Redskin in Canada wrote:1) You are missing the point that a MLB was an area of need for a player knowledgeable about the defensive scheme.
2) You are missing the point that CB was an area of need for a player knowledgeable about the defensive scheme.
Not true. I absolutely acknowledge that these are areas of need. I just found it curious that adding a cheap veteran wideout re-defined the offseason for you.
Redskin in Canada wrote:3) You are missing the point that WR is not an area of need as much as the DL and a guard at the OL.
Also not true. What you are missing is that adding a cheap veteran wide receiver doesn't prevent us from improving other positions. It's not one or the other.
Redskin in Canada wrote:4) You are missing the point that our current roster of WRs did not perform well and no real opportunity to do so last season mainly due to instability at the QB position and dismal defensive play.
I understand that the quarterback position was less than ideal - although that was true of many teams in the NFL, yet only the Buccaneers and Giants got less production out of their second wide receiver.
I don't understand how a bad defense would hurt the wide receiver. If anything, it would seem like a bad defense would allow more points, therefore requiring the offense to score more points to compensate, therefore leading to a more pass-heavy offense.
Redskin in Canada wrote:5) You are missing the point that we have a solid group of WRs and I would rather keep James Thrash than KM.
Again, false. Signing McCardell wouldn't mean losing Thrash - they could both be on the roster (and I would expect as much). Furthermore, signing McCardell doesn't mean we lose anyone - even Espy - until McCardell earns a roster spot in training camp.
Redskin in Canada wrote:6) You are missing the point that with very few exceptions, the Skins have not given a true opportunity to young talent to develop. Antonio Pierce is a perfect example of a success and the short-sightedness of the FO. We know how that one went.
No. Signing McCardell does not mean letting one of your talents go. I see McCardell as an insurance policy, not a replacement. Lloyd and Randle El should be given every opportunity to succeed. He's just another guy.
Redskin in Canada wrote:7) You are missing the point that bringing a veteran in the downhill part of his career, even just for competition, sends the wrong message to your receiver corps and even a worse signal to your young players and members of the practice squad.
What is that message? That you are always required to earn your spot, regardless of your age, talent level or size of contract? That professional football is a business, not elementary school where we don't keep score so everyone can be a winner?
Note that I'm not arguing that we should bring in McCardell to be a mentor or father-figure. We pay a wide receivers coach to do that. But just as we shouldn't bring in McCardell to help the young guys emotionally, we also shouldn't not bring him in to help the young guys emotionally. These players are adults, and we should give them enough credit to handle things like competition in a professional sport.
Redskin in Canada wrote:Conversely, -I- am missing one point:
It is absolutely astonishing to witness how the Danny Snyder culture to bring finished past stars at the expense of young talent has permeated the "mentality" of some sectors of the Redskin fan nation.
What you are missing is that their is a distinct difference between bringing in the Bruce Smiths and Deion Sanders of the world and bringing in a guy like Keenan McCardell. And if you can't see the distinct and fundamental difference between investing heavily long-term in a deteriorating yet previously reliable asset and investing modestly short-term in a deteriorating yet previously reliable asset, then this debate isn't worth having.
Last season, the Colts added Ricky Proehl, even though they already had a deep wide receiver corp. As it turned out, their players performed and stayed healthy, so they didn't need to use him. But I guarantee their coaching staff was glad that they had a reliable veteran ready to go should something happend to one of their top guys.
Believe me when I say that I wouldn't look for McCardell to take playing time from Lloyd or Randle El. But what happens if these guys get hurt, or continue to under perform even if the quarterback stabilizes and the defense improves?
He's just another option.
He's just another option.