After spend a pair of first-round picks on players in glamour positions on Saturday and took a pair of linebackers and a pair of fullbacks on the second day.
Of the four picks—Robert McCune of Louisville (5th round) and Jared Newberry of Stanford (6th) are the linebackers and Manuel White of UCLA (4th) and The Citadel’s Nehemiah Broughton (7th) are the FB’s—McCune is by far the most interesting. He’s 26 and came to Louisville on a National Guard scholarship, not a football scholarship. Without checking, I’d have to guess that he’s the oldest player the Redskins have drafted since George Allen drafted Moses Denson, a CFL veteran, in 1973. McCune is a veteran too, but of tours of duty in Kuwait and Korea, not of a sports league.
Again with the caveat that it takes a few years to judge a draft, why draft these players? The last time I checked, Gibbs’ offense didn’t use a fullback and even with the departure of Antonio Pierce the field is rather crowded there.
The nose-in-the-dirt nature of all four of these players indicates that Joe Gibbs is furthering his efforts to improve the Redskins’ special teams. In the Scout.com reports of each player, a role on special teams is mentioned prominently.
That would be nothing new to McCune. As a non-scholarship player he earned his way onto the Louisville roster as a special teams guy. At 6-0 and a well-chiseled 245, McCune was hand timed at a 3.37 40 at the combines (his official time was 4.5). You look up “wedge buster” in the NFL glossary and there’s a picture of a guy like McCune there.
If you can tell that I like McCune despite never having seen him play save for a video clip here and there, you’re right. How can you not like a guy who has earned the nickname The Hammer. Not Hammer, not the Hammer, but The Hammer. If you think that this is a distinction without a difference, all I can say is that you’re wrong.
These selections didn’t cause nearly the consternation among the Redskins faithful as did the selection of Jason Campbell (although their “failure” to pick up local faves such as UVa’s Chris Canty and Elton Brown did). As the selection of Carlos Rogers, in my view, bordered on a no-brainer, the Campbell pick is the only one that warrants much further discussion.
The odd thing about this pick is that Campbell doesn’t even have to take a snap in order to be a good selection. Here’s a little story that might seem familiar: A young quarterback drafted in the overall early 30’s. In the early going he shows equal parts of promise and struggle and a veteran is brought in. When the vet can’t get it done, the team drafts a QB in the first round. And all of a sudden Drew Brees goes to the Pro Bowl. Without seeing any significant action, Philip Rivers plays a major role in the Chargers making the playoffs while Doug Flutie rides off into the sunset.
Patrick Ramsey is easy to root for. By all indications he’s a great guy, he says all the right things, he’s smart, he’s tough. But the cold, hard fact is that he still has yet to establish himself as an NFL quarterback. So does Joe Gibbs just work with him and wait and see if he develops? Or does he scare the hell out of him by spending a first, a third, and a fourth to draft his potential successor?
There’s one more important thing to remember. Ramsey was the selection of the previous administration, ie the one with Dan Snyder in charge. Quarterbacks are to head coaches as Secretaries of State are to the president—they serve at the boss’ pleasure. A new administration is not bound by the decisions of the previous one (although salary cap considerations, of course, are meaningless in the federal government).
This is by Rich Tandler on his personal web page. I think we'll be alright guys. Gibbs in his second year back, it will alot different from last year.
The only difference is that the Chargers GAINED a crap load of picks when they drafted Phillip Rivers....they didn't trade for them, and did not intend for Rivers to hold out...and Brees was about to be cut, then benched then it happened....he started clicking.
Im pretty happy with our picks, I think we did ok over all, I really like the Robert McCune pick, Just wish we would have been able to add Mike Williams to the team.
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I watched the Draft on Saturday and was happy with Carlos Rogers, shocked by Campbell and after it all felt a bit low. I read the board and read the swaying opinions and thought and thought.
Here is what I conclude: Rogers looks great and I have utter faith the Williams will turn him into a nasty hard hitting corner in a nasty hard hitting D. Campbell will Gibbs likes him and what's wrong with having a developing QB in these days of Free Agency. The FB's..well its the Hogs we always had grind it out backs and I bet they will have a lot of TD's but virtually no yardage! The LB well drafted late, no nonesence, not flashy..sound likes Monte Coleman to me and didn't he start 200 odd games.
All in all in Gibbs and Williams I trust and in ESPN and other writers I read with a hugh pile of salt that I can pinch.
Philthy draft was good but not that good.. The Cowgirls did have the best draft but I still say we had a good draft. you all will be eating your words when JC comes in and plays he has good size and can move in the pocket so he is more of a threat then Ramsey, you will see how this JC becomes a great QB
[quote="RobSkins1"]Philthy draft was good but not that good.. The Cowgirls did have the best draft but I still say we had a good draft. you all will be eating your words when JC comes in and plays he has good size and can move in the pocket so he is more of a threat then Ramsey, you will see how this JC becomes a great QB[/quote]
When does JC become the great QB? Four years? Three if we're lucky? By that time this team is so far in cap hell it's ridiculous, and the only place we'll be seeing Gibbs is at Halftime rememberence tributes.
Philly's draft was SICK. Moats is another Weetborrk, Patterson slots in for Simon when he leaves. The WLB replaces Simoneau. They replace players who need to be replaced, we replace players (Ramsey) who MAY need to be replaced.
Wouldn't it be fun to put ey at TE and White and Broughton in the backfield at the same time to carry the ball occasionally and block for Ramsey and Portis.
Imagine taking on two 250 pound fullbacks before getting to the running back. It might wear you down. Also, how many sacks might you hope to get, even with 4 receivers out for a pass-- TE ey, WRs Patten and Moss, and Portis out of the backfield.
ey at TE and White and Broughton in the backfield at the same time to carry the ball occasionally and block for Ramsey and Portis.