Vision Quest: Does Anyone Feel A Draft?

That was painful.

Normally I am the most optimistic Redskin fan I know. Hope springs eternal for Dustin, and the hope usually starts with Free agency and culminates with the NFL draft in April. It has been 13 long years since the Redskins won its last super bowl. In those 13 years the Redskins have only made the playoffs twice, in 1993 and 1999, and only a handful of even competitive seasons.

In the Snyder era we have seen the promise of free agent spending sprees fall and flounder. New coaches have been brought in with the promise of righting the ship, only to hit the same rocks we ran into the year before. Now we brought in God himself, the venerable Coach Gibbs and even though the team played better and more as a team then in previous years, we still finished 6-10 and out of the playoffs.

So spring has been sort of a right of passage for Redskin fans. We were done licking our wounds from the previous season and ready to find that one or two free agents and draft choices that will propel us into the playoffs. But not this year. There was no free agent spending spree as Gibbs and the front office wisely chose to weed out some bad players and replace them with moderate signings. So it was up to the draft to get us really pumped for next year.

For this Redskin fan my well of optimism dried up with pick #9.

I was on record that I felt our offense needed to be addressed in the draft. I had identified the following areas of Need for the Redskins in order of importance: TE, CB, WR, DE, O-Line (for Depth), and LB (for Depth). I even went so far as to say that QB, RB, and H-Back are the three positions we should not draft at all because we were stacked in all three.

So imagine my dismay when the draft was all said and done and we have picked 1 CB (the third best available), a QB, 2 Full Backs (Let alone the Gibbs offense does not use a full back, supposedly they will be converted to H-Back), a middle linebacker who will play mainly special teams and an outside line backer destined to be a role player. This would be bad if they also did not give up a chance at Mike Williams at #9 and Heath Miller at #25. In my opinion we did not help our offense much this year at all.

I am not knocking Carlos Rodgers. I think he will be starting come opening day and makes my worries about Walt Harris go away. However he was the third best CB in the draft and at #9 we could have done better. I was a big supporter of drafting Heath Miller at #25, but that was mainly because I thought Mike Williams was not going to be available. When Mike dropped we should of picked him up quicker then a crack whore reaching for here pipe. Then drafted a CB at #25, Marlin Jackson was still available. And if you just had to have Campbell at #25, stick with Harris, Wilds, & Springs.

Speaking of Campbell I am still scratching my head over this. I thought for SURE this was a smoke screen. I am not sure what I am mad more about, that Gibbs and company wasted a first round pick on a position where we already are set 1-3 or that by doing so it confirmed Lenny the Hut’s reporting from earlier in the week. I am really up in the air on the selection itself. On one hand it could be a shrewd move. Picking up a franchise QB because Ramsey will not resign after 2006-07 season. This way we have a rookie for two years to learn the system and the transition will be easier. Also Ramsey may falter or get injured and we have a savior waiting in the wings. On the other hand the Redskins are a few pieces away from winning now and this could have been a pick to help them.

In the end this pick may mean more to Mark Brunell and most certainly to Tim Hassleback then Patrick Ramsey. If I am Tim I am calling my wife and looking for quest spots on the view. It also means Brunell will most certainly be gone June 1, 2006. No way will we keep Ramsey, Brunell, and Campbell for two straight years. At some point you have to free up the bucks to get players for them to throw to.

One last thing on this pick. It showed just how bad the leak is in the Front Office. Whoever this person is they must be found and shown the door quickly. I know as fans we love inside information, however our draft plans were laid bare at the hands of the press. Sure we got the man we wanted all along but the damage could have been grievous. This mole has to be found out and has to be shown the door ASAP.

The two Full Backs, Manuel White and Jared Newberry, are equally puzzling. With Cooley and Mike Seller s already a lock at H-Back both can not be converted to that position. It is possible Newberry may not make the squad, 7th rounders are a risk. Manuel White could be converted to a big RB, but I am not sure about that. The two LBs could provide depth and it is needed there, however not a real impact this year.

After the draft I prepared to sit down on the first day and post some negative reaction, but I just could not do it. The same after the second day. So I decided that I needed some perspective and I would wait and write an article after a few days. I still have a negative look on the draft though. In my mind the draft has no real impact on this year’s team. The pick of Carlos Rogers the obvious exception. We have probably added depth and solidified our future, but there is no appreciable difference.

The silver lining in this draft, and especially the Campbell pick, is the clear signal that Gibbs is around for quite some time. By drafting a guy who will not be ready until at least 2007 he is showing he is ready and willing to serve out his contract and probably more. He wants to bring us to a super bowl and will not walk away until that happens.

So where does that leave us? Well as far as I can tell we are a moderately better team this year talent wise. We have more talent log jammed at QB which can only create a QB controversy sometime after Ramsey’s first interception. We have upgraded our offensive line and WR, but a key piece to that upgrade is sitting in Miami. Our defense is also marginally better and more importantly will have the same coordinator and defensive scheme as last year.

Is it possible to feel better about the long term future of the Franchise while only feeling moderately good about the upcoming season? The short answer is “yes, duh!” Perhaps this is what a real franchise off-season feels like. No big splurges, role players taken in the draft, & the team gradually getting better each year. There is no magic pill, there are no more quick fix free agents or sure fire draftees. Slowly Gibbs will re-build our franchise and we will get back to the Promised Land.

However I still would of drafted Heath Miller or Mike Williams.

Could we be left without any of the top three CBs?

A dark specter came into my mind last night as I was clearing out the cobwebs from the last two days rumors and trades and came upon this little tidbit of information from Yahoo news.

“A league source said Wednesday that the Miami Dolphins, who have avidly pursued trading down from the No. 2 overall pick, are on the verge of trading that choice to the Minnesota Vikings for the seventh and 18th picks, as well as another mid-round choice. Several signs point to the deal coming to fruition in the next few days. “

SOURCE

Combine this with the Henry trade to AZ and it becomes likely that Washington may not have a shot at any of the TOP 3 cbs nor Braylon Edwards or Mike Williams.
Miami is looking to trade Patrick Surtain. If it is done to KC for their second rounder then Miami could be looking at DB with the 7th pick. And AZ having filled their RB need may go after a CB as well.

So the top 8 picks may go like this:

1.) San Francisco Alex Smith QB Utah
2.) Minnesota Braylon Edwards WR MI
3.) Cleveland Aaron Rodgers QB California
4.) Chicago Mike Williams WR USC
5.) Tampa Bay Ronnnie Brown RB Auburn
6.) Tennesee Antrell Rolle CB Miami
7.) Miami Adam Jones CB W. VA
8.) Arizona Carlos Rodgers CB Auburn

Is it a stretch that a run on CB will happen? Maybe. However not out of the realm of possibility. It is something to think about coming to this weekend.

Vision Quest: And Then There Were Two

What a difference a day makes.

Last night I was putting the finishing touches on my final article regarding the Redskins first round draft choice. Regular followers of my articles and posting know how enamored I am with Heath Miller. I laid out a 5 point argument for drafting the TE after either a trade down or even at #9.

Now it seems I have to make a call on 2 first round selections instead of one. Last night Washington traded this year’s third and next year’s 1st and 4th to the Denver Broncos. It never is a dull off-season here in the Redskin Nation. Just when you thought you knew everything that was going on the Redskins front office does what is thought to be improbable only days if not hours earlier. So there goes all my hard work. Or does it?

Before I get into who I think the Redskins should pick with #9 and #25 (if there are no more trades) let me express my views on the trade that happened yesterday. This is definitely a gamble, and a risky one. In essence we have mortgaged our future to build a team now. Is next year’s 1st rounder and 4th rounder and this year’s 3rd worth giving up for a late first rounder in this year’s by all accounts weak draft? Have Joe Gibbs and the front office blown a fuse? What could be their thinking and why do it now when it could have been done draft day when we knew what player we would get?

Sadly I have no logical answers to any of these questions. All I can go on is a gut feeling that Gibbs and the front office more then not tends to make the right decisions, or at least they did last year. However last year they also got Brunell which is why there is a pit in the bottom of my stomach. Could this be the Brunell trade of this year? Well the simple answer is yes, any trade could backfire. But I don’t think so and let me explain why.

First off the Redskins are gambling that they will have a successful year this year. That means playoffs. A reasonable gamble, though some would say there is no evidence for it. According to Gibbs the value points of the #25 pick this year is 750 and they only gave up 715 points. But value points don't mean much. You have to look at what they have done.

They spent the off-season revamping their struggling offense, upgrading the receiving corp. (and yes Patten & Moss does equate to a better duo then Coles/Gardner) and beefing up center with Casey Rabach. However they lost Smoot and Pierce on Defense. Pierce is replaceable but Smoot like it or not left a minor hole. And the wide receivers we added were small and the Redskins had no real possession receiver. They ended the free agency period with 2 great needs, a possession receiver and a cornerback to groom into the starting role.

This is why they made the trade. They figured that they could plug the two remaining holes with quality ready to start rookies. Next year we will be having cap issues anyways and not having to worry about a first round signing will alleviate that issue somewhat. So this means the Redskins have to have a player in mind to move into that position.

ESPN is postulating the trade was done so Washington could select Jason Campbell out of Auburn. If that is the case then Gibbs has determined Ramsey is not the QB for the future of the Redskins. This goes against EVERYTHING Gibbs has stated for the last few years. Remember last year Gibbs did not trade Ramsey when Miami was offering a decent 1st round pick. This is before he knew how bad Brunell was. Ramsey played better last year as the season went along and I can not see Gibbs pulling the plug here. Gibbs may draft a QB but it would be in the 4th round, not the 1st. Otherwise he would have to trade Ramsey something he has been resistant too in the near past. We could not tie up that much cap space in QB and Ramsey has the only trade value. Gibbs in his press conference all but excluded trading Ramsey today so it is doubtful a QB will be drafted.

So what are Gibbs plans? Unless they trade out of #9 it is almost assured they are going to go cornerback. And #25 well that is a guess at best, but I am pretty sure they are going to try and solve their receiving problems. But I am betting on one of 2 players: WR/TE Matt Jones Arkansas, WR or (you guessed it) Heath Miller TE Virginia.

Why those two players? Logic dictates that the Redskins would not have made this trade so early unless they knew the player they wanted is going to be there. Many of the WR mentioned including Mark Clayton (Oklahoma) and Roddy White (UAB) are projected to go before that pick (To Baltimore #22 and Dallas #20 respectively). Heath Miller has been projected all along as going to the Jets at #26 and possibly Pittsburgh at #30. Matt Jones has been rumored to be coveted by Philadelphia at #31. There is a good possibility that one of these two players will be there at #25 and it fills a whole for the Redskins.

Now it is crunch time and looking at the lay of the land here are my picks and 5 reasons why they should be picked for #9 and #25.

At #9 Adam “Pac-Man” Jones CB W. Virginia

Corner is one of the Redskins draft priorities since losing Smoot. Harris may be able to start but neither Harris nor Springs are very young. We need a young corner to come in and start at nickel and eventually be groomed to take over on one of the islands. I would also be happy with Antrell Rolle (cb Miami) or Carlos Rodgers (cb Auburn) at this selection, but Rolle will be taken by Tenneseee at #6 and Jones is a better all around corner then Rogers.

Top 5 reasons to take Jones at #9

1.) The guy is pure speed.

Jones is listed as 5’ 9.5” and that may be generous. However he makes up for his size with an incredible closing burst. It may be a bit of a reach to compare him to Darrell Green but he is a corner back in his mode. Many people rate him as one of the fastest in the draft and he certainly played that way when the pads were on. With the New NFL rules speed and cover ability are going to mean more then size and strength. Jones may be the best there.

2.) An athletic tough tackler

He led his team with 76 tackles in 2004, 3 for a loss. He will remind some people of Smoot because he is not afraid to give up his body to make the play. He closes well and has pretty good wrap technique and doesn’t miss in the open field. He is also known for a bit of a nasty streak and explodes into hits. With run support a need for a Williams CB this could be a great addition to our D. He even had 2 sacks so he can blitz as well.

3.) Special Teams Special Teams Special Teams

If Jones starts out in the nickel, as he probably would, he could become our primary kick returner allowing us to save a couple of roster spots and some cap room by cutting Chad Morton and possibly Antonio Brown. Jones averaged 23.4 yards on kick returns and 14.8 yards on punt returns with a touchdown last year. He was feared every time the ball was kicked to him, and that is after playing defense full time.

4.) More corners the better

With Springs and Harris manning down the starting spot and up and comer Wilds able to play nickel it would almost seem a luxury to select Jones. Almost. In today’s NFL you are going with 3 corners almost 50% of the time and many times you need 4. Plus Springs and Harris are getting up in age and injuries will necessitate a deep bench. After Wilds there is no one worth starting on the Redskin roster, and Wilds is not proven yet. Not only will Jones help us this year he is a great addition for years to come.

5.) “Pac-Man”

I really ran out of things to say here. But you gotta love the nickname. Perhaps we could adopt other 80’s video games for our defensive backfield. Walter “Dig Dug” Harris, Sean “Donkey Kong” Taylor, Matt “Missle Command” Bowen, Sean “Centipede” Springs, and of course Garnell “Q-bert” Wilds.

At #25 Heath Miller TE Virginia

It is a toss up between Matt Jones and Heath Miller for me. I have always advocated Miller should be selected after a trade down. Ironically I am advocating now after a trade up. We will get the best value for our pick selecting “Big Money”. Ironically both Miller and Jones are converted QBs. The difference is that Miller has played TE for his entire collegiate career. Jones is a raw athletic talent; however he has no real position and is probably more of a WR or H-back then TE. Miller has all the tools and would instantly improve our offense.

Top 5 Reasons to select Miller at #25.

1.) Importance of TE in the modern NFL

With the NFL cracking down on the 5 yard duck and chuck rules the TE has virtually exploded onto the NFL scene. A good receiving TE is now taking the place of the old Art Monk-type possession receivers. Why throw a lanky 6’ wide receiver over the middle when you can send a tank with soft hands there instead. Linebackers must now account for these behemoths before blitzing. CBs are overmatched by their power and if you assign a safety to them your wide outs can burn them for a TD.

TEs are also main run blockers, especially in the Gibbs offense. With the TE lining up next to Jon Jansen at Right Tackle and Randy Thomas at Right guard a majority of the time you can bet Gibbs is going to send a RB that way. The TE is one of the only positions on offense that participate directly in about every offensive play. Whether it is receiving, pass blocking, or run blocking the person playing it should be incredibly talented.

2.) The Redskins need an upgrade at TE.

This should not even be in dispute but yet it is. Part of that is that many Redskin fans don’t understand the Gibbs offense. The base formation of the Redskin offense are 5 down linemen, a QB under center, 2 Wide Outs, A TE lined up on the line, and an H-back that is often in motion lining upon on the line, in the backfield, and sometimes at WR. Many fans point immediately to Cooley as a reason we don’t need a TE, but Cooley plays the role of H-Back, and plays it well. Putting him on the line all the time would limit negate his speed.

That leaves us with Royal as our starting TE and that is not good enough. In the modern NFL your TE should not only be able to act like a 6th lineman but be able to separate and be a receiving threat as well. Royal is only an average receiver and is a below average blocker. Miller is an instant upgrade and will be a starter from day 1 of training camp.

3.) Miller is the Best TE in the draft

Not only is he the best, there is a large drop off after him. Miller led Virginia in receiving the last two years. He won the Mackey Award for best TE in the country in 2004. He was an All-American and All-Conference player each of the last two years. He has consistently played at a high level and is unanimously projected as a first round pick. His freshman year (2002) he had 33 catches for 327 yards (9.9 YPC) and 9 TDs. His sophomore year he had 70 catches for 835 yards (11.9 YPC) and 6 TDs. He dropped down a bit in 2004 but posted 41 catches for 541 yards (13.2 YPC) and 5 TDs but that could be because he had an inferior QB throwing to him. Regardless though his YPC increased each and every year.

Many people point to Heath’s injury as a possible reason not to take him. If it was not for his injury we would be easily talking about him in the top 15 of the draft. The injury is said to be healed by training camp. This is the same player who did not miss a game for his three active seasons, starting every game at TE from 2002-2004 for the Cavaliers. This injury is a fluke and not indicative of anything. He could be the most complete TE to come out in the last three years, blocking as well as receiving.

4.) Miller’s skills will immediately improve every phase of our beleaguered offense.

I truly think that offense is the number 1 priority for us this off-season. I know that we are lacking at CB but Springs, Harris, and Wilds are adequate corners in my opinion and can serve us well this year. Lemar Marshall will spend time learning the MLB position. Other then that we will be returning the same #3 defense in the league last year. Another year familiarity with the Williams D will far outweigh the lack of 2 minor players. Add to that the likely return of Lavar Arrington and Michael Barrow and the D can really be a force to reckon with.

So the question is how we fix the offense. We went out and addressed the WR situation, we upgraded the Center position. Now we need to take care of TE. Miller’s receiving skills are superior to not only the TEs on our team but many of the receiver’s as well. ESPN has postulated that perhaps Miller has the best hands in the draft. That is saying something. With smurfs at our starting WR we need a big target to go over the middle. Cooley and Miller can serve those roles.

Miller’s technically sound blocking skills can be used as well in both the passing and running games. He won ACC lineman of the week 4 times last year and 13 times over his career. Not bad for a TE. He needs to bulk up but has the frame to do so. He can get to the LBs and create room for Portis to spring one to the house. He can also pick up blitzing LBs with Ramsey in their target sites. Goal line situation immediately improve as well with Portis or Betts running behind Cooley to the right with Jansen Thomas and Miller there.

5.) Miller’s versatility will confuse opposing defenses and create mismatches.

There is an argument out there that we could just supplement our TE needs with lower round picks. They suggest taking a slobber knocker in the lower rounds to act as a blocking TE and let Royal line up in passing situations. This is failed logic at best. First off if our slobber knocker was in the game the LB and safety could virtually ignore cover responsibilities on him and can guess that is a run play. When Royal is in they can slide coverage over to accommodate him and perhaps send blitzers assuming it is a pass play. Sure Gibbs will throw in a couple of misdirection plays but that is only a couple times a game and you are playing against the strength of your personnel on the field. A TE capable of doing all three options, run blocking, pass blocking, and receiving will never tip off the defense and constantly keep them guessing.

Miller as a receiver also poses multiple dilemmas. Most defenses only have one cover LB. With Cooley and Miller on the field together and many times on opposite sides the LB will have to choose. The other player will either be covered by the strong safety or a nickel back. Both Cooley and Miller can school 75% of the line backers in the league. And both can use their size on any nickel back to get the catch and move the chains. This will mean both safeties will either be occupied by the duo of Cooley or Miller and one of our Wide Receivers will be open or we can move the sticks by hitting underneath patterns to our wide bodies.

So unless there are anymore blockbuster trades. That is my suggestion for the first round of the draft. In just a few days we will stop the guessing and start the second guessing. And it can’t come soon enough. We will finally start to see more or less what we have this year and look forward to training camp battles.

Bring on the draft I am ready to go.

The Case For Heath Miller

It is almost here. The annual guessing game of who is going where and what last minute trades will happen by the end of the weekend. And it seems every year we discuss the draft ad nauseum, in particular our first round pick. Last year we had the luxury of actually having definitive sides to choose. You were either in the Sean Taylor camp as I was, or in the Kevin Winslow, II camp. The debate waged on right up until draft day and for a few days afterwards.

However this year we are not so lucky. Not only is our pick a few rungs lower then last year’s we are completely unsure of who is going to be left let alone who we are going to pick. And though I have my own favorite as the title of this article suggest I too would be truly happy with a number of players. If we pick at #9 I would have no argument with the selection of any of these players: Mike Williams (WR, USC), Braylon Edwards (WR, Michigan), Antrell Rolle (CB, Miami), Adam “Pac Man” Jones (CB, W. Virginia), Carlos Rogers (CB, Auburn) or Troy Williams (WR, South Carolina). And if we trade down I would be happy with any number of other players, including Shawn Merriman (DE Maryland), Fabian Washington (CB, Nebraska), Erasmus James (DE, Wisconsin), & Matt Jones (WR, Arkansas). Any of these ten players will be immediate upgrades at their positions and put us in a better position to win next year.

But there is only one choice in this writer’s mind that can immediately solidify a position where there is desperate need, and that is Heath Miller (TE, Virginia). Now I know my views on this are well known on this board. In fact many of you may be waiting for Draft Day just so I will shut up on this. And I promise you after draft day if the Redskins do not select Miller I will (unless he is offensive rookie of the year and then I may write a “told you so” article). When Gibbs makes his selection I will be behind it and look forward to the season.

However there are a few days left for me to convince you. So I will now lay out the case for Heath Miller and give you five reasons you should be clamoring for this pick.

#1 Importance of TE in the modern NFL

With the NFL cracking down on the 5 yard duck and chuck rules the TE has virtually exploded onto the NFL scene. A good receiving TE is now taking the place of the old Art Monk-type possession receivers. Why throw a lanky 6’ wide receiver over the middle when you can send a tank with soft hands there instead. Linebackers must now account for these behemoths before blitzing. CBs are overmatched by their power and if you assign a safety to them your wide outs can burn them for a TD.

TEs are also main run blockers, especially in the Gibbs offense. With the TE lining up next to Jon Jansen at Right Tackle and Randy Thomas at Right guard a majority of the time you can bet Gibbs is going to send a RB that way. The TE is one of the only positions on offense that participate directly in about every offensive play. Whether it is receiving, pass blocking, or run blocking the person playing it should be incredibly talented.

#2 The Redskins need an upgrade at TE.

This should not even be in dispute but yet it is. Part of that is that many Redskin fans don’t understand the Gibbs offense. The base formation of the Redskin offense are 5 down linemen, a QB under center, 2 Wide Outs, A TE lined up on the line, and an H-back that is often in motion lining upon on the line, in the backfield, and sometimes at WR. Many fans point immediately to Cooley as a reason we don’t need a TE, but Cooley plays the role of H-Back, and plays it well. Putting him on the line all the time would limit negate his speed.

That leaves us with Royal as our starting TE and that is not good enough. In the modern NFL your TE should not only be able to act like a 6th lineman but be able to separate and be a receiving threat as well. Royal is only an average receiver and is a below average blocker. Miller is an instant upgrade and will be a starter from day 1 of training camp.

#3 Miller is the Best TE in the draft

Not only is he the best, there is a large drop off after him. Miller led Virginia in receiving the last two years. He won the Mackey Award for best TE in the country in 2004. He was an All-American and All-Conference player each of the last two years. He has consistently played at a high level and is unanimously projected as a first round pick. His freshman year (2002) he had 33 catches for 327 yards (9.9 YPC) and 9 TDs. His sophomore year he had 70 catches for 835 yards (11.9 YPC) and 6 TDs. He dropped down a bit in 2004 but posted 41 catches for 541 yards (13.2 YPC) and 5 TDs but that could be because he had an inferior QB throwing to him. Regardless though his YPC increased each and every year.

Many people point to Heath’s injury as a possible reason not to take him. If it was not for his injury we would be easily talking about him in the top 15 of the draft. The injury is said to be healed by training camp. This is the same player who did not miss a game for his three active seasons, starting every game at TE from 2002-2004 for the Cavaliers. This injury is a fluke and not indicative of anything. He could be the most complete TE to come out in the last three years, blocking as well as receiving.

#4 Miller’s skills will immediately improve every phase of our beleaguered offense.

I truly think that offense is the number 1 priority for us this off-season. I know that we are lacking at CB but Springs, Harris, and Wilds are adequate corners in my opinion and can serve us well this year. Lemar Marshall will spend time learning the MLB position. Other then that we will be returning the same #3 defense in the league last year. Another year familiarity with the Williams D will far outweigh the lack of 2 minor players. Add to that the likely return of Lavar Arrington and Michael Barrow and the D can really be a force to reckon with.

So the question is how do we fix the offense. We went out and addressed the WR situation, we upgraded the Center position. Now we need to take care of TE. Miller’s receiving skills are superior to not only the TEs on our team but many of the receiver’s as well. ESPN has postulated that perhaps Miller has the best hands in the draft. That is saying something. With smurfs at our starting WR we need a big target to go over the middle. Cooley and Miller can serve those roles.

Miller’s technically sound blocking skills can be used as well in both the passing and running games. He won ACC lineman of the week 4 times last year and 13 times over his career. Not bad for a TE. He needs to bulk up but has the frame to do so. He can get to the LBs and create room for Portis to spring one to the house. He can also pick up blitzing LBs with Ramsey in their target sites. Goal line situation immediately improve as well with Portis or Betts running behind Cooley to the right with Jansen Thomas and Miller there.

#5 Miller’s versatility will confuse opposing defenses and create mismatches.

There is an argument out there that we could just supplement our TE needs with lower round picks. They suggest taking a slobber knocker in the lower rounds to act as a blocking TE and let Royal line up in passing situations. This is failed logic at best. First off if our slobber knocker was in the game the LB and safety could virtually ignore cover responsibilities on him and can guess that is a run play. When Royal is in they can slide coverage over to accommodate him and perhaps send blitzers assuming it is a pass play. Sure Gibbs will throw in a couple of misdirection plays but that is only a couple times a game and you are playing against the strength of your personnel on the field. A TE capable of doing all three options, run blocking, pass blocking, and receiving will never tip off the defense and constantly keep them guessing.

Miller as a receiver also poses multiple dilemmas. Most defenses only have one cover LB. With Cooley and Miller on the field together and many times on opposite sides the LB will have to choose. The other player will either be covered by the strong safety or a nickel back. Both Cooley and Miller can school 75% of the line backers in the league. And both can use their size on any nickel back to get the catch and move the chains. This will mean both safeties will either be occupied by the duo of Cooley or Miller and one of our Wide Receivers will be open or we can move the sticks by hitting underneath patterns to our wide bodies.

I have always advocated that Miller should be selected only after a trade down. I also have recently come to the conclusion that a trade down was preferable no matter what player was drafted. However if no adequate trade down partner can be found I would still be happy if the Redskins selected Miller at #9. Last year the argument against Taylor was that safety is not a position that should be chosen that high. Now I hear the same argument against Miller this year. I think Miller could be our final cog in the offensive machine as Taylor was to the defense last year.

But until then it is all a guessing game. And soon the guessing will be over and we will know who our first round pick is and what the rest of our roster will look like. But until then I am backing Heath Miller.

Vision Quest: Redskin Draft Day Strategy

I don’t believe in mock drafts. I don’t. I like reading them mind you, but I just don’t think it is an accurate prognostication of how Draft Day will play out. A variety of transactions can happen including player for player trades, moving down, moving up, draftee swaps, and trading future picks for current players. The best you can do going into the draft is to have a plan. So with that in mind I decided to lay out a draft plan for the Redskins if I were the GM.

Overall strategy

Over the last 3 weeks I have analyzed where we are as a team and knowing our holes we can now move forward with the draft. I have surmised there are four glaring position needs of the Redskins. In order they are TE, DC, DE, and WR. However the Redskins may not actually address all these needs in order. Talent, depth, and player availability will make the Redskins change on the fly. For the Redskins to have a successful draft then they must address these four positions in the draft, and preferably before the end of the third round.


Goal#1: Trade Down

Sounds simple but it may not be so. The number 9 pick is not nearly as valuable this draft as others. But with 4 positions of great to moderate need and only 2 picks in the first round it is imperative we get this done. Recent developments may have opened up our options. Lavar’s second surgery now makes it “feasible” that the Redskins can take Derrick Johnson or Shawn Merriman if both Antrell Rolle (Miami) and Adam Jones (W. Va.) are drafted. And even if Mike Williams (USC) and Braylon Edwards (Michigan) are gone we could pick Troy Williamson (S. Carolina) and it would not be considered a stretch at WR. This feasibility is a big thing in getting the best value at trading down.

There are several viable trade down options. But I think the most plausible trade down situation that gives us the most value for our pick is trading our number #9 for the Vikings #18 and #49. This will allow the Vikings to get Mike Williams (USC) at #7 and Derrick Johnson (Texas) at #9. They have a ton of cap room and these are their two biggest wholes. They instantly upgrade and replace Moss and help their beleaguered defense at the same time. Washington drops a bit, saves on a big contract, and picks up a second rounder.

Goal#2: Selection after trade down

Wherever the Redskins trade down to they should probably select the best talent available. In my mind that is Heath Miller (Virginia) at TE. Miller immediately becomes a starter and allows us to fill our last remaining need on offense. Other possibilities are Carlos Rogers (Auburn) at DC, Mark Clayton (Oklahoma) at WR, or Erasmus James (Wisconsin) at DE. I would entertain further trade downs but we won’t see a repeat of the 2002 draft where multiple trade downs can net multiple picks. The talent drops off after selection #7 and stays pretty constant until the middle of the second round.

Goal#3: Second Round Selection

Any trade down scenario should result in a second round pick. This pick should balance out what is selected in the first round. If Offense is selected, such as TE or WR, then Defense should be selected here. And vice versa. If we are looking at defense here you need to select the top rated DC or DE on the board, possibilities include Justin Tuck (Notre Dame) and Chris Canty (Virginia) at DE and Eric Green (Va. Tech) and Corey Webster (Louisiana State) at DC. If you are looking at offense then possibilities Reggie Brown (Georgia) and Roscoe Parrish (Miami) at WR and Alex Smith (Stanford) at TE.

Goal #4: Trade Gardner for a Third Rounder on Draft Day (or before)

Another goal that may be easier said then done. However when the teams make their accustomed run on WR in the second round all of a sudden Gardner for their third might not look like a bad idea. By the end of the second round this should be able to be done. Tampa Bay may take a bite at Gardner and the same with San Diego if they miss out on a WR in the first couple of rounds. Pittsburgh could be a trading partner as well. This may be the best 3rd round draft in recent memory. So getting a 2nd pick in this round is crucial.

Goal#5: Using the Third Round Picks.

With two of the four needed positions taken care of in the first round, it is time to look at the other two. By the end of the third round we could address all of our needs and then be able to speculate with the final 3 picks we have. So here are a few possibilities for each of the four positions we need:

WR: JR Russell (Louisville), Courtney Roby (Indiana)

TE: Kevin Everett (Miami), Tony Jackson (Iowa)

DE: Jovan Haye (Vanderbilt), George Gause (S. Carolina)

DC: Ronald Bartell, Jr. (Howard), Stanley Wilson (Stanford)

Goal#6: 4th Round Get a QB

If all our needs are addressed before now, this is a great time to take a project at QB. This guy should be willing to battle for 3rd string this year and maybe sit on the practice squad. Then next year after a year of learning the system he can battle for backup next year and if Ramsey falters possible succession. Stefan Laflors (Lousiville) may be the perfect prospect here. He can add depth to the QB corp and push Brunell next year and maybe even Ramsey. Ryan Fitzpatrick (Harvard) should be on our radar as well.
Goal #7: Offensive line help at #5 & #7

Getting a young interior offensive lineman at the remaining picks will give us added depth and youth along the line. These youngsters can figth it out with Raymer and Freidman to make the roster and give Bugle another couple of young guys to pare with Molinaro and Wilson from last year’s draft. It’s too far along in the draft to look at prospects but a guard and a center is needed here or a couple of combo guys. Tackles are all set with Molinaro Wilson and Brown continuing backup roles. Another Possibility is a young DT to try and make the 4th DT spot. If someone of real talent drops to 5 we could go there.

Backup Plan #1: No Trade Down Partner

Like any plan you must have a backup. The plan hinges upon the trading down of our first pick and it is possible that no one will give up enough to make it worth our while. So if no one is willing to trade up to #9 we will have to pick their. My position on this has always been consistent. If one of our four main prospects, Edwards, Rolle, “Pac-Man” Jones, or Mike Williams then you got to either select them or try and trade down. So if no trade down partner is present you have to select one of those four.

If all four are gone, which is extremely possible, and no trade down partners are present then we have to look at Shawn Merriman, Troy Williamson, or Heath Miller. I think Miller would be the best choice but Williamson is the more likely choice here.

Backup Plan #2: No Trade Partner for Gardner

Gardner is in a “gots to go” situation. IF he is not traded here, try and trade for future picks. Otherwise he is a June 1, 2005 cut. My guess is there are a few fourth round offers out there and we should take one of them near the end of the third round if we can not get rid of Rod before then. No lower though, and no lower then a third next year if future picks are offered. Otherwise let him hit the market and get the full cap savings of a June 1, 2005 release.


So that is it. That’s the plan. Just 10 days to go till the draft and a ton can change. But this is the best case scenario for making our team better this year and for years to come.

A reading from the Book of Gibbs Chapter 4 verse 12

Pestilence and famine where in the air. The mighty warrior who fought hard to overcome his failings had fallen once again. The young and the proud that once served as the hope against the Eagle, The Giants, and the Cowboys of the land were missing and had headed south. The Redskin multitude were scared and cried out for help and in pain.

When Dustin heard the cries of his bretheren he turned to the Lord

“Oh Lord. The Redskins faithful are so confused. Can you in your infinite wisdom shed some light onto the masses?”

So Dustin sat and after several minutes the Lord spoke to him

“My Son you will be my intstrument to speak to the masses and bring the light of knowledge to the Redskin faithful. Speak to them, tell them of my Glory and give them these Redskin 2005 Draft Day commandments”

Then a bolt of lightning shot from the sprinkler system in Dustin’s office and burned the following commandments into his desk.

Commandment 1: Thou shall not sign over priced veterans at a corner back. Thou has two capable starters now and thy draft is plentiful in CB talent.
Commandment 2: Thou shall not entertain thoughts of drafting up. Though does not have the talent or picks in thy bounty to attain such a lofty perch.

Comandment 3: Thou shall not be fooled by the workout warrior. Many a team gave into the temptation of great numbers and fell into everlasting torment from the gold shelled out to these false knaves.

Commandment 4: Thou shall not let injuries determine your first round pick. Thou shall give time to those who require time and remember through unity and faith though can overcome your adverseries.

Commandment 5: Thou shall make character matter. Many charletons were selected promising to perform miracles. They shall leave town in the middle of night with your gold and your hopes.

Commandment 6: Thou shall look at trading down. Reap the seeds of yor investment and remember many that are strong can overcome few who are proud.

Commandment 7: Thou shall remember where thou is weak and address that in the draft but not to the exclusion of talented others. Except of course if Heath Miller is available for he is a stud and even I can see that.

Commandment 8: Thou shall not barter with the wicked ones. For every trade you make your enemy grows stronger.

Commandment 9: Thou shall get rid of any useless person. But wait until draft day and get the best offer. Otherwise the cord of wood shall be thrown in the fire.

Commandment 10: Trust in Gibbs for he is good.

Dustin wept at the news he received and promised to send it out to the world.

Akhhorous and CNYSkinFan Debate Series: 4th Round Draft Prospects

Akh on Adrian McPherson QB: my views are well known on this prospect. Im not going to belabor the point so I’m going to post something useful:

Neapolitan Soup Ingredients: Fowl, potato flour, eggs, Bechamel sauce, peas, asparagus, spinach, clear soup. Mix a quarter pound of forcemeat of fowl with a tablespoonful of potato flour, a tablespoonful of Bechamel sauce, and the yolk of an egg; put this into a tube about the size round of an ordinary macaroni; twenty minutes before serving squirt the forcemeat into a saucepan with boiling stock, and nip off the forcemeat as it comes through the pipe into pieces about an inch and a half long. Let it simmer, and add boiled peas and asparagus tips. If you like to have the fowl macaroni white and green, you can colour half the forcemeat with a spoonful of spinach colouring. Serve in a good clear soup.

CNYSkinFan on Adrian McPherson: I don’t understand why so many Redskin Fans love this guy. I know he has a ton of talent but his character issues smack of problem child. This is a Joe Gibbs team and yes in the past he has had characters like Riggins and Manley on the team. But QB is a leadership position and you just don’t put some potential cancer into the position because he can run and throw well. Not to mention that a mobile QB has never fit the Gibbs offense. This has pass written all over it.

Akh on George Gause De South Carolina: a physical project, but with a ton of upside. He’s big, strong and fast. 6-5 280ish and once ran a 4.52. He runs around a 4.7-4.9 now, but he’s still big. The problem with him was that he never really put it together in college and dominated. It could because they kept moving him from OLB to DE and back, but he’s not a instant player in the NFL. In the right system, without being asked to be the man, this could be a good pick.

CNYSkinFan on George Gause: An interesting prospect and maybe a good 4th round pick. He could be what the Redskins need and need what the Redskins can offer. Gause has a lot of athleticism and talent. However he also is slow to recognize a play as it develops or locate the ball. A year of tutelage is what is needed and he could learn n a lot from Daniels and Wynn.

Akh on Larry Brackins WR Pearl River CC: Very raw prospect who dominated and has amazing physical ability. Another guy who needs to be in the right situation and not be asked to instantly contribute. however, as at most, a Z wideout his rookie year, he could develop into a great player. A lot of risk here.

CNYSkinFan on Larry Brackins: A lot of risk but a lot of upside. Amazing physical ability but never played at top level. 4th round is a little too high for this kind of risk at least this year. IF he slips to 5 or 7 he might be worth a shot.

Akh on Stephan LeFlors QB Louisville: another darling of HR. Interesting and productive player, but not as tall as you like, nor as strong an arm. A project at best, but might be worth looking at. but you cant expect much from him.

CNYSkinFan on Stephen LeFlors: Gibbs likes this guy, flew out personally to the Louisville pro-day to watch him. Very accurate passer and great in the short game. Arm is not the best for the long throws and is not very Mobile. He is also shorter then your average QB. He may be worth the risk though especially since he won’t be asked to contribute immediately.

Akh’s Recommendation: So much depends on who the skins draft before this pick, but it would obviously be for the position(s) that werent addressed earlier. But just on sheer ability, the best pick would be Brackins. Not Soup Boy. Gause, if the skins are looking to address a need and havent drafted a DE yet.

CNYSkinFan’s Recommendation: Take Stephan Leflors. If Ramsey is not the guy, we need to draft a young guy this year and let him battle with Hasselbeck and either be 3rd string or spend a year on the practice squad. Once on the team he can learn the offense and take over next year, if Ramsey falters, and be the backup if Ramsey does well. He is the perfect choice at QB since it won’t immediately cause a QB controversy.

Henry trade to AZ could be detrimental to Skins

The long rumored now probable trade of Henry from Buffalo to AZ for LJ Shelton could have a huge effect on the Washington Redskins. Arizona picks #8 and has long been thought to take one of the top 3 RBS, however with the trade it is now more likely they will pick CB then before.
Why does this effect washington you ask? Well I am glad you did. Many people have said on here that we should pick one of four players Edwards, Williams, Rolle or Pac Man. Well with this trade the nightmare scenario I have talked about where none are available becomes an increasing possibility. Here is how I see it:

CHI takes Braylon Edwards at #4
TN takes Adam “Pac-Man” Jones at #6
MN takes Mike Williams at #7
AZ takes Antrell Rolle at #8

This is bad on so many levels. I know many of you will just say “well just trade down then". But why would anyone trade up to #9? Sure a quality RB will be there, probably Cedric Benson out of Texas, But I don’t know a team that is going to give up alot to trade up to that spot when RB is so deep in this draft. In fact Cedric could drop a LONNG way. No other team was thought to be targeting a running back in the first round. He may get picked up by Detroit at 10 but that is not a lock and away he could plummet.

Vision Quest: Pre-Draft Roster Analysis: Special Teams

In an effort to assess our draft needs I am continuing my positional analysis of the current Redskin roster. This week I am focusing on the Special Teams, having done the offense and Defense last week. Rarely will you ever draft a player for Special Teams however specific holes in Returners, Kickers, and Punters sometimes require late round draft choice.

Special Teams

Special Teams: This was an inconsistent group of players for the Redskins. Some areas such as the Punting unit, Kickoff Coverage, and Punt Coverage did well. However the Field Goal unit, as well as both Punt and Kickoff return was inconsistent at best. Part of the inconsistency was due to injuries as John Hall was down for a long period of time. Also as injuries piled up on the offensive and defensive side of the ball the special team unit comprised of backups lost many of their contributors to regular team play. As always ** indicates a player picked up through free agency.

Position Analysis

Punting Unit

Main Contributors: Tom Tupa, Punter

Main Role Players: James Thrash, Mike Sellers, Pierson Prioleau**, Taylor Jacobs, Ethan Albright

Analysis: Washington was second overall in number of punts last year with a whopping 103. If there is any surprise to that it would be that they weren’t first. However this would have been a total disaster for the team if it was not for the strong play of its Punt Coverage Unit. And that all starts with the Punter Tom Tupa. Tupa had a Pr-Bowl year even if the voters did not agree. He took all the snaps for his team and averaged 44.1 yards per punt, third in the league and first in the NFC.
However Punt Coverage was not always up to par. The net average for Washington fell to 35.2, ranking a measly 21st. Some would say that the punter out punted his coverage, but I would say it is the coverage’s responsibility to get down the field no matter how far the punter booted it. The Redskins gave up one td on punt coverage, and it might have been the most decisive play in that loss.
James Thrash and Taylor Jacobs did well on coffin corner punts downing several inside the 5. And with more consistency and the addition of Pierson Prioleau the coverage should get better. Look for Danny Smith to really look at this area for extra practice in the off-season.

Draft Outlook: No need to draft a Punter even though Tupa is getting a little long in the tooth. Perhaps sign a UFA punter to compete in camp and play on the practice squad as an insurance settlement.


Field Goal Unit

Main Contributors: John Hall, Kicker & Jeff Chandler, Kicker

Main Role Players: Ethan Albright, Tom Tupa

Analysis: John Hall had an injury filled season that really affected our kicking game. With Hall injured or out the Redskins had major trouble hitting field goals in the 40-50 yard range (3/7) and over 50 yards (0/3). Considering John Hall was signed to hit the long field goal it is hard not to consider this a total disaster.
Ola Kimrin was filing in for Hall but was unsuccessful at hitting the long field goal. When he went back to Sweden and Hall got injured again Kimrin could not get a Visa in time to get back to DC. This made the Redskins turn to 49er cast off Jeff Chandler. In limited attempts Chandler was erratic missing 2 field goals in the 30-39 range but connecting on a 49 yarder. Chandler though impressed coaches and was resigned as an insurance policy for next season.

Draft Outlook: Hall’s injury is scary but not enough to draft a kicker, this year anyways. If Hall has struggles this year he will be cut and unless Chandler can prove he is the kicker to replace him, and there really is no indication that will happen, the Redskins could look to the 2006 draft for an answer. The Redskins will stand pat for now and hope Hall heals his leg injury.

Kickoff Coverage

Main Contributors: John Hall, Kicker & Jeff Chandler, Kicker

Main Role Players: James Thrash, Mike Sellers, Pierson Prioleau**, Taylor Jacobs,

Analysis: Washington ranked #13 in kickoff return defense holding teams to an average of 21.9 yards. However that masks the real problem with the unit. The kickers were dead last in kickoff yards only averaging 58.4 yards per kickoff and only 3 touchbacks all season long. That gives the opposing team a decided advantage in field position. Of course Washington was second last in total kickoffs. Again the only surprising thing there is we weren’t first.
The sole touchdown return came in the second Giants game and was the only real breakdown of the game and did not result in altering the outcome. There were some silly fouls all year long, but overall the coverage did well for the position they were put in.

Draft Outlook: Again Pierson should help on coverage but nothing will help if Hall is injured. One of his greatest assets was his ability to boot it on kickoffs. Chandler just doesn’t have that type of leg.

Kickoff Return

Main Contributors: Antonio Brown, Ladell Betts, Chad Morton

Main Role Players: James Thrash, Mike Sellers, Pierson Prioleau**, Taylor Jacobs,

Analysis: In 2003 the Redskins gave up a ton of cash, a draft pick, and had to go to an arbitrator to wrest Chad Morton away from the NY Jets in an effort to shore up its return game. However it looks as if Morton may be a bust. Sure he is pretty good looking for the ladies and perhaps that is why he finds the sideline just about every time he got his hands on a return last year.
However he got injured midway through last year and James Thrash took over return duties full time. Thrash was serviceable but he did not produce a real spark. The Redskins are going to probably look long and hard at Brown at KO return duties. The only one he got his hands on he took 66 yards downfield. Betts is a good lead blocker and after posting a 70 yard return will keep other teams from kicking away all game.

Draft Outlook: Not a priority for the Skins through the draft or free agency. Morton and Brown are going to battle for primary return duties with the other being cut. Betts will probably continue as the lead blocker type return man with Thrash being a good backup.

Punt Return

Main Contributors: Antonio Brown, Chad Morton

Main Role Players: James Thrash, Mike Sellers, Pierson Prioleau**, Taylor Jacobs, Santana Moss**, Andre Lott

Analysis: The punt return team did fairly well but also fell victim to Morton’s ineffectiveness. When Antonio Brown came in he did well but Washington finished well under the league average. Morton looked for the sideline right away and averaged only 6.9 per return. Thrash again came in after the injury and did well averaging 8.5 per return. Brown showed promise at the end of the year but his Dallas fumble leaves question in this writer’s mind on whether he can handle the duties full time. The signing of Santana Moss could serve as a pinch-hitter type of returner when we need to go for the homerun.
The Redskins had a punt block returned for a touchdown last year courtesy of Andre Lott. He will be back this year and the addition of Prioleau again could show benefits here as well.

Draft outlook: Again, not a priority for the Skins through the draft or free agency. Morton and Brown are going to battle for primary return duties with the other being cut. The coverage unit will be comprised of the backups and a few special teams only players. However any one being drafted 6th or 7th round should be able to contribute here, as well as any UFA.

Akhhorus and CNYSkinFan Debate Series: 3rd Round draft prospects

Since the Redskins currently have no 2nd Round draft pick Akhhorus and CNYSkinFan discuss possible prospects who may be available when the Redskins pick in the third round (#12/76th overall)

Ronald Bartell, Cb Howard

Akh on Bartell: A very interesting, but raw prospect. He might be a very good choice for the skins in the 3rd round(if he lasts that long). Considering the skins have Walt Harris; he wont be asked to be the starter, just the nickel back. I like his size and speed; but my only question is his rawness. He didnt play big time CFB, and how would he do against top competition. However, I think he would be a good choice.

CNYSkinFan on Bartell: This guy has a boat load of physical talent. He runs well, plays physical and plants and breaks on the ball. The problem is that he comes from a smaller school and his talent is raw. He did not do well against top flight competition at the Senior Bowl. However all the physical tools are there. This could be a good prospect to see time at the Dime back and learn under GW for a year.

Kevin Everett TE Miami

Akh on Everett: Big, Fast, good hands. But some questions with injuries and chracter issues. As a pure prospect, great value for the 3rd round. The question is keeping him on the field and focused. He also only played one year as the starter, so his rawness is evident.

CNYSkinFan on Everett: This writers view on our TE play is well known to the members of hR. If we do not get Heath Miller in the first round Everett may be the only choice when we pick in the third. Everett is big and fast and has the tools to block well. However he has been known to have attitude problems and his hands are not the greatest in the world. He could be our starting TE on opening day or just as likely ride the pine as a third stringer. One year as a starter does not give us a lot of information about him but he did fill in well enough to make the Canes forget about KW II.

Lofa Tatupa LB USC

Akh on Tatupu: Big time player for a big time program. A leader who does everything right on and off the field. However, he is small and not super fast. He might be someone GW can mold into a good player, but he might have to make his mark on Special teams first.

CNYSkinFan on Tatupu: A tweener back. He is really more of a weakside linebacker then a middle linebacker, however his coverage skills are sub-par. In the Williams D all three linebackers are asked to perform coverage. I am not sure where he fits in on our team. He could sit for a year on the bench and learn the weakside behind Lavar or the Middle behind Lemar and/or Barrow.

JR Russell WR Louisville

Akh on Russel: Big, strong, good hands, good leaping ability, productive in a pro style system. Not as fast as you’d like. He’s a prototypical Y Wideout in the NFL. Good value here, I cant find major problems with him outside his speed and quickness. But with Moss on one side, he has to be the Y, not the X.

CNYSkinFan on Russell: If the Redskins want to upgrade the WR corp and can not in the first round then Russell may be the last chance to do so in the third. He is a big bodied possession receiver and could pair well with our speedy small receivers. In the past he has had work ethic issues but seems to have resolved it.

Recomendations

Akh on Recommendation: Assuming Carlos Rodgers or another CB is taken by the Skins in the first round–the best choice would be to draft JR Russell or Kevin Everett. Either one will contribute immediately to the offense and both have “draft steal” written all over them.

CNYSKinFan Recommendation: It all depends on what the Redskins do in the first round of the draft. If they go with Heath Miller and cannot pick up another corner as part of a trade down then the Redskins should take Bartell and let him learn for a year under GW. IF TE is not addressed in the first round Everett should be looked at.

Akhhorus and CNYSkinFan Debate Series: 1st Round draft prospects

Akh on Shawne Merriman DE Maryland: My opinions are clear on Merriman. He is an interesting talent, but I dont think he’s worth a top 15 pick. Too many questions linger when going over his file. I dont like workout warriors, he should have stayed smaller and tried to play LB in a 3-4 or slimmed down a bit and played OLB in the 43. I dont think he has the proper frame for DE in the NFL. The comparisons with Kearse are flawed; Kearse ran a 4.4 at the workouts, at his best Merriman runs around a 4.7(and that was on a fast track). He’s too risky a pick for my tastes. With his play in college and his measurables, he is almost identical in many ways to DE Cedric Jones, another good (but not great) college player who rose up the draft thanks to hype and workouts and went in the Top Ten a few years ago. The Giants took him thinking he was a diamond, and he turned out to be Zirconia. He had 4 total sacks in his 5 year career.

CNYSkinFan on Shawn Merriman DE Maryland: This could be an interesting pick. Merriman has been heralded as a “freak” type defensive end. A speed rusher that can use his smaller size to blow past tackles ala Javon Kearse. However Merriman may be too small to do this. He would be a great late 1st round gamble but not necessarily a top ten pick. Of course picking him at #9 may be a stretch but it would probably result in two things, an eventual starter at defensive end and pissing off Cowboy Fans who would love to have him when they pick.

Akh on Antrell Rolle CB Miami: My opinions are also clear on Rolle. Yes, he’s had a great workout and posted good combine numbers, but his play definitly suffered last year as compared to 2003. If he came out in 03, he would have been a justifable top ten pick; I think he will be a top ten pick this year, but he shouldnt. My biggest warning signs with him are that when he team needed him to shut down wideouts last year, he was nowhere to be found. He disappeared completely in 3 games against teams they should have beat(UNC, Clemson, Louisville)(against Wideouts who were nowhere in his class of talent, but beat him anyways) and didnt bother to make his presense felt in the Va Tech game. On top of this, he relies too much on grabbing wideouts which will be called a lot in the NFL. I have serious reservations on him.

CNYSkinFan on Antrell Rolle: Antrell Rolle, CB Miami. Rolle is definitely a decent cornerback. Good speed and excellent size and will match up well against Terrell Owens and Plaxico Burress in the NFC East. The problem is that Rolle’s physical style of play may not mesh up well with the new NFL rules. And with the Redskins basically set at CB with Harris and Springs, I am not sure that Rolle will crack the starting lineup and a First Round pick in the top ten should start.

Akh on Troy Williamson: If the skins are looking for physical ability and deep play threat, Williamson would fit the bill at 9. However, he probably could use more teaching. He played in a terrible offense at SC and his familiarity with a pro style offense is lacking. However, since the skins already have Moss and Patten, Williamson would not be asked to be a primary Wideout. He would complement Moss very well.

CNYSkinFan on Troy Williamson: Troy Williamson WR, South Carolina. Boy the scouts love this guy. No one benefited from a great combine more then Troy. His 4.3 40 number has many scouts and skins fans alike picturing him blazing down the sideline catching deep balls for touchdowns. With Mike Williams and Baryon Edwards almost assuredly gone by the time the Redskins pick at #9 this is the best WR prospect out there. He came out maybe a year early or he would be a top 5 pick next year hands down. However he would only be asked to play #3 in the skins offense and could be brought along slowly. Might be a bit of a reach at #9 though and if the Redskins could trade down but not too far as Carolina is eyeing him at #14.

Akh on Heath Miller: The hot player of HR. Everybody loves him. And in some ways, the hype is justified. He is definitly a playmaker at TE who would be a major red zone threat. However, two things stand out with this argument: first, a #9 pick should be more than just a red zone threat, second he’s hurt and has yet to workout for scouts. So we dont know in what condition physically he’s in. If we knew his 40 time and measurables,we would have a good idea of his physical ability. I would have no problem with the skins taking him; but I would be mad if taken at 9. Deal down and get him.

CNYSkinfan on Heath Miller: Heath Miller, TE Virginia. Oh Heath how I love thee let me count the ways. Anyone who has read anything I have written about the poor play of our TE Group (and before you respond Cooley is an H-back not a TE damnit) knows why I love Heath Miller. Heath is an all around TE that will help EVERY phase of our offense. He is a decent run blocker and pass blocker, an upgrade over our current situation for sure. He also can catch passes in the flats and over the middle, something we sorely need. Is TE a stretch at #9? Maybe. But many people said that about Taylor at #5 last year. This selection fills a need in our offense, perhaps the last glaring need yet to be addressed, and does so with the best young player at the position. He has been hurt so no workout numbers are scaring off some people, but he will go in the first round. If we can trade down and get more picks and still get Heath I would be ecstatic. I think the Redskins need to seriously consider him at #9 though too if no trade down partners become available.

Akh on PacMan Jones: as a pure CB, as talented as any other prospect. He has speed, ability and playmaking talent. However, he is also rather small. Interesting prospect, but I dont know if I wouldn’t rather deal down and hope for him. If the skins could not deal down at all and expect to pick up any extra value, then drafting PacMan wouldnt be a bad choice at all.

CNYSkinFan on PacMan Jones:Adam “Pac Man” Jones, CB W. Virginia. Adam is the type of corner that will do real well in the NFL under the new rules. He has speed to stay with receivers without holding and instincts to play the ball well. However he is awful small for a Greg Williams type corner and will not be able to blitz as often. If we went with corner we should probably take him, which is why Tennessee will grab him before we can get to him. If he is available though he could remind people of Darrel Green with his size speed and heart.

Akh on Carlos Rodgers: A prototype of the new breed of CBs in the NFL. Has some size, but his strengths are his technical ability at CB and a fluidity of play on the field. However, the skins could drop back several picks and still get him. Ultimately, after a trade down, I hope the skins end up with Rodgers.

CNYSkinFan on Carlos Rodgers: Carlos Rodgers, CB Auburn. Carlos could be the best cornerback in this draft and just not getting the pub the other two. He has size and speed, pretty good technique, and a nasty streak that may make him the prototypical Williams CB. However he is not valued anywhere near #9 and we should only be selecting him if we find a trade down partner in the low 20’s.

Akh’s Recommendation: First off: Trade Down! Unless someone like Mike Williams drops to 9, there is no-one really worth that pick. Unless you want to draft a non-need player like Thomas Davis. This is a seven player draft, the skins unfortunately have pick Nine. After trading down, then targeting Miller, Rodgers, Jones or Williamson would be the best move.

CNYSkinFan’s Recommendation: My Preference: Do what it takes to get Heath Miller. Trade down or pick him at #9. He is the only player in the first round that can have immediate impact this year

Snyder, The Post, and The Times. A Love Triangle begins.

Many of us that have followed the Washington Redskins rely on several sources of information to get our news about our team. Two of the most popular places are the Washington Post and Washington Times. Their availability online and regular updates make them perfect, and sometimes only, sources for us Redskin fans who do not live in or near DC. There daily out put sometimes results in repetitive reflective articles but their competitive nature results in different insights and in-depth reporting. However a new twist is developing between the two media giants. At the heart of it is the favoritism of Dan Snyder, the Redskins media savvy and many times tumultuous owner.

During the 1980s and early 1990’s the Times had a serious edge over the Post in coverage of the Redskins. Jack Kent Cooke was a very conservative man and favored giving inside information and preferential treatment to the voice of American conservatism. The Times got every rumor first and the Post tried in vain to catch up. However when Snyder acquired the team in 1999 he replaced the entire media staff. The Dan hired an entire new media staff and gave preferential treatment to the Post who had a broader and larger readership.
The Times of course responded with attack article after attack article cheering the mistakes of the Redskins and deeming the successes be in spite of the new owner. The post was more neutral in their reporting and could even be described as soft on the Redskin problems for the first couple of years. Then the mistakes started to pile up and the reporting staff of the Washington Post changed beat reporters. Nunyo Demasio the new reporter, preferred investigative reporting to Mark Maske’s, the old beat reporter, positive but not so informative reporting.

So over the last couple of seasons the cold war with the Post and the Redskins began. Last pre-season we saw several press releases by the Redskins criticizing the post reporter’s coverage and mistakes. It has gotten so bad that the Redskins pulled over 200 season tickets from the Post this summer shortly after a negative story about the Redskin credit card policy. And now, in the ultimate turn around, Dan Snyder gave an interview to the Washington Times, in which he takes a shot at the post. This is the same Washington Times that just a month earlier was taking shots at Snyder and the fornt office on a regular basis.
Now after that interview yesterday and strange article appeared in the Times today about how Snyder has grown and is a better owner then five years ago. Could the Times be sensing an opportunity to get back on top or at least get even with the Post in Redskin favor? One thing for sure is that Snyder knows what he is doing. This is a shot over the bow at the Post and in particular their coverage.

The danger here is the death of actual journalism as opposed to blatant bias based coverage. To me the Times reporters seem to be withering in the wind waiting for King Dan to blow favor their way and when he doesn’t striking back like four year olds. Demasio and the Post are not totally without fault here though. I do believe the way Demasio broke the Coles story may have contributed to the hard feelings between the two side and made keeping Coles an impossibility. This also lessened the Redskins FO leverage when trading Coles. Demasio says he is not a fan of the Redskins and thus able to be a fair reporter. He is right however when a reporter hurts the home team there are consequences that follow. To the Post’s credit they are taking it all in stride and not acting like spoiled reporters at the Times and their editors. The Post reporting remains fair and tough. Let’s just hope it stays that way.