Random Commanders Thoughts

[Primus Porcus]

I don’t think it makes him a bad GM, because Forbes clearly sucked for us. But it was an unnecessary mistake.

to let him go?

 

[HTTR]

to let him go?

Yes, I think so. Not a big mistake, but a mistake. Did we really need the roster spot that bad? It’s not like he was making huge money.

 

[Bulldog]

Forbes is still undersized and if you watched he got hurt in the Rams playoff game when he came up to try and make a tackle in run support.

LA has a good pass rush and sideline to sideline linebackers so he is much more 'hidden' in their scheme then he ever could here.

But the mistake was taking him #16 overall.

If Forbes had been a pick in a subsequent round I don't think there would be as much consternation.

Yes, McVay picked him up. But he was getting a player for free. I wonder how long he stays in LA's plans and important to that, what his durability level ends up being given his slight frame.

McVay indicated Forbes was on their draft board but that doesn't mean he would have taken him at #16.

I don't think ultimately you win because of guys like Forbes.

You look at cornerbacks like Gonzalez for the Patriots who was drafted two picks later and find a player that is strong in run support, has primary cover skills and tackles well.

THAT to me is the profile of a CB1.

This argument in a way reminds me of the Desmond Howard debacle. He goes to the Super Bowl with the Packers but the truth is the mistake was taking him #4 overall at his size.

The Packers did not acquire him to play WR to any great extent and they were getting what turned out to be a specialist cheap.

That's what rising teams can do.

An older team like Washington that was on the verge of a massive rebuild needed that #4 overall pick to be a franchise receiver.

And therein lies the big mistake, missing on being able to acquire THAT player in the draft.

 

[HTTR]

Yeah, nobody’s arguing that taking him at 16 wasn’t a huge mistake. But he was at least a mid round talent on most boards, and to me that’s worth keeping, just in case he turns into something useful during his rookie contract. Maybe there were roster constraints that forced their hand, and if so fine. No big deal that they let him go, but the fact that he started and contributed for the Rams makes it at least a little bit of a mistake doesn’t it?

 

[Bulldog]

Well, I think we will see what happens over time.

Washington acquired Anthony Washington from the Steelers who was a high draft choice in 1983 when there were injuries at CB and he was an active starter on a 14-2 team but his performances were pedestrian, in fact Washington's pass defense received special nicknames because of the yards given up.

By 1985 he was out of the league.

It will be interesting to see if McVay drafts a cornerback with a high draft choice this April.

THAT will tell you how he feels about the position.

 

[DWinzit]

There was a very loud group of people, who have certain feelings about Adam Peters, that jumped on the Forbes bandwagon for part of this past season that it was also a major mistake that we let him go, and said AP was clearly not a good GM for moving on.

Yeah and that's crazy. He was crap here and they did the right thing based on everything we saw and heard.

If there could have been any negative drawn from the move it would not throw shade on AP. Shade could be thrown at our lame DC for recognizing or trying to use him in different manners, or the DB coach for the same, or the defensive HC for the same. At the end of the day though, he sucked.

 

[Bulldog]

One thing I can say for damn sure - if Sainristil came back in 2025 and built on his 2024 rookie season to vastly improve his play you wouldn't see many people comment on Forbes.

It is the fact Peters whiffed on the Lattimore trade and drafted a player in Sainristil that looks to be better on the outside then the inside position they drafted him to play and have been slow to realize that and work to develop the player there.

Trey Amos may end up saving Peters' bacon because he looks like the real deal with this size and cover ability to be a potential CB1 for us.

 

[Primus Porcus]

Yes, I think so. Not a big mistake, but a mistake. Did we really need the roster spot that bad? It’s not like he was making huge money.

You're not wrong, unless there was a clear issue with the player if he got benched. I see a lot of fans all over sports want to move on from a guy who underachieves. Just because he doesn't live up to his draft position, doesn't mean he can't be an NFL CB, even if it's the 4th or 5th guy on the depth chart.

Not saying you are saying this, just a clarification, that I don't fault the team

 

[Riggo44]

I am kinda glad Maye completely shit the bed in the playoffs. I have nothing against Drake Maye, but the insufferable hindsight pining from people like Fat and Not Funny would be unbearable

 

[Bulldog]

I don’t think New England gets by Denver with a healthy Nix.

It took that large of a handicap for the Patriots to get to the Super Bowl.

Their talent on offense at WR and on the offensive line was less than championship caliber.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

Not sure about this kind of comment: "I don't think ultimately you win because of guys like Forbes."
In football with 11 players AND the physicality (need for backups, etc.) I think HTTR's point is really strong. You don't just drop Forbes because he was a bad pick where they got him. Unless you think the salary he gets from his draft position was prohibitive?

Assuming that isn't the case (? not sure), I think dropping him didn't make a ton of sense except - and here is the biggest problem that keeps coming into my head -
AP is talking to the coaches and seeing what their feeling is on these players. It makes sense to do that, but you have to have a read on how good these coaches are too. Otherwise, you could be tossing aside players without knowing their value, and you may not be developing players the way you need to.

I have serious concerns on Donatell at this point. I just think getting rid of BSJ and Forbes, benching Noah I... we made clear strides in the wrong direction. I don't know where or how the thinking went, but any clear-eyed analysis better address whatever went on there. The defensive coverage in the backfield was truly atrocious this year, especially early in the season before DQ stepped in. My feeling is a lot of that is on Whitt and Donatell.

 

[Chris]

I think the best possible situation for Forbes was the opportunity to get a fresh chance elsewhere to reset his career. He clearly seemed to be struggling with his confidence and I doubt he was going to have an easy time doing so here.

 

[Bulldog]

I wonder how Forbes' numbers look up against St. Juste who played for the Chargers in LA this season.

It was a bit of a surprise that Harbaugh picked him up IMO.

The horrible cycle Washington has to break out of is cutting average to slightly below average corners and replacing them with guys whose PFF scores are at times even lower.

 

[NoCalSkins]

I know "defense wins championships" but the SB is/was a good example of why you still want an elite QB if possible because they can still make plays against really good defenses. I am not going to fault Maye for looking like an inexperienced QB in over his head as a 2nd year QB, but there were plays to be made against that Seattle defense that were missed, and I am not talking all or nothing high risk plays, rather somewhat routine chain moving plays. I can go back to the 49ers vs Chiefs SB where the 49ers defense was a monster, but Mahommes was able to make plays anyway.

 

[Conn]

I know "defense wins championships" but the SB is/was a good example of why you still want an elite QB if possible because they can still make plays against really good defenses. I am not going to fault Maye for looking like an inexperienced QB in over his head as a 2nd year QB, but there were plays to be made against that Seattle defense that were missed, and I am not talking all or nothing high risk plays, rather somewhat routine chain moving plays. I can go back to the 49ers vs Chiefs SB where the 49ers defense was a monster, but Mahommes was able to make plays anyway.

Oh yeah, they had him seeing ghosts all over.

 

[burgold]

I know "defense wins championships" but the SB is/was a good example of why you still want an elite QB if possible because they can still make plays against really good defenses. I am not going to fault Maye for looking like an inexperienced QB in over his head as a 2nd year QB, but there were plays to be made against that Seattle defense that were missed, and I am not talking all or nothing high risk plays, rather somewhat routine chain moving plays. I can go back to the 49ers vs Chiefs SB where the 49ers defense was a monster, but Mahommes was able to make plays anyway.

Agreed, on the other hand, we have both seen games where elite QBs like Brady get some rocked by pressure that they look like bums for that game. It happens much more rarely, but I've seen elite QBs lose it. Conversely, we see how our lack of pressure continually makes scrubs, backups, and QBs getting their first starts look like first ballot Hall of Famers.

So yeah, I want the elite QB, but I also want the ability to make that opposing QB uncomfortable.

 

[heisenberg]

For shits and giggles i just looked up who the saints drafted with our 3rd and 4th round picks last year and how they did.

If you're unaware I highly recommend you dont investigate as it may lead to a deep spiraling bout of depression.

 

[method man]

For shits and giggles i just looked up who the saints drafted with our 3rd and 4th round picks last year and how they did.

If you're unaware I highly recommend you dont investigate as it may lead to a deep spiraling bout of depression.

Ouch. Our DB room would look way better with both guys. For all the Amos as CB1 talk, Riley finished with a higher PFF grade than he did

 

[heisenberg]

Ouch. Our DB room would look way better with both guys. For all the Amos as CB1 talk, Riley finished with a higher PFF grade than he did

So did sanker.

And this time we cant fall back on the "well we wouldn't have jayden if we hadn't been so stupid" excuse.

 

[Conn]

So did sanker.

And this time we cant fall back on the "we'll we wouldn't have jayden if we hadn't been so stupid" excuse.

Yeah Forbes was my last foray into that particular coping mechanism (that things needed to crater incredibly for us to luck into Snyder selling, and doing any one thing “better” in those final Rivera years may have warped the timeline and prevented that massive change, so better to just appreciate it and move on emotionally). From here on out, I’m way less generous with the silver linings.