bubba9497
April-17th-2005, 08:19 PM
http://www.dailypress.com/sports/dp-93330sy0apr17,0,5227588.story?coll=dp-sports-local
An off offseason
Following a sub-par free-agency season, the Redskins look to grab an instant starter with the ninth overall pick in Saturday's NFL draft.
BY RYAN O'HALLORAN
247-4964
April 17 2005
For all their failings the last five seasons - and there have been many - one thing the Washington Redskins have done relatively well is draft solid players in the first round.
When the Redskins open the season Sept. 11, former first-rounders Patrick Ramsey, Chris Samuels, LaVar Arrington and Sean Taylor will be in the starting lineup. All but Ramsey were top-10 selections.
In Saturday's NFL draft, the Redskins again are drafting early (No. 9) and also have picks in the third, fourth, sixth and seventh rounds.
After a sub-par free-agency season, this is another key draft for Joe Gibbs. Add a quality cornerback, a decent receiver and/or a good pass-rusher and the weekend is a success. Here is a question-and-answer look at what the Redskins have done this offseason and what they might do in the draft.
Question: Before the draft discussion starts, how would you grade the Redskins' performance so far this offseason?
Answer: D-plus.
The head scratching continues for Redskins fans after losing middle linebacker Antonio Pierce to the New York Giants, cornerback Fred Smoot to the Minnesota Vikings and trading receiver Laveranues Coles to the New York Jets.
If the Redskins played today, Lemar Marshall would start in Pierce's spot, Walt Harris would replace Smoot and Santana Moss would take over Coles' role.
We're confident Marshall will play well (thus, middle linebacker isn't a draft need for the Redskins), but Harris is old (31 on opening day) and has a checkered injury history, and Moss hasn't proven he can stay healthy, either.
Q: Why didn't the Redskins get an F?
A: They did make a couple good moves. Center Casey Rabach will be better than Cory Raymer and Lennie Friedman, and receiver David Patten will be better than Rod Gardner. More importantly, the Redskins didn't mortgage the future by splurging for free agents. They just didn't take care of their own free agents.
Q: Today, where do the Redskins stand in the NFC East?
A: In the cellar. Last year's 6-10 record matched the Cowboys and the Giants for last in the division. Dallas will be better because of Drew Bledsoe and a healthy Julius Jones. The Giants will be better because Eli Manning will be more mature and Pierce will solidify the G-Men's defense. Philadelphia remains the team to beat.
Q: Geez - will the Redskins even match their 6-10 record from 2004?
A: Not likely. The Redskins will be non-division road underdogs against Denver, Kansas City and St. Louis and home underdogs to San Diego and Seattle. Add in two games against the Eagles and that could be seven losses right there.
Q: Back to the draft. The Redskins sit at No. 9. What's the best-case scenario?
A: Receivers Braylon Edwards or Mike Williams fall to the ninth spot (not likely). The Redskins desperately need a No. 1 receiver and even though rookie wideouts traditionally struggle in the NFL, Edwards and Williams would be too good to pass up.
Q: What's the worst-case scenario?
A: Edwards, Williams and Miami cornerback Antrel Rolle are all gone by the ninth pick. That could happen - Edwards to Chicago at No. 4, Rolle to Tennessee at No. 5, Williams to Minnesota at No. 7.
The Titans are the key: They really like West Virginia cornerback Pac-Man Jones and also could be a candidate to take quarterback Alex Smith if Cleveland passes.
Q: If the worst-case scenario happens, what should the Redskins do?
A: Trade down. They don't have a second-round pick (dealt to New Orleans last year to get into the third round to draft H-back Chris Cooley). The Redskins should deal out of the top 15 and pick up a second-round pick.
The cornerback class really is deep and the Redskins could grab Oregon State's Brandon Browner or Auburn's Carlos Rogers later in the first round. They also could get a receiver - Oklahoma's Mark Clayton or South Carolina's Troy Williamson - or a pass-rusher, Georgia's David Pollack or USC's Shaun Cody.
Q: What would you do?
A: Draft Rolle at No. 9 if he's there; if the receivers and Rolle are gone, I would absolutely trade down. Second-round picks can be immediate starters so the Redskins could add two starters as well as a third rounder in day one of the draft.
Q: Overall, who is the best player in the draft?
A: The best pure athlete may be Texas OLB Derrick Johnson but Michigan's Edwards will make the biggest impact.
Q: If you're the 49ers, what do you do with the first pick?
A: Since San Francisco is unlikely to find any trade takers, the Niners should select Utah's Smith over Cal's Aaron Rodgers. Many analysts have Rodgers rated higher, but Jeff Tedford-coached quarterbacks have struggled in the NFL and Smith has a Peyton Manning-like work ethic.
Q: Several Virginia players could go in the first two rounds. Where do you think Heath Miller, Elton Brown and Darryl Blackstock end up?
A: Three players in the first two rounds? How did this team go 8-4 and lose to Fresno State? Miller will be the first tight end taken (maybe the Jets at No. 26), Brown will be a day-one pick, and monitoring Blackstock will be interesting. He played in a 3-4 but a 4-3 defense desperate for a pass rusher could select the former Heritage High star. «
An off offseason
Following a sub-par free-agency season, the Redskins look to grab an instant starter with the ninth overall pick in Saturday's NFL draft.
BY RYAN O'HALLORAN
247-4964
April 17 2005
For all their failings the last five seasons - and there have been many - one thing the Washington Redskins have done relatively well is draft solid players in the first round.
When the Redskins open the season Sept. 11, former first-rounders Patrick Ramsey, Chris Samuels, LaVar Arrington and Sean Taylor will be in the starting lineup. All but Ramsey were top-10 selections.
In Saturday's NFL draft, the Redskins again are drafting early (No. 9) and also have picks in the third, fourth, sixth and seventh rounds.
After a sub-par free-agency season, this is another key draft for Joe Gibbs. Add a quality cornerback, a decent receiver and/or a good pass-rusher and the weekend is a success. Here is a question-and-answer look at what the Redskins have done this offseason and what they might do in the draft.
Question: Before the draft discussion starts, how would you grade the Redskins' performance so far this offseason?
Answer: D-plus.
The head scratching continues for Redskins fans after losing middle linebacker Antonio Pierce to the New York Giants, cornerback Fred Smoot to the Minnesota Vikings and trading receiver Laveranues Coles to the New York Jets.
If the Redskins played today, Lemar Marshall would start in Pierce's spot, Walt Harris would replace Smoot and Santana Moss would take over Coles' role.
We're confident Marshall will play well (thus, middle linebacker isn't a draft need for the Redskins), but Harris is old (31 on opening day) and has a checkered injury history, and Moss hasn't proven he can stay healthy, either.
Q: Why didn't the Redskins get an F?
A: They did make a couple good moves. Center Casey Rabach will be better than Cory Raymer and Lennie Friedman, and receiver David Patten will be better than Rod Gardner. More importantly, the Redskins didn't mortgage the future by splurging for free agents. They just didn't take care of their own free agents.
Q: Today, where do the Redskins stand in the NFC East?
A: In the cellar. Last year's 6-10 record matched the Cowboys and the Giants for last in the division. Dallas will be better because of Drew Bledsoe and a healthy Julius Jones. The Giants will be better because Eli Manning will be more mature and Pierce will solidify the G-Men's defense. Philadelphia remains the team to beat.
Q: Geez - will the Redskins even match their 6-10 record from 2004?
A: Not likely. The Redskins will be non-division road underdogs against Denver, Kansas City and St. Louis and home underdogs to San Diego and Seattle. Add in two games against the Eagles and that could be seven losses right there.
Q: Back to the draft. The Redskins sit at No. 9. What's the best-case scenario?
A: Receivers Braylon Edwards or Mike Williams fall to the ninth spot (not likely). The Redskins desperately need a No. 1 receiver and even though rookie wideouts traditionally struggle in the NFL, Edwards and Williams would be too good to pass up.
Q: What's the worst-case scenario?
A: Edwards, Williams and Miami cornerback Antrel Rolle are all gone by the ninth pick. That could happen - Edwards to Chicago at No. 4, Rolle to Tennessee at No. 5, Williams to Minnesota at No. 7.
The Titans are the key: They really like West Virginia cornerback Pac-Man Jones and also could be a candidate to take quarterback Alex Smith if Cleveland passes.
Q: If the worst-case scenario happens, what should the Redskins do?
A: Trade down. They don't have a second-round pick (dealt to New Orleans last year to get into the third round to draft H-back Chris Cooley). The Redskins should deal out of the top 15 and pick up a second-round pick.
The cornerback class really is deep and the Redskins could grab Oregon State's Brandon Browner or Auburn's Carlos Rogers later in the first round. They also could get a receiver - Oklahoma's Mark Clayton or South Carolina's Troy Williamson - or a pass-rusher, Georgia's David Pollack or USC's Shaun Cody.
Q: What would you do?
A: Draft Rolle at No. 9 if he's there; if the receivers and Rolle are gone, I would absolutely trade down. Second-round picks can be immediate starters so the Redskins could add two starters as well as a third rounder in day one of the draft.
Q: Overall, who is the best player in the draft?
A: The best pure athlete may be Texas OLB Derrick Johnson but Michigan's Edwards will make the biggest impact.
Q: If you're the 49ers, what do you do with the first pick?
A: Since San Francisco is unlikely to find any trade takers, the Niners should select Utah's Smith over Cal's Aaron Rodgers. Many analysts have Rodgers rated higher, but Jeff Tedford-coached quarterbacks have struggled in the NFL and Smith has a Peyton Manning-like work ethic.
Q: Several Virginia players could go in the first two rounds. Where do you think Heath Miller, Elton Brown and Darryl Blackstock end up?
A: Three players in the first two rounds? How did this team go 8-4 and lose to Fresno State? Miller will be the first tight end taken (maybe the Jets at No. 26), Brown will be a day-one pick, and monitoring Blackstock will be interesting. He played in a 3-4 but a 4-3 defense desperate for a pass rusher could select the former Heritage High star. «