TheLongshot
March-27th-2009, 02:39 PM
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/redskins-by-position/position-battle-left-defensive.html#more
Position Battle: Left DE
For now, we can't honestly call this a battle. There is only one person on the roster with every-down NFL experience at this position and that is the recently signed Renaldo Wynn. But you'd have to think that even if Phillip Daniels -- the long-time starter at this spot -- does not re-sign, the club would do something in the draft or lower rungs of free agency to bolster the current mix.
The re-signing of Wynn, 33, makes sense on a lot of levels. He's great at helping younger kids and commands respect around the league. (That will be important with Daniels unsigned and Shawn Springs and Marcus Washington gone.) He can be vocal and forceful if that's called for and there is no doubt in my mind that the Skins are hoping he can influence defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and help with his transition here. Also, with many Redskins veterans questioning rookie NFL line coach John Palermo a year ago, Wynn can be a link between players and the staff.
On the field, though, one must be realistic about Wynn at this point in his career. This could be his last season here and, after being deemed not good enough to be among the top 53 in 2007, he has no one standing between him and a starting job at the moment. Wynn is strong and smart and can play the run but can't produce great results if he's in for 70 snaps.
He has been durable and was a perfect fit for the Giants, who had the best defensive line in the NFL last year, as a rotation player. I spoke with Renaldo recently and he's very excited about the prospect of sharing much of what he learned in New York. Wynn praised Giants defensive line coach Mike Waufle and believes he made major strides in pass-rushing technique under him. But, again, this is not someone who was going to be a prospective starter.
As for Daniels, even if he re-signs, his injury problems are legion and you cannot realistically count on him to get through a full season. Still, should he re-sign, he would come in with every chance to start ahead of Wynn, whom he's beaten out before.
On the whole, though, the Wynn/Daniels tandem poses age, speed and potential injury issues. Defensive coordinator Greg Blache wants a burly run stopper at this spot and has never made pass rushing a real emphasis on that side, so it makes some sense from that perspective.
Behind these two, I'd want reinforcements. The only other returning ends are youngsters Chris Wilson and Rob Jackson. They are essentially the same guy, only Wilson is better on special teams. They are speed rushers who lack the size to play on every down and are essentially rush ends who could give you a sporadic burst on third down in sub packages. You can't project more than that based on what we've seen. If Daniels (again, assuming he takes the Skins' low offer) or Wynn were to break down, there is definitely no one ready to play on run downs.
And when you look over the shoulder of the left defensive end and see the void at strong side linebacker, the problems with the perimeter play of this defense become more apparent. To me, that makes it all the more imperative that the club, with one of its five draft picks (only three in the top 200 selections), finds someone with some heft who can come in as a rotation guy at left end and at least have the body-type to provide legit snaps there, should the starter go down.
As it stands, I wouldn't expect teams to fear running away from Albert Haynesworth and plunging into this side of the line, and given the potential issues at linebacker and safety behind these ends, fortifying this side of the field should be considered mandatory.
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Ugh. While certainly the concern about the aged ones starting is on the button, he analysis of the players behind them is lacking. So, he thinks that Wilson and Jackson are "basically the same guy" when Jackson outweighs Wilson by about 15 lbs (and weighs more than Carter). Also, no mention of Buzbee at all?
Position Battle: Left DE
For now, we can't honestly call this a battle. There is only one person on the roster with every-down NFL experience at this position and that is the recently signed Renaldo Wynn. But you'd have to think that even if Phillip Daniels -- the long-time starter at this spot -- does not re-sign, the club would do something in the draft or lower rungs of free agency to bolster the current mix.
The re-signing of Wynn, 33, makes sense on a lot of levels. He's great at helping younger kids and commands respect around the league. (That will be important with Daniels unsigned and Shawn Springs and Marcus Washington gone.) He can be vocal and forceful if that's called for and there is no doubt in my mind that the Skins are hoping he can influence defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and help with his transition here. Also, with many Redskins veterans questioning rookie NFL line coach John Palermo a year ago, Wynn can be a link between players and the staff.
On the field, though, one must be realistic about Wynn at this point in his career. This could be his last season here and, after being deemed not good enough to be among the top 53 in 2007, he has no one standing between him and a starting job at the moment. Wynn is strong and smart and can play the run but can't produce great results if he's in for 70 snaps.
He has been durable and was a perfect fit for the Giants, who had the best defensive line in the NFL last year, as a rotation player. I spoke with Renaldo recently and he's very excited about the prospect of sharing much of what he learned in New York. Wynn praised Giants defensive line coach Mike Waufle and believes he made major strides in pass-rushing technique under him. But, again, this is not someone who was going to be a prospective starter.
As for Daniels, even if he re-signs, his injury problems are legion and you cannot realistically count on him to get through a full season. Still, should he re-sign, he would come in with every chance to start ahead of Wynn, whom he's beaten out before.
On the whole, though, the Wynn/Daniels tandem poses age, speed and potential injury issues. Defensive coordinator Greg Blache wants a burly run stopper at this spot and has never made pass rushing a real emphasis on that side, so it makes some sense from that perspective.
Behind these two, I'd want reinforcements. The only other returning ends are youngsters Chris Wilson and Rob Jackson. They are essentially the same guy, only Wilson is better on special teams. They are speed rushers who lack the size to play on every down and are essentially rush ends who could give you a sporadic burst on third down in sub packages. You can't project more than that based on what we've seen. If Daniels (again, assuming he takes the Skins' low offer) or Wynn were to break down, there is definitely no one ready to play on run downs.
And when you look over the shoulder of the left defensive end and see the void at strong side linebacker, the problems with the perimeter play of this defense become more apparent. To me, that makes it all the more imperative that the club, with one of its five draft picks (only three in the top 200 selections), finds someone with some heft who can come in as a rotation guy at left end and at least have the body-type to provide legit snaps there, should the starter go down.
As it stands, I wouldn't expect teams to fear running away from Albert Haynesworth and plunging into this side of the line, and given the potential issues at linebacker and safety behind these ends, fortifying this side of the field should be considered mandatory.
-------------------------------------------
Ugh. While certainly the concern about the aged ones starting is on the button, he analysis of the players behind them is lacking. So, he thinks that Wilson and Jackson are "basically the same guy" when Jackson outweighs Wilson by about 15 lbs (and weighs more than Carter). Also, no mention of Buzbee at all?