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

Ok so it's not technically the offseason, we haven't gotten to the draft or Free Agency but if our team is seriously going to contend this is going to have to be a huge next few months. Obviously starting with defense. The Dale Lindsey move is a good start but isn't there still the situation of Steve Jackson vs. Jerry Gray to solve. And what about Free Agency what do you all think Gibbs is thinking, I wish he would do a press conference since he's had time now to evaluate as he says "every snap, every single play"

Gibbs4Life wrote:Ok so it's not technically the offseason, we haven't gotten to the draft or Free Agency but if our team is seriously going to contend this is going to have to be a huge next few months. Obviously starting with defense. The Dale Lindsey move is a good start but isn't there still the situation of Steve Jackson vs. Jerry Gray to solve. And what about Free Agency what do you all think Gibbs is thinking, I wish he would do a press conference since he's had time now to evaluate as he says "every snap, every single play"

The Coaches are headed on vacation either later today or my mid-day Friday if they haven't left already. Free Agency starts in March the draft is in April. Unless you make the post season there is nothing to do but fire coaches and have coaches move on to other positions. Or player will retire here and there.

I'm praying for Lance Briggs, I know some have said we have no chance at him because da bears will franchise him, however isn't the rule that you can still sign away a franchise player you just have to give two first rounders? Because after seeing the way Briggs has played all year and especially in the playoffs, he was a monster against Seattle, I say if there ever was a player worth two firsts considering our REAL NEED for a legitimate pro bowl type MLB...sign Lance Briggs!

Gibbs4Life wrote:I'm praying for Lance Briggs, I know some have said we have no chance at him because da bears will franchise him, however isn't the rule that you can still sign away a franchise player you just have to give two first rounders? Because after seeing the way Briggs has played all year and especially in the playoffs, he was a monster against Seattle, I say if there ever was a player worth two firsts considering our REAL NEED for a legitimate pro bowl type MLB...sign Lance Briggs!

Obviously Lance Briggs is an excellent player, but IMO going for a huge splash is the problem we're always having.

I think it's only smart to try and make a splash if it's in the draft... not in free agency.

The biggest problems the Redskins face are age, and depth. We have an older team that is more prone to injuries over the course of a long season and not enough depth to be able to survive those injuries.

I think getting some platoon players for the LB corps might be a smart idea.

if we got Lance Briggs, then Rocky McIntosh would be sitting on the bench

Skins2daGrave wrote:if we got Lance Briggs, then Rocky McIntosh would be sitting on the bench

And the Redskins would be sitting on the sidelines, again, come playoff time.

Making a big move for the sake of making a big move is foolish... and considering all the other problems Washington has, the time to make a splash might not come for a while.

Gibbs4Life wrote:I'm praying for Lance Briggs, I know some have said we have no chance at him because da bears will franchise him, however isn't the rule that you can still sign away a franchise player you just have to give two first rounders? Because after seeing the way Briggs has played all year and especially in the playoffs, he was a monster against Seattle, I say if there ever was a player worth two firsts considering our REAL NEED for a legitimate pro bowl type MLB...sign Lance Briggs!

Is Lance Briggs a MLB?

Who should the Redskins target on day 1 of Free Agency

Vote here

Nate Clements, UFA, Buffalo Bills

Asante Samuel UFA New England Patriots

Lance Briggs, UFA, Chicago Bears

Adalius Thomas, UFA, Baltimore Ravens

Jared Allen, RFA, Kansas City Chiefs

Dwight Freeney, UFA, Indianapolis Colts


I sticking with my first thought and went with Thomas he's a OLB that has showed he is cable of playing in the middle. He would allow Marshall to move back to the outside and give a young guy time to learn the spot. Jared Allen and Clements would be nice but MLB has been needing help for some time now.

I agree with Getting Thomas

As long as he's not too old, I don't know his age.

MLB calls the plays. If we draft a MLB it might be a year or two before he and the D gets better. Snyder and the fans want a winning team now. ASAP!!!!!!

I love Gibbs and the Super Bowls, but really how much time will snyder give him. Forever? Maybe, But whats on Gibbs mind? If he Joe thinks he doesn't have time to wait for rookies to develop. He will go for FA. That may be a lot of the problem. Trying to do it NOW. I'd wait for Rookies to develope if it ment three more super bowls. But if that were to happen, that would mean the fans and Snyder will have to be patient I think Gibbs is only after one SB. Then retire. I hope not, but it seems that way.

Sad but, but it could be.

BnGhog wrote:I agree with Getting Thomas

As long as he's not too old, I don't know his age.

Thomas is 6'2", 276 lbs, a 6 yr pro, has 288 tackles and 27.5 sacks

That would make him around 28

And something I didn't know

Thomas's finest year to date came in the 2005 season. With Peter Boulware relegated to a strict pass-rusher, Thomas was named the starting Left Outside Linebacker. He accumulated 84 total tackles and 9 sacks, his prowess on the field was soon felt. In the absence of Ray Lewis, Thomas had to step up as the leader of the Ravens Squad. In the '05 season, Thomas became the first ever player to play all 5 defensive positions (DE, OLB, MLB, Safety, and CB) in not one game, but three.

Actually, I don't want Briggs at all.

First off he plays OUTSIDE LB, not Middle. And plus, we already have our defensive franchise player at his position in Marcus. Not to mention we just last year used a 2nd Round pick on Rocky so I don't want to overpay for an OLB when we already haves 2 starting studs.

And if we forced him to player MLB, it would be the same thing as Lemar, but he'd cost way more.

Thomas would be more suited to move from the outside to the inside.

Skinsfan55 wrote:

Gibbs4Life wrote:I'm praying for Lance Briggs, I know some have said we have no chance at him because da bears will franchise him, however isn't the rule that you can still sign away a franchise player you just have to give two first rounders? Because after seeing the way Briggs has played all year and especially in the playoffs, he was a monster against Seattle, I say if there ever was a player worth two firsts considering our REAL NEED for a legitimate pro bowl type MLB...sign Lance Briggs!

Obviously Lance Briggs is an excellent player, but IMO going for a huge splash is the problem we're always having.

Exactly. Remember Dana Stubblefield? Remember Deion Sanders? Remember Mark Carrier? Ugh.

Rather than sign monster contracts with guys who are coming off career years, how about doing it the other way around? How about signing some journeymen players who come to Redskins and have career years after they get here? Hard to find? Not if you have the right people evaluating talent. Not if you bring in players who play well together as a team.

No sngle big splash acquisition -- whether through free agency or the draft -- is going to turn the Redskins around. We do NOT need another gazillion dollar "beast" -- instead, we need guys who can quietly get the job done.

Gibbs4Life wrote:I'm praying for Lance Briggs, I know some have said we have no chance at him because da bears will franchise him, however isn't the rule that you can still sign away a franchise player you just have to give two first rounders? Because after seeing the way Briggs has played all year and especially in the playoffs, he was a monster against Seattle, I say if there ever was a player worth two firsts considering our REAL NEED for a legitimate pro bowl type MLB...sign Lance Briggs!

Given the way the rules are slanted toward the offense, I'd say NO defensive player right now is worth TWO first round picks. ONE great defensive player just isn't going to change the game enough to justify such a cost. Look at Champ Bailey in Denver - he had another fine year, and yet Denver didn't even make the playoffs!

Why you only bring up guys who didn't work and guys who were past their prime (PrimeTime) when they got here?

You didn't say anything about FA's like CP or Santana for example. Sometime's FA's are a bust, but not always!

Let me ask you guys about this.
What do you think about trying Washington? I mean there is more to MLB than just skills. Look at the greats, they all have something in common. HIGH INTENSITY! Marqus is always hyped up. Marshall is more layed back. Maybe we should switch them two and put Rocky at OLB

Is Thomas intense? If he is, and Washington is, might be good to have both. All Im saying is, we would need someone who knows the D (being the play caller) and he needs to be hyped, to be a good MLB.

BnGhog wrote:Let me ask you guys about this.
What do you think about trying Washington? I mean there is more to MLB than just skills. Look at the greats, they all have something in common. HIGH INTENSITY! Marqus is always hyped up. Marshall is more layed back. Maybe we should switch them two and put Rocky at OLB

I don't think Washington is big enough to play MLB. He's too lanky. I'd doubt that he can take on a big interior o-lineman, get off the block and make the tackle. Given his size and speed, it seems he's better suited to the outside.

Lemar played great last year, he and Marcus were injured 3/4 of the 2006 season. LB isn't a big issue. MW, RM, and LM are a good trio IMO.

Look at Ray Lewis for example, he's one of the best MLB to ever play the game. When Baltimore lost the big guys upfront, Rays effectiveness dropped! His level of play wasn't 100% the issue but it was the big bodies blocking him. If argurably the best MLB in the game (at the time) is having issues because of the front four, I dont know what you expect from anyone else.

If we dont get some big guys upfront, it wont matter who is at LB.

If we dont get some speed upfront, it wont matter who is at DB/Safety.

It starts in the trenches, if we can get the line moving good....the rest of the defense will strengthen.

BnGhog wrote:Why you only bring up guys who didn't work and guys who were past their prime (PrimeTime) when they got here?

You didn't say anything about FA's like CP or Santana for example. Sometime's FA's are a bust, but not always!

Neither Santana or CP were FA's, we traded for both of them

We need more of this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWFI0PcvaqM

We need more of this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWFI0PcvaqM

Chris Luva Luva wrote:If we dont get some big guys upfront, it wont matter who is at LB.

If we dont get some speed upfront, it wont matter who is at DB/Safety.

It starts in the trenches, if we can get the line moving good....the rest of the defense will strengthen.

I agree.

Chris Luva Luva wrote:Look at Ray Lewis for example, he's one of the best MLB to ever play the game. When Baltimore lost the big guys upfront, Rays effectiveness dropped! His level of play wasn't 100% the issue but it was the big bodies blocking him. If argurably the best MLB in the game (at the time) is having issues because of the front four, I dont know what you expect from anyone else.

Lewis made a big deal out of not having a big body Dlineman in front of him as his play dropped off however when he sat down with a injury Thomas stepped in and dealt with the same non-big body Dlineman that Ray-Ray complained about. I think Thomas should be the top focus going into free agency. It's true Dline is the area that will lighten the load on the rest of the D but we need someone in there that can set the defense AND be able to deal with those 300 pounders when they get to the second level of the D

Getting a guy like Thomas should allow the team to by-pass Clements and save some cap space for depth in spots.

1niksder wrote:Getting a guy like Thomas should allow the team to by-pass Clements and save some cap space for depth in spots.

And I'm beginning to come round to this way of thinking too.

UK Skins Fan wrote:

1niksder wrote:Getting a guy like Thomas should allow the team to by-pass Clements and save some cap space for depth in spots.

And I'm beginning to come round to this way of thinking too.

Reports have it that Clements is looking for Champ type of money. I don't want to start another Bailey debate but Champ didn't get Champ money + Clements ain't Champ = no way should he get what he is rumored to want ($20 SB - Champ signed a $63M deal).

With Thomas in the fold we could focus on a DL in the draft and get a cheaper free agent corner like Nick Harper.