PFW: The Way We Hear It

[1niksder]

If there’s an area that likely will be overhauled this offseason, it’s the defensive line. So much is up in the air. DE Renaldo Wynn makes too much money for a backup and likely will be cut. DE Phillip Daniels struggled to stay healthy, battling a sprained ankle and a wrist injury much of the season, and could be let go. DT Cornelius Griffin probably will return, but it’s likely he’ll be asked to redo his cap-unfriendly deal. The team might bring back Joe Salave’a, but he’s little more than a try-hard backup. Rookies Kedric Golston and Anthony Montgomery have places on the roster, especially Golston, who earned a starting spot. But sources in Washington indicate that the team would love to improve enough inside to use Golston as a third tackle, where he’d be ideal. Word is the team is looking long and hard at using its first pick on a defensive lineman, and the Skins can’t go wrong with either an end or a tackle.

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[Skinsfan55]

Sounds reasonable to me.

I don't know exactly what they make, but keeping Daniels as a backup and Corny to start would be nice.

[SkinsFreak]

I think that's a good assessment. If they let Wynn and Daniels go, then I think Jamal Anderson is the answer with our 1st round pick. I still think a rotation of Griffin, Salave'a, Golston and Montgomery at DT would be fine, but this piece suggests otherwise. Anderson and Carter on the edges would be nice.

Are there any good DT's available in free agency? I only ask because the article suggests that the Skins would like to improve enough inside to keep Golston as a 3rd tackle. That would imply that some other DT's might be brought in.

[brad7686]

I think that's a good assessment. If they let Wynn and Daniels go, then I think Jamal Anderson is the answer with our 1st round pick. I still think a rotation of Griffin, Salave'a, Golston and Montgomery at DT would be fine, but this piece suggests otherwise. Anderson and Carter on the edges would be nice.

Are there any good DT's available in free agency? I only ask because the article suggests that the Skins would like to improve enough inside to keep Golston as a 3rd tackle. That would imply that some other DT's might be brought in.

I think they could bring some depth in, Maybe Hollis Thomas or somebody. Nobody real expensive is necessary, just add some depth. Hopefully Corny can stay healthy but in case he can't, depth will help.

[BernieSki]

My guess is that they look at Alan Branch the big DT out of Michigan. Anyway you look at it the Redskins need to add some bulk up front, we got ran all over this year and run stopping starts with your D-line. I think that we will see several unexpected changes on the defense due to fact that fact that Greg Williams is reviewing his whole scheme.

[BnGhog]

I hope in additon to upgrading the Line, that GW also upgrades schemes. I mean Cover 2 still works against some plays. All you have to do is send two WRs down the side lines and then send a TE across the middle deep. Our safties will start to watch the WRs and TE will gash us for 20 in the Middle. Our MLB cant get back fast enough to cover the deep middle. All I'm saying is, If we were against Indy in the SB, they would love to see us using cover 2.

I think cover 2 still works agains some plays. But not every play we need to use it a lot less.

[SkinsFreak]

My guess is that they look at Alan Branch the big DT out of Michigan. Anyway you look at it the Redskins need to add some bulk up front, we got ran all over this year and run stopping starts with your D-line. I think that we will see several unexpected changes on the defense due to fact that fact that Greg Williams is reviewing his whole scheme.

I agree that Branch would be a nice pick-up and I'm sure they will take a look at him. But as the article suggests, Wynn and Daniels on the ends are not getting it done, are over-paid, are getting old, and sustain too many injuries.

Linebackers are there to help stop the run. Our poor pass defense can be attributed to, in part, the lack of a good pass rush off the ends. IMO, a stud pass rushing DE like Anderson would be a better fit with what we already have.

[pgraham]

The NFL has it rules setup so that the WR's and TE's have an advantage. so there will be long passes completed on the Redskins and as well as other teams in the league. IMO the Skins need to add people who can rush the passer on a consistent basis and stop the run and force team to have to throw the ball. The biggest issue that past season is that not only could teams run and pick up chunks of yardage, but they also had all day back there to complete long passes. Just put a lin togethter that can stop the run and force teams to pass the ball before they want to pass it.

[poper2]

When is the last time a DE made an instant impact? Look at Mario Williams?? Is he worth the number one pick? What did he do this year? I'm leanning more towards a DT.

[gay4pacman]

Mario played dt as well as d end

[Irn-Bru]

When is the last time a DE made an instant impact? Look at Mario Williams?? Is he worth the number one pick? What did he do this year? I'm leanning more towards a DT.

Mario Williams had 45 tackles and 4.5 sacks. Obviously he'll need to produce more in the future (especially with sacks), but those are not bad numbers for a first year player.

Recently, Julius Peppers (2nd overall) made a pretty big impact right away with 35 tackles, 12 sacks, and 1 INT in 12 games. Dwight Freeney (1st round) also made a difference his first season, with 41 tackles and 13 sacks. Terrell Suggs (1st round) had 27 tackles, 12 sacks, and 1 INT in his first year.

There have been plenty of busts, too, but I think that it's possible for a DE to make an impact in his first season in the NFL.

[BnGhog]

I agree with both of you. Sure Peppers made a big impact his first year, their is not a Peppers in every draft every year.

If we do draft a DE or DT, the front office will have to step up, homework wise. We draft a guy who ends up not as good as our current starters, and sits the bench all year. What a waste.

If their is not an above average pick at #6 than why waste it? We just have to make sure the guy is worthy.

[UK Skins Fan]

To my mind, we need two new players for the d-line. They don't both have to be starters, but we do need productivity and impact from them both straight out of the box.

First problem - the ends are too old, too well paid, and don't get enough pressure. Wynn has been a solid citizen for us, but I think that Daniels offers more. It might come down to which one is willing to give the team more by restructuring his contract, but I'd be inclined to let Wynn go. That leaves us needing an end, and I'd really want a starter who plays the run well, and can get us 10+ sacks every year (of course, guys like this grow on trees ). Anderson or Carriker in the draft might do the job, but I'm not sure if there are any affordable options in free agency that offer what we're looking for.

As for the tackle position, Golston is a lock, and I'd like to see the move towards youth continue by keeping Montgomery in the mix. But Griffin and Salavea are injured too much. We can afford one, but having both of them struggling with fitness just takes too much away from the line's ability to take the fight to the offence. Griffin is the one with the big contract, but he is the one that you have to keep, because he's near pro bowl level if we can keep him fit. So, I'd let Salavea go, and probably look to free agency for a wide body. Okoye or Branch could be good choices if we go via the draft.

I don't want much - just a couple of guys to remind me of Dave Butz and Charles Mann.

[SkinsFreak]

When is the last time a DE made an instant impact? Look at Mario Williams?? Is he worth the number one pick? What did he do this year? I'm leanning more towards a DT.

Mario Williams had 45 tackles and 4.5 sacks. Obviously he'll need to produce more in the future (especially with sacks), but those are not bad numbers for a first year player.

Recently, Julius Peppers (2nd overall) made a pretty big impact right away with 35 tackles, 12 sacks, and 1 INT in 12 games. Dwight Freeney (1st round) also made a difference his first season, with 41 tackles and 13 sacks. Terrell Suggs (1st round) had 27 tackles, 12 sacks, and 1 INT in his first year.

There have been plenty of busts, too, but I think that it's possible for a DE to make an impact in his first season in the NFL.

Thanks for digging that up, Irn-Bru.

I just happen to like Anderson. I think we have a bigger need at DE than we do at DT, as we've already addressed our DT's in this thread.

I agree with UK and think that getting depth at DT, maybe in the later rounds, would be nice. Also, Kiper has Anderson ranked higher than Alan Branch and Gaines Adams.

[The Hogster]

We need to get nastier up front. I think that would make our defense better by leaps and bounds. We need guys who are mean and intimidating up front...big guys who disrupt the offense even when they are not getting sacks etc.

That would make our secondary better as well. Griffin earns his keep...and I want to give Carter more time in the system...he seemed to come around.....adding a Gaines Adams or Branch could be huge.

I'm just not sold that either of those guys are game changers like Tommie Harris or Julius Peppers. I'm in favor of trading back to the later first round, and picking up a 2nd or 3rd round pick...i just don't see the clear separation in this year's draft between Defensive lineman and the corners. A guy like Lamar Wooley could wind up being better than Gaines Adams....we can fill more holes by trading back.

[crazyhorse1]

My guess is that they look at Alan Branch the big DT out of Michigan. Anyway you look at it the Redskins need to add some bulk up front, we got ran all over this year and run stopping starts with your D-line. I think that we will see several unexpected changes on the defense due to fact that fact that Greg Williams is reviewing his whole scheme.

I agree that Branch would be a nice pick-up and I'm sure they will take a look at him. But as the article suggests, Wynn and Daniels on the ends are not getting it done, are over-paid, are getting old, and sustain too many injuries.

Linebackers are there to help stop the run. Our poor pass defense can be attributed to, in part, the lack of a good pass rush off the ends. IMO, a stud pass rushing DE like Anderson would be a better fit with what we already have.

I have to agree. For me it boils down to who we need to replace the most.
Goldston or Daniels. Thinking of it that way makes using the first pick for a DE, not a DT. Goldston may surpise us further, Daniels will not and is at the end of his career.

When it comes to the first FA we go after, I think it comes down to who we to replace the most, either Springs, Rogers, or Golston. For me, the need for a CB trumps the need to replace Golston.

I think finding a DE to replace Golston as a starter is at best third on our list of priorities.

I would keep Arch for specific purposes and use him often. Maybe Williams should take a look at how he was used elsewhere. I have heard, however, that the Skins have already decided to release him.

[PulpExposure]

I want to give Carter more time in the system...he seemed to come around

I agree. Something made me sick when I realized that....

Carter had 1/3 of all the sacks we had this year.

[Chris Luva Luva]

It doesn't matter who we draft because they'll be on the bench until week 6 at least.

[DaRealistJoka]

We need to get nastier up front. I think that would make our defense better by leaps and bounds. We need guys who are mean and intimidating up front...big guys who disrupt the offense even when they are not getting sacks etc.

That would make our secondary better as well. Griffin earns his keep...and I want to give Carter more time in the system...he seemed to come around.....adding a Gaines Adams or Branch could be huge.

I'm just not sold that either of those guys are game changers like Tommie Harris or Julius Peppers. I'm in favor of trading back to the later first round, and picking up a 2nd or 3rd round pick...i just don't see the clear separation in this year's draft between Defensive lineman and the corners. A guy like Lamar Wooley could wind up being better than Gaines Adams....we can fill more holes by trading back.

I couldn't agree with your more, getting a great d-line will do wonders. I agree with trading back, Okoye has been outstanding and with trading back we can get him and pick up a second or third depending how far we go back and get an End,corner, or linebacker. We need two dlineman. Two many holes to fill to few picks.

[PulpExposure]

It doesn't matter who we draft because they'll be on the bench until week 6 at least.