Post-cuts, looking back at the draft

[Irn-Bru]

Here is a thread that I started a day or two after the draft. I do not pretend to be an NFL talent expert by any means, but it seemed to me at the time that we made a few questionable moves.

Looking back, there was definitely something there in the WR (Marko Mitchell), but the other late-round picks still puzzle me a bit. We'll have to wait to see who they pick up for the practice squad — i.e., who they think has talent worth developing.

So I have to wonder: would we have been better served by picking up one of the offensive tackles on the board? Is Barnes the better long-term prospect? Could we have struck a decent project player in the 5th round?

Any why did we select Cody Glenn?

Of course, to be fair, I have to note that at least one of the OT's that was being discussed, Jamon Meredith, was released by the Packers. So we could still pick him up, I suppose. I don't recall the names of the other players we could have taken, but it would be interesting to see whether they've stuck with their teams.

[frankcal20]

I said before, I thought that we selected Cody for Special Teams purposes. With the NO-Wedge rule, I think they are looking for talent who could come straight in and be an impact. I think that given that he used to be a RB, they may have been looking to utilize his athleticism. I like the concept but what I don't like is the fact that some analyst said that he may have gone un-drafted.

[brad7686]

Had to see the Glenn cutting comin since April. I did make a big deal about Meredith, and he was released. Although, the Packers only kept 3 OT's. The fact still remains that I would rather have a young OT to develop than an undersized LB who's only played that position for a year.

[frankcal20]

I think we could see both guys come in for PS.

[SkinsFreak]

I just think that it's probably easier to second guess personnel choices than it is to actually make them. You can go around the entire landscape of the NFL and question personnel decisions.

Irn-Bru already established one of those by mentioning Jamon Meredith. The Patriots just cut a TE that they just traded a 5th round draft pick for a few months ago. The Eagles just cut a 3rd and a 4th rounder from the 2008 draft. The Broncos just cut a 4th and a 5th from last years draft as well. The Vikings cut Booty, a 5th rounder. The Raiders cut a 6th round DE in July from the 2009 draft. The Pies just cut three of their draft picks... and so on.

But then you find guys like Stephon Heyer and Edwin Williams who are undrafted but able earn roster spots. Buges said Williams can play all three positions along the o-line. During the offseason workouts, it appears that guys like Williams and Batiste simply outperformed Bridges, an experienced player who we might have thought had the upper hand.

So I guess my point is that it's very tough to be accurate all the time when evaluating talent and making selections. These players are human beings that, like all human beings, are susceptible to inconsistency, mistakes and being outperformed by other human beings.

[Irn-Bru]

I just think that it's probably easier to second guess personnel choices than it is to actually make them. You can go around the entire landscape of the NFL and question personnel decisions.

Well, maybe, but that doesn't mean that us lowly peasants can't have some insight from time to time.

So I guess my point is that it's very tough to be accurate all the time when evaluating talent and making selections. These players are human beings that, like all human beings, are susceptible to inconsistency, mistakes and being outperformed by other human beings.

So let me ask you this: when is it OK for a fan looking at the situation and using his reason to suggest that the Redskins made a mistake?

How about when the Skins have some daunting OL needs and they draft a player like Cody Glenn?

Again. . .for all I know they want him on the PS. Maybe they're thinking of him as a project. But we could use a few projects on the OL, and when we had a chance to draft some in the 2nd and 5th rounds, the team balked. Is Barnes so good that we shouldn't have tried to grab 2nd or 3rd round talent? Or did Cody Glenn have that much of an upside that we couldn't have taken a good look at a young OL prospect?

[SkinsFreak]

I just think that it's probably easier to second guess personnel choices than it is to actually make them. You can go around the entire landscape of the NFL and question personnel decisions.

Well, maybe, but that doesn't mean that us lowly peasants can't have some insight from time to time.

So I guess my point is that it's very tough to be accurate all the time when evaluating talent and making selections. These players are human beings that, like all human beings, are susceptible to inconsistency, mistakes and being outperformed by other human beings.

So let me ask you this: when is it OK for a fan looking at the situation and using his reason to suggest that the Redskins made a mistake?

Sorry, that's not what I was implying and I think my post was taken out of context. I wasn't suggesting that fans can't question the decisions. Of course we can, that's part of the fun in being a fan. All I'm suggesting is that it's rather difficult to actually make those decisions, nobody gets them right all of the time and the players themselves bare some of the culpability

[Tom C]

So let me ask you this: when is it OK for a fan looking at the situation and using his reason to suggest that the Redskins made a mistake?

How about when the Skins have some daunting OL needs and they draft a player like Cody Glenn?

Maybe you can explain why the Colts signed Cody Glenn to their 53 man roster?

[Tom C]

Had to see the Glenn cutting comin since April.

Did you see him making the colt's 53?

[1niksder]

So let me ask you this: when is it OK for a fan looking at the situation and using his reason to suggest that the Redskins made a mistake?

How about when the Skins have some daunting OL needs and they draft a player like Cody Glenn?

Maybe you can explain why the Colts signed Cody Glenn to their 53 man roster?

Had to see the Glenn cutting comin since April.

Did you see him making the colt's 53?

He's on thier PS not the final 53....

[Tom C]

So let me ask you this: when is it OK for a fan looking at the situation and using his reason to suggest that the Redskins made a mistake?

How about when the Skins have some daunting OL needs and they draft a player like Cody Glenn?

Maybe you can explain why the Colts signed Cody Glenn to their 53 man roster?

Had to see the Glenn cutting comin since April.

Did you see him making the colt's 53?

He's on thier PS not the final 53....

Not according to the colts web site.
http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=artic ... 7047585f1a

[Tom C]

When I look back at the draft and free agent signings, I see that we had to cut two players that were picked up by other teams and are on their in season roster. I see an undrafted quarterback that is on someone else’s practice squad. I see a seventh round reciever that made the team who looks like he could be a starter in this league. The 3rd round pick and a late round linebacker also made the team. And I need to mention the supplemental draft potential steal and our first round pick.

Basically, we did such a good job drafting players that other teams are pilfering the players we want to develop on our practice squad.

[brad7686]

So let me ask you this: when is it OK for a fan looking at the situation and using his reason to suggest that the Redskins made a mistake?

How about when the Skins have some daunting OL needs and they draft a player like Cody Glenn?

Maybe you can explain why the Colts signed Cody Glenn to their 53 man roster?

I can only guess their linebacker depth epically blows.

[Tom C]

So let me ask you this: when is it OK for a fan looking at the situation and using his reason to suggest that the Redskins made a mistake?

How about when the Skins have some daunting OL needs and they draft a player like Cody Glenn?

Maybe you can explain why the Colts signed Cody Glenn to their 53 man roster?

I can only guess their linebacker depth epically blows.

He was picked up by the Colts, everyone marvels at how they are able to get talent from the draft.

Looking back now at the draft, getting back to the topic of the thread, how do you evaluate it? I know it takes a couple years to see the truth but so far what do you think?

[Tom C]

Here is a thread that I started a day or two after the draft. I do not pretend to be an NFL talent expert by any means, but it seemed to me at the time that we made a few questionable moves.

Looking back, there was definitely something there in the WR (Marko Mitchell), but the other late-round picks still puzzle me a bit. We'll have to wait to see who they pick up for the practice squad — i.e., who they think has talent worth developing.

So I have to wonder: would we have been better served by picking up one of the offensive tackles on the board? Is Barnes the better long-term prospect? Could we have struck a decent project player in the 5th round?

Any why did we select Cody Glenn?

Of course, to be fair, I have to note that at least one of the OT's that was being discussed, Jamon Meredith, was released by the Packers. So we could still pick him up, I suppose. I don't recall the names of the other players we could have taken, but it would be interesting to see whether they've stuck with their teams.

Irn-Bru, you started this thread, what's your conclusion so far on the 2009 Redskin draft?
I reread the linked thread, I offered my assesment, what's yours?

[brad7686]

So let me ask you this: when is it OK for a fan looking at the situation and using his reason to suggest that the Redskins made a mistake?

How about when the Skins have some daunting OL needs and they draft a player like Cody Glenn?

Maybe you can explain why the Colts signed Cody Glenn to their 53 man roster?

I can only guess their linebacker depth epically blows.

He was picked up by the Colts, everyone marvels at how they are able to get talent from the draft.

Looking back now at the draft, getting back to the topic of the thread, how do you evaluate it? I know it takes a couple years to see the truth but so far what do you think?

I mean Orakpo was a no brainer. I was thinking they should take a WR with good athleticism late, being Kelly and Thomas are unproven, and they did. And he's good. Other than that I don't know. Henson looks like a player, but we have two good MLB's. Glenn made no sense in my opinion, if they really wanted him they could have taken him in the 7th or as a free agent. I would have prefered an OL over Barnes, but you gotta have corner depth. It seems like somewhere the OL could have been addressed, There still are some out there in FA they should look at because Heyer or Samuels will have some sort of injury at some point this year and there is nobody behind them that belongs in an NFL game.

[Deadskins]

Mike Williams is an ok backup, and if he can improve his footwork, he would be starter quality.

[Irn-Bru]

Irn-Bru, you started this thread, what's your conclusion so far on the 2009 Redskin draft?
I reread the linked thread, I offered my assesment, what's yours?

Well I'm glad that the team took the opportunity to get Orakpo instead of going with Oher, but as others are pointing out that decision was essentially made for the Redskins.

Marko Mitchell turned out to be quite a find.

The middle rounds still puzzle me. I don't really watch, much less study, college football. So I don't know what kind of talent there was available among offensive lineman. It doesn't do any good to select an OT in the 3rd round who will never turn into anything, of course. But I have to believe that the reason the FO didn't draft an OL was because they think we are set at the position, not because they really didn't think there were any OL worth drafting at that point.

[brad7686]

Irn-Bru, you started this thread, what's your conclusion so far on the 2009 Redskin draft?
I reread the linked thread, I offered my assesment, what's yours?

Well I'm glad that the team took the opportunity to get Orakpo instead of going with Oher, but as others are pointing out that decision was essentially made for the Redskins.

Marko Mitchell turned out to be quite a find.

The middle rounds still puzzle me. I don't really watch, much less study, college football. So I don't know what kind of talent there was available among offensive lineman. It doesn't do any good to select an OT in the 3rd round who will never turn into anything, of course. But I have to believe that the reason the FO didn't draft an OL was because they think we are set at the position, not because they really didn't think there were any OL worth drafting at that point.

I would say that the skins use "best player available" as much as any team in the league. Fred Davis anyone? That said, there are times to use best player available, and times to fill glaring needs. I agree with you that they should have found a lineman somewhere. I would have skipped Glenn AND Henson and taken two OT's, then let them battle for a roster spot. Also, Barnes was a questionable pick IMO. There were really some good OL available then. I think Tryon scared them as far as young talent in the secondary goes, so they wanted to roll the dice with Barnes. But who knows, OT as much as any other position gets thin after the first round. Maybe only qb is worse about that.

[VetSkinsFan]

Henson looked really good in the 4th pre-season game. I think he's a gem that will be beneficial to the skins.