John Clayton: "Redskins, Cowboys now NFC East Favorites."

[s0crates]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=5055486

click link for full article


By acquiring Donovan McNabb (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=1753) for a second-round draft choice in 2010 and a third- or fourth-rounder in 2011, the Eagles may have given Redskins owner Daniel Snyder the short-term tool to move ahead of the Eagles in the NFC East race. In a quarterback-driven league, the Redskins should be able to finally score enough points to not just be a wild-card playoff contender, but to be a division winner.

Despite being 33 years old, McNabb can add to the Redskins what Brett Favre (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=112) added to the Minnesota Vikings (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=min) last season and Steve McNair (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=733) added to the Baltimore Ravens (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=bal) in a trade in 2006. Franchise quarterbacks add points to the scoreboard. Favre added 5.7 points per game to the Vikings last season and they advanced from a 10-win team to a 12-win team. McNair added 5.5 points per game to the Ravens in 2006, and they had a 13-3 season.

. . .

The McNabb trade should make the Redskins and Cowboys the early favorites to win the NFC East, and put the Eagles, who have moved 10 players this offseason, into just a wild-card possibility at best.

Snyder finally got his franchise quarterback. What he didn't expect was that it was going to be a quarterback who made the Eagles a conference championship contender every season.

[Outlaw Torn]

Seems kinda soon to be saying this but I likes it none the less.

[JR70Chip]

Ludicrous. The draft still hasn't even happened yet. We've added aging backups and an aging starting QB, we still have a terrible O-line, while the Eagles have 11 draft picks and are building on a playoff year, and we're better than them?

Wow. Clayton has lost it. We'd be LUCKY to be 8-8 next year. Well still be at the bottom of the divison.

[authentic]

Rick Maese twitter (http://twitter.com/RICKMAESE)


McNabb to Wilbon: "Absolutely looking forward to this ... absolutely. I'm excited about it, no question."

[spjunkies]

Yippie here we go again.

[corrupt3d]

He also said we had the best pass rushers this team ever had since Mann and Manley back when we traded for Jason Taylor.

[gortiz]

Ludicrous. The draft still hasn't even happened yet. We've added aging backups and an aging starting QB, we still have a terrible O-line, while the Eagles have 11 draft picks and are building on a playoff year, and we're better than them?

Wow. Clayton has lost it. We'd be LUCKY to be 8-8 next year. Well still be at the bottom of the divison.

stayed at a holiday inn last night huh?

some are only happy when they are miserable ...

we just added a top ten qb to our roster ... cheer up.

[JR70Chip]

stayed at a holiday inn last night huh?

some are only happy when they are miserable ...

we just added a top ten qb to our roster ... cheer up.

Yup, I'm crazy. You sit and wait for us to win the division this year. Gonna be a long year for you.

You'll see just how much of an "upgrade" McNabb is when he's running for his life and gets hurt in the first couple weeks, if we don't address the O-line with two new starting tackles by opening day.

Football is a team game and we are not one player away. A "top 10" QB means very little to me.

[s0crates]

I think Clayton may be getting carried away here, especially considering the state of our offensive line. There is not a doubt in my mind that DMac instantly makes this offense better though. McNabb showed he can still play last year. He will also become the unquestioned leader on offense, something we really need.

I just hope we find a way to keep the old man on his feet and healthy. If we do, it may be possible to make a playoff run, but that remains to be seen.

[demarc007]

The only people that don't like this move are the "so-called GM's" on this board. I don't even like McNabb but he makes us an instant contender.

[SpringfieldSkins]

Eh, it's a little too soon to be calling us any sort of contender.

[BayouBrave86]

Hmm amazing analysts weren't saying that when Campbell was the starter.

[HailGreen28]

Ludicrous. The draft still hasn't even happened yet. We've added aging backups and an aging starting QB, we still have a terrible O-line, while the Eagles have 11 draft picks and are building on a playoff year, and we're better than them?

Wow. Clayton has lost it. We'd be LUCKY to be 8-8 next year. Well still be at the bottom of the divison.But we're back to winning the Off-Season again! Isn't that great? Awesome? Where's our trophy?

:puke:

[MrJL]

Ludicrous. The draft still hasn't even happened yet. We've added aging backups and an aging starting QB, we still have a terrible O-line, while the Eagles have 11 draft picks and are building on a playoff year, and we're better than them?

Wow. Clayton has lost it. We'd be LUCKY to be 8-8 next year. Well still be at the bottom of the divison.


adding an aging this and an aging that is not a bad thing unless the players have a history of injury or you're looking years ahead.

Also don't the Eagles end up with a lot of busts?

[Devastate]

The only people that don't like this move are the "so-called GM's" on this board. I don't even like McNabb but he makes us an instant contender.

These are the guys that I laugh at.. If they were so smart someone would be paying them to make these decisions. No one is, so they're relegated to a message board to spew their nonsense.

[MrSilverMaC]

adding an aging this and an aging that is not a bad thing unless the players have a history of injury or you're looking years ahead.

Your post would make it seem you don't think of McNabb as having a history of being injured. I think I would have to disagree with that.

[marmar]

Wow... such negativity. The guy makes us better... not saying we'll win the SB or the Division or any, but we will definitely be competitive. I'm not worried about our RBs cause shanny has proven that with a good O-line, it's pretty much plug and play with the RB. Now O-line... that's the concern... Yes we need a tackle, but this is a team sport as someone has already said. We need more than just a tackle, unless your saying that you have faith in our 09 line which is pretty much what we have now. You all know who shanny is. his offense will not work without an O-line. This WILL get address.

[LaRonDontLikeUgly]

We now have the second best QB in the NFC East. That is all.

As far as I am concerned, everything else (except our O-line) is a major question mark.

Usually I hate it when the media makes favorable predictions about the Redskins because it's made our players think they are better than they actually are. Under Shanny however, I feel like our entire organization will be brimming with the right kind of confidence.

[jileib]

The team will address the starting tackles issue way before the start of training camp; remember, it is now only April; the final pieces of the team are not yet in place; also, McNabb is a HUGE upgrade over Jason Fumbleception.

[bnewbs]

I think its just that a lot of us cant stomach somehow rooting for the (former) enemy. A guy who has said we were the worse team when we swept his team in both meeting 2 years ago. A guy who in the earlier years of his career used to run around our defense like it was nothing. We will get used to it..and even if McNabb doesnt makes us an immediate title contender he definitely makes us competitive...he didnt exactly have an awesome O line the past couple years and he did pretty well. Campbell was a nice guy and I wish him the best but if we trade him for a second rounder then we will have upgraded our QB situation by a lot for only a little

[bulldog]

Clayton is I think speaking from the excitement of the moment.

I would not label the Redskins a division contender until I see an offensive line rebuilt with the franchise LT we expect at #4 and the addition of a RT perhaps with a bit more talent and seasoning than Heyer exhibits.

I think Dockery, Rabach, Hicks inside at the LG-C-RG spots are an adequate trio if the team is strong on the corners.

[RedskinInExile]

But we're back to winning the Off-Season again! Isn't that great? Awesome? Where's our trophy?

:puke:

That's my thinking. I might be excited-- if we didn't have such a long, long history of successful, aging free agents coming here and sucking it up. Plus, McNabb ain't exactly durable these days, and behind our O-line, there's a solid chance he'll be knocked out of the game sooner rather than later...

[Spartacus87]

He also said we had the best pass rushers this team ever had since Mann and Manley back when we traded for Jason Taylor. To be fair, Taylor then had a completely freak injury that sidelined him most of the year, and we didn't have DTs to actually help our outside pass rush.

Oh, and Blache played Taylor as a strongside DE to play against the run. Rather than actually pass rush. That probably didn't help.

(Not that I'm saying that was a good trade at all, but it came out a lot worse given the crazy injury and Blache being an idiot)

[TANAMAN]

I'm not going to go out on a limb and say we take the division quite yet. But we have to remember this, in '09 we lost 7 games by less than 7 points:
(NY#1: -6, Phi #2: -3, Dal #1: -1, Det: -5, Car: -3, NO: -3, SD: -3)

and 2 games by 8 & 10 points respectively:
(Phi #1: -10, KC: -8)

And that was with a decimated offensive line, and JC at the helm who alot of people (not me) felt was the cause of all of our struggles. With that being the case you have to believe that with McNabb, a pro bowl and proven winning QB, we can be 10-12 points better if we strengthen our offensive line and other weaknesses in the draft. To do that we need to some how acquire some picks and get reinserted back into this draft. Because as it stands we have one 1st round pick and then we don't pick again until the 4th round in what is being called one of the deepest drafts in the past decade.

If the top 3 picks go how people are guesstimating with (Bradford #1, Okung #2, Suh/McCoy #3) we will be in a great position to trade back and acquire more picks with one of the big DT's falling into our laps. Also you have to believe that JC has now been firmly strapped, glued, and welded to the trading block, so if we can move him for a 3rd rounder and pick up a 2nd with the trade back, we instantly regain our draft and have the ability to sure up some weak spots on the team. This isn't far fetched IMO and if it can be done then maybe, just maybe we'll be in the divisional race. But at this point it's a wait and see for me.

[Truant]

I'm not going to go out on a limb and say we take the division quite yet. But we have to remember this, in '09 we lost 7 games by less than 7 points:
(NY#1: -6, Phi #2: -3, Dal #1: -1, Det: -5, Car: -3, NO: -3, SD: -3)

and 2 games by 8 & 10 points respectively:
(Phi #1: -10, KC: -8)

And that was with a decimated offensive line, and JC at the helm who alot of people (not me) felt was the cause of all of our struggles. With that being the case you have to believe that with McNabb, a pro bowl and proven winning QB, we can be 10-12 points better if we strengthen our offensive line and other weaknesses in the draft. To do that we need to some how acquire some picks and get reinserted back into this draft. Because as it stands we have one 1st round pick and then we don't pick again until the 4th round in what is being called one of the deepest drafts in the past decade.

If the top 3 picks go how people are guesstimating with (Bradford #1, Okung #2, Suh/McCoy #3) we will be in a great position to trade back and acquire more picks with one of the big DT's falling into our laps. Also you have to believe that JC has now been firmly strapped, glued, and welded to the trading block, so if we can move him for a 3rd rounder and pick up a 2nd with the trade back, we instantly regain our draft and have the ability to sure up some weak spots on the team. This isn't far fetched IMO and if it can be done then maybe, just maybe we'll be in the divisional race. But at this point it's a wait and see for me.


I want to live in this fictional world.

Who would give a 3rd for Campbell? Throw in that we've now traded for McNabb and Campbell was thought to be on the block before.

Trading back is a good concept, but the execution is a bit more difficult.


McNabb has always been overrated. Look at the stats. He was a dynamic player long ago. Andy Reid would create mismatches and he'd hit players that were WIDE open.

If Shanahan does that here, Campbell could have done just as well. Hell, Brennan could too.

Parker, Johnson, McNabb... at least we can crack open Madden 06 and dominate.

[redskins55]

The only people that don't like this move are the "so-called GM's" on this board. I don't even like McNabb but he makes us an instant contender.

Exactly.... the folks who know absolutely NOTHING about football. The oones who wanted Colt Brennan or Jimmy Clausen as ouur QB.. If we were to get rid of Campbell it better be for a hall of fame QB and McNabb is that QB. Folks need to leave their personal feelings to themselves and think logical here. We finally get a bonified franchise QB, one that has burned us for years and people are mad. INCREDIBLE!!!!!

[KennyKhaos]

I honestly don't see how we aren't instantly better with McNabb. I don't see how some of you don't think the same. We gave up a 2 picks for an elite QB. If Shanahan does half of what he did with McNabb that he did with Elway, that's one Super Bowl. It's very possible we'll be contenders next year. I mean, now the O-Line will be addressed even more. No more worrying about the QB.

[TANAMAN]

I want to live in this fictional world.

You have no idea whether we've gotten offers for JC. I wouldn't believe that we would accept a 3rd rounder for our starting QB wiht him being the only option on our roster. And if you think Colt Brennan or Rex Grossman were option to start this year you are in a fictional world. Now with McNabb IF we had received those offeres we're in a better position to accept them.

Shanahan is smart enough to get his ducks in a row before he makes a move and obviously he didn't like what he saw in the workout with Jimmy Clausen and didn't believe it was worth what would need to be given to move up for Bradford. There are teams out there in a much worse situation at QB than we were yesterday and if they can't get a Bradford, or they don't believe in a Clausen, they'll trade a 3rd for a QB with starting experience whether you like him or not.

[DarrellsMyHero28]

Clayton is getting way ahead of himself.

If McNabb is indeed our starter, we're a better team but I wouldn't expect a serious playoff push.

Way too many holes.

[demarc007]

McNabb has always been overrated. Look at the stats. He was a dynamic player long ago. Andy Reid would create mismatches and he'd hit players that were WIDE open.


Oh wow, that's what it was. Andy Reid must be the greatest play caller in the game to provide all those wide open WRs over the past decade. Smoke and mirrors at it's finest.

[ciresolstice]

I'm still trusting in Shanahan/Allen. Wait and see guys, stop falling off the deep end. The Line will be addressed, other moves will be mad. We have an above average QB now and he didn't cost too much.

[KennyKhaos]

Clayton is getting way ahead of himself.

If McNabb is indeed our starter, we're a better team but I wouldn't expect a serious playoff push.

Way too many holes.

I'm convinced now more than ever that Shanahan sees more in this team than most of us do. I honestly think they have a plan that just got seriously sped up.

The holes you speak of...O-line, NT (possibly), LB (maybe). Where else?

[icbmayday]

I am not going to hop on that band wagon but it is an upgrade....interested in seeing whats going to happen with this O line though

[Timmy Smith]

Ludicrous. The draft still hasn't even happened yet. We've added aging backups and an aging starting QB, we still have a terrible O-line, while the Eagles have 11 draft picks and are building on a playoff year, and we're better than them?

Wow. Clayton has lost it. We'd be LUCKY to be 8-8 next year. Well still be at the bottom of the divison.

Exactly. Philadelphia is quietly setting themselves up to be good for a long, long time with this draft.

[scruffylookin]

The only people that don't like this move are the "so-called GM's" on this board. I don't even like McNabb but he makes us an instant contender.

Yeah sure he does Danny.

This is the exact mentality that pissed away the last decade.

[demarc007]

Yeah sure he does Danny.

This is the exact mentality that pissed away the last decade.

Thanks for taking the bait, and it's the clown mentality like yours which I speak of. I can't wait until November to see members like "scruffylookin" sayin "OMG do we really have a chance?!?!?!?" I advise you to put a plastic bag over your monitor just in case. Sit back and watch Shanny go to work with a veteran QB.

[The Robert Griffin Experience]

i don't get how we're full of holes

we have ONE real hole - LT.

LT is an impact position the same way QB is - a star LT (and to a lesser extent LG or C) makes the entire line better. If we get Okung and he's everything he's supposed to be (and it's possible - Samuels was playing at a Pro Bowl level his rookie year), then all of a sudden, the entire line looks better. Not to mention that Shanahan came in and made one of the worst lines in football into one of the best while returning 3 players from that same line.

Other than that, where are the holes? We fixed one. We can fix another with the #4 pick. After that we need to build future depth, and losing the #2 admittedly hurts that, but we do have options. For example, we could trade down and take a shot at Iupati at LT, and then draft Pouncey with the #17 pick if we trade down with San Fran. How about we roll over that #4th into a late 1st, a 2nd and 4th, and a future 1st? We have options.

[ConnSKINS26]

i don't get how we're full of holes

we have ONE real hole - LT.

LT is an impact position the same way QB is - a star LT (and to a lesser extent LG or C) makes the entire line better. If we get Okung and he's everything he's supposed to be (and it's possible - Samuels was playing at a Pro Bowl level his rookie year), then all of a sudden, the entire line looks better. Not to mention that Shanahan came in and made one of the worst lines in football into one of the best while returning 3 players from that same line.

Other than that, where are the holes? We fixed one. We can fix another with the #4 pick. After that we need to build future depth, and losing the #2 admittedly hurts that, but we do have options. For example, we could trade down and take a shot at Iupati at LT, and then draft Pouncey with the #17 pick if we trade down with San Fran. How about we roll over that #4th into a late 1st, a 2nd and 4th, and a future 1st? We have options.

This is a good post.

A few little things: I think you meant RG, and C probably isn't on our radar after resigning Rabach to a multi-year deal, even though it should be next year. But this year, he's serviceable, and when you have only 4 picks remaining (before the wheeling and dealing I predict closer to the draft), you have to live with that.

But basically, if Okung isn't there, you trade back for as many picks as possible in the top 3 or 4 rounds, unless Shanahan is in love with Davis or Bulaga for his ZBS.

And another huge factor is that McNabb will make this line look like it had to protect Campbell for eons. Quick decisions and being able to read a defense will take much of the pressure off.

[jeffskins66]

Clayton is smoking crack if he thinks this makes the Redskins a division favorite. They still have HUGE holes throughout the entire roster. Adding an aging QB does nothing for that. They still need 2 offensive tackles, a running back under 29, at least one ILB and a free safety.

Hello last place....again....

[ConnSKINS26]

Clayton is smoking crack if he thinks this makes the Redskins a division favorite. They still have HUGE holes throughout the entire roster. Adding an aging QB does nothing for that. They still need 2 offensive tackles, a running back under 29, at least one ILB and a free safety.

Hello last place....again....

I'll give you the tackles, but I'm not sure on the others.

We have Alridge to fulfill your RB requirement, and a stable of 3 veterans to share carries so they don't get worn down, if they all make it through camp. And if he doesn't draft a late-rounder, he'll bring in some UDFA, trust me.

Why ILB? They have Fletcher and McIntosh. And Blades backing them up. And none of them are injury prone.

Landry will be fine at FS when he's not 30 yards back and being misused by a coach that none of the defensive players liked or respected.

I'm not saying we're primed for a run at the SB, I just don't agree with the areas of need you think we have.

[jeffskins66]

I'll give you the tackles, but I'm not sure on the others.

We have Alridge to fulfill your RB requirement, and a stable of 3 veterans to share carries so they don't get worn down, if they all make it through camp. And if he doesn't draft a late-rounder, he'll bring in some UDFA, trust me.

Why ILB? They have Fletcher and McIntosh. And Blades backing them up. And none of them are injury prone.

Landry will be fine at FS when he's not 30 yards back and being misused by a coach that none of the defensive players liked or respected.

I'm not saying we're primed for a run at the SB, I just don't agree with the areas of need you think we have.

I am not sold on Alridge, LJ, Parker or even Portis at this point and I honestly believe either LJ or Parker isn't making this team.

We switched to the 3-4 which means we need 2 ILBs. Rocky is an OLB (along with Orakpo) We have Fletcher who isn't getting any younger and Blades at ILB right now. Blades is an OK back up but he is absolutely not a starter in the NFL.

We need a FS because we don't have one on the roster. We have Landry playing (poorly) out of position and Horton and Doughty who are SS's. There is nobody on the roster right now who can play a competent free safety.

[redskinsfan4life29]

heres the bottom line if u dont like the move then dont be a fan but true fans will be happy and cheer for mcnabb and u know damn well when he throws the first td u will be going crazy.Why not let it play out then judge????????? try that one on for size

[ConnSKINS26]

I am not sold on Alridge, LJ, Parker or even Portis at this point and I honestly believe either LJ or Parker isn't making this team.

We switched to the 3-4 which means we need 2 ILBs. Rocky is an OLB (along with Orakpo) We have Fletcher who isn't getting any younger and Blades at ILB right now. Blades is an OK back up but he is absolutely not a starter in the NFL.

We need a FS because we don't have one on the roster. We have Landry playing (poorly) out of position and Horton and Doughty who are SS's. There is nobody on the roster right now who can play a competent free safety.

We'll have to agree to disagree on the HB's. I think with all of them getting touches, it'll be fine. This isn't a super-star one-RB league anymore. Its a RB by committee league, and out of all the backs they bring into training camp, BOTH veteran and young alike, only the best 3 or 4 will make it.

Rocky is not an OLB anymore, not in the 3-4 looks the team will use. He's an ILB. OLB is totally different in a 3-4. Orakpo is perfectly suited for it, and some combination of Carter/Wilson/Alexander will man the other side. Fletcher and Rocky will be the ILB, its already been confirmed. That leaves Blades as a backup. That's solid depth. I'd recommend going to find KDawg's 3-4 thread to read up on the confirmed info we have about who will play where, you seem to be behind on the personnel decisions and the skillsets required for the individual positions.

And Landry, with a hard-ass couch who keeps him accountable and lets him be aggressive, will once AGAIN flourish as a FS. He was fine before last season at the position, and he'll be fine once again, with competent coaching and a scheme that uses him to his strengths, something Blache was incapable of doing, apparently.

[nonniey]

The only people that don't like this move are the "so-called GM's" on this board. I don't even like McNabb but he makes us an instant contender.

Amazing about the amount of delusion on this board. How can we be contenders with critical weaknesses with the OL, RB and possibly even WR? Lets put it this way did Cutler make the Bears contenders? After all he was arguably better than McNabb when he went there. Are the Texans contenders? Their QB is better than McNabb. Are the Falcons contenders? Oh I guess I should ask what your definition of contender is. Mine is for the overall championship (i.e. Superbowl) we won't contend for that until we fix a couple of more areas. Figure 2-4 years to do that.

[MartinC]

He also said we had the best pass rushers this team ever had since Mann and Manley back when we traded for Jason Taylor.

He was right. Its just that we choose to line up a career RDE who weighs less than 250 at LDE and asked him to play the run.

Assuming we actually play McNabb at QB we should do better with this trade :)

I do think this move on its own, while it clearly make us better, is not enough to move us into a legit contender. We have to find two starting OTs or McNabb will not finish the season.

[ConnSKINS26]

Amazing about the amount of delusion on this board. How can we be contenders with critical weaknesses with the OL, RB and possibly even WR? Lets put it this way did Cutler make the Bears contenders? After all he was arguably better than McNabb when he went there. Are the Texans contenders? Their QB is better than McNabb. Are the Falcons contenders? Oh I guess I should ask what your definition of contender is. Mine is for the overall championship (i.e. Superbowl) we won't conend for that until we fix a couple of more areas. Figure 2-4 years to do that.

Cutler wasn't better then, or now.

Schaub of the Texans isn't better, at least yet. Let's see how he does without Kyle Shanahan there, huh?

Matt Ryan definitely isn't better, either.

We should very well have a stronger defense than all of those teams, if the transition goes well. And with good coaching, it will. We have good coaching. The Falcons are the only team you listed with a competent running game, and his second year, when they didn't, Ryan fell off. Our running game will be fine with the bodies we'll have sharing carries. You don't need a single all-pro anymore at RB, you need a committee of hard runners, which we'll have.

The FO has a plan for the line which most likely includes the #4 selection in the draft, not to mention that McNabb will make them look twice as good. I've already written that I think RB is fine, and our young WR's will look completely different when being thrown to by a competent QB.

I don't think we're a SB team this year, but we aren't the wreck you make us out to be on offense, not anymore.

[wvtbred]

So a real QB can make the oline better, who knew :)

[Veretax]

Well I love the deal because it takes a position of weakness, and turns it into a strength, whether we keep or trade donovan doesn't matter a peep to me. We now can turn our nose up at any trade offer involving QBs because we've got the advantage.

[Veretax]

Cutler wasn't better then, or now.

Schaub of the Texans isn't better, at least yet. Let's see how he does without Kyle Shanahan there, huh?

Matt Ryan definitely isn't better, either.

...


I'm hoping that's in Sarcasm Schaub has been a top performing passer the last two years. The only knock on him is injuries. Ryan was good the previous year but not so much last year.

[wvtbred]

I'm hoping that's in Sarcasm Schaub has been a top performing passer the last two years. The only knock on him is injuries. Ryan was good the previous year but not so much last year.

Schaub is a beast and as you said only thing that holds him back is injuries. I think Ryan gets back on the upswing this after after the sphmore slump in last.

[brdawk20]

For all the people dissing McNabb's stats, chew on this: for most of his career, he was throwing to wide receivers who were considered among the worst in the league (Pinkston, Smalls, Johnson, Thrash, other assorted junk). He still won games though. If the Skins are not above .500 this year I will be very surprised.

[Potato Sack]

I'm ambivalent about this move. While we pick up a QB who is a proven winner and a proven competitor, we get someone who is in the final years of his career. How is he going to fare behind a broken OL that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later? McNabb has been prone to injury late in his career, so if we don't fix our OL woes, how is he any different than JC running for his life in the backfield? I like the fact that we have a QB who knows how to beat the cowboys and the giants. I'm just not so sure how he will hold up. It's going to be an interesting year. And we're out a 2nd rounder. If we don't pick up Okung in the 1st, who WILL help us at OL?

Ambivalent....

[DGREENHULK]

If we use the 4th pick on a LT then our line doesn't look as bad
Rook/Dock/Casey/MW/Hicks.
And I'm sure Shanny isn't done dealing.

[redskindan07]

So a real QB can make the oline better, who knew :)
That is what I have been thinking. I still say that we draft Okung and trade for Jared Gaither.

[demarc007]

Amazing about the amount of delusion on this board. How can we be contenders with critical weaknesses with the OL, RB and possibly even WR? Lets put it this way did Cutler make the Bears contenders? After all he was arguably better than McNabb when he went there. Are the Texans contenders? Their QB is better than McNabb. Are the Falcons contenders? Oh I guess I should ask what your definition of contender is. Mine is for the overall championship (i.e. Superbowl) we won't contend for that until we fix a couple of more areas. Figure 2-4 years to do that.

The Texans and Falcons aren't contenders to you? You need another definition of contender then. All you can ask for is a competitive team year in and year out with a legit playoff shot. That's a contender, by your definition the Patriots were not a contender last year either.

Our coaching staff is better than all the teams you mentioned as well as our defense. You saying we don't have RBs or WRs is asinine quite frankly. Obviously we don't have an OL at the present time but come training camp it will be much better shape than it was last year.

[WARPATH '82]

I agree!!
As long as THE BEST OL is taken with the 4th pick we should be ok. I'm sure the Skins will be using the "Backfield by Commitee" and some zone blocking schemes, so I'm anxious to see what may happen. It could all blow up in the FO face or it could be just what the Doctor (and fans) ordered. I'm just hoping that one of the young receivers have their breakout year with McNabb.


If we use the 4th pick on a LT then our line doesn't look as bad
Rook/Dock/Casey/MW/Hicks.
And I'm sure Shanny isn't done dealing.

[jpyaks3]

That is what I have been thinking. I still say that we draft Okung and trade for Jared Gaither.

Who the hell are the Redskins going to trade for Gaither? Why would the Ravens trade Gaither?

[Dick Edds]

And another huge factor is that McNabb will make this line look like it had to protect Campbell for eons. Quick decisions and being able to read a defense will take much of the pressure off.

THIS ... I know that there is serious debate about our OL, and whether JC had any other option but to be laid on his back. But I am going to put my money on Shanny that he knows what he is doing, and McNabb will instaantly make our OL just a little bit better.

Also, let's not forget that John Elway was what, 35 (?) years old when Shanny took over the Broncos? I donl;t knw for sure but I think Elway was 38 when he won his first SB.

Shanny now has a proven pro-bowl claiber QB who he doens;t have to teack fundamental concepts of reading a defense and getting rid of the ball when the lay breaks down and there is nothing there. Sure, McNabb has had his own accuracy issues at time. But the guy puts points on the board.

I do wonder if Shanny still likes a QB in this draft and wants a developmental player that he can groom? Also, I really hope we can deal JC for at least a 4th or 5th, and then keep Colt Brennan as the #3. I'd still like to see what the kid has, before we ditch him, he has the swagger and that QB mentality. But I digress.

HAIL.

[Dick Edds]

We need a FS because we don't have one on the roster. We have Landry playing (poorly) out of position and Horton and Doughty who are SS's. There is nobody on the roster right now who can play a competent free safety.

Kareem Moore showed some flashes of potential last year at FS (despite the N.O. int/fumble fiasco). We have solid talent in Landyr, Horton and Doughty as well

It's hard to evaluate players who were being coached under Zorn/Blache. We have sufficient talent and athletic ability in our secondary, they just need to be coached up better. This is not a dire need, IMO.

[DMVSkins]

Ludicrous. The draft still hasn't even happened yet. We've added aging backups and an aging starting QB, we still have a terrible O-line, while the Eagles have 11 draft picks and are building on a playoff year, and we're better than them?

Wow. Clayton has lost it. We'd be LUCKY to be 8-8 next year. Well still be at the bottom of the divison.

Thank you for not drinking you Kool-Aid either, I hope we are able to trade down to aquire more picks but as of right now I agree.

[SkinsFanJPD]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=5055486

click link for full article


How utterly stupid. Right now, they can't even field a complete offensive line. And Clayton calls them NFC East champion contender? Absurd.

[The Robert Griffin Experience]

He was right. Its just that we choose to line up a career RDE who weighs less than 250 at LDE and asked him to play the run.

Assuming we actually play McNabb at QB we should do better with this trade :)

I do think this move on its own, while it clearly make us better, is not enough to move us into a legit contender. We have to find two starting OTs or McNabb will not finish the season.

McNabb's O-Line was not much better than ours last season and he was fine.

McNabb sack percentage: 7.3
Campbell sack percentage: 7.8

[isle-hawg]

Clayton has this all wrong. This trade put the Iggles in the drivers seat to win the division, most likely pukes second, Giants 3rd and our beloved team dead last again with another one of our high draft picks going to them next year. Thank you Snyderatto once again.......:mad: