Panic Mode or Nah? (Poll)

[prodigy]

i'm too old to panic about this stuff anymore. I'll just bitch and complain every Sunday, if it comes to it...but, as of now, after cuts and seeing some of the trades...I am about to pre-order some booze to stock up for the season.

 

[RedWolf]

Nicki's 53:

Commanders final 53-man roster projection: Tough choice at WR, help needed on O-line

Injuries have altered the calculus for Washington's initial 53-man roster, which is likely to change before the Sept. 13 season opener.

www.nytimes.com

(She writes for the Athletic, I think the link should work.)

I asked my friend Jean Claud to compare them. He did the splits, then came up with this:
Both lists were extracted and cross-checked position by position. The two predicted 53-man rosters agree on 49 of the 53 players — every quarterback, wide receiver, tight end, defensive lineman, safety, and special-teamer matches exactly (WRs are just listed in a different order in each). The four spots where the writers disagree:

Position	Only in Keim's 53	Only in Nicki's 53
Running back	Robert Henry Jr. (Keim keeps 4 RBs)	— (Nicki keeps only 3 RBs)
Offensive line	— (Keim keeps 8 OL)	D.J. Humphries (Nicki keeps 9 OL)
Linebacker	Kain Medrano (Keim's LB group totals 9)	— (Nicki's combined LB/OLB group totals 8)
Cornerback	— (Keim keeps 4 CBs)	Fabian Moreau (Nicki keeps 5 CBs)

A few notes on why the counts still both land at 53: Keim carries an extra running back (Henry) and an extra linebacker (Medrano) instead of the extra offensive lineman (Humphries) and extra cornerback (Moreau) that Nicki carries — the two swap "the same number of bodies" in different position groups.


Also worth flagging: both writers exclude the same fringe/injured names from their actual 53 (Laremy Tunsil and Johnny/Jer'Zhan Newton on IR, Dorance Armstrong on suspension, plus bubble guys like Ale Kaho, Julian Good-Jones, Jeremy McNichols, Jerome Ford, Van Jefferson, Zach Ertz, and Lawrence Cager) — so none of those are true "disagreements," just players correctly left off by both.

** I didn't include Standig because his is on his Substack and is a paid subscription, and I didn't want to post something he hasn't made available. I can say, his is different in one way (this is part of the preview): He only keeps 2 QBs (Daniels and Mariota), and 3 RBs (Bill, White, Allen.) So his definitely would differ more than Nicki and Keim's.

i'm too old to panic about this stuff anymore. I'll just bitch and complain every Sunday, if it comes to it...but, as of now, after cuts and seeing some of the trades...I am about to pre-order some booze to stock up for the season.

Double up the order, you're gonna need it

 

[Solitary Man]

I can't wait to youtube the oline guys that were cut, that we pick up over the next few days. Hoping that the experts on their former teams, were blind.

 

[Koala]

I dont see why they cant be as good as they were in 2024, which to say, is good enough what JD back there being a magician to buy extra time.

Its really unfortunate that our starting LT got injured, but hey that stuff happens. We have enough depth with Coleman that we dont have to panick, but for most teams, the starting LT going down in the preseason is pretty much a season-threatening injury. I think we can get by, hopefully he's back in time to make a push for the playoffs.

As for C, I dont think I ever seen so much consternation about the BACKUP CENTER position in my life. Okay I get that Allegretti is below average, but guess what, that doesnt usually matter cause centers dont usually matter, they are the second least mimportant position on the offense, behind only FB. We should be able to pick up a decent back up C from the scrap heap.

Its just unfortunate that what shoudl ahve been a strength of the team became a weakness cause of the ONE injury you couldnt have. OH well, thats football.

 

[KDawg]

I dont see why they cant be as good as they were in 2024, which to say, is good enough what JD back there being a magician to buy extra time.

Its really unfortunate that our starting LT got injured, but hey that stuff happens. We have enough depth with Coleman that we dont have to panick, but for most teams, the starting LT going down in the preseason is pretty much a season-threatening injury. I think we can get by, hopefully he's back in time to make a push for the playoffs.

As for C, I dont think I ever seen so much consternation about the BACKUP CENTER position in my life. Okay I get that Allegretti is below average, but guess what, that doesnt usually matter cause centers dont usually matter, they are the second least mimportant position on the offense, behind only FB. We should be able to pick up a decent back up C from the scrap heap.

Its just unfortunate that what shoudl ahve been a strength of the team became a weakness cause of the ONE injury you couldnt have. OH well, thats football.

Centers don’t matter? I… don’t even know what to say. As someone who has coached offensive line the difference between a good center and a bad one makes a gigantic difference. While it’s true you can at times “hide” a bad center, good defensive coordinators will exploit that.

The center is your anchor.

The negativity at center isn’t about the backup, it’s about the position. Allegretti is already a bit of a shot in the dark, now add we have no depth.

A signing like Glasgow to start and Allegretti be a backup would be a huge boon to the OL.

 

[Boone]

Hard to argue any of that KDawg... if they are going to bring a starting caliber center in (if they even desire to do that, and if that guy is even available at this point), it's hard to understand what they are waiting for??? It is already a massive stretch to think Allegretti will be ready for opening day having missed almost the entire training camp and preseason period, and our best case scenario now seems to be bringing in someone who must learn the offense from scratch in 2 or 3 weeks?

Again - I have to ask, if they intend on doing so, what in God's name are they waiting for? They clearly don't see the OL situation as a dire emergency. I'm really afraid that he first 3 weeks of the schedule is going to make it glaringly clear that they should have.

I hope I'm wrong.

 

[Ashburn Dave]

Don't worry, AP's on it.

 

[skinsinparadise]

You got a struggiling guard who isn't young, when the O line struggled last year early, Allegretti was a big part of that theme. But somehow he will be transformative moving to center let alone doing so after missing almost all of camp and with a lingering injury.

And he's backed up by a 6th rounder, with good anchor but poor movement skills who struggled against Baltimore in the joint practice including snapping the ball properly.

Somehow its going to work out? Maybe. it feels too aburd to me though for me not to think a move is still coming.

 

[KDawg]

Hard to argue any of that KDawg... if they are going to bring a starting caliber center in (if they even desire to do that, and if that guy is even available at this point), it's hard to understand what they are waiting for??? It is already a massive stretch to think Allegretti will be ready for opening day having missed almost the entire training camp and preseason period, and our best case scenario now seems to be bringing in someone who must learn the offense from scratch in 2 or 3 weeks?

Again - I have to ask, if they intend on doing so, what in God's name are they waiting for? They clearly don't see the OL situation as a dire emergency. I'm really afraid that he first 3 weeks of the schedule is going to make it glaringly clear that they should have.

I hope I'm wrong.

I’m pretty sure they aren’t going to. They are reliant on what is already on the roster and believe that not running vanilla schemes is going to mask the issue.

I hope I’m wrong, too.

Where they pick and choose who they move on from and who they don’t is something I repeatedly just don’t understand.

I am hinging my hope on them knowing more than I do in the building.

 

[heisenberg]

Centers don’t matter? I… don’t even know what to say. As someone who has coached offensive line the difference between a good center and a bad one makes a gigantic difference. While it’s true you can at times “hide” a bad center, good defensive coordinators will exploit that.

The center is your anchor.

The negativity at center isn’t about the backup, it’s about the position. Allegretti is already a bit of a shot in the dark, now add we have no depth.

A signing like Glasgow to start and Allegretti be a backup would be a huge boon to the OL.

I cant speak for someone else but I think he meant that more in terms of doesn't matter as much by position ranking which is why they're always one of the lowest paid positions on the field.

If you started ranking them, you'd have quarterback, left tackle, edge, cornerback etc etc before you got to center. The only 3 or 4 that would even be below are kicker, punter and maybe safety or running back but you'd have a healthy debate on putting even any of those positions below center.

I'm not happy with where we are at with our centers but if i had to choose a position we ignored completely I think this would probably be it.

 

[KDawg]

I cant speak for someone else but I think he meant that more in terms of doesn't matter as much by position ranking which is why they're always one of the lowest paid positions on the field.

If you started ranking them, you'd have quarterback, left tackle, edge, cornerback etc etc before you got to center. The only 3 or 4 that would even be below are kicker, punter and maybe safety or running back but you'd have a healthy debate on putting even any of those positions below center.

I'm not happy with where we are at with our centers but if i had to choose a position we ignored completely I think this would probably be it.

It wouldn’t be where I skimped.

I don’t rank value by position cost, though. Market is market. So, getting a good center for cheaper than a good wide receiver means center is a position that should actually have MORE value.

And, equating it to this team means we had 2, now with potential injuries we have .5

 

[Boone]

I don't think center would be ranked anywhere near the least important position by actual NFL coaches. Their role in recognizing defenses, making adjustments at the line, and communicating to the rest of the OL, QB, and skill position players - that alone makes that position pretty important. It's SO important that this front office released our starting center because they felt he wasn't good enough at those things. And I also think the comment made about 'worrying about the quality of the back up center' was off base. We don't even know if we have a starting caliber center on this roster. They think we do. But we are about to find out if we do - it's not a fact yet. And that's assuming he can stay on the field.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

I’m pretty sure they aren’t going to. They are reliant on what is already on the roster and believe that not running vanilla schemes is going to mask the issue.

I hope I’m wrong, too.

Where they pick and choose who they move on from and who they don’t is something I repeatedly just don’t understand.

I am hinging my hope on them knowing more than I do in the building.

If we are talking OL specifically for now, the question in my head is Stapleton and AP, where do those choices get made? I guess it is a collab, I imagine a list with some scout ratings, maybe video for Stapleton to watch for each, then a decision on how those guys would improve us or not.

A collab to figure out the relative value.

The result of that has been the asking price for whomever available is too high or they don’t see improvement as achievable.

From our current vantage point, it sounds absurd. Like you and others have said, we shall see. The first test is a doozy. I definitely agree that a well designed scheme can do light years better than KK did. He didn’t adapt to his personnel at all and frankly, the best always do. Always, including adapt to the defense. KK didn’t do that either.

So I get it; they will be better there, MUCH better if Blough has the skill. My issue is you still need floor level ability, and a good DC can move his pieces to outmaneuver the OC especially with superior pieces. If your OL can never reach second level, and D has good LBs, it is tough to see good runs or even scary runs develop.

We will see but I think after last year the benefit of the doubt is very tough. They had bad injuries but they also made stupid decisions on their own.

 

[DWinzit]

It wouldn’t be where I skimped.

I don’t rank value by position cost, though. Market is market. So, getting a good center for cheaper than a good wide receiver means center is a position that should actually have MORE value.

And, equating it to this team means we had 2, now with potential injuries we have .5

Yeah they hung their hats on Allegretti and Good-Jones. Gulbin was considered developmental as DG and AP have said from the jump. None of the three have much experience at the position.

Terrible thought process not having a vet with experience at he position to be competing

Even worse with now having Paul on one side of them

 

[skinsinparadise]

I don't think center would be ranked anywhere near the least important position by actual NFL coaches. Their role in recognizing defenses, making adjustments at the line, and communicating to the rest of the OL, QB, and skill position players - that alone makes that position pretty important. It's SO important that this front office released our starting center because they felt he wasn't good enough at those things. And I also think the comment made about 'worrying about the quality of the back up center' was off base. We don't even know if we have a starting caliber center on this roster. They think we do. But we are about to find out if we do - it's not a fact yet. And that's assuming he can stay on the field.

Also as witnessed in the Lions game, destroying the center is the quickest way to get to the QB. You can dodge at times edge pressure. But pressure up the middle is really difficult to handle.

 

[SkinsFTW]

Also as witnessed in the Lions game, destroying the center is the quickest way to get to the QB. You can dodge at times edge pressure. But pressure up the middle is really difficult to handle.

Especially when you put your QB under center, when his entire career has been from shotgun.

Then not signing an actual Center is just the cherry on top of another likely clusterfuck

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Galdi (I think, it might have been JP/Mitch) made a good point. They're putting a hell of a lot on Allegretti. It's a lot of pressure to play well and stay healthy.

I think they said Allegretti almost has to bail Peters (and Quinn to an extent) out for the amount of faith they are putting in him. If he fails, they fail. You can't really blame Allegretti or Gublin for the position they've been put into.

It's really valid.

What's really obvious is they have tremendous faith in Allegretti. Is it mis-placed? I guess we'll find out. It's possible they'll be just fine. It's also possible it won't be. But if it isn't, there's not going to be anywhere to hide because the feedback has been really loud.

One thing that was amusing from the joint presser, the first question of the day was about center. And Peters' thanked the PR guy for prepping him for the question. There was another question about fan angst, which led to the "we have things we haven't revealed" quote. They're hearing the angst.

 

[HTTR]

I cant speak for someone else but I think he meant that more in terms of doesn't matter as much by position ranking which is why they're always one of the lowest paid positions on the field.

If you started ranking them, you'd have quarterback, left tackle, edge, cornerback etc etc before you got to center. The only 3 or 4 that would even be below are kicker, punter and maybe safety or running back but you'd have a healthy debate on putting even any of those positions below center.

I'm not happy with where we are at with our centers but if i had to choose a position we ignored completely I think this would probably be it.

Same. Of course center is important, every position is. And I agree with Kdawgs points, but also have to agree that I can’t think of a position on offense that is less important if I had to list them out. Especially if we’re talking about the pure athleticism required for each position. It’s clearly the most cerebral position other than QB though, so when thinking about how Arrighetti may do as a starter, for all we know, he’s pretty good at that part of the game. So I’m definitely in wait-and-see mode and not ruling out the possibility that he will be a good center for us.
As for the back up, I think we all agree that it was a mistake to not bring in a half decent veteran to compete or at least be a reliable backup. And certainly now with the injury concern to the starter, they should be trying to upgrade the spot. I assume that they are, so I’m in wait-and-see mode on that as well. If this is our biggest problem, I think we’ll be OK.

 

[Ashburn Dave]

Some have center ranked 3rd most important position.

Football Positions Ranked by Importance

www.rookieroad.com

 

[KDawg]

Anyone that thinks center isn’t important… keep that same energy when a nose is stopping every run play.