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Something else to think about when you hear how the Skins have overpaid for DJax...1niksder wrote:ROTFALMAO Something else to think about when you hear how the Skins have overpaid for DJax...
DeSean Jackson will count more against the Eagles' salary-cap this season ($6.25M) than he will the Redskins' ($4.25M).
I love thisSkinsJock wrote:The most important position on an NFL team is the QB - we have that and he's going to be V motivated ...
after that - the most important thing to have is depth and 'continuity' (OR the players getting to know how to play together) - THIS WILL TAKE TIME
we have some good players, but ....
we need to address a lot of issues and we need the players we have to develop continuity AND 'learn' how to play together - it will take time
the offensive line is not going to be effective by just 'adding' players - it will take time
developing an effective defense is V important - it will take time
adding DeSean Jackson is great but let's not fool ourselves - we are a 3-13 franchise - it will take time
I like what these FO guys are doing but it's going to take more than just adding a few 'good' players - we are a 3-13 franchise - let's get real here
Cappster wrote:Think about this: We could have drafted Jackson the same year we took Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas. Where are those guys now? Doh!
Cappster wrote:Think about this: We could have drafted Jackson the same year we took Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas. Where are those guys now?
Doh!
HEROHAMO wrote:Well we just got probably the fastest player in the league. This move helps out our whole offense. Now who do you double? Hoping Hanktime can step up another level. Dont forget our tight ends as well.
Neo wrote:I'm not buying Super Bowl tickets or anything, but I wouldn't think it unreasonable to hope for dramatic improvements this year. The team seems eager to get back to practice which is a great sign. Almost seems like Shanny had these guys hating the game. Anyway, he's gone, so oh well.
I'm forecasting a 75% chance of winning the division this year. Its the NFL though, every year this team could go 16-0 or 0-16 with no logical explanation :/
) but they still need more time and better depth to get back to being a good football team - winning 8-10 games this year will be very big, most unlikely result of a great first season under Jay Gruden One of the recurring themes of the "Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract" books was that talent collection and team-building are not the same thing. James would always note that pennants were built with groups of skilled ballplayers but also detailed many instances where the stockpiling of ability didn't lead to wins because it wasn't paired with proper roster management.
This lesson looks as if it might apply to the Washington Redskins' recent signing of DeSean Jackson to a three-year, $24 million deal. Jackson's skills are undeniable, but when looking at the metrics and the impact this move could have on the burgundy-and-gold's offensive approach, it becomes clear that this deal improves Washington's talent level on offense but may not lead to more wins. Even with Jackson in the fold, this still looks like a last-place team in the NFC East.
The biggest reason for that: The other side of the ball still has a paucity of talent.
Offensive impact
Jackson certainly upgrades Washington's passing attack, especially on downfield throws. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Redskins tallied only 1,575 vertical passing yards last season (defined as aerials thrown 11 or more yards downfield), a total placing 27th in the NFL. Washington's top two vertical pass-catchers, Pierre Garcon and Aldrick Robinson, gained fewer combined yards (813) than Jackson had with the Eagles last season (905).
It isn't just a matter of quantity, as Jackson tallied a 13.5 vertical YPA (VYPA) that was tops among Philadelphia wide receivers. That total was also higher than any VYPA total posted by a Washington wideout last season (Leonard Hankerson led that group of players with a 10.5 VYPA).
The combination of Jackson and Garcon should go a long way toward moving Robert Griffin III back to his 2012 level of play. In that campaign, Griffin had the rare combination of dominant downfield metrics (his 14.6 VYPA was tops in the league) and good decision-making (1.2 percent bad decision rate was tied for third). He came fairly close to replicating the bad decision rate (BDR) last season by notching a 1.9 percent mark in that metric, but his 9.65 VYPA fell well short of matching his rookie season total, thus illustrating Washington's need to upgrade in this area. (Note: Bad decisions are defined as mental errors that lead to a turnover opportunity for the opposing team.)
Add the potentially dominant combination of wide receivers and quarterback to a talented young tight end (Jordan Reed) and a good pass-protector in the draft (Mel Kiper Jr. indicates Tennessee offensive tackle Antonio Richardson could be a possibility), and this team will have just about all of the weapons it needs to be a strong pass-first offense.
Defensive backlash
Unfortunately, that won't help to upgrade a leaky defense. Washington's pass defense was abysmal last season, especially on downfield passes, where its 11.76 VYPA ranked 26th in the league. A main reason for this performance is a group of cornerbacks and safeties that isn't up to par.
The primary personnel weakness at cornerback was David Amerson. He was taken in the second round of the 2013 draft, despite having a slew of inconsistent performances at NC State -- including a Week 1 debacle in 2012 that saw him beaten for two long touchdown passes, a troubling trend that continued in his rookie NFL campaign. Amerson posted a shutdown cornerback-caliber 4.0 yards per attempt (YPA) against short passes (those thrown 10 or fewer yards downfield) but was a double-digit YPA sieve on vertical passes (12.7 VYPA). He's still a young player, so improvement is possible, but these numbers are a bad starting point.
The deficient coverage at safety came from Brandon Meriweather, who fared quite badly when in direct coverage (plays where he was directly responsible for covering a receiver rather than giving another defender help over the top), allowing 12 completions for 145 yards on 15 attempts (9.7 YPA).
Washington did get a good season out of DeAngelo Hall (6.9 YPA, 8.7 VYPA) but might do well to not assume this is a long-term trend for a player who has posted abysmal YPA numbers in the past (9.5 YPA in 2012, ranked 76th among qualifying cornerbacks).
The Redskins have attempted to upgrade this area in free agency with the additions of cornerback Tracy Porter and safety Ryan Clark.
Porter did have solid YPA (6.and VYPA (10.2) marks last season, but some of that may have been due to his inclusion in a Raiders secondary with so many other weak cornerbacks to target. When teams had Phillip Adams (9.4 YPA, 13.2 VYPA) and Mike Jenkins (8.7 YPA, 12.8 VYPA) to throw at, it didn't pay to target Porter. There is also a durability concern here, as Porter has played a full 16 games in only one of his six NFL seasons and has missed four or more games in four seasons.
Clark is an aging veteran whom the Pittsburgh Steelers, a team known for giving up on players when they get a bit long in the tooth, decided to let go after last season. Bill Polian's free-agent write-up on Clark says in part: "For as much playing time as he got this past year, Clark rarely showed up in a positive way. He spends most of his time away from the line of scrimmage, but no longer has very good range for such a role."
To be fair, that report does note Clark could be a good fill-in fit for a team looking to groom a younger player, but given the question marks on the current group of Washington free safety candidates, it will take a lot of grooming to get them up to acceptable performance levels.
These two additions also won't do much to increase Washington's interception total (16, tied for 15th). Porter may be famous for his Super Bowl XLIV-clinching pick-six, but he snagged only two interceptions last season and had one near interception (defined as a pass that hit his catching frame but wasn't converted into an interception). This is only the second season Porter has picked off more than one pass.
Clark is in a similar statistical boat, as he has only 15 career interceptions and has picked off more than two passes in only two seasons (2005 and 2009). Some of this may be due to how Pittsburgh used its safeties during his tenure, but it also is likely a leading indicator that ball hawking is not one of Clark's strong suits.
Bottom line
The combination of a high-powered passing game with a weak secondary all but assures this team will see more than its share of passing shootouts in 2014. That may lead to some exciting games and very happy fantasy football owners, but shootouts are a 50-50 proposition even for the best offenses in the NFL. The 2013 Denver Broncos, who scored more points than any team in league history, went 5-4 in games where the opposing team scored 23 or more points.
As good as Washington's offense might be, it won't be anywhere near as strong as last season's Broncos squad, so the Redskins will be lucky to post a winning record in games of that scoring potential. Unless and until this team is able to vastly improve its defensive pass coverage in the draft, it's likely looking at a 2014 season heavy in highlights but relatively light in wins. As things stand right now, heading into the draft, the Redskins project as the last-place team in the NFC East.
riggofan wrote:Here's an "insider" article from ESPN today on why the Skins will be in last place. I don't disagree with the criticisms (especially the lack of playmakers on defense), I just think it totally discounts that other teams in the NFC East have significant issues as well.
1niksder wrote:ROTFALMAO Something else to think about when you hear how the Skins have overpaid for DJax...
DeSean Jackson will count more against the Eagles' salary-cap this season ($6.25M) than he will the Redskins' ($4.25M).
Irn-Bru wrote:HEROHAMO wrote:Well we just got probably the fastest player in the league. This move helps out our whole offense. Now who do you double? Hoping Hanktime can step up another level. Dont forget our tight ends as well.
At this point, I suspect Hank is going to be lucky just to make the roster, and I doubt he sees the field with any regularity unless we lose at least two players to IR.
HEROHAMO wrote:Irn-Bru wrote:HEROHAMO wrote:Well we just got probably the fastest player in the league. This move helps out our whole offense. Now who do you double? Hoping Hanktime can step up another level. Dont forget our tight ends as well.
At this point, I suspect Hank is going to be lucky just to make the roster, and I doubt he sees the field with any regularity unless we lose at least two players to IR.
Your probably right. Just wishful thinking on my part.
However our tight ends could fill the role of taller physical receiver type.
While DeSean Jackson can help them on punt returns, that's not a role you want him to do more than occasionally. They need him making plays at receiver more than anything and at his size, you want to limit the wear and tear on his body.
Hooligan wrote:I'd say it frees up guys like Santana Moss to return punts and kicks.
1niksder wrote:Looks like Roberts will return Kicks and punts, with the addition of Jackson, I'm thinking Moss and Jackson will return a few as the season progresses but Andre will be the top guy
cowboykillerzRGiii wrote:1niksder wrote:Looks like Roberts will return Kicks and punts, with the addition of Jackson, I'm thinking Moss and Jackson will return a few as the season progresses but Andre will be the top guy
I kind of hope we keep djax out of harm's way and not have him returning. Maybe for like a trick play reverse or something, but no need for the wear and tear as was said already.
Personally, I think Roberts has something to prove so I hope he can excel in the return game. Since he most likely is taking playing time from Moss, might as well let them share the load at least for kick offs- have them both back deep. On punt returns Moss might be able to teach Roberts a thing or two, but I doubt he's still got the speed to be the best option back there.
Kilmer72 wrote:cowboykillerzRGiii wrote:1niksder wrote:Looks like Roberts will return Kicks and punts, with the addition of Jackson, I'm thinking Moss and Jackson will return a few as the season progresses but Andre will be the top guy
I kind of hope we keep djax out of harm's way and not have him returning. Maybe for like a trick play reverse or something, but no need for the wear and tear as was said already.
Personally, I think Roberts has something to prove so I hope he can excel in the return game. Since he most likely is taking playing time from Moss, might as well let them share the load at least for kick offs- have them both back deep. On punt returns Moss might be able to teach Roberts a thing or two, but I doubt he's still got the speed to be the best option back there.
I think Moss still has enough speed. He is old but not done. I do fear for him though. I hope he can retire Redskin!!! Last year he had to play the locker room leader. He had to put someone in his place.... Moss is not the same player he was but he isn't done. Someone will want him and like I just said I hope he is a Redskin when he retires. He has been a GREAT REDSKIN!!! He can return those punts and with his experience can create opportunities we haven't seen since Bmitch. Bank on it.
ey- I hope he stays connected with the team.