Gibbs doubts any draftee could start immediately

1niksder · Post by **1niksder** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 10:33 pm

Redskins' Gibbs doubts any draftee could start immediately for his 5-11 team

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) - It takes a lot of audacity for a coach of a 5-11 team to say what Joe Gibbs said Tuesday.

The Hall of Fame coach claimed the Washington Redskins are so stacked that it would be hard for any player selected in this weekend's NFL draft to contend immediately for a starting job.

"You'd love to have a guy who can make an immediate impact," Gibbs said. "But to be quite truthful, you look at our football team, where could a player step in here right now and say: 'I'm taking over'? Where is that? That makes us feel good. I don't feel panicked that we have to take any one thing. It's hard to say that somebody would just step into any position right now."

So Calvin Johnson or LaRon Landry - they'd be riding the pine if they came to Washington? What about a player the Redskins could really use, a defensive lineman such as Jamaal Anderson, Gaines Adams, Amobi Okoye or Alan Branch? Didn't this team make only two modest additions, London Fletcher and Fred Smoot, during the recent free agency period in an attempt to improve the worst defence in the NFC?

Still, Gibbs maintained the Redskins, should they hang on to the No. 6 overall pick, will aim for a player, regardless of position, who has the long-term chance to make Pro Bowls "even though it may be crowded where he initially comes in."

With that kind of philosophy, there's no telling what the Redskins will do.

But that's their M.O. The Redskins of Gibbs and owner Dan Snyder are aggressive and unpredictable. Their usual credo: overspend for the big package and live with the consequences. Snyder has become so redundant that no one asked him a question at last year's pre-draft press briefing, even though it's one of the rare times he appears in a news conference setting. This year, he was asked if he has considered making himself even more irrelevant - by hiring a general manager.

"No," Snyder said. "I think that everyone was disappointed. It was a rough season on us. A lot of things took place that we think we're making a lot of progress to put us in the right direction, but they didn't stem from our structure or one particular thing. It just ended up being a tough season."

So the same front office structure is in place that led last year to Gibbs' worst season in 15 years as a head coach and left the Redskins this year without picks in the second, third and fourth rounds - the result of overzealous trades that landed undistinguished 2006 performers Rocky McIntosh, Brandon Lloyd and T.J. Duckett.

After such a year, there was a groundswell of calls for Washington to fill its GM vacuum and hire a strong personality who could say no to Snyder and Gibbs. But the coach quickly quashed the notion less than 48 hours after the season was over.

The Redskins could use an impact defensive lineman and are thin at several positions. Their approach should seem straightforward, trading down to get more picks - but not so far down that they miss out on a stud defensive lineman. If they can't trade down, take one of the top linemen available: Anderson (Arkansas), Adams (Clemson), Okoye (Louisville) or Branch (Michigan).

But life is never that simple with Snyder, Gibbs and the Redskins. At one point they were talking to the Chicago Bears about trading draft picks to acquire unhappy linebacker Lance Briggs. Denver cornerback Dre' Bly's name emerged in trade talks. There's even some scuttlebutt the Redskins might make another of their signature moves and vault into the top two so they can take receiver Johnson (Georgia Tech) at the expense of more future picks.

Snyder, Gibbs and vice-president for football operations Vinny Cerrato did nothing to quash such speculation. Snyder gave a glowing review of Johnson, and Gibbs said: "We've talked about moving up, we've talked about moving back, and we've talked about staying right where we are."

When asked if he was comfortable with his defensive line, Gibbs cited 2006 low-round draft picks Anthony Montgomery and Cedric Golston. Both showed some potential last year as rookies, but it's hard to imagine either holding a spot ahead of a blue-chipper like Okoye.

The Redskins' braintrust was clear about one thing Tuesday: The team will continue to be aggressive when going after players, whatever the outcome.

"The philosophy's always been the same," Cerrato said. "Identify what you want, and then go get it."

John Manfreda · Post by **John Manfreda** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 11:19 pm

No way Gibbs meant what he said, no one is that stupid.

HEROHAMO · Post by **HEROHAMO** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 12:19 am

When the Coach is a Hall of Fame , 3 time Super Bowl winner. He can pretty much say anything he wants.

All though I disagree I still think his comments are to keep team morale up. His comments are more of a vote of confidence.

We are only one year removed from the playoffs.

I honestly think the addition of Smoot and London Fletcher will really help this team alot.

I am sure our team will be well improved next year. It is important to not do a total overhaul just get guys who fit well together. I think that is what Gibbs is doing.

air_hog · Post by **air_hog** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 12:30 am

Dude 1nik, you scooped yourself... :-s

welch · Post by **welch** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 7:26 am

Gibbs is saying something to the veterans: we won't give away your job. Players have to win a starting position on the Redskins.

That's a good message to send to your team...if you want them to play hard.

SkinsFreak · Post by **SkinsFreak** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 9:14 am

Yeah, I've read several articles already this morning about this. What a joke! Does anyone really think Gibbs would say publicly that there are positions on the team where a rookie could step right in and start? Ha! Laughable! Gibbs is just saying the right thing to not offend anyone on the current roster, that's all. Regardless of what he thinks, he said the right thing.

gibbsfan · Post by **gibbsfan** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 10:10 am

joe gibbs is putting it the right way..you have o earn your starting spot..

should be interesting..

SO. CAL. SKIN DUDE · Post by **SO. CAL. SKIN DUDE** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 1:33 pm

SkinsFreak wrote:Yeah, I've read several articles already this morning about this. What a joke! Does anyone really think Gibbs would say publicly that there are positions on the team where a rookie could step right in and start? Ha! Laughable! Gibbs is just saying the right thing to not offend anyone on the current roster, that's all. Regardless of what he thinks, he said the right thing.

Exactly!! How can Gibbs give a starting nod to anyone who has not even practiced with the team? So he said what he needed to say without potentially excluding any player for a starting position.

VRIEL1 · Post by **VRIEL1** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 7:02 pm

He may be right on this one. Last year the Offense did bad because of the 500 page book and their first yr in it. Anyone new will learn some plays but will not be a huge facter.
We all know how GW is when it comes to putting a rookie in his Defense. They won't see the field for atleast half the season.

everydayAskinsday · Post by **everydayAskinsday** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 7:07 pm

how long was it before Sean Taylor saw the field?

VRIEL1 · Post by **VRIEL1** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 7:56 pm

4-5 games I think maybe more. again I belive anyone picked will not start right away. atleast not full time. They may get to play a down now and then but it will not be until atleast well into the season.

The Hogster · Post by **The Hogster** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 11:51 pm

We are one of the only teams who thinks this way. Seems like every other team has a stud rookie at some point.

We will never have a Rookie of the Year...for a team that went 5-11 you would think we would understand that some of our players can't play.

SkinsJock · Post by **SkinsJock** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 8:40 am

The good news about screwing up this year is that, at this time, we have all our picks in the draft for 2008 and if we are able to really tank as bad as some are predicting, the first pick next year could be # 1 or # 2 overall and we wouldn't even have to trade up for it :wink:

I can't wait for this season to be over and then we'll have all off season to salivate about who we are going to pick with all those draft picks. :lol:

I think that is why so many teams want our # 1 pick in 2008 because they know that could be in the top 3 next year. :shock:

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 9:18 am

VRIEL1 wrote:4-5 games I think maybe more. again I belive anyone picked will not start right away. atleast not full time. They may get to play a down now and then but it will not be until atleast well into the season.

It was 2 games for Sean, although those non-starts were due to his off-field behavior problems (skipping the rookie symposium).

We've drafted few 1st or 2nd round studs, so it is hard to point out a pattern with too much confidence. For example, Chris Cool

ey started right away. Jason Campbell sat out for a full year and a half, but that is standard fare for a rookie quarterback -- at least, for many in the league. Carlos Rogers started his 3rd game. Different starting times for different players. As I recall, Taylor was on pace to start the first game, but was 'demoted' to the 3rd string practice squad during camp. I'll try to hunt up an article on it.

It doesn't bother me at all that Gibbs has talked up our current roster so much -- he's sending a message to our team with that kind of talk.

Besides, isn't Gibbs also the guy who never believes that we have a chance of winning a game before it actually happens? I think that we ought to take what we hear with a grain of salt.

Fios · Post by **Fios** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 10:26 am

Irn-Bru wrote:As I recall, Taylor was on pace to start the first game, but was 'demoted' to the 3rd string practice squad during camp. I'll try to hunt up an article on it.

That is my recollection as well ... it's funny how sound bites become repeated often enough that they transform into accepted "fact"

PulpExposure · Post by **PulpExposure** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 10:59 am

Fios wrote:
Irn-Bru wrote:As I recall, Taylor was on pace to start the first game, but was 'demoted' to the 3rd string practice squad during camp. I'll try to hunt up an article on it.

That is my recollection as well ... it's funny how sound bites become repeated often enough that they transform into accepted "fact"

We need to file this "Williams doesn't start rookies" crap in with the Truth about the Portis-Bailey trade....

Fios · Post by **Fios** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 11:22 am

That and "Contrary to popular belief, the Redskins did, in fact, offer a contract to Antonio Pierce. HE turned it down."

Chris Luva Luva · Post by **Chris Luva Luva** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 11:36 am

Fios wrote:That and "Contrary to popular belief, the Redskins did, in fact, offer a contract to Antonio Pierce. HE turned it down."

I wish we knew more about the AP situation, especially since Vannette blamed himself on lunch with the skins.

Fios · Post by **Fios** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 11:38 am

For the record, I am not saying that was handled as well as it could have been, there just seems to be this belief that the team let him go. I recall the overarching issue was that AP wanted more money than Marcus and the Redskins wouldn't budge on that.

LOSTHOG · Post by **LOSTHOG** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 2:48 pm

That was a hard call al the way around. The years previous everytime he got in the game he was so anxious that he would hit someone late and get a 15 yarder. He did have a great year as a starter, but imagine the conversation we would be having if we gave $25 mil guaranteed and he was a one year wonder.

Chris Luva Luva · Post by **Chris Luva Luva** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 2:57 pm

Fios wrote:For the record, I am not saying that was handled as well as it could have been, there just seems to be this belief that the team let him go. I recall the overarching issue was that AP wanted more money than Marcus and the Redskins wouldn't budge on that.

I absolutely agree, I was one of the people who felt that way but I have been schooled.