Roster Building: A Redskins Reverse

[Oldfan]

I think I have our new roster building plan figured out. Dan, Vinny, and Jimmy Z are running a reverse. The Fred Davis pick in the draft was the tipoff to the Skins hierarchy's's new roster building strategy. Why draft a TE that high when you have Cooley?

Most NFL teams begin with an offensive and defensive plan and then build a roster to fit it. The braintrust is reversing that. They will search out and sign the best players available, even if it means adding a player like Davis at a position of strength, thus making it easier to build a talented roster. Then, Jim Zorn and staff will find a way to use what they have to good advantage. The Davis pick is an example of the way the scheme can be adapted to the talent.

If Davis turns out to be a blue chip player, the team's short game gets a whole lot better with Cooley and Davis on the field at the same time. In the red zone, it will be like having two power forwards in the low post defended by guards; and, an offense that will work in the red zone, will work anywhere on the field.

Joe Gibbs wasn't wrong in wanting to sit on a second-half 14 point lead last season in the Giant's game at Fed Ex. He just didn't have the horses to run the Riggo Drill the way he did in the 80s. When we think of beefing up the short game, we think run; but given the same situation, Zorn can choose to milk the clock with high percentage passes to big receivers, mixed in with runs.

When we say that a team has the capability to come from behind, we are usually thinking of an effective medium-to-deep range passing game; but, the surest way to score touchdowns is by using all four downs. This means taking fourth and short gambles. Our improved short game means gambles like that are more likely to succeed.

So, if Davis develops into a player, we can be better in the red zone, better at milking the clock, and better at coming from behind if Jimmy Z plays his cards right. All this from drafting the best player available at a position already capably filled.

When you draft for need, to fill positions, you lower your batting average in the draft. When you're picky about getting players to fit a system, you lower your average. It makes more sense to find talent and then tweak your scheme to use it.

[jnhay]

I just wonder, what if Davis actually gets to the level of Cooley? Can we actually afford giving two tight ends big contracts or will we drafting a guy who won't play here for more than 3 years?

I also think you're right. Cooley, Davis, and Kelly should give us some high percentage targets on short down situations.

[Oldfan]

I just wonder, what if Davis actually gets to the level of Cooley? Can we actually afford giving two tight ends big contracts or will we drafting a guy who won't play here for more than 3 years?

If you want an idea of how much talent can be accumulated while staying under the cap, take a look at the Chargers. They've done it right.

[Rudechain]

Nice post Oldfan and I think your completely right.

Draft the best talent available and then find ways to use them.

Also, football is a violent game and injuries do happen. It's good to have this type of depth problem.

[Oldfan]

Nice post Oldfan and I think your completely right.

Draft the best talent available and then find ways to use them.

Also, football is a violent game and injuries do happen. It's good to have this type of depth problem.

Thanks.

In the worst case scenario, you have two very good players at the same position and you can't get them both enough playing time. The older guy becomes trade bait.

[mudhog]

I have to agree with ya here Oldfan. Very well stated.

Many here have argued the point, and if one bothers to take off the homer glasses for a second, they would prob. agree too, that the rookies won't have a great impact their first year with a team. I for one, have been guilty of swilling the koolaid when it comes to the rooks but the fact remains that having these new receivers on the field(DT, MK, FD) will enable us to have greater success by the sheer fact they need to be accounted for by opposing defenses.

For the life of me, under Gibbs II, I never understood why we didn't show different packages to confuse coverages. Three and four WR sets. Two TE sets. Even if they were just ruses, why did we not use B.Lloyd more in opening up the secondary? Was it that the line was so porus on the right side that we never had the time to execute?

Now, fast foreward to this year. It seems we will finally be using 4 WR sets. If ARE, Moss and JT are included, that means either MK or DT will be running a route. If Thrash is not in, then MK and DT will both be out there at the same time. You can't tell me that a defense can stack the box on that kind of talent, rookie or not, and survive. Same goes in the red zone with FD and Cooley. D's won't survive long blitzing us if our threat can come from either TE, though we had Yoder all last year and never used him in a 2TE set in the red zone.

I guess my point here is that we have the talent here this year, albeit almost half rookie, to open up this offense and finally become a scoring machine. The sad thing is that we had similar talent here last year with Moss, ARE, Caldwell, McCardell, and Lloyd but never fully utilized them. I gotta say that I am excited about the possibilities Zorn brings with him this year. I don't care that he is not as knowledgable as Al Saunders. At least he won't be a detached coach up in a booth. I am also excited about how he will use our rookies. I'm sure after 5 preseason games that there will be plenty of film to look at in order to exploit the talent of these fine draft picks.

Hail

[Oldfan]

mudhog: I have to agree with ya here Oldfan. Very well stated.

Thank you.

Many here have argued the point, and if one bothers to take off the homer glasses for a second, they would prob. agree too, that the rookies won't have a great impact their first year with a team.

True. Our expectations for the rooks are always too high.

For the life of me, under Gibbs II, I never understood why we didn't show different packages to confuse coverages.

I think Joe was too conservative playing Brunell and, with Jason, he wanted to keep things simple.

I don't care that he [Zorn] is not as knowledgable as Al Saunders. At least he won't be a detached coach up in a booth.

The Saunders-Gibbs combination just didn't work.

I am also excited about how he will use our rookies. I'm sure after 5 preseason games that there will be plenty of film to look at in order to exploit the talent of these fine draft picks.

I don't know how well we'll do this season, but it's going to be interesting. I'm looking forward to it.

[Fan since a Fetus]

I just wonder, what if Davis actually gets to the level of Cooley? Can we actually afford giving two tight ends big contracts or will we drafting a guy who won't play here for more than 3 years?

In three years we may not have a cap to worry about. If that is the case, then we have the right owner to keep these high caliber players here.

[DieselPwr44]

When you draft for need, to fill positions, you lower your batting average in the draft.

Or you go 11 years without filling a desperate need: a passrushing DE that fixes your below average pass rush.

While I agree with the BPA philosophy, there's got to be a middle ground somewhere.

[Oldfan]

Or you go 11 years without filling a desperate need: a passrushing DE that fixes your below average pass rush.

While I agree with the BPA philosophy, there's got to be a middle ground somewhere.

I agree.

If you have a DE who grades out at an 86, and the BPA at an 88, you take the DE. You just don't reach very far.

[Mr. S]

I just wonder, what if Davis actually gets to the level of Cooley? Can we actually afford giving two tight ends big contracts or will we drafting a guy who won't play here for more than 3 years?

It depends on how good Davis ends up, how much money he wants, and whether Cooley is still performing strong. As of right now, I think if Cooley keeps his high level of play up, his contract is pretty affordable so he can be kept.

If you can get 3-4 years of good play out of a 2nd rounder, you really cannot ask for much mroe to be honest. His overall contract is not worth more than 4, maybe 5 million. I would personally rather keep Cooley provided his great health stays and he's still making plays. But getting 4 productive years out of Davis for under 5 million is a very good business strategy.

Or you go 11 years without filling a desperate need: a passrushing DE that fixes your below average pass rush.

While I agree with the BPA philosophy, there's got to be a middle ground somewhere.

I agree too. If you keep drafting BPA, then you eventually will have an unbalanced roster. Landry over a DE so far looks like it has worked out, but only because the 2007 DE class was not that strong overall after Gaines Adams was off. Carlos Rogers as a "need" instead of a need/BPA in Mike Williams also looks like it has worked out for us, for now.

Time will tell of this draft, but we had a shot at Phillip Merling or Calais Campbell at one point, and lost on both. Those would have been needs as well as WR. TE was the only non-need we drafted high for.

[paloosa]

I have to agree with ya here Oldfan. Very well stated.

Many here have argued the point, and if one bothers to take off the homer glasses for a second, they would prob. agree too, that the rookies won't have a great impact their first year with a team. I for one, have been guilty of swilling the koolaid when it comes to the rooks but the fact remains that having these new receivers on the field(DT, MK, FD) will enable us to have greater success by the sheer fact they need to be accounted for by opposing defenses.

For the life of me, under Gibbs II, I never understood why we didn't show different packages to confuse coverages. Three and four WR sets. Two TE sets. Even if they were just ruses, why did we not use B.Lloyd more in opening up the secondary? Was it that the line was so porus on the right side that we never had the time to execute?

Now, fast foreward to this year. It seems we will finally be using 4 WR sets. If ARE, Moss and JT are included, that means either MK or DT will be running a route. If Thrash is not in, then MK and DT will both be out there at the same time. You can't tell me that a defense can stack the box on that kind of talent, rookie or not, and survive. Same goes in the red zone with FD and Cooley. D's won't survive long blitzing us if our threat can come from either TE, though we had Yoder all last year and never used him in a 2TE set in the red zone.

I guess my point here is that we have the talent here this year, albeit almost half rookie, to open up this offense and finally become a scoring machine. The sad thing is that we had similar talent here last year with Moss, ARE, Caldwell, McCardell, and Lloyd but never fully utilized them. I gotta say that I am excited about the possibilities Zorn brings with him this year. I don't care that he is not as knowledgable as Al Saunders. At least he won't be a detached coach up in a booth. I am also excited about how he will use our rookies. I'm sure after 5 preseason games that there will be plenty of film to look at in order to exploit the talent of these fine draft picks.

Hail

I agree with you whole heartedly. The only thing I would disagree with you on is knowledge of Offense. Don't get me wrong, Al Saunders is a Offensive Genuis that was never fully utilized when he was here but do you really think that Jim Zorn just worked with the Quarterbacks and never learned the Offense? Come on! Jim Zorn had to know the playbook in order to teach the Quarterbacks proper footwork and mechanics. So I think we are selling Jim Zorn short and so is everyone elase in the media and league.

[Island Boy]

I just wonder, what if Davis actually gets to the level of Cooley? Can we actually afford giving two tight ends big contracts or will we drafting a guy who won't play here for more than 3 years?

I also think you're right. Cooley, Davis, and Kelly should give us some high percentage targets on short down situations.

I dont care how long someone stays as long as we get that Super Bowl trophy!!!

[mudhog]

I agree with you whole heartedly. The only thing I would disagree with you on is knowledge of Offense. Don't get me wrong, Al Saunders is a Offensive Genuis that was never fully utilized when he was here but do you really think that Jim Zorn just worked with the Quarterbacks and never learned the Offense? Come on! Jim Zorn had to know the playbook in order to teach the Quarterbacks proper footwork and mechanics. So I think we are selling Jim Zorn short and so is everyone elase in the media and league.

Good point paloosa and I concur. JZ needed to know the playbook as well or better than the QB's in order to be an effective coach. I think he and Sherman will have no problem comming up with effective gameplans. Just like Zorn said yesterday in his presser, we only have 80 or 90 offensive plays per game. That playbook will change from game to game, but like Oldfan said in the original post, Zorn and Co. will taylor the scheme to the players they now have, rather than force the players to bend to the scheme.

Hail

[WSHRedskins3ATLBraves3]

Most NFL teams begin with an offensive and defensive plan and then build a roster to fit it. The braintrust is reversing that. They will search out and sign the best players available, even if it means adding a player like Davis at a position of strength, thus making it easier to build a talented roster. Then, Jim Zorn and staff will find a way to use what they have to good advantage. The Davis pick is an example of the way the scheme can be adapted to the talent.

The WCO that Zorn runs is known for using a lot of two tight end sets. I think Davis was drafted to fit the scheme. I'm not a big believer that they're changing the scheme to fit the players they drafted.