and not having Pierce has killed us as well so we no longer can stop the run, and that is a recipe for disaster. Lamar Marshal is too small to stop the run, and our blitzes don't work anymore cause team's are ready for them. In the NFL, you have to constantly improve and be innovative, our defense didnt have that edge this year.