Item Number 1 on the Agenda for new GM: The Redskins need an Identity

[GSF]

Before a single player is cut or signed, before a single discussion is had about the draft, Scot mcCoughan and Jay Gruden must decide on what the identity of this team is going to be, and how they're going to build that identity. It's one thing to say it, but it's a whole other thing to actually make it happen.

For 15 years the identity of the Redskins has been off season champs, regular season chumps, and post season absentees. Fat lazy stars past their primes went to the Skins to get paid. I personally believe this identity was a direct result of the personality of the owner, a spoiled, impetuous child of a man who wants to be a winner, and wants to be a winner now. It's not going to be an easy task for McCloughan, as good as he is, to turn change this culture around.

I personally want to see the Skins to be kinda like they were under Gibbs: a tough, gritty team with a bunch of lunch pale guys. A team that loved to run the ball down your throat, play good defense, and burn you deep.

 

[DixieFlatline]

Totally agree. We've been fluctuating between styles for too long now. I thought with Gibbs II we were headed towards some consistency, but it got all turned around with Shanahan and Haslett.

 

[servumtuum]

Totally agree. We've been fluctuating between styles for too long now. I thought with Gibbs II we were headed towards some consistency, but it got all turned around with Shanahan and Haslett.

Of course there was also the wondrous spectacle of the "Jim Zorn Era" that didn't exactly contribute to a solid identity-unless chaos could be considered an identity.

 

[DixieFlatline]

Well..prior to Zorn, we did have this.

 

[CounterTrey]

That era broke me as a fan. It's when I finally learned to stop living vicariously through my team. I stopped having bad Mondays after losses.

 

[GSF]

Another identity trait I am really hoping for is a real dedication to developing home-grown talent. Guys drafted in mid to late rounds and undrafted FAs. I think the team has tried to do this in recent years, but really hasn't been successful enough with it.

 

[thesubmittedone]

The thing that's good about finding our identity with a GM right now is that the Head Coach we've got in Jay Gruden runs a pretty standard offense that's strengths would fit into the vast majority of what NFL coaches like to do. Pretty standard WCO concepts.

So, even if Gruden ends up not working out, we can still establish something with him right now and there wouldn't be much of a set back, if any, were we to replace him. We can feel pretty good building our offensive personnel around his schemes.

One of the worst parts of Mike Shanahan failing here was that his offensive scheme and the personnel that suits it differs considerably from almost every other coach in the NFL. We saw that this year at one of the most important positions on offense, the Oline. Gruden clearly struggled with handling the ZBS and play-calling based on it. I don't buy that Gruden is some rigid and inflexible scheme-obsessed coach like some have insinuated, but I do think he believes in certain offensive ideas (tradition WC drop back/quick decision, power-running and PA off of that) more than others (zone blocking scheme/read option/bootleg).

The only coach in the NFL that wouldn't have had these issues with our personnel would've probably been Gary Kubiak. A college guy in the vein of Chip Kelly may have been able to have some success with our personnel as well. So, yeah, point is we had a very specific style we were building for that only applied to a few coaches. What Gruden does arguably applies to every coach in the NFL and the coaches in college who run a more pro-style offense.

As for Defense, should be interesting what we do. McCloughan has had a hand in building a 3-4 with the 49ers and a 4-3 with the Seahawks. So it's nice to know he should be able to spot talent either way. That being said, I don't really believe that base formation is as important in today's NFL as it used to be. It's more important to build a defense with guys who are flexible enough to cover and still stop the run, especially out of the nickel. It's really hard to stay in your base formation against the type of offense's we see today without having it be a major weakness against the pass. Unless you find guys that are THAT good and can do everything.

 

[McD5]

Nice post. Most are surprised to hear that we actually ran 62% of our plays out of a 4-3 last season.

 

[Bulldog]

LEADERS.

Scot needs to bring in leaders, guys whether they are pros or college players that are serious about being successful in the NFL and doing what it takes in terms of work ethic to get themselves there.

There were too many fellow-travelers on this team, guys that were here for a paycheck and would 'cut up' in the locker room after bad home losses and get on the radio and make it seem that losing wasn't affecting their lives very much.

We need more Alfred Morrises and a lot fewer Brandon Meriweathers.

 

[Fred Jones]

McCloughan?s Mailbag ? March 12

From the article:
Q: In years past the 49ers have stuck with the common phrase, “We will take the best player available.” Are there any plans to focus more on a team need versus the best player available? -Aaron Horne
A: Absolutely not, best player available. You can never have enough good football players on your team. If you take the best player, you’re not living in year one, it’s living in the future as well. He’ll help you in year one, but he’ll also help you year two and on.

From a basic standpoint, answers the question of an overall draft philosophy. Nice to see we won't be drafting need and selecting lesser players with our picks.

5 Things the Hiring of New GM Scot McCloughan Means for Redskins « CBS DC
From this Article:
No more big splashes. Remember Albert Haynesworth and his over-the-top contract and limited production? Those days are likely gone. It’s possible McCloughan wouldn’t even go for a DeSean Jackson signing. It’s not his philosophy – as ESPN’s Andrew Brandt told 106.7 The Fan’s Grant and Danny Show on Wednesday. Brandt would know. He worked with McCloughan in Green Bay for a year. Until the roster is up to par and needs a final push over the top, it’s unlikely the Redskins will push for top-tier free agents. Yes, McCloughan is in a much bigger market than he was in Green Bay or Seattle. But the salary cap constrains how much a team can spend anyway. It’s about being smart, not about empty-calorie moves that look good in March and are regretted come September.

Draft and develop. It’s the way McCloughan helped build his rosters in Seattle – twice – and in San Francisco. It’s the way he was taught by the great Ron Wolf in Green Bay during the 1990s when he was an area scout for the Packers. Put young stars in place, pay whatever it takes to keep them and then make a push in free agency when you’re close. Right now the Redskins aren’t close. The only young players on the roster who are in the early-to-mid 20s and have played at a Pro Bowl level in multiple seasons are outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan, left tackle Trent Williams, and running back Alfred Morris, all 26 years old. Jackson and fellow wide receiver Pierre Garcon are 28. Middle linebacker Keenan Robinson is 25 and showed promise this past season. So did rookie Bashaud Breeland, 22.

Have to wait and see what Scot does, but from these tidbits, you get an idea what he likes to do.

 

[redskins26]

I would imagine a small free agent spree kind of like last year to bring in more talent then mainly stick to the draft
that is what Ron Wolfe did in GB which was void of talent when he got there

 

[Ax]

BPA all the way.

My curiosity is whether or not he'll strip the cupboard clean and restock. (Trade players like Griffin, Morris, Garcon, et...for more picks)
Or if he'll, God forbid, keep what good we got, and add to it, while trying to win now, at the same time. (Yes, it damn well can be done)

 

[fansince62]

BPA all the way.

My curiosity is whether or not he'll strip the cupboard clean and restock. (Trade players like Griffin, Morris, Garcon, et...for more picks)
Or if he'll, God forbid, keep what good we got, and add to it, while trying to win now, at the same time. (Yes, it damn well can be done)

I bet he leans into the latter. 3-13 and 4-12 pretty much set the agenda for the upcoming seasons.

 

[DieselPwr44]

There's ALOT of dead wood we can cut without having to give up on guys like Morris etc.

DeAngelo Hall, Bowen, Hatcher, Moss, Paulsen, Paul, Orakpo(a given),Biggers, Meriweather...first come to mind.

 

[Ax]

I'd keep Hall (if healthy) Hatcher (cost too much to release him) and Orakpo (under team friendly contract)

Everybody else you mention, and then some, are beyond expendable.

 

[Henry]

You have to assume he's going to go BPA, especially considering that almost every spot on the team needs upgrading and/or depth. What I hope we'll see going forward is that the Redskins are actually correct with the 'best' part. That seems to have been a sticking point with this team in the past.

 

[Ax]

Exactly. Every GM worth his salt, that I ever heard say, goes BPA 95% of the time.

 

[DieselPwr44]

I'd let Hall go.

Long in the tooth, coming off a torn Achilles that he tore twice and the need to just get younger.

Just ask yourself this: Would Belichick keep such a player?

Tuco once said: If you're gonna shoot, shoot. Don't talk.

Well, If you're gonna rebuild....

 

[Enforcer]

Well, it would be nice to build a hard-nosed, fast, aggressive defense like the ones he had his hand in shaping both in SF and Sea.

 

[fansince62]

DP....I love that film!! hopefully...we're finally getting around to "The Good"!!!