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Defensive Ends
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 4:46 pm
by The Hogster
With free agency and the NFL Draft fast approaching, Redskins.com breaks down the Redskins' roster position-by-position and identifies potential need areas. Today: Defensive ends.
At midseason last year, questions swirled at Redskins Park about the lack of quarterback pressure generated by the team's defensive line.
In Week 10 at Tampa Bay, the Redskins' defense was unable to sack Buccaneers quarterback Chris Simms, allowing him to pass for 279 yards in a 36-35 loss. A week later, against Oakland at FedExField, the defense was held to one sack--by linebacker Chris Clemons--as Raiders quarterback Kerry Collins passed for 289 yards in a 16-13 loss.
How should the Redskins address the defensive end position this offseason?
Sign a top-tier free agent
Draft a rookie prospect
Add to depth
We're fine...Stand pat
Assistant head coach-defense Gregg Williams kept encouraging his players.
"Each week, we hope to continue to get better in some of those one-on-one pass-rushing situations," Williams said. "Even when you pressure or blitz, you need to be able to win one-on-one pass rush situations."
Toward the end of the regular season, the Redskins' defensive linemen started to win their one-on-one battles regularly. The group was led by defensive end Phillip Daniels, who was dominant down the stretch, recording six sacks in the Redskins' final three games. He had a memorable four-sack performance in the Redskins' 35-7, Week 15 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
Daniels finished the season with a team-high eight sacks, and added another sack in Washington's 17-10, Wild Card win over Tampa Bay on Jan. 7. He also had 72 tackles and two forced fumbles on the season.
On the left side of the defensive line, Renaldo Wynn is regarded as a steady player who may not produce many spectacular, game-changing plays, but makes up for it with consistency and intelligence.
Wynn started all 16 regular-season games for the fourth time in his tenure in Washington. He recorded 47 tackles and 1.5 sacks on the season. He also blocked a field goal in Week 16 vs. the New York Giants, a key play in a game the Redskins would win 35-20.
Wynn's season came to an end in the Wild Card round of the playoffs when he suffered a fractured forearm. He is expected to return next season fully healthy.
The Redskins' primary backup at defensive end was fourth-year veteran Demetric Evans, a player who continues to improve. He recorded 32 tackles and three sacks last season. Like Daniels, Evans was strong down the stretch last season.
Demetric Evans sacks Chicago's Kyle Orton.
In the Wild Card playoff game, Evans had a sack of Simms. He would have had another sack in the Divisional Playoffs in Seattle, but quarterback Matt Hasselbeck had just escaped the pocket and started to scramble when Evans tackled him.
Coaches love Evans's versatility. Evans saw playing time at tackle due to injuries to Cornelius Griffin and Joe Salave'a last season.
"Demetric took a lot of snaps at defensive tackle," Williams said. "Those are snaps that will come back in memory and retention when we're throwing them in the heat of battle. The more a player can do, the longer your career is in this league."
After having spent the 2003 and 2004 seasons on the Redskins' practice squad, Nic Clemons got his first taste of NFL action last season. He played in eight games, mostly as a reserve, and recorded six tackles.
Melvin Williams, a third-year player who signed with the Redskins in December 2004, spent last season on injured reserve due to a triceps injury. He has not had any NFL action since 2003, when he played for the New Orleans Saints.
Karon Riley signed with the Redskins as a free agent in January 2005. He is attempting to revive his NFL career after spending last season with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. He has had NFL stints with the Chicago Bears (who drafted him in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft) and the Atlanta Falcons.
Positional Analysis
Despite the late-season surge by the defensive line, it seems likely that Redskins coaches and personnel officials will look closely at defensive linemen in free agency and the draft. Daniels, Wynn and Evans are steady players and, perhaps more importantly, versatile enough to move inside to play tackle if necessary.
Evans is an unrestricted free agent this offseason and his future with the Redskins is uncertain. He turns 27 in March, so he is just entering his prime. Defensive coaches have worked to develop Evans's skills the last two seasons and it seems unlikely they would be reluctant to bring him back.
Is more depth needed at the position? Clemons, Williams and Riley have limited NFL experience. Also, with Daniels turning 33 in March and Wynn turning 31 in September, does the position need an infusion of young talent? Washington has drafted just one defensive end since 1998.
FIVE DEFENSIVE ENDS ELIGIBLE FOR FREE AGENCY:
Aaron Kampman, Green Bay Packers
John Abraham, New York Jets
Darren Howard, New Orleans Saints
Kimo von Oelhoffen, Pittsburgh Steelers
Kyle Vanden Bosch, Tennessee Titans
FIVE DEFENSIVE ENDS AVAILABLE IN THE NFL DRAFT:
Mario Williams, North Carolina State
Tamba Hali, Penn State
Mathias Kiwanuka, Boston College
Darryl Tapp, Virginia Tech
Ray Edwards, Purdue
I would love to pick up Kyle Vanden Bosch from Tennessee, or Aaron Kampman from Green Bay.
Abraham will be too expensive, and Darren Howard will be too other wise it would be nice to have one of those guys. Robert Mathis will be a RFA which means we would have to give up a draft pick to get him. These guys could be the best bang for our buck.
Then we can take a DE with our 2nd or 3rd round pick for depth since Wynn and Daniels are aging, provided of course we pick up a solid wide out in FA.
If Darryl Tapp fell to us in the 2nd round that would be a miracle, but there are plenty of talented WR's and DE's that may be available at that point. With a smart offseason, we should definitely be playing next Feb.
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 5:22 pm
by Warmother
I like Vanden Bosch also but he may cost to much. Mathis could also be good.
Tapp would be great to get or maybe Elvis Dumerville out of Louisville.
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 5:56 pm
by VASkin27
No way we're going to get a shot at Dumervil, if he drops past 40 I'll be shocked. Most people have Tapp falling to us, so I think we'll get a shot at him. Most compare him to a Dwight Freeney, with a short stature but a quickness and motor that doesn't stop. There are questions about if he'll be able to stop the run because of his lack of size, but right now I think we simply need a pass rushing DE. They can work on his run stopping skills and bulk him up a little, but you can't teach speed and the knack Tapp has for getting to the QB.
By the way, I read on a fantasy football site earlier today that we are interested in Dwight Freeney. I doubt this is true, I just can't see us fitting Freeney in under the cap. But I could be wrong
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 8:36 pm
by Hog Heaven
Freeney isn't even a free agent. I don't see us offering anyone in a trade that the Colts would want for Freeney. Maybe you were thinking of his counterpart, Robert Mathis who is a RFA?
Anyways, I agree with your assesment of Tapp and want to see him go from burgundy and orange to burgundy and Gold.
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 9:18 pm
by The Hogster
I agree about Tapp...every year the so called experts use size in their rankings and they prove to be SOO Wrong.
Courtney Brown was physically the most gifted D-End in the last several years to come out of college....while Freeney would have size wize been one of the least talented.
Lofa Tatupu was so called undersized. The bottom line is when a guy can play football it really doesn't matter how big he is.
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 9:31 pm
by Redskin in Canada
The Hogster wrote:The bottom line is when a guy can play football it really doesn't matter how big he is.
I agree. For what that is worth have a look at a discussion on this subject held in the Draft forum:
http://www.the-hogs.net/forum/viewtopic. ... 7724bbede5
Plus we have a WHOLE section ranking a bunch DEs available in the draft in the DRAFT SECTION of this board:
http://www.the-hogs.net/Draft/
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 10:22 pm
by VASkin27
HOG HEAVEN - Sorry, I meant to say that I read that the Skins are interested in going after Jets DE John Abraham. Sorry about the confusion.
Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 12:43 am
by Hog Heaven
No problem VASkin, I'm glad to hear we are pursuing Abraham. He is a top tier talent. $ with our cap situation does seem like it would be difficult for the Redskins, but that is something we can trust Snyder to fix. He always finds a way to make it work.
Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 1:13 am
by DaRealistJoka
I like John Abraham, Rumor Central for ESPN Redskins Interested in Abraham.
Abraham wants out
<Feb. 8> According to The Newark Star-Ledger, Abraham has told those close to him that he wants out because the Jets continue to drag their feet regarding a long-term deal. However, new general manager Mike Tannenbaum did extend an olive branch to the three-time Pro Bowl DE on Tuesday.
"I've known John since 2000. I think he's matured as a person and improved as a player," Tannenbaum said yesterday. "I think he deserves a lot of credit for playing the entire 2005 season, all 16 games."
Th Jets are expected to place the franchise tag on Abraham this month (they have from tomorrow until Feb. 23) and then try to trade him. The franchise tender for a defensive end will be $8.3 million in 2006. The amount is determined by the average salary of the five highest-paid players at the position.
There are several teams reportedly interested in the unrestricted free agent, including the Chargers, Redskins, Browns and Texans. One possibility, according to The Star-Ledger, could be a deal with San Diego for quarterback Philip Rivers. New Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer was Rivers' quarterback coach the last two seasons.
Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 11:39 am
by Redskin in Canada
If you were the Jets, would you rather have P. Ramsey or P.Rivers?
Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 11:50 am
by frankcal20
River's honestly but I'm an NC State fan.
If you look at it though, Rivers has all the tools. Ramsey is kind of bruised. He's got baggage. River's has been holding a clip board the past 2 years. He's ready to go.
Now I think the same thing about Ramsey, I just see his past (Spurrier) could come back to haunt him.
Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 12:37 pm
by gibbsfan
i think we need to get one or two DE.
one in the market and draft another one.
abraham would be geat but the $$$ will make all the difference in the world.
Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 1:14 pm
by Irn-Bru
Hey, gibbsfan, check your PM.
Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 1:33 pm
by DaRealistJoka
gibbsfan wrote:i think we need to get one or two DE.
one in the market and draft another one.
abraham would be geat but the $$$ will make all the difference in the world.
But after we make the adjustments that we need to do to get the cap we should have enough to sign and not eat up all the cap room.
Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 2:36 pm
by gibbsfan
FanfromAnnapolis wrote:Hey, gibbsfan, check your PM.
i did and i appreciate it too.
thanks......check my new sig format now,better
again thanks...fanfromAnnapolis.......
Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 2:44 pm
by gibbsfan
DaRealistJoka wrote:gibbsfan wrote:i think we need to get one or two DE.
one in the market and draft another one.
abraham would be geat but the $$$ will make all the difference in the world.
But after we make the adjustments that we need to do to get the cap we should have enough to sign and not eat up all the cap room.
yepper indeed it will make the difference if the players do infact restructure their deals. thats why i said get a DE from the open market and one via the draft but do it with reason(s) to improve the DL.
i,m hoping they free up enough $$$$$ to be able to make the necessary moves to improve the overall football team,
again positions of need,DE,DE,P,OL depth just to name a few for starters.bring some undrafted free agents in camp as well.
cap room will make the difference....and being able to free up the necessary money as well.so we are close it,s just a matter of time. fill in here and there and we are off and running in 06.