Should the Redskins follow the Peyton Manning Colts' Blueprint

[BobGriffin]

Nope. Defense and running the ball still wins games during the playoffs. That's why they always got there butts handed to them in the playoffs when they ran into a team that could disrupt their offense (Patriots, Chargers). We need to add another receiver or a RB/WR hybrid and a right tackle on offense and focus all other resources on the defense

[SWFLSkins]

Not having first round picks completely changes the landscape.

Our priorities at the moment go like this;

#1 Safety
#2 MLB (to replace Fletch when he retires)
#3 CB

I would flip corner with LBer and put DL depth in there for #5, with RT being there at #3 ahead of LBer.

---------- Post added December-5th-2012 at 08:19 AM ----------

I think the skins need a quiet offseason - good draft of depth players, low to mid level free agents....plan on improving through better coaching, returning players (Orakpo, Cariker, Jackson, Merriweather).

They should wait until 2014 to target any key FA acquisitions - I don't want the team to hose the salary cap in 2013 by pushing a bunch of money into the future in order to sign high priced FA. Our contracts look good right now, we just need to make it through the cap penalty years without hosing our future year salary cap position...

I agree except for safety. If they can stretch and get a game changer he would be worth it.

[ncr2h]

Its a lot easier to find impact offensive players in the 2nd round than defensive players.

Get corners and safeties via free agency, bring back Meriweather, Orakpo and Carriker will be healthy, so our defense will be fine.

Draft offensive weapons to arm RGIII, and this team will be scary. It will be hard for teams to outscore our offense, and the Defense doesnt have to be spectacular but steady and consistent

^^ This

If we had all of our picks, I would say go with the BPA out of all pass-rushers and defensive backs in the first round. Unfortunately, we don't have a first round pick. It's pretty difficult to find stud defensive backs later than the first round.

I think we should basically be drafting BPA among pass rushers, pass catchers, and interior linemen with our first few picks. After the 4th round or so we should switch to BPA regardless of position.

[KDawg]

People seem to be neglecting the need for a classic 3-4 nose. That would allow Cofield to shift to an end, and have a decent rotation with Cofield between nose (to spell the new guy), Carriker, Bowen, Jenkins and Golston (who has played fairly well, from what I've seen). Or, if Neild is healthy and shows growth, Cofield could become a full time end in rotations with the others. That will take care of how plodding and slow the DL looks from time to time. They're on the field way too long.

[Oldfan]

...With that said, you don't need 2 grade A units to win a Super Bowl. You can get away with a grade C defense, like the Giants or the Rams when they won...

Given the effective NFL rules aimed at parity, I don't think two grade A units are realistically possible.

I'd say that you need an average grade of B+ to B- on O/D/ST to be a consistent Super Bowl contender.

That sounds about right.

[KDawg]

Nope. Defense and running the ball still wins games during the playoffs.

We've all heard the saying, "Defense wins championships".

But I find that statement to be wholly incomplete. I think the more appropriate saying would be, "Offense wins games and defense wins championships." It doesn't neglect either. I don't necessarily like that statement, either. But I think it's a much more complete statement.

[Oldfan]

People seem to be neglecting the need for a classic 3-4 nose...

Yes, indeed. Adding a good NT would be a major move.

Major Harris, who knows WV players, isn't high on Neild's chances to be a bona fide starter.

[KDawg]

Yes, indeed. Adding a good NT would be a major move.

Major Harris, who knows WV players, isn't high on Neild's chances to be a bona fide starter.

I'm not either. I think he could be a decent spell guy at the nose position, but we need a classic mountain of a man that uses leverage. I think in spurts Neild could be effective. But he's not a starter. Agreed.

[Burgold]

People seem to be neglecting the need for a classic 3-4 nose. That would allow Cofield to shift to an end, and have a decent rotation with Cofield between nose (to spell the new guy), Carriker, Bowen, Jenkins and Golston (who has played fairly well, from what I've seen). Or, if Neild is healthy and shows growth, Cofield could become a full time end in rotations with the others. That will take care of how plodding and slow the DL looks from time to time. They're on the field way too long.

Agreed, that he's a hybrid, but what makes Cofield a bad nose tackle. He seems to hold the center pretty well, the run defense is stout, and nose tackles generally aren't considered pass rushers. Last year, Cofield and Nield seemed to create a pretty good tandem. I always thought we were lacking more depth than talent at the position.

[Renegade7]

We already have a top 10 scoring offense and dominating running game. Especially with this cap penalty, our limited resources needed to focused on our weaknesses. That's mainly secondary and pass rush.

Colts had one of the best QBs in history and only won ONE super bowl while he was there. I don't want to follow that model, especially if that's there limited results. A big reason they couldn't go all the way all the time was because of their defense holding them back.

[Oldfan]

We've all heard the saying, "Defense wins championships".

But I find that statement to be wholly incomplete. I think the more appropriate saying would be, "Offense wins games and defense wins championships." It doesn't neglect either. I don't necessarily like that statement, either. But I think it's a much more complete statement.

I first heard that statement with Lombardi's Packers used as evidence. The statement I believe is based on a misunderstanding of statistics.

The Pack's strength was a dominant, ball control offense which kept its defense off the field while resulting in lower scoring games. So, the Packers defense typically ranked #1 and the offense #4. But the offense was the stronger unit.

[SWFLSkins]

People seem to be neglecting the need for a classic 3-4 nose. That would allow Cofield to shift to an end, and have a decent rotation with Cofield between nose (to spell the new guy), Carriker, Bowen, Jenkins and Golston (who has played fairly well, from what I've seen). Or, if Neild is healthy and shows growth, Cofield could become a full time end in rotations with the others. That will take care of how plodding and slow the DL looks from time to time. They're on the field way too long.

I thought about it, but could they get an impact NT in the later rounds, probably doubtful right. How about FA? Not a lot of money there, so where do get one? I also hope Neild develops.

[Morneblade]

Do you want the same results the Colts got? Building half a football team is a good way to win lots of regular season games and then get dumped from the playoffs by teams with better balance. You can build the offense like the Colts did, or build the defense as George Allen did to get just about the same result. Teams with a Grade A offense and a grade D defense and those with a Grade A defense and a grade D offense are equals on the field.

You aren't likely to win Super Bowls with a plan like this. If you recall, the Colts needed a perfect storm of luck to win theirs. Before that, Peyton had developed the reputation of not being able to win big games. Well, it wasn't Peyton at all. It was the Colts plan getting the results it deserved. It was not likely to win big games against good teams with better balance on offense and defense.

Absolutely! I'd focus more on our Defense right now, as our Offense is looking quite good but our Defense stinks to high heaven right now.

[KDawg]

Agreed, that he's a hybrid, but what makes Cofield a bad nose tackle. He seems to hold the center pretty well, the run defense is stout, and nose tackles generally aren't considered pass rushers. Last year, Cofield and Nield seemed to create a pretty good tandem. I always thought we were lacking more depth than talent at the position.

Where did I say Cofield was a bad nose tackle?

I thought about it, but could they get an impact NT in the later rounds, probably doubtful right. How about FA? Not a lot of money there, so where do get one? I also hope Neild develops.

You could find a pretty good one in the second round, most likely. I certainly don't advocate reaching for one, but if one is there and he's our BPA...

There isn't really any available via FA.

I wouldn't count as Neild being a starter.

[clskinsfan]

Defense Defense Defense.

That is all.

Amen. this offense is 6th in scoring. The offense is going to be good for the next decade regardless of who is catching balls from RG3. Every draft pick we have should be on defense.