Why can't we ever develop our own "star" players?

[killerbee99]

I have just been sitting and watching all thede games today, and a thought hit me, why can't we ever develop our own star players. Ever since we had the Hogs, Darrell Green, and Charles Mann, I can't for the life of me figure out why we never seem to have that player other teams want that we "developed" ourselves. Since 1998, when we took Chris Champ Bailey, Samuels and Lavar Arrington, there have only been a handful of players like maybe 4 (Sean Taylor, Chris Cooley and Laron Landry) that I can think of as being star players we developed. Even though, technically they were already pretty good since they were all first round picks apart from Cooley.

Why is it we always covet players from other teams that they developed, for instance like some folks saying we should sign Sproles, a scatback when we can just draft our own. Why can't we ever draft our own wildcat offense WR/QB like Pittsburgh did when they drafted ARE, whom by the way we had to pay out of the rear for and get nothing in return in terms of production. Why can't we draft White from WVU who could be our own QB/WR player or a good scatback in the late rounds who we can have as our breakway speed guy (like Norwood RB ATL) that almost every team in the NFL has except for the skins (Giants = Bradshaw,Ward , Cowboys = Choice, Eagles = Buckhalter, Moats, Redskins = Betts, Catwright(slowest kick returner ever))

Look, my point is this, this team needs to be built to win the NFC East first and foremost, which is pretty much running and stopping the run, then getting to the NFC EAst QB's who are pretty damn good, and maybe for once DEVELOP our players and make our own role players and stars, develop them, and be the beast of the NFC East. I am sick and tired of every year looking at my beloved Skins and just seeing a crappy product being put on the field and every year having to wait till the next year. Lets draft our own ARE(Steve White), our own scatback speed guy (whomever we can find in the draft) and develop them, for God's sake let's be relevant again in the NFC East and NFL.

OK, rant over :rant:

[HailGreen28]

I have just been sitting and watching all thede games today, and a thought hit me, why can't we ever develop our own star players. Ever since we had the Hogs, Darrell Green, and Charles Mann, I can't for the life of me figure out why we never seem to have that player other teams want that we "developed" ourselves. Since 1998, when we took Chris Champ Bailey, Samuels and Lavar Arrington, there have only been a handful of players like maybe 4 (Sean Taylor, Chris Cooley and Laron Landry) that I can think of as being star players we developed. Even though, technically they were already pretty good since they were all first round picks apart from Cooley.

Why is it we always covet players from other teams that they developed, for instance like some folks saying we should sign Sproles, a scatback when we can just draft our own. Why can't we ever draft our own wildcat offense WR/QB like Pittsburgh did when they drafted ARE, whom by the way we had to pay out of the rear for and get nothing in return in terms of production. Why can't we draft White from WVU who could be our own QB/WR player or a good scatback in the late rounds who we can have as our breakway speed guy (like Norwood RB ATL) that almost every team in the NFL has except for the skins (Giants = Bradshaw,Ward , Cowboys = Choice, Eagles = Buckhalter, Moats, Redskins = Betts, Catwright(slowest kick returner ever))

Look, my point is this, this team needs to be built to win the NFC East first and foremost, which is pretty much running and stopping the run, then getting to the NFC EAst QB's who are pretty damn good, and maybe for once DEVELOP our players and make our own role players and stars, develop them, and be the beast of the NFC East. I am sick and tired of every year looking at my beloved Skins and just seeing a crappy product being put on the field and every year having to wait till the next year. Lets draft our own ARE(Steve White), our own scatback speed guy (whomever we can find in the draft) and develop them, for God's sake let's be relevant again in the NFC East and NFL.

OK, rant over :rant:Good point about building from within. I still think we're set at O-line with Buges, and questionable at all other positions coaching wise.

[IbleedBnG83]

Talent evaluator's in the FO.

[zyvo23]

They've done a fair bit of it. C.Rogers is a solid CB, Horton was a 7th round steal. Cooley is a pro bowler, Landry is a star in the making. Let's not forget, the trio of receivers taken last year. at least one of them better develop into 'star' or the skins will be in serious trouble.

Also, we have Colt Brennan, he will be a Super star. ;)

[SAli457180]

Talent evaluator's in the FO.

Bingo.

[HailGreen28]

Talent evaluator's in the FO.I wish the Skins would look at two issues: 1. The best scouts and GM in the NFL, to regularly make the picks and FA signings that make us look smart (like the Horton pick, like the Patriots have a reputation of doing)

2. The best coaches including positional coaches, to teach our guys technique, teamwork, and indivdual skills better than anyone in the league. (like Buges reputation) Which would also make our picks and FAs look better over time. i think that's what kilerbee meant by developing.

I don't think we're the best in the NFL at that, and those are areas Danny could splurge on with no cap consequences.

[paintrain]

We've had about 18 years of crappy drafting where we only drafted and/or developed less than 5 all pros. This trend pre-dates Snyderrato. We were crappy for most of the '90s as well. We REALLY need someone to come in and right the ship for a solid 10+ years to re-establish the franchise out of mediocrity.

[Skinz248]

Could it be our fans never give ANYONE a chance? How would you like to go to work everyday and anyone you see thinks you guys should be fired (demoted) for the guy behind you? Many fans bash Los as well as JC and I think that Los played very well this year and especially after knee surgery. JC has only started 2 seasons worth of games and fans want him gone.

[Boss_Hogg]

ummm Vinny Cerrato for $1,000 please.

[GibbsFactor]

Chris Samuels
Chris Cooley
Laron Landry
Sean Taylor
Carlos Rogers
Rocky McIntosh
Chris Horton
Jason Campbell

Pretty good if you ask me.

[styx491]

Chris Samuels
Chris Cooley
Laron Landry
Sean Taylor
Carlos Rogers
Rocky McIntosh
Chris Horton
Jason Campbell

Pretty good if you ask me.

I was about to say... Sean Taylor came to mind. Landry and Cooley are up there, and I think Horton will end up a star player as well.

[paintrain]

One major issue this franchise has is that we are stuck in the past. We're not the Hogs, we're not the Smurfs, we're not Riggo and Monk and Theisman and Green. We have yet to embrace the changes the rest of the league has undergone. We were one of the few teams that didn't have some semblance of the Wildcat formation. We have never embraced a more open passing attack (outside of the Spurrier years). We have not done anything innovative since '82. We've become irrelevant on the NFL landscape.

If we would have kept Schottenheimer we could have become relevant. If we would have gotten Ron Wolf in '02, we could have become relevant. If we get Cowher, we can again become relevant. Otherwise I suspect we will remain irrelevant for the foreseeable future.

[paintrain]

Chris Samuels-star
Chris Cooley-star
Laron Landry-potential star if he's not playing 30 yards away from the action
Sean Taylor-RIP but was a star
Carlos Rogers-average
Rocky McIntosh-average
Chris Horton-decent
Jason Campbell-TBD

Pretty good if you ask me.
We've got 3 players on our team that most teams would consider an upgrade over whomever is currently manning that position. Rogers, McIntosh, Horton & JC are not in that category.

[fire3fighter4]

We've got 3 players on our team that most teams would consider an upgrade over whomever is currently manning that position. Rogers, McIntosh, Horton & JC are not in that category.
Carlos is easily in that category. He's been one of the best corners in the league this year.

[paintrain]

Carlos is easily in that category. He's been one of the best corners in the league this year.

A CB who can't catch, has routinely been beaten for TD throughout his career and was relegated to the 3rd CB for the final 4 games of the season is not in that category. He had a great first 7 games of the year but did zip the 2nd half of the season. He's not a game changer nor does he change field position. He's a solid #2 CB, nothing more-nothing less.

[skinsfan834]

Could it be our fans never give ANYONE a chance? How would you like to go to work everyday and anyone you see thinks you guys should be fired (demoted) for the guy behind you? Many fans bash Los as well as JC and I think that Los played very well this year and especially after knee surgery. JC has only started 2 seasons worth of games and fans want him gone.

I wouldn't care much, because I'm being paid millions of dollars to play football.

[21DIEHARDSKINSFAN21]

pain trainwhich some teams dont have a #2 corner at that, the colts dont, the browns dont, nor the lions, nor the bengals and etc. he is a better cb then you RTEALLY think and im sure when you watched him play you was enjoyin him shut down the 7 #1 wide receivers he had to play against. #1 wide receiver bein shut down by a #2 cb makes me believe that he is a #1 cb. just cant catch

[airs0ft3r]

Why the hell does everyone beat Rock Cartwright. I'm done expecting TDs from him but he constantly takes it out past the 25 mark with our terrible blocking and makes something out of nothing on every play.

Also, why do we forget Fletcher on everything?

[McD5]

Vinny.....and awful coaching.

Even under Gibbs 2, our coaching was lacking in many areas.

The qb coaching.....the rb coaching....and the wr coaching were all pathetic.

We just aren't on the level of a great organization at this point. We can't compete with the best.

[Thinking Skins]

If you look back, we were doing a good job of drafting/signing good rookie talent.
Champ Bailey, Antonio Pierce, Derrick Dockery, Jon Jansen, Steven Davis, .

But I think the problem really is that we had a gibbs/Casserly style front office, which favored proven veterans over rookies. So under our Norv years we did a lot of rebuilding through free agency as well as the draft, and more of the players that we remember are the free agents.

Lately, I think the fact that our team has been so built through free agency has kinda allowed us to ingore the draft almost completely. Thankfully Vinny kinda invested in the draft and UDFAs last year. Hopefully a lot of them pan out.

[whatmeworry]

Why the hell does everyone beat Rock Cartwright. I'm done expecting TDs from him but he constantly takes it out past the 25 mark with our terrible blocking and makes something out of nothing on every play.
Also, why do we forget Fletcher on everything?

Fletcher is not home grown but you are right. Our D would be ranked 5-10 spots lower if he didn't play for us. And I really like Rock. He returns kicks the way they're supposed to. Up the gut, one quick cut and up the field.

[ArsheimSkins]

Brilliant thread OP. I don't know if I've seen one of these up hear directly focusing on this question. We have always danced around it. Brilliant

As for an answer, Daniel Snyder.

[Spartacus87]

Part of the problem is our scheming.

We have a defense that for years now clearly doesn't emphasize turnovers or sacks. You don't get "star" defensive players by having guys that play the run well, you need guys who get picks or fumbles and take them back for 6, or get between 12-15 sacks a season.

Sean Taylor was our only guy headed in that direction, even in our defensive scheme.

On offense, I'd say Portis is a pretty big star RB, especially in 2005 when he was doing those costumes all the time.

Cooley's also a decent name as a top TE in the league.

Otherwise that's about it. I mean we're an 8-8 team that went 9-7 the year before and 5-11 in 2006. How many star players do you really expect out of a squad like that?

[angel2]

I think we are beginning to realize the merits of the draft. We have for so long ignored the defensive line, but hopefully we will understand how teams are gradually rebuild to win.

Just please stop giving away draft picks.

[ciresolstice]

Yeah a friend of mine and I were just going over the Redskins drafts from year to year and they have been terrible with the exception of maybe 2-3 drafts.

Oh and we should have kept Marcus Mason.

The Skins tend to only want Verteran guys, not develop draftees/rookies and ship guys out that end up being stars on other teams. To me it also indicates they don't have good enough coaches to bring the best out of the young players they do get.

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

Hint: Bug eyed Italian-American dude that looks like he's permanently high. Can't evaluate talent for ****, and overpays on what he does find. (See the dirth of it on the current roster he's put together.).

*Helpfull me.

Hail.

[eljeasel]

we dont really draft very many people, dont draft terribly well, too impatient in some cases, dont hold onto the good ones, replace them with the wrong ones

[Streater101]

Could it be our fans never give ANYONE a chance? How would you like to go to work everyday and anyone you see thinks you guys should be fired (demoted) for the guy behind you? Many fans bash Los as well as JC and I think that Los played very well this year and especially after knee surgery. JC has only started 2 seasons worth of games and fans want him gone.

Heh, the "bench", "cut", and "execute" Carlos Rogers mobs were in full force a year ago this time. He plays well this season, and now everyone has their finger on the trigger and ready to blast the front office if he's traded. Our fans are about as fickle about football as most teenagers are with pop music.

I personally don't want to see JC gone, to spend a 1st on QB who doesn't pan out is a setback I don't want our team to experience, but the competition needs to be open next year.

[Streater101]

A CB who can't catch, has routinely been beaten for TD throughout his career and was relegated to the 3rd CB for the final 4 games of the season is not in that category. He had a great first 7 games of the year but did zip the 2nd half of the season. He's not a game changer nor does he change field position. He's a solid #2 CB, nothing more-nothing less.

I don't have statistics, so I can't argue how many TD's he was beaten for overall, however I do know he was only beaten for 4 this year, and none of them were over 10 yards. Routinely is a gross exaggeration.

You're overestimating the talent around the rest of the league, and underestimating Roger's. If every corner in the league in the league had to play up to your standards, then they would all be virtually interchangeable with the exception Asomugha or Deion circa 95.

[Spartacus87]

Yeah a friend of mine and I were just going over the Redskins drafts from year to year and they have been terrible with the exception of maybe 2-3 drafts.

Oh and we should have kept Marcus Mason.

The Skins tend to only want Verteran guys, not develop draftees/rookies and ship guys out that end up being stars on other teams. To me it also indicates they don't have good enough coaches to bring the best out of the young players they do get. I don't know about Mason.

He never really showed anything that great except against guys that are now either on practice squads or driving UPS trucks.

Plus wasn't his whole problem that he couldn't learn the playbook and his bocking assignments? If Zorn had a fit over Portis not correctly following his assignments, I don't even want to know what he'd do with Mason.

[hitmandm]

We dont play young guys

[aussieskin]

maybe because we dont use the draft, we use the fa far too much

[bikie]

I was talking with someone about this last night with regard to sproles how the chargers might lose a second potential franchise RB for the second straight year, and how so many teams are faced with losing players they drafted who developed into stars due to payroll... I realize our pockets are deeper than others but we tried to think of all the players we would have lost if we were a smaller market... was an interesting (and sobering) conversation and absolutely reflects our lack of draft picks, lack of recognizing talen, history of trying to cherry pick other teams good draft work and lack of continuity with scheme, giving players a chance to develop properly...

we looked at the draft the past several years and came up with the following names we would have had problems resigning to a second contract had we been a medium sized market team:

(only potential from the past draft was horton, but in fairness, too early to tell)
2007: landry (his numbers aren't flashy, but we agreed his potential would garner a high price)
2006: no one (though macintosh was argued, we couldn't agree his production would cause any sort of bidding war)
2005: rogers (but even this was debatable, yet even decent DBs are always in demand by someone)
2004: taylor and cooley (no question here)
2003: no one
2002: no one
2001: smoot was the only one we could debate, again being a good DB

if you do this or just look at the problems other teams have, it is really revealing...

good thread...

[Chief skin]

Vinny Millen has to be able to select "STAR" players first

[Pounds]

I think this stems from the way the franchise has done "business" over the past ten years, or so. Through Snyder's reign the Redskins have been more into the hiring/firing of talent, as opposed to the procurement of it. We have begun an attempt to reverse that trend, as ill fitting as it may seem to many of the fans that frequent this board. However, we are still reaping from what we have already sewn. This team has a total and complete lack of depth or emerging starters in the most key of positions; offensive and defensive lines.

Until Snyder understands that winning is a process berthed of a good plan, set forth by people who understand football, we will continue this pattern of "business." Perennially winning franchises are a nurturing cradle of talent, not a revolving door of retreads.

[Chanhillbilly]

We've had about 18 years of crappy drafting where we only drafted and/or developed less than 5 all pros. This trend pre-dates Snyderrato. We were crappy for most of the '90s as well. We REALLY need someone to come in and right the ship for a solid 10+ years to re-establish the franchise out of mediocrity.

Charlie C. had up set up to run the table and be strong for a while. Stud CB, stud LB's, FA DL, solid/workable OL and workable QB in Johnson. He got "the trades" using sean gilbert and used those compromising pictures of ditka to get us all those picks. Norv got us to the playoffs just to have the team blown up by Danny Boy the next year, Casserly fired, and turmiol insue for the next few years.

[alwaysaskin]

http://nationalpost.pa-sportsticker.com/site/_content/Article/NFL/A17324031201097832A.jpg

Any Questions

[martin49]

One major issue this franchise has is that we are stuck in the past. We're not the Hogs, we're not the Smurfs, we're not Riggo and Monk and Theisman and Green. We have yet to embrace the changes the rest of the league has undergone. We were one of the few teams that didn't have some semblance of the Wildcat formation. We have never embraced a more open passing attack (outside of the Spurrier years). We have not done anything innovative since '82. We've become irrelevant on the NFL landscape.

If we would have kept Schottenheimer we could have become relevant. If we would have gotten Ron Wolf in '02, we could have become relevant. If we get Cowher, we can again become relevant. Otherwise I suspect we will remain irrelevant for the foreseeable future.

excellent post. we are not the skins of old and have not been for years, and must get with the times as most other teams have. Portis is a very good back but not a pile mover like riggo or rogers. Campbell does not run like theismann. Different player styles require a different approach to the game. work on the strengths

[Thiebear]

We've got 3 players on our team that most teams would consider an upgrade over whomever is currently manning that position. Rogers, McIntosh, Horton & JC are not in that category.

Lies..
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V

[ChiefPowhatan17]

We are developing our own stars.

1. Chris Horton
2. Kareem Moore
3. Fred Davis
4. Devin Thomas
5. Malcolm Kelly
6. Chad Reinhart
7. Colt Brennan
8. LaRon Landry
9. Rob Jackson
10. Rocky McIntosh
11. Golsten
12. Montgomery

There's a list of still developing players from the last few years of the draft. It will take a few years, considering Gibbs 2.0 almost gave away all our draft picks. But, he made the few he had count, ie Cooley.

[Tastes Like Chicken]

Snyder loves the big splash. When we get other teams' developed players on the verge of doing something, Snyder pays them the de facto $30M contract BEFORE they do anything in a burgundy & gold uniform. Out of that crop you get some that pan out, some that remain B-level talent, and some busts. Because of the salary cap and lack of draft picks, the depth behind the starters is retread, cheap, guys off the street, etc.

[CM916]

Players other teams stole from us with big FA contracts:
Fred Smoot
Derrick Dockery
Robert Royal

Home-grown Players whose stock has been high before:
Ladell Betts

[paintrain]

pain trainwhich some teams dont have a #2 corner at that, the colts dont, the browns dont, nor the lions, nor the bengals and etc. he is a better cb then you RTEALLY think and im sure when you watched him play you was enjoyin him shut down the 7 #1 wide receivers he had to play against. #1 wide receiver bein shut down by a #2 cb makes me believe that he is a #1 cb. just cant catch

As I've asked (and have yet to get an answer) name me ONE #1 WR he shut down this season.

The topic was 'star' players to which someone responded Rogers. He is far from a star.

[Drockvb]

Probably because we waste away all our draft picks, thus leading to a smaller pool of players that can be developed.

[GoDeep81]

Talent evaluator's in the FO.

Yup.. If ya cant spot/draft tallent, ya cant create many stars from within..

[maskedsuperstar]

Right now any objective observer will say the Skins are bottom feeders with poor overall talent despite the high salaries. This has got to be the result of poor "luck" in Drafting and FA signing over the past few years. Hopefully the cycle will change and the Skins will get lucky in the next few years. But a total house-cleaninbg is in order first.

First of all, the Skins have talent. There is a constant change of coaching, and that is a problem. Every year the players are learning a new system.
On the defensive side of the ball, twice since 2000, have the Skins not be in the top 10 in defense. I don't think a total house cleaning is needed.
Coaches must stay in place. Change is setting the team back.

[bulldog]

This is an old question that has been asked and answered.

The Redskins don't have a consistent plan put in place by a capable front office executive.

Decisions here are made ad-hoc as emergencies come up and the result is a herky-jerky team that performs in a mediocre fashion over time.

The most recent example of that is Jason Taylor. The team freaked out after Phillips Daniels went down with an injury in camp and gave up the compensation that Parcells was holding out for.

In the end the player that would have taken Daniels' place, Evans, ended up starting the majority of the games anyway.

The Redskins lost #2 and #6 picks in 2009 and got little in return.

Meanwhile, the Ravens had some injuries on the OL during the season and pounced on Willie Anderson when he was cut by Cincinnati and he is starting for them in the playoffs.

Baltimore gave him new dollars on a new contract true enough, but Ozzie Newsome didn't give up any DRAFT CHOICES for the 33 year old Anderson.

That's the difference between a team that knows what it is doing and one that doesn't.

[panel]

Lets not forget about the guys that we developed that left because they wanted more than we could afford, like Champ Bailey, Antonio Peirce, and Derrick Dockery

[TheLongshot]

This is an old question that has been asked and answered.

The Redskins don't have a consistent plan put in place by a capable front office executive.

Decisions here are made ad-hoc as emergencies come up and the result is a herky-jerky team that performs in a mediocre fashion over time.

The most recent example of that is Jason Taylor. The team freaked out after Phillips Daniels went down with an injury in camp and gave up the compensation that Parcells was holding out for.

In the end the player that would have taken Daniels' place, Evans, ended up starting the majority of the games anyway.

The Redskins lost #2 and #6 picks in 2009 and got little in return.

Meanwhile, the Ravens had some injuries on the OL during the season and pounced on Willie Anderson when he was cut by Cincinnati and he is starting for them in the playoffs.

Baltimore gave him new dollars on a new contract true enough, but Ozzie Newsome didn't give up any DRAFT CHOICES for the 33 year old Anderson.

That's the difference between a team that knows what it is doing and one that doesn't.

Just curious, but where was the Willie Anderson of the D-Line out there? If there was one, I missed it. It is easier to find OL castoffs than DL castoffs in training camp.

[drowland]

Just curious, but where was the Willie Anderson of the D-Line out there? If there was one, I missed it. It is easier to find OL castoffs than DL castoffs in training camp.

It is? Then why did the Skins trade a 4th rd pick for Pete Kendall if OL castoffs are easy to find?

[veteranskinsfan]

Lets not forget about the guys that we developed that left because they wanted more than we could afford, like Champ Bailey, Antonio Peirce, and Derrick Dockery
Good point. Losing Pierce was not good at all. Losing Champ Bailey was bad too. This is the first year that Bailey has not done well for the Bronco's and has been injured.

[jtyler42]

2 reasons why I think we can't develop our own stars...

1.) b/c we are too quick to bench/trade/cut/release players, and we don't allow players to develop in our schemes.

2.) we don't have continuity in our schemes on O or D so players are constantly learning something new...

[mi6]

Over the past decade the front office has traded away a ton of our draft picks for over-the-hill, underacheiving free agents -- for example, Andre Carter, Jason Taylor, Brandon Lloyd ... to name a few.

The Skins have the fewest drafts picks in the decade and hence limited talented to groom, and develop.

[SirClintonPortis]

It sucks playing for Washington, for them at least.

[TheLongshot]

It is? Then why did the Skins trade a 4th rd pick for Pete Kendall if OL castoffs are easy to find?

I said easier, not easy. Capable DL are horded like gold, partially since even a vet getting up in years could still be used in a rotational basis. For OL, if you aren't starting, you aren't going to play much. If you are also carrying a hefty salary (like Anderson was), there isn't going to be much room for you.

Again, tho, no one answered my question: where was the DL equivalent of Willie Anderson that we could have signed?

[Siven]

Good point about building from within. I still think we're set at O-line with Buges, and questionable at all other positions coaching wise.

Are we really set with Buges? I'd contend that we aren't because he doesn't trust rookies. Rookies are now expected to start from day 1 and they can be major impacts on a team.

[NastyBoy]

Over the past decade the front office has traded away a ton of our draft picks for over-the-hill, underacheiving free agents -- for example, Andre Carter, Jason Taylor, Brandon Lloyd ... to name a few.

The Skins have the fewest drafts picks in the decade and hence limited talented to groom, and develop.


..........Dieon Sanders, Bruce Smith, Adam Archuletta..........

UGH! Make it stop!!

I disagree with the Lloyd thing, though. He hasn't lit the world on fire, but has performed very admirably in Chicago and has made an impact on that team. The same was true of David Patten. The same is true now with ARE.

Our problems are, in large part, the team's inability to properly utilize talent!

[cphil006]

We've got 3 players on our team that most teams would consider an upgrade over whomever is currently manning that position. Rogers, McIntosh, Horton & JC are not in that category.

We developed Antonio Pierce. And he left for more money and bashes us still...

[cphil006]

..........Dieon Sanders, Bruce Smith, Adam Archuletta..........

UGH! Make it stop!!

I disagree with the Lloyd thing, though. He hasn't lit the world on fire, but has performed very admirably in Chicago and has made an impact on that team. The same was true of David Patten. The same is true now with ARE.

Our problems are, in large part, the team's inability to properly utilize talent!

..and the teams ability to properly evaluate talent... DeAngelo Hall was a great signing, but all the over the hill gang should not have been signed... or started/

[scruffylookin]

I have just been sitting and watching all thede games today, and a thought hit me, why can't we ever develop our own star players. Ever since we had the Hogs, Darrell Green, and Charles Mann, I can't for the life of me figure out why we never seem to have that player other teams want that we "developed" ourselves. Since 1998, when we took Chris Champ Bailey, Samuels and Lavar Arrington, there have only been a handful of players like maybe 4 (Sean Taylor, Chris Cooley and Laron Landry) that I can think of as being star players we developed. Even though, technically they were already pretty good since they were all first round picks apart from Cooley.


Laron Landry a "star player"?

In what world? This one?

You really think Landry's name belongs in the same breath as Champ Bailey, LaVar Arrington, Chris Samuels, Sean Taylor, and Chris Cooley? Really?

Besides Samuels of course, I'd say Chris Cooley is the only "star player" developed that is "our" guy still on the team. He was a guy nobody really heard of or thought much of and he's now gotten the respect of his peers and is viewed as one of the top tight ends in the league (as evidenced by a pro bowl invitation this year despite what most of us view as a down year for Chris).

Before Snyderrato, the only player we developed on our own that blossomed into a "star" was Stephen Davis. Stephen Alexander came close but he never really "blew up" and instead injuries destroyed his career. Charley Casserly nearly went a decade in between his drafted players went to the pro bowl as Skins. He became GM after the 89 draft. After Brian Mitchell, a Casserly selected player was not voted to the pro bowl for the Skins until 1999 (Gus Frerotte made it in 96 but went as a 2nd alternate) when Stephen Davis and Tre Johnson made it. Casserly only drafted 6 players who made pro bowls as Skins (Mitchell, Johnson, Frerotte, Davis, Alexander, and Bailey) in 10 drafts. Snyderrato hasn't been much better with only 4 players they've selected being voted to the pro bowl (LaVar, Samuels, Taylor, & Cooley) in 8 drafts.

As to your original question of why that is the case that we can't develop our own players? It's probably been three reasons. Most obviously poor front office in selecting the players. Free agency (the ease in which a team can just import players from other teams vs. building via the draft). Lastly, coaching turnover this last decade that caused turnovers in personel.