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

You know where Gibbs is going to play Gardener?? He is going to play Gardener in Art Monk's old spot--Running crossing routes in the middle and patterns of such...Just like he did when Gibbs had Gary Clark and Ricky Sanders among other speedier guys....He was able to send all those speedy guys down field which would leave single coverage on Monk for him to catch passes all day long until the defense shifted to cover him more tightly which allowed Clark and those guys to fly down field for a play-action bomb...So now Gibbs has the speed of Coles, Jacobs, Russell, McCants and now Thrash to send all over the field which will leave open Rod Gardener with single coverages from the slot (right where Monk was) Remember Monk was a "possession" reciever--just like Gardener..Rod has never made his living with speed, he made it with his size and strength (see reasons why Marty drafted him) and Gibbs is going to use that as an advantage...Okay, Okay granted Gardener has had the reputation of "stone hands" but have faith Gibbs will straighten that out...With how Gibbs is, if the WR keep dropping passes, then you'll see them picking splinters out of their a$$e$

Remember this is IF they don't end up trading him away...IF we trade him, then we AT LEAST will get a 2nd rounder for him..But keep in mind that if Gardener is traded, then who are we gonna have as a "possession" guy who utilizes his size and strength to catch his passes...Nobdody!! And Gibbs MUST have a "possession" reciever and he has that in Gardener just like he had it in Monk

um - McCants/Cloman are relatively similar in size, build and speed

um - McCants/Cloman are relatively similar in size, build and speed

McCants might be a possibility but Cloman is staying on the Practice Squad--aint no room for him but I still don't see McCants having the strength of Gardener

I'll buy McCants, but I don't think we should be relying too much on Cloman this year...

Well, Coles filled that role last year. He did a pretty good job at it. The only thing is, is he was getting killed in the middle. Thats how he got all his injurys. Garner probably would be able to take those hits better than him. Who would take his place in the possesion role? Maybee thats a draft pick, or some guy they have on the practice squad we dont know much about.

McCants is the man, and the reason Gardner is expendible. I don't think we should trade him for the sake of trading him, but if the right offer comes along, you gotta jump on it.

frankcal20 wrote:Well, Coles filled that role last year. He did a pretty good job at it. The only thing is, is he was getting killed in the middle. Thats how he got all his injurys.

Coles filled what role? That of a possesion reciever? I don't think so. Remember Coles isn't very big. He is not at all a possesion reciever. I'm not saying that he didn't catch short passes because he certainly did. Coles does a good job of fighting for the ball, but he is definetly a speedy deep threat not an over the middle fighter.

Also, Coles injury was turf toe. I doubt that he got that because he was playing the middle.

Chad

I don't think we should trade him for the sake of trading him, but if the right offer comes along, you gotta jump on it.

Completely agree with you there

mccants is also a possession receiver, but has better hands-at least from what i've seen. i think we'll see coles and jacobs running deep, with mccants underneath-IF gardner goes.

My point was that on a lot of 3rd down he was going over the middle. And, he was hurt quite a few times going over the middle. Remember his neck issue. But, they ran him across the middle alot b/c they knew that he would make the catch. Coles is my favorite guy on the team. He seems like the type of guy that if you ask him to play any position he would do his best to help the team.

JansenFan wrote:McCants is the man, and the reason Gardner is expendible. I don't think we should trade him for the sake of trading him, but if the right offer comes along, you gotta jump on it.

I know that you guys like McCants because he caught 6 touchdowns, but he is not as capable as Rod Gardner. Rod is more athletic, faster and stronger. With Gibs running the show Rod will get better...or stickum.

Chad

frankcal20 wrote:My point was that on a lot of 3rd down he was going over the middle. And, he was hurt quite a few times going over the middle. Remember his neck issue. But, they ran him across the middle alot b/c they knew that he would make the catch. Coles is my favorite guy on the team. He seems like the type of guy that if you ask him to play any position he would do his best to help the team.

I certainly don't disagree with you there. Coles is also one of, it not, my favorite guys. He has the great combination of talent, heart, and drive. However he was hurt because Spurrier wouldn't throw to Gardner, and didn't use him right. I'm not saying that Gardner has great hands, because he doesn't have GREAT hands, but he is still young. He was coming off of a great season but dropped a few balls early on. Instead of working with him, benching him for a few plays, or doing something to remedy the situation Spurier just decided to ignore him and throw every pass to his shiny new toy, Lav Coles. Both Coles and Gardner could have had a much better season if used properly. Under Gibbs they will. I feel confident that both will improve.

I don't remember Coles neck injury, but I could be suffering from selective memory. I do that sometimes.

Chad

I think Gardner will be vastly improved in a Gibbs system, but I'm not opposed to trading him if we can get a 2nd round pick. EVERYONE will be improved in a Gibbs system!

I think that anyone can work in the system if they meet the 'skins personality. T.O. or any other large ego person wouldnt fit. Gardner isnt one of those types. He's pretty low key. And, he doesnt have off the field problems.

If we cant get at least a 3rd round pick I say we keep Rod. The fact is if we get rid of him it actually costs us money.

yeah. Im with you on that.

I think a key indicator here in our attempt to read the crystal ball is that a number of writers for different outlets have mentioned that the Skins are likely to move Gardner in a trade.

And an equal number of reports have Gibbs loving McCants and comparing him to Monk.

With Thrash back, Jacobs healthy, and Cloman - a guy I've never heard of - getting press, it's safe to bet that either Gardner or McCants will be gone - we'll get a 5th rounder for McCants, maybe a 3rd or 4th for Gardner (a 2nd round pick seems a bit high and teams, other than us, don't part with them often)

IMO I think it's fine to part with either onem to pick up (hopefully) a defensive player in the draft - I doubt you'll see many four reciever sets - if any at all - from the Skins this year. That goes against the Gibbs protect the QB mantra - there are more pressing needs.

Yep. Everything that i have heard from Gibbs say is that he runs a lot of 2 receiver sets. Thats what the offense is based on. So, the 3rd receiver isnt as much an asset as what it was before under Spurrier. But, having a quality 3rd receiver is key for those crunch moments. I say whichever one is cheaper for us and what we can get the most value from is the one to go.

Trading for Thrash and re-signing MaCants the same day tells those teams that need a servicable 2nd reciever to give us a call.. we can listen to anything, if we dont hear the right thing then WE ARE SET AT WR

McCant's will be playing the Monk role, he's got better hands over the middle and makes bigger players with the ball.

Coles is just great and plays all over the field.

I like Gardner, but the other two have better hands. When you don't have good hands you don't really want him going over the middle, where any tipped ball is a possible INT.

for some reason I forsee Gardner and McCants playing the Monk role and getting many opportunities over the middle with Coles, Thrash and possibly Jacobs running the deep routes.

I think that they are going to have more or less the same type of relationship as Ramsey and Brunell. Ongoing competition. That would be good for each of them. Also, Gibbs is huge on proven players and depth at each position. Keeping him would give them one more option for their arsenal.

ChadDukes wrote....
"I know that you guys like McCants because he caught 6 touchdowns, but he is not as capable as Rod Gardner. Rod is more athletic, faster and stronger. With Gibs running the show Rod will get better...or stickum. "

Thank You Chad! I've been saying this all along. I have no idea why so many people are on the McCants bandwagon? He goes up against nickel corners and hes ten times bigger than them. If you put Rod Gardner against a 5'8 nickel corner he would catch 20 TD's! Some of you think Rod can't catch as well as McCants even though you agree that Gardners a better athlete. Well, you can teach someone how to catch a ball but you can't teach somebody how to run faster, become stronger, and become more agile. For this reason alone I can tell you Gardner will do much better than McCants would in Joe Gibbs' system.

The Skins Fan wrote:

um - McCants/Cloman are relatively similar in size, build and speed

McCants might be a possibility but Cloman is staying on the Practice Squad--aint no room for him but I still don't see McCants having the strength of Gardener

Gardner is as strong as Westbrook was, atleast in appearence

Don't forget the one thing that no one here seems to have mentioned. Gibbs wants what he himself calls "Redskin players." What is a "Redskin Player?" He's never really defined it, but I think it's a guy who's relatively blue collar (as far as millionaire athletes go), who's smart about the game, who cares more about the team's success than his own stats, who's willing to take some lumps for the sake of a game, who has good character, etc., etc.

From what I've seen of McCants in interviews and on the field, he's a "Redskin Player" through and through. Gardner I'm not so sure about. He's always seemed like a show-boater to me, always reminded me a bit of Westbrook, i.e. great potential not totally realized.

I agree with the sentiment of not trading him unless a good offer comes along, but I know Gibbs puts more values on those "intangibles" he looks for than on sheer physical ability. I don't know if he's sold on Gardner excelling in those intangibles.

Thrash had 'em, and he's back in the fold. McCants has 'em, and he's back in the fold. We'll see if Gardner makes the cut...