Redskins Acquire Center Bryan Stork

[Fear The Spear]

My point is every team thinks their rookies are improvements. Every team has high hopes for the ones that look good in the preseason. That and a buck fifty will get you a cup of coffee.

If one is trying to make a case that the team is improving, pointing to a bevy of rookies isn't the most convincing argument.

I really liked our 2015 draft class. I have high hopes for this one as well (and Spaight). But I'm not going to chalk them up as upgrades until they actually start playing and prove that they are.

But expecting the running game to be horrid involves just as much speculation, if not more speculation, than if we expect our youngsters to be great.

 

[SkinsOrlando]

Actually the hypothesis surrounding the running game being putrid, almost dysentery like is rooted in more well known variables. The offensive line has not changed, the blocking scheme hasn't changed, Gruden's affinity for the pass hasn't changed, the only thing that has changed is whose in the backfield. So variable x, the rb must be the next best thing since butter in the observational eye to see a huge increase in production in the running game. Now this doesn't involve bubble screens but pure rushing attack, I think even Helen Keller would have a right to be concerned with a 95% degree of certainty.

 

[Henry]

But expecting the running game to be horrid involves just as much speculation, if not more speculation, than if we expect our youngsters to be great.

Not really. There is not one proven starting-calibre RB on the roster. There isn't even anyone close. The closest we have is a second year guy who got hurt in college, who got hurt last year during a season in which we carried the ball a whopping 144 times for 3.4 yards a carry, and is hurt right now. Backing him up is an injury-plagued fourth year pro who's never started a game in his life, an undrafted rookie, and some guy off the practice squad.

There is actually a lot of evidence to support the opinion that the guys we currently have on the roster could be a disaster. This is a terrible group to be entering the season with. Worst I can remember.

They may be more than they seem, of course. That is always a conceit, and that's why we play the games.

 

[Elephant]

It's likely going to take another draft. We only had so many picks.

As far as the D goes, I wanted a huge NT. But Pittsburgh is running a 3-4 without a NT this season. They certainly know D, and that position is evolving.

ILB is no longer a concern. We just added Cravens and Spaight to the mix. Adios, Perry Riley.

Kerrigan's health is a concern. We need one more OLB. Galette's injury really hurts us.

But we aren't far away at all. We're talking about 2-3 players here combined on offense and defense. Not 13.

Pittsburg's defense has not ranked top 10 in like 3-4 years. They're not a good defense...they have turned into an offensive juggernaut.

As for how many players away we are...I think Henry is a little closer, perhaps 7 players unless Cousins becomes a super star and can mask the deficiencies, if not we need at least 3 on offense and defintely 4 on defense to become SB contenders...we're starting players on our OL, at RB and our DL that would be depth on those contenders.

 

[Boone]

I think the idea that you need to have an even above average running game to consistently win (even the big prize) is no longer true. It's a passing league.


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[Elephant]

Norman is a huge addition. Kendall Fuller was believed to be the second best CB in the draft behind only Jalen Ramsey before injury. That's big too.

Cravens can roam the field in what I believe will be a Troy P. role. He can sack the QB, and also run with TEs.

Add all of that to Breeland, and good luck trying to throw against us.

You mean they way Aldrick Robinson burned Breeland...twice?

Come on man, you're selling snake oil again. We get it, you think we're closer than we are...but we're really not. Martrell Spaight? I like the kid, but he and Cravens are not the saviors of our LB squad. And I haven't even touched upon our DL. We are one injury away from bringing Terrance Knighton back. UGH!

 

[Henry]

I think the idea that you need to have an even above average running game to consistently win (even the big prize) is no longer true. It's a passing league.

True, but I think you have to have SOME semblance of a running game. I don't think you can treat the running game like an afterthought, which is what the Redskins appear to be doing under Gruden. That may be a big mistake.

 

[Elephant]

You mean they way Aldrick Robinson burned Breeland...twice?

Come on man, you're selling snake oil again. We get it, you think we're closer than we are...but we're really not. Martrell Spaight? I like the kid, but he and Cravens are not the saviors of our LB squad. And I haven't even touched upon our DL. We are one injury away from bringing Terrance Knighton back. UGH!

True, but I think you have to have SOME semblance of a running game. I don't think you can treat the running game like an afterthought, which is what the Redskins appear to be doing under Gruden. That may be a big mistake.

The last 4 Super Bowl winners have had strong run games.

Denver, that's all they had on offense last year.
New England, say what you want but they run the ball well and often.
Seattle, they won with Marshawn Lynch.
Baltimore, Ray Rice was a very good RB.

All 4 of those teams had good to great run games.

You are correct to say that the run game is not what it once was, and that passing attacks are taking over the league, but the 4 previous super bowl winning teams have had run games that helped them win Super Bowls...especially New England, which is often slated as this pass happy team, but they distribute the ball fairly evenly between pass and run.

 

[Snydershrugged]

I have to admit, the running game worries me almost as much as special teams. That said, I think even with very mediocre play there, I still like what I'm seeing from the rest of the team as a whole. It may be enough to hide the issues in real games enough to win.

 

[DieselPwr44]

You mean they way Aldrick Robinson burned Breeland...twice?

Come on man, you're selling snake oil again. We get it, you think we're closer than we are...but we're really not. Martrell Spaight? I like the kid, but he and Cravens are not the saviors of our LB squad. And I haven't even touched upon our DL. We are one injury away from bringing Terrance Knighton back. UGH!

Quinton Dunbar twice. Not Breeland.

 

[McD5]

You mean they way Aldrick Robinson burned Breeland...twice?

Come on man, you're selling snake oil again. We get it, you think we're closer than we are...but we're really not. Martrell Spaight? I like the kid, but he and Cravens are not the saviors of our LB squad. And I haven't even touched upon our DL. We are one injury away from bringing Terrance Knighton back. UGH!

That was Dunbar. Not Breeland.

No snake oil here. We have a very good team.

Our ILBs are solid. Spaight and Cravens aren't even the starters. Cravens is coming in right now on third downs.

 

[McD5]

And on the running game, I'm going to defer to John Riggins.

John Riggins isn't worried about the Redskins' running game: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...rce=twitterfeed&wprss=rss_redskins-page-shell

Riggins said “the real key” for these Redskins will be pass protection.

This isn’t a novel thought, but Riggins said the modern NFL is about throwing the ball, implying that those Redskins fans who still call into radio shows and scream about running the ball might want to chill out.

“Without a doubt, [running backs] are the lowest people on the food chain now when it comes to salaries in the NFL,” he said.

"I think really the nuts and bolts of the NFL right now is throwing the football, and I think it’s going to stay that way from here on out. I don’t think you’re going to get the genie back in the bottle. I think it’s a passing league and it’s here to stay.”

 

[Henry]

Yes, the game has turned into pitch-and-catch. However, that does not mean its a great idea to go into the season with such a weak lineup at RB. Maybe we'll get away with it. But we shouldn't have to.

 

[Snydershrugged]

Nm double post

 

[McD5]

Yes, the game has turned into pitch-and-catch. However, that does not mean its a great idea to go into the season with such a weak lineup at RB. Maybe we'll get away with it. But we shouldn't have to.

I don't think that's our intent.

But in the grand scheme of things--QB, CBs, Pass rush, WRs--if we're going to be weak at anything, that's not a bad spot in the modern league.

 

[Goaldeje]

I think the idea that you need to have an even above average running game to consistently win (even the big prize) is no longer true. It's a passing league.


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I don't think that's our intent.

But in the grand scheme of things--QB, CBs, Pass rush, WRs--if we're going to be weak at anything, that's not a bad spot in the modern league.

Warning up front: I'm grumpy tonight. Shitty day.

I agree with you both, but fail to see how this applies to our situation. If you have Tom Brady, Aaron Rogers, Cam, etc etc etc, you don't need a running game.

We don't have that.

And before you yell at me for not having faith in Kirk, apparently the FO doesn't either, because otherwise they'd have signed him to a long term deal.

We've got 9 games of Kirk looking all-world. The rest of his resume sure looks like a guy who would benefit from having a strong running game to take some pressure off him to me.

Now maybe, the last half of the season is what we get from Kirk from here on out. But maybe not. And if maybe not happens, it sure would be nice to have a running game that wasn't dependent on a second year guy with injury and fumbling problems who looked completely and utterly pedestrian last year, along with guys who are unproven and/or can't stay healthy.

If Kirk blows the top off, we will be fine. Because you all are right, it's a passing league, designed to reward the pass.

But if Kirk just blows (or is merely average), we're in some trouble. Our RB committee inspires fear in exactly no one, and our head coach has shown no ability to design a rushing attack that is better than horrid.

 

[Henry]

I don't think that's our intent.

But in the grand scheme of things--QB, CBs, Pass rush, WRs--if we're going to be weak at anything, that's not a bad spot in the modern league.

Its always bad to have a huge, gaping, air-sucking hole on your team, even at a position of relative insignificance. Make no mistake, the Redskins could have that at RB. I realize we are all super-confident in our passing, but I dont understand why a team would allow itself to be so one dimensional. Its not necessary, and its flirting with disaster.

As Goal said, Kirk had better continue to play out of his mind. We shouldnt need to expect that from him.

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[Elephant]

Its always bad to have a huge, gaping, air-sucking hole on your team, even at a position of relative insignificance. Make no mistake, the Redskins could have that at RB. I realize we are all super-confident in our passing, but I dont understand why a team would allow itself to be so one dimensional. Its not necessary, and its flirting with disaster.

As Goal said, Kirk had better continue to play out of his mind. We shouldnt need to expect that from him.

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Look out! Mack Brown and Robert Kelly baby! Woohoo!

 

[Henry]

Look out! Mack Brown and Robert Kelly baby! Woohoo!

That was a sweet run. He must have heard me.

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[Boone]

Its always bad to have a huge, gaping, air-sucking hole on your team, even at a position of relative insignificance. Make no mistake, the Redskins could have that at RB. I realize we are all super-confident in our passing, but I dont understand why a team would allow itself to be so one dimensional. Its not necessary, and its flirting with disaster.

As Goal said, Kirk had better continue to play out of his mind. We shouldnt need to expect that from him.

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Actually - it's not always bad H. New England was the worst - that's WORST rushing team in the entire league in 2015. And yet they had a powerful offense. And you guys talk like we were bottom feeders when in fact we were the 20th ranked rushing attack in the league. That's not great, but it's not even close to being among the NFL's worst.

Guys talk about how we started off slowly and shaky, and then caught fire after the Tampa Bay win mid-season. Interestingly enough, we rushed far more productively during that slow and shaky start (even having an early game with both Jones and Almo breaking 100 yards) than we did during the 2nd half of the season. And yet that more productive rushing attack did not equate to more points or wins.

It's a passing league. If New England's success in recent years isn't proof positive of that, I don't know what is. If you can score consistently with a dangerous passing attack, you just have to run enough to keep the defense honest. It doesn't even seem to matter if you run well, just that you mix up the playcalling.

Finally - I keep hearing how we have no talent at RB. I don't understand how anyone supports that statement - we have a lot of young talent at RB.