The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

Sanders is terrible. That's why he's still there.
As for ILB - check out Audie Cole from NC State. Will be there most likely in the 5th.

andyjens89 wrote:I don't think we are THAT bad at safety. I mean, we signed Tanard Jackson, Brandon Merriweather, Madieu Williams and Cedric Griffin. Plus Dejon Gomes will be in his second year and has shown potential and Reed Doughty (yes he sucks) has experience. We might be alright. Adding another one might not be a bad idea though. It's late for me, so I'm going to keep rambling

Lol, yeah I suppose youre right

andyjens89 wrote:I don't think we are THAT bad at safety. I mean, we signed Tanard Jackson, Brandon Merriweather, Madieu Williams and Cedric Griffin. Plus Dejon Gomes will be in his second year and has shown potential and Reed Doughty (yes he sucks) has experience. We might be alright. Adding another one might not be a bad idea though. It's late for me, so I'm going to keep rambling

Lol, yeah I suppose youre right

I think the selection of Josh LeRibeus may turn out to be a good pick for us, and the more I'm hearing and seeing about the kid tonight, the more I'm liking him.

A few thoughts to consider about this pick. For starters, depth on the interior of the offensive line was a huge need for us. We've now addressed that with our 2nd pick in this draft.

We know Shanahan prefers a specific type of offensive lineman for his unique zone blocking scheme. And as we've learned over the past two years, that means linemen who may not be totally suited for other offensive schemes (this why some sports writers scratch their heads and criticize the pick, just as they did with Trent Williams) but o-linmen who bring and offer unique skill-sets for Shanahan's specific zone scheme. And this is where I believe they saw something they liked with Josh LeRibeus.

After seeing some of his game tape high lights they showed on the NFL Network, the kid is extremely quick when pulling in the run game. They noted that he looked real quick on his feet and was able to move down the line fairly fluently for a big guy when pulling to pick up blocks. And we know that a pulling guard who is quick is a desired asset for Shanahan's zone blocking scheme. They said he was also stout with very good lower body strength, had a solid punch and could hold up well facing a bull rush in the middle in pass protection. Those attributes were evident on the game tapes they showed.

They also said that LeRibeus had recently lost a quite a bit of weight and the kid showed incredible character, determination and discipline when fighting back from his adversities. This, combined with the specific talents Shanahan likes in linemen, is why I believe he's been gaining quite a bit of momentum and steam over the past few months of draft scouting. They said that while some of his game tape didn't show a lot of overall quickness, his recent weight loss combined with intense training with individual coaches after the college season ended had him looking much quicker and more fluid at the East-West Shrine game and in pre-draft workouts. They said the offense employed quite a bit of zone blocking in the East-West Shrine game and LeRibeus looked good in that role.

So I wouldn't put a ton of stock into some of these prior scouting reports from wannabe GM's like Wes Bunting. What I mean is that most likely they were looking at tape prior to or during his weight loss, and prior to his recent training and perhaps didn't follow up on the kid over the past 3-4 months when LeRibeus was building huge momentum climbing real NFL draft boards.

I'm also thinking this... after we selected RGIII with the 2nd overall pick last night, our FO had quite a bit of time to evaluate their draft board and prepare to make their selection in the 3rd round. So I don't think they took LeRibeus just on a whim. I believe they put a lot of time, thought and evaluation into this pick. They had to have seen something they really liked in LeRibeus, felt he had enough already going for him that they could work with and develop further, and therefore felt he was worthy of the pick.

One final thought. Even though some have already said LeRibeus could step in and contribute right away, I'm not so sure that's Shanahan's immediate intentions for the kid. We know the coaches are high on Lichtensteiger and they fully expect him back completely healed and healthy soon. Montgomery is a better player at center than some here acknowledge. In fact, PFF rated Montgomery as the best center in the NFC East. He may not be an all-world Pro Bowl center just yet, and may not ever become one, but he's better than some recognize, as the center is a hard position to evaluate anyways. And Chester can hold his own and is improving with his transition to the zone blocking scheme.

So I believe depth was the immediate concern and LeRibeus instantly provides that. I believe they'll coach him up quickly and he'll become a solid contributor for us in the future or when injuries occur, much like our o-line was overwhelmed with last year.

(Although it's funny... they say we needed o-line depth. But at last count last December, we fielded the 9th different o-line personnel grouping and they were gelling quite well by the end of the season, helping Helu and Royster achieve several 100+ yard rushing games. I'd say our "depth" got quite a bit of good experience and development last year.)

I perhaps see another Perry Riley situation on our hands. In 2010 we drafted Trent Williams in the 1st round but then didn't have another pick until the 4th round. So similar to this year, the coaches had quite a bit of time on their hands to evaluate their selection coming in the 4th. When they selected Riley, many of us didn't know much about the kid and wondered if he even fit our defensive scheme. Then after playing just 10 snaps in 2010, many of us thought Riley was just another draft bust.

But what was really happening was that Jim Haslett and Lou Spanos were developing the kid into a stud LB behind the scenes. So when 2011 rolled around, Riley exploded on the field with an impressive performance that beat out Rocky McIntosh for the starting ILB job and thoroughly impressed fans. The coaches have actually done a pretty good job developing the younger players over the past two years and we've witnessed that development in players like Riley, Hankerson, Helu, Royster, and even some of our depth and rookie o-linemen that were forced into action late in the season due to injuries.

So I believe the coaches saw enough passion, drive, character and skillset in Josh LeRibeus for them to invest a high 3rd round pick on him. The coaches probably feel they've seen enough talent already in the kid and perhaps feel like they can develop LeRibeus further into a solid contributor for their zone blocking scheme. I therefore give the coaches and the kid the benefit of the doubt and can't wait to see the dividends of this pick.

(BTW - Sorry for the length of my post. A few cocktails late on a Friday night and I guess that aided in my ramblings over the excitement of the pick and the draft overall. )

SkinsFreak - you make a great case. And thanks for at least making this fan feel a little better about the pick.

That said, was he the best pick available? I doubt it, and in the early rounds you want talent. I think we could have still picked him up in the 4th round. It's not like there are tons of teams our there running the same Zone Blocking Scheme.

I was hoping for Donald Stephenson, but I am relieved to see an O-linemen picked regardless.

Yeah, thanks Skinsfreak. I'm still a little underwhelmed but that helped a little....

What time does day three actually begin, does anyone know...?

SkinsFreak wrote:

(Although it's funny... they say we needed o-line depth. But at last count last December, we fielded the 9th different o-line personnel grouping and they were gelling quite well by the end of the season, helping Helu and Royster achieve several 100+ yard rushing games. I'd say our "depth" got quite a bit of good experience and development last year.)

I perhaps see another Perry Riley situation on our hands. In 2010 we drafted Trent Williams in the 1st round but then didn't have another pick until the 4th round. So similar to this year, the coaches had quite a bit of time on their hands to evaluate their selection coming in the 4th. When they selected Riley, many of us didn't know much about the kid and wondered if he even fit our defensive scheme. Then after playing just 10 snaps in 2010, many of us thought Riley was just another draft bust.

But what was really happening was that Jim Haslett and Lou Spanos were developing the kid into a stud LB behind the scenes. So when 2011 rolled around, Riley exploded on the field with an impressive performance that beat out Rocky McIntosh for the starting ILB job and thoroughly impressed fans. The coaches have actually done a pretty good job developing the younger players over the past two years and we've witnessed that development in players like Riley, Hankerson, Helu, Royster, and even some of our depth and rookie o-linemen that were forced into action late in the season due to injuries.
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Great post. I liked your non quoted analysis the most, but your point here about the development of the line last year due to injury is one that I was making last night to a friend right after the pick was made.

More impressive to me is the Perry Riley comparison from a few years back. Unlike LeRebi. . . LeRibbel . . . Josh, I had watched Riley quite bit at LSU and was very excited about that pick because I saw a guy that was very good at Linebacker and I thought could be good in the pros. In fact, I was surprised it took him as long to round into starting form as it did. As others have said, I think the lockout hurt him the most (Cooley and his injury second most) of all of our players. That analogy alone makes me more excited about Josh and his possible place on this team.

skinsfreak - I appreciate your post and it makes me feel better about this pick.

I can't seem to post links to SMU mustang football games but this guy absolutely never takes a step backwards against the bull rush. Just watch their games, LG #77 this guy is going to start from day 1 and he'll be a pro bowler. I'm calling it first based on what I see on tape. He looks like Tre Johnson when he pulls and I think he zips through the pocket to aid and assist. But what really stands out is how UN-PUSHABLE he is. Just check it out for yourselves

More importantly he says he hates Dallas. That'll do for me....

I think the sample of tape guys use to write about players is time-strapped and inadequate. How can you take anything away from "There are questions about his ability to engage in space"? The player bio's are so contradictory and vague it really makes it hard to believe they know what they're talking about or aren't just filling up space on a page.

Mongtomery is a good center and Kory is a great pulling guard but both can be moved off the ball. This guy doesn't flinch, averaged 6 pancake blocks a game, and can also play center. Day 1 starter

I'm kind of worried that he was ditching too many classes and gained too much weight in college. Still, he was a team captain at SMU. He's supposed to be a tough guy with a high level of awareness on the field. Shanny obviously thinks he can play in the ZBS... and that's probably his area of expertise. Mike Shanahan knows linemen.

SouthLondonRedskin wrote:Yeah, thanks Skinsfreak. I'm still a little underwhelmed but that helped a little....

What time does day three actually begin, does anyone know...?

1200 EDT or 1600 zulu or 4PM GMT

Skinsfan55 wrote:I'm kind of worried that he was ditching too many classes and gained too much weight in college. Still, he was a team captain at SMU. He's supposed to be a tough guy with a high level of awareness on the field. Shanny obviously thinks he can play in the ZBS... and that's probably his area of expertise. Mike Shanahan knows linemen.

Well, he seems like a big ol hillbilly from Texas - Tim Riggens comes to mind. That is not the end of the world. Not all the draft picks will be academically smart guys like our new QB. Which reminds me, we drafted RG3!!!!!

skinsfan#33 wrote:

SouthLondonRedskin wrote:Yeah, thanks Skinsfreak. I'm still a little underwhelmed but that helped a little....

What time does day three actually begin, does anyone know...?

1200 EDT or 1600 zulu or 4PM GMT

So both the 4th round picks should be done by 1:oo PM.

For folks who are not familiar with the accademic program at SMU, they can complete with any Ivy League school. Most athletes in his situation would have quit the team rather than play one year on the practice squad.

The fact that this guy recovered from his academic mistakes and played two more years at SMU, speaks volumes for him. He may have been over his head when he started school there, but now that he has finished his elgibility, I am sure that he is a better man and that makes him one smart dude.

Skinsfreak - the length of your post was well worth it. It helped me to understand the logic behind this pick.

I think that Shanahan picks guys based on their draft board. They may have him rated their next guy. You'll never know. You also don't know if for sure he still would have been there. There have been a number of scratch your head moves which goes to show you that this year, a lot guys are going earlier or later than expected and none of us really do know what is going on.

This notion that the coaches had a lot of time to consider this pick because we didn't have a second rounder is somewhat silly. They've been evaluating these guys for six months, another 3 hours of free time isn't going to change who they go after. This guy was the top guy on their draft board when they hit the 3rd round.

are we to believe that they'll be drafting players on a whim today because they only have 30 minutes between 4th round picks???

Skeletor wrote:This notion that the coaches had a lot of time to consider this pick because we didn't have a second rounder is somewhat silly. They've been evaluating these guys for six months, another 3 hours of free time isn't going to change who they go after. This guy was the top guy on their draft board when they hit the 3rd round.

are we to believe that they'll be drafting players on a whim today because they only have 30 minutes between 4th round picks???

I agree. If anything, all the FO was evaluating, during that extra time, was the opportunity to move up for a surprize value. I doubt, very much, that they spent even a second considering changes to their draft board.

Phillip Blake...come on down

No. 2: Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III.

No. 71: SMU guard Josh LeRibeus.

Picks left (6): 102, 109, 141, 173, 213, 217.

Can't wait for today's draft. This is where I have a lot of fun. Will probably only watch the 4th round though. Will be checking twitter by the pool.

frankcal20 wrote:Can't wait for today's draft. This is where I have a lot of fun. Will probably only watch the 4th round though. Will be checking twitter by the pool.

Nice. I love the latter rounds. Especially with the solid drafting we've seen from this org.

Chris Luva Luva wrote: .... I love the latter rounds. Especially with the solid drafting we've seen from this org.

AGREE - problem with many fans here is that they 'evaluate' based on what they've seen and or heard

That 'stuff' is not as important as bringing in players that suit what the coaches here want to do

HERE I GO AGAIN - THIS IS A TEAM GAME

the problem we used to have was that Dumb and Dumber did what many fans here want to do - bring in the 'BEST AVAILABLE TALENT'

ALL of these guys have talent - they are the top 200+ players coming out of college


thankfully for the Redskins, those fans (and dumb and dumber) are not running things here

this FO and the group supporting them are ONLY looking to add players that suit what we need - NOT players with talent


this franchise is heading in the right direction again BECAUSE we don't just add the best player available


GOTTA LOVE this FO