Offensive line

[Skinsfan55]

Before the season we had:

Chris Samuels: All Pro LT.
Derrick Dockery: Once among the highest paid linemen in the game.
Casey Rabach: Solid C and team leader.
Randy Thomas: Elite, experienced RG.
Jon Jansen: One of the top RT's in the game.

They were injury prone and aging, but that was looking like a good line...

Now we have:

LT-

Our anchor Chris Samuels is only 32 and may be forced to retire. He risks paralysis by playing again. Levi Jones seems like a good player, but is he a long term guy? Injuries cost him his once, all-pro abilities. Stephon Heyer is not even close to an NFL starter.

LG-

Dockery is still an okay player. He's aging, but has a lot of skill. He's one keeper for sure next season.

C-

Rabach is old now, but still a leader and a good center.

RG-

Randy Thomas may also be forced into retirement from his injuries. This season is tricept was torn from the bone. Chad Rinehart is looking like a complete waste of a 3rd round pick (now he's injured) and Will Montgomery is not the answer.

RT-

Stephon Heyer is not starting quality, Mike Williams is an experiment and we need another tackle.

For next season, we actually need 3/5ths of an offensive line. It's just terrible. Not much to work with, and I don't see a lot of help on the way...

[frankcal20]

It may sound crazy but in all honesty, it's possible. If you think about it, and I don't know players that are going to be in the draft yet but I would address it this way:

1st Round - Best LT - or if they are gone, trade down to the lower 1st round, get any additional pick offered and get a Guard. If you do pick a LT, move Levi to RT and have Heyer as the backup. Give Levi a 3 yr deal. Small guaranteed money but decent salary. Makes him expendable.

2nd Round - if you go T in the 1st, address the G position in the 2nd. Again, if there are none left, trade down unless there is a "Can't miss" talent in other area's of need.

Free Agency - bring in some vet's who have tape. It's best to get guys coming off early this season injuries - not knee's, who you can run through training camp, get cheap .

I don't expect JC to be here and I think that should also be handled through free agency. There will be QB's out there.

[brad7686]

I would take a serious look at Mike Williams and Levi Jones to determine whether they are skilled enough to make up the right side of the line, or at least provide good depth. Then address LT first, and more depth afterward.

It's really hard to get a handle on what the draft situation will be like, it will really depend on what Qb's come out, how the OT's grade out in the end, and where the skins end up drafting.

[Scottskins]

if there is no new cba, there will be a ton of players coming out early as well. those guys will want to get paid both before a rookie cap is in place and before a possible strike

[frankcal20]

I would guarantee that there will be a rookie salary cap. The Vet's want the money there for their 2nd contract.

[skins2357]

My line next yr.......

LT - 1st rounder
LG - Dockery
C - Rabach unless he loses it in TC
RG - 2nd rounder
RT - Levi Jones

- 1st roinder = LT
- 2nd rounder = RG
- 4th Rounder = C
-Keep Heyer as a backup
-Keep 4th rounder active as backup Center
-Keep Mike Williams as backup G/T
-Sign veteran G as a backup

[SkinsJock]

my feelings on this are that in order to be competitive you need a good offensive line, a good defensive line and good back-ups for both - HOWEVER, the most important position on the team for long term success is the QB - now that does not mean that this coming draft I would look at that position first- I think if there is a great QB available you get him and he either is going to be able to help immediately or whenever - he's your future - we may need to consider who we can get to be both the back-up and maybe the starter if that guy is not ready to play right away - Campbell might still show that he can be a back-up but at this time he's gone

I'm not sure that when we draft there will be a cannot miss future great QB so I would hope that we look at the offensive line, linebackers and the secondary this year and really focus on quality depth, especially for the linemen rather than "star players"

having a great QB is a must BUT he's really going to need a good cast around him AND a good defense - then you will have a competitive team

all of this assumes the team is managed by football guys AND that they have a plan - if Snyder is still in charge we might as well just get the best player available at any position because that is what we have done for the last 10 years

[CanesSkins26]

I would guarantee that there will be a rookie salary cap. The Vet's want the money there for their 2nd contract.

If there is a rookie cap it wont be in place until the 2011 draft. That is one of the reasons why this year there will be a larger than usual number of juniors declaring for the draft in 2010.

[frankcal20]

sorry...should have stated 2011 and also didn't quote the post I was referring to. I 100% agree.

[PulpExposure]

Before the season we had:

Chris Samuels: All Pro LT.
Derrick Dockery: Once among the highest paid linemen in the game.
Casey Rabach: Solid C and team leader.
Randy Thomas: Elite, experienced RG.
Jon Jansen: One of the top RT's in the game.

That's probably how I would have rated them before LAST year. But last year made it pretty clear that Randy Thomas was a good, but injury prone guard, Rabach was a substandard C (though a good team guy and leader), and Jansen was a RT who couldn't passblock.

Also, people thinking of putting Levi Jones at RT, just know...he's never played RT, and is far more suited to being a LT, as he's a finesse passblocker. I'm not sure that it would work.

[riggofan]

my feelings on this are that in order to be competitive you need a good offensive line, a good defensive line and good back-ups for both - HOWEVER, the most important position on the team for long term success is the QB -

I know what you're saying. We really do need a franchise QB. It just seems like the Redskins have dug such a hole for themselves with their poor drafts, its almost impossible to catch up. You either draft offensive linemen and stick with a mediocre QB or you go for a QB and stick him behind a horrible o-line. Neither option is exactly a recipe for success. And there is no guarantee that those draft picks will work out either - especially with Snyder/Cerrato running the show.

My line next yr.......

LT - 1st rounder
LG - Dockery
C - Rabach unless he loses it in TC
RG - 2nd rounder
RT - Levi Jones

- 1st roinder = LT
- 2nd rounder = RG
- 4th Rounder = C
-Keep Heyer as a backup
-Keep 4th rounder active as backup Center
-Keep Mike Williams as backup G/T
-Sign veteran G as a backup

Good stuff. Thanks for breaking it down!

[SkinsHead56]

It may sound crazy but in all honesty, it's possible. If you think about it, and I don't know players that are going to be in the draft yet but I would address it this way:

1st Round - Best LT - or if they are gone, trade down to the lower 1st round, get any additional pick offered and get a Guard. If you do pick a LT, move Levi to RT and have Heyer as the backup. Give Levi a 3 yr deal. Small guaranteed money but decent salary. Makes him expendable.

2nd Round - if you go T in the 1st, address the G position in the 2nd. Again, if there are none left, trade down unless there is a "Can't miss" talent in other area's of need.

Free Agency - bring in some vet's who have tape. It's best to get guys coming off early this season injuries - not knee's, who you can run through training camp, get cheap .

I don't expect JC to be here and I think that should also be handled through free agency. There will be QB's out there.

Frank I agree with you save one BIG point. Our Front Office does not know what a "Can't Miss" talent is. They never will untill we get a proper GM & talent scout. The rest is just a pipe dream

[brad7686]

It may sound crazy but in all honesty, it's possible. If you think about it, and I don't know players that are going to be in the draft yet but I would address it this way:

1st Round - Best LT - or if they are gone, trade down to the lower 1st round, get any additional pick offered and get a Guard. If you do pick a LT, move Levi to RT and have Heyer as the backup. Give Levi a 3 yr deal. Small guaranteed money but decent salary. Makes him expendable.

2nd Round - if you go T in the 1st, address the G position in the 2nd. Again, if there are none left, trade down unless there is a "Can't miss" talent in other area's of need.

Free Agency - bring in some vet's who have tape. It's best to get guys coming off early this season injuries - not knee's, who you can run through training camp, get cheap .

I don't expect JC to be here and I think that should also be handled through free agency. There will be QB's out there.

Frank I agree with you save one BIG point. Our Front Office does not know what a "Can't Miss" talent is. They never will untill we get a proper GM & talent scout. The rest is just a pipe dream

More than likely if we draft a high graded OT they will pan out. Odds just say so. Qb is more of a toss up though.

[Countertrey]

My impression is that Mike Williams would be a kick butt RG with a little more time. That reduces the urgency to replace that position. With Levi Jones still part of the mix, that expands the options for the draft and FA. If we can get an equivalent value at our first pick, LT would be great.

But, this would also allow us to shop more aggressively in FA, depending upon what that (FA) looks like (there are implications depending upon whether capped or uncapped). It opens the possibility of selecting a true possible franchise QB, or even RB with that first pick, or even increase the value of trading down for picks, if a trading partner can be found.

[Californiaskin]

if mike williams can get his ass in better shape I think he could start at guard

[Wahoo McDaniels]

Before the season we had:

Chris Samuels: All Pro LT.
Derrick Dockery: Once among the highest paid linemen in the game.
Casey Rabach: Solid C and team leader.
Randy Thomas: Elite, experienced RG.
Jon Jansen: One of the top RT's in the game.

They were injury prone and aging, but that was looking like a good line...

Now we have:

LT-

Our anchor Chris Samuels is only 32 and may be forced to retire. He risks paralysis by playing again. Levi Jones seems like a good player, but is he a long term guy? Injuries cost him his once, all-pro abilities. Stephon Heyer is not even close to an NFL starter.

LG-

Dockery is still an okay player. He's aging, but has a lot of skill. He's one keeper for sure next season.

C-

Rabach is old now, but still a leader and a good center.

RG-

Randy Thomas may also be forced into retirement from his injuries. This season is tricept was torn from the bone. Chad Rinehart is looking like a complete waste of a 3rd round pick (now he's injured) and Will Montgomery is not the answer.

RT-

Stephon Heyer is not starting quality, Mike Williams is an experiment and we need another tackle.

For next season, we actually need 3/5ths of an offensive line. It's just terrible. Not much to work with, and I don't see a lot of help on the way...

I'm gonna have to differ with you on the Derrick Dockery assessment. I think he's actually played well this year and is much better than an "okay" player. As tough as it to assess a single lineman's play when the rest of the line has crumbled around him, he's gotten consistent push off the defensive player and maintains well in pass blocking. I'm also going to have to say that Mike Williams, for what he is, has played admirably.

Rabach is definitely declining. This has been his worst season by far.

As for Rinehart and Heyer, I'd rather sign free agent UFL players than watch these to line up in the burgundy and gold.

[frankcal20]

Heyer should not be a full time starter. Backup, fine but on opening day, it's 100% unacceptable to have him lined up. The guy still looks like he needs to hit the weight room. Just kinda doughy.

[crazyhorse1]

My line next yr.......

LT - 1st rounder
LG - Dockery
C - Rabach unless he loses it in TC
RG - 2nd rounder
RT - Levi Jones

- 1st roinder = LT
- 2nd rounder = RG
- 4th Rounder = C
-Keep Heyer as a backup
-Keep 4th rounder active as backup Center
-Keep Mike Williams as backup G/T
-Sign veteran G as a backup

Totally agree.

[welch]

Draft offensive linemen. With blocking, Campbell gets better. Pick a running back farther down.

[sch1977]

It may sound crazy but in all honesty, it's possible. If you think about it, and I don't know players that are going to be in the draft yet but I would address it this way:

1st Round - Best LT - or if they are gone, trade down to the lower 1st round, get any additional pick offered and get a Guard. If you do pick a LT, move Levi to RT and have Heyer as the backup. Give Levi a 3 yr deal. Small guaranteed money but decent salary. Makes him expendable.

2nd Round - if you go T in the 1st, address the G position in the 2nd. Again, if there are none left, trade down unless there is a "Can't miss" talent in other area's of need.

Free Agency - bring in some vet's who have tape. It's best to get guys coming off early this season injuries - not knee's, who you can run through training camp, get cheap .

I don't expect JC to be here and I think that should also be handled through free agency. There will be QB's out there.

JC is actually the "highest rated" FA QB available next year. Unless someone gets released, there is no talent out there.