This has been a BAD free agency period

[Lanky Livingston]

Supposedly Aldrick Robinson was moved up to the regular roster last year because other teams started to notice him. He's been working hard in the offseason on his route-running, and could be a major surprise in 2012. He's certainly got the speed to be a vertical threat.

 

[Bulldog]

I still think Jackson is the highest risk FA that was out there. Is there a chance at 29 he goes to Tampa and is only a solid to very good player who ends up being WAY overpaid?

Yes.

He is clearly not a #1 receiver in the mold of others around the NFL that draw this kind of interest.

To me he is a very athletic #2 receiver who is best suited to playing with a team that has other weapons so he won't draw the consistent double teams.

In Tampa who else is there?

He's the man right now.

And I don't know if he has ever been that player before.

 

[Neophyte]

I get what you are saying. I really do. You have been on a tear about the line since you got to BGO and I understand it. I have done my share of ranting here about it. However, I'm not sure we are bad as folks seem to think.

Oh, I went and looked up the official stat line before writing this so I know we gave up 41 sacks (12th worst in the league) and 108 QB hits (3rd worst). And I know those numbers aren't good.

I also know it ties us for sacks given up with the Green Bay Packers who had the best regular season record. It is one better than Steelers and three better than the 49ers. It is only three worse than the Cowboys and eight worse than the Ravens and Texans.

Where I see the huge difference is the QB hits. We are twenty-four worse than the closest playoff team, Atlanta, twenty-six worse then the 49ers and 30 worse than the Lions.

This might just be me but I tend to put responsibility for sacks more on the OL and hits more on the QB. I know there are cases where this is reversed but I am just throwing this out as a general rule.

I think we all can agree that Grossman and Beck are not the most "pocket aware" guys in the game today. Nor is Grossman the most nimble or mobile guy in a pair of football cleats (pretty sure I can run a faster 40 than he can too). Neither guys is exactly great at getting rid of the football either.

So, I ask you. How many of those hits are on the QB?

I'm not saying our line couldn't be better because it could. I mean, lets face it, if our guys were a soccer goalie they wouldn't be anyone's first choice to post a clean sheet.

However, I can't help but think that going from Sexy Rexy to RGIII is going to help those numbers a good bit. The defense will have to start thinking about running lanes and defending them. From watching tape of the kid, the defense is going to also have to keep worrying about the pass right up to the moment he crosses the LOS, especially since he might throw better on the run then he does when set up in the pocket.

I would humbly submit that by upgrading the QB position, we have also upgraded the line.

Does this abrogate the need for a new RT? Some but not completely. That position is definitely one of need, no question. However, you can't force guys to sign with us who don't want to wear the B&G and you can't sign guys before they are willing to sign.

 

[Chris]

Awesome sig, LL. Merçi.

On a Mac it's just Alt + C = Ç

 

[Lanky Livingston]

On a Mac it's just Alt + C = Ç

The only Macs I have are the 'n' cheese variety.

 

[Henry]

On a Mac it's just Alt + C = Ç

Thanks for this post. I'm on a Mac and I was too embarrassed to admit I had no idea what Lanky's sig meant.

 

[Yusuf06]

Maybe Ryman should ask for a prescription for some "A-K" pills...

 

[Elephant]

Om and Neo mentioned the 2 points I wanted to touch on.

First, we have invested quite a bit of resources in the WR position since Shanahan arrived. In just the past 2 years we re-signed Moss last year, we signed Stallworth, traded for Gaffney (btw, I like the Gaffney move), we drafted 3 young WR's last year and we were trying to sign 3 more FA WR's this year. Without signing Royal, that is 7 moves to secure the WR position in the past 2 seasons. I like Garçon, I am excited to see what we have in Morgan, and I was a fan of bringing in Royal until his agent started playing games. I am also in favor of releasing or trading Moss if we can get some compensation for him.

But what has me concerned is the fact that we have spent tremendous effort on getting some WR's with an offensive line that is average at best. Don't get me wrong, I know we need WR, but do we address the WR position through attrition when we have other needs, especially RT?

I believe Neo is dead on when he says our line is not as bad as many seem to think, but Jamaal Brown has to be sent packing. Tyler Polumbus performed better in his limited time. We seem to have some solid back up material in Hurt and Smith and Lichtensteiger is coming back, who seemed to be solid before his injury. I'd like to see one more Guard brought in as insurance against Licht's injury and we desperately need a RT. Winston would be perfect for us.

I am excited about the upcoming season. I like to think that our offense is going to be leaps and bounds better than it was last year. I want to trust the FO but when I see so much effort placed on our WR position when there are obvious needs, i.e. RT, that could be filled in FA this year, but aren't.

I guess I am a pessimist. I don't think I am, but the Redskins have bee so very disappointing for soooooooooo long. It's hard to remain rosy, which I did until things fell apart under Zorn..

 

[fansince62]

We'll know how good or bad this offseason has been once the actual season is over.

Last offseason was a surprisingly good one. Let's hope this one is too.

who's focused on that! he asked in a rhetorical way....

I see the next season as a wash...ramping RGIII into NFL level football. If we reach .500 with demonstrated improvement on offense....I'm happy. The core investment is in our franchise QB...this upcoming season is all about seeing what return we are going to be getting on that investment. It's a strategic committment pure and simple on the part of the Skins...it's not some tactical move intended to bear immediate results. I would suggest the real time to up periscope and assess where things are headed is after the 2012 & 2013 seasons.

it's a resource limited world and the Skins needs exceed current resources. think about it.....QB, receivers, safeties, nose tackle, full time RB, RT, center, guards, CBs, replacement MLB, depth......can't be done in one off-season. but the one position that drives it all has hopefully been nailed down....we now have wideouts who are a bona fide threat even if not all-pros, we have above average TEs, we have an LT, we have a capable d-line, we have outstanding OLBs....we're making up for that horrendous first year, Fat Albert, etc.

EVEN were the team to satisfy all its needs in one off-season...it would take a year or more for all the pieces to gel.

Redskin life aint half bad. sit back. enjoy the ride. there will be bumps...as others have noted...it finally seems like long-term, strategic thinking is in place. who can complain about that after all these years?

 

[Lanky Livingston]

I am excited about the upcoming season. I like to think that our offense is going to be leaps and bounds better than it was last year. I want to trust the FO but when I see so much effort placed on our WR position when there are obvious needs, i.e. RT, that could be filled in FA this year, but aren't.

Keep in mind that either Luck or RG3 should make the OL look better than it actually is. Depending on who you believe, the Patriots, Colts or both have had mediocre to average lines the past 10 years, but neither QB gets hit or sacked very much. Why? Because they make their OLs look good.

 

[Elephant]

Keep in mind that either Luck or RG3 should make the OL look better than it actually is. Depending on who you believe, the Patriots, Colts or both have had mediocre to average lines the past 10 years, but neither QB gets hit or sacked very much. Why? Because they make their OLs look good.

I know. I was LIVID with Rex during that 1st loss to Dallas. His sloppy pocket presence ended that game. His attempt to get away from a 285 pound DL was Ugly! And then you have QB's that know how to take that half step to miss the pressure, which Peyton, the Mannings and Rodgers are adept at and release the ball quickly. Then there is Brees who takes it on the edge to buy time. I think RG3 is more like Brees which should favor him over Luck in this scheme.

What I don't want to see, though we probably will, is RG3 come in here and have to run for his life. Sure his ability will lessen the sacks, but I have seen him try to get that extra yard or 2 and take some big hits. I know you don't like the Ramsey analogy, but I do believe he could have been a better QB had Spurrier not sent 5 receivers out leaving 5 to block for Ramsey. I don't want RG3 to get shell shocked.

I truly believe the RT should be a priority over signing 3 WR's. 2? Ok, but we need to protect this kid and although I think the overall O-line is not all bad, the RT position is.

 

[Om]

who's focused on that! he asked in a rhetorical way....

I see the next season as a wash...ramping RGIII into NFL level football. If we reach .500 with demonstrated improvement on offense....I'm happy. The core investment is in our franchise QB...this upcoming season is all about seeing what return we are going to be getting on that investment. It's a strategic committment pure and simple on the part of the Skins...it's not some tactical move intended to bear immediate results. I would suggest the real time to up periscope and assess where things are headed is after the 2012 & 2013 seasons.

it's a resource limited world and the Skins needs exceed current resources. think about it.....QB, receivers, safeties, nose tackle, full time RB, RT, center, guards, CBs, replacement MLB, depth......can't be done in one off-season. but the one position that drives it all has hopefully been nailed down....we now have wideouts who are a bona fide threat even if not all-pros, we have above average TEs, we have an LT, we have a capable d-line, we have outstanding OLBs....we're making up for that horrendous first year, Fat Albert, etc.

EVEN were the team to satisfy all its needs in one off-season...it would take a year or more for all the pieces to gel.

Redskin life aint half bad. sit back. enjoy the ride. there will be bumps...as others have noted...it finally seems like long-term, strategic thinking is in place. who can complain about that after all these years?

Strong post, brother Al.

What we're going to find out in 2012 is how fast our rookie QB can assimilate to the NFL...and, to a lesser extent, how much we might come to expect him to do for the rest of the team what true franchise QB's do...elevate every other aspect of the operation.

As much as I'm looking forward to watching him this season, I'm already thinking about '13 and beyond.

Will need to keep reminding myself...

Journey, not destination.

Journey, not destination.

Journey, not....

 

[Bulldog]

BUT, if Shanahan starts a Rex Grossman for 10-12 weeks before finally giving Griffin a chance to play, I am going to scream

 

[Om]

There is no "a" Rex Grossman. There is only THE Rex Grossman.

Thankfully.

That said...agreed. Unless they end up surprising us with a Matt Flynn or Peyton Manning signing, I think it's evident at this point that they envision starting their rookie QB pretty early in the 2012 proceedings.

 

[Jugband McGillicuddy]

From the main "forums" screen, I could see part of the thread title. "This has been a BAD free..."

I said outloud, "has to be Ryman."

We're getting a franchise QB. We're getting him some toys to play with. We re-signed Carriker (which is NO small matter.) Get me Fletch, Lichtensteiger and Montgomery re-upped, and a RT, and I'll call this FA period a huge success. Get me Matt Flynn, and it's out-of-this-world phenomenal.

 

[Lanky Livingston]

From the main "forums" screen, I could see part of the thread title. "This has been a BAD free..."

I said outloud, "has to be Ryman."

We're getting a franchise QB. We're getting him some toys to play with. We re-signed Carriker (which is NO small matter.) Get me Fletch, Lichtensteiger and Montgomery re-upped, and a RT, and I'll call this FA period a huge success. Get me Matt Flynn, and it's out-of-this-world phenomenal.

Montgomery already re-upped!

 

[Jugband McGillicuddy]

Sweet! Thanks, Lank!

 

[Henry]

What I don't want to see, though we probably will, is RG3 come in here and have to run for his life. Sure his ability will lessen the sacks, but I have seen him try to get that extra yard or 2 and take some big hits. I know you don't like the Ramsey analogy, but I do believe he could have been a better QB had Spurrier not sent 5 receivers out leaving 5 to block for Ramsey. I don't want RG3 to get shell shocked.

Spurrier's not our coach. Noone will ever again get beat to high hell the way Ramsey was.

If we are thinking of a previous Redskin porous OL, think 1998. Gus Frerotte gets knocked out in the first half of the first game after getting smacked around like a pinball, and free-wheeling Trent Green comes in and lights up the town. Sure our team sucked, but not because of Green. He'd get banged around and spun in all sorts of directions, taking 49 sacks in 14.5 games at an 8.8% sack rate (compared to Ramsey's 8.2% in 2003), and he'd still wing the ball out there and give our offense some sort of life. By the middle of the season it actually started winning us some games, and we rattled off six of our last nine, with Green throwing 23 TDs to just 11 INTs and posting a 81.8 rating, which under the circumstances was rather amazing. And he went on to play for another 9 years, including 2 pro-bowl appearances.

If Griffin is the real deal we'll see some of that here I think. WRs and OL may suck (our top WR in 1998 was Westbrook with 44 catches, 736 yds and 6 TDs) but we'll see something. Something we haven't seen here in a long time. So will the rest of the league.

 

[stevenaa]

The Oline will be noticeably better with any level of competence back there.

 

[Goaldeje]

As has been discussed, our OLine wasn't as bad as some would have you believe. With no Rex Grossman ("a", "the", or otherwise) back there, the line will look even better. Considering how many starting combos there were due to injury and suspensions, the revamped line acquitted itself fairly well, considering.