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

Skinsfan55 wrote:

RedskinsFreak wrote:Hey Vinny .. you again mis-speak the truth. You were NOT NOT NOT the personnel director of a Super Bowl team. You were promoted to that job AFTER the 49ers won their last ring ... and you were the trigger to their fall-off.

But this speaks even more volumes to what the majority of the football world already knows.

How is that mis-speaking? Vinny was promoted to Director of Pro Personnel the season after they won the Superbowl. He was at that moment DPP of a Superbowl team. Why would people complain about his youth if he had just won a Superbowl, that doesn't even make sense.

Also, how did he trigger their fall off? By drafting T.O.? Ted Washington, Ricky Watters, Dana Stubblefield, Bryant Young?

Was it getting Roy Barker, Chris Doleman, Garrison Hearst, Kevin Greene and others who unlike these guys may not have been stars but helped the 49ers win?

San Fransisco went 11-5, 12-4, 13-3, and 12-4 with Vinny as DPP.

If people could actually point to one thing that Vinny has actually done with the Redskins that they didn't like that would be one thing, but all the attacks on him are nonsense. "He's just Danny's racketball partner." "He'd never get a job in the NFL if it wasn't for the Redskins."

It's bogus.

I was never the biggest Vinny fan, but he's had a good career and the vast majority of the criticism against him is totally unwarranted. Now that he is the President of Pro Football Operations for the Redskins let's give him a chance to succeed.

What did he do so wrong in his first season last year? He didn't go out and get a lot of free agents. He traded our top pick and picked up TWO second rounders and we eventually landed the guy we wanted anyway in Devin Thomas. It was brilliant!

This is what Scouts Inc. on ESPN.com said about our top three picks at the time:

34. Washington Redskins
The pick: Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State
What he brings: Washington couldn't be happier about Thomas slipping, considering no one would have blinked had the Redskins selected him in the first round. Thomas isn't as good at stretching the field as his speed would suggest, and he needs to improve his route running. But he has the quickness and athletic ability to continue to improve in those areas. He's also very good creating after a catch for a player his size.
How he fits: Thomas provides them with a big receiver who had solid production at Michigan State. He is a good fit in Jim Zorn's West Coast offense. He is a two-level receiver and a perfect fit in Washington.


48. Washington Redskins
The pick: Fred Davis, TE, USC
What he brings: There were concerns about Davis' ability to stretch the field before the combine, and his slow 40 time backed up what we saw on film. He isn't an overwhelming in-line blocker, either, but does a good job getting in position and fights to sustain his blocks. In addition, he has the athletic ability, big hands and long arms to emerge as a reliable possession receiver.
How he fits: Based on the offensive scheme Jim Zorn will run, the two-tight end packages will be key. Davis will allow the Redskins to move TE Chris ey all over and create mismatches on offense. There were no other quality tight ends on the roster and Davis fills this need for Washington.

51. Washington Redskins
The pick: Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma
What he brings: It looked at one point like Kelly would be the first receiver off the board, but concerns about his speed and durability caused his stock to drop. That said, Kelly could be one of the steals of the draft if he's able to stay healthy. He has outstanding size, very strong hands and he can make plays in traffic. Although he needs to improve his route running, he changes directions fairly well. He'll be able to separate from man coverage once his footwork improves.
How he fits: Obviously the Redskins have taken advantage of the receivers falling on draft day. This team has lacked big and physical receivers who will open up the West Coast attack even more, and the addition of Kelly will help them open up Antwaan Randle El and Santana Moss. This pick, along with WR Devin Thomas, helps bolster a questionable receiving corps.


Just look at that stuff I highlighted.

Mel Kiper gave us one of his highest grades for the draft:
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/ ... id=3357479

(Don't give me any BS about how they didn't perform this season, judging a draft the season after is moronic and it's the reason why most people are fans instead of front office members.)

VRIEL1 wrote: WOW, talk about a suck up. Ok, what about Ducket, Lloyd, Patton, James and Taylor? Then throw in your 2008 draft picks...Davis, Thomas, and Kelly? The only one I give him credit for is Horton ...if in fact he picked him or was it Blache requesting that pick?

Or would you rather blame it on coaching? Perhaps Hixon is to blame for the majority of those picks and if so one would think Hixon would be let go.

Skinsfan55 wrote:

VRIEL1 wrote: WOW, talk about a suck up. Ok, what about Ducket, Lloyd, Patton, James and Taylor? Then throw in your 2008 draft picks...Davis, Thomas, and Kelly? The only one I give him credit for is Horton ...if in fact he picked him or was it Blache requesting that pick?

Or would you rather blame it on coaching? Perhaps Hixon is to blame for the majority of those picks and if so one would think Hixon would be let go.

First of all, don't quote a big long post it just clogs up the board. You can quote part of it and it doesn't just waste space on the page.

Second of all, Ducket, Lloyd and Patton were Joe Gibbs picks.

Erasmus James was a low cost move for a former first round pick when we needed defensive line help. We just kicked the tires on him, and unfortunately he's mostly succumbed to injury. I'm not sure why anyone would be upset about that signing.

Lastly, Jason Taylor might have been a great pickup if he'd been healthy. Unfortunately he wasn't, but at the time it seemed like a smart move. You can't win them all.