Pierre Garcon

[DarthMonk]

The Washington Post expects Pierre Garcon to play "X" receiver in new coach Jay Gruden's offense, with DeSean Jackson at "Z."

"Z" was A.J. Green's position in Gruden's Bengals offense. It commanded a team-high 178 targets last season.

The "X" position was manned by Marvin Jones, who finished with 80 targets. Garcon will play a lot more snaps than Jones did, but this is something to keep in mind with a new offense being installed in D.C. It's conceivable that Garcon will be less of a featured player under Gruden, essentially sharing the role with D-Jax.

The Post anticipates third receiver Andre Roberts handling duties similar to Mohamed Sanu's (77 targets).

Source: Washington Post Jul 17 - 11:45 AM

[HEROHAMO]

I wouldnt worry too much about Garcons role. Id expect our receivers to get plenty of looks. We also have Jordan Reed who can find openings. Our offense in general will be potent. Its our defense we really need to worry about.

I actually thought we should use Djax in the slot. But I can also see how he can stretch the field. Being one of the fastest players in the league. Garcon is no slouch in the speed department as well. I remember that Thanksgiving game when Garcon took it to the house outrunning the whole secondary.

Oooh yeah I am getting chills thinking about how our offense is going to look.

[langleyparkjoe]

I think it's pretty cool we have serious WR threats (including Reed)

[SkinsJock]

I understand looking at what Jay Gruden did before but I think what he and Scott will do here will be tailored to suit what they have here rather than what he did with the Bengals

we have BIG talent at the skill positions & only 1 talented offensive lineman - The offense will be great if the O line can play well

[langleyparkjoe]

The offense will be great if the O line can play well

NOTHING new for us unfortunately.

[yupchagee]

RGIII's health should help the O-line.

[SkinsJock]

RGIII's health should help the O-line.

how does that work, exactly?

[Countertrey]

RGIII's health should help the O-line.

how does that work, exactly?

Easy... a mobile quarterback slows down the pass rush. They can't pin their ears back and run to a spot where they expect the QB to be... they have to make sure he doesn't get outside.

[riggofan]

RGIII's health should help the O-line.

how does that work, exactly?

I can't quite figure out what part of his statement is shocking.

You don't think a healthy, mobile RGIII helped the O-line in 2012?

[SkinsJock]

I feel that Scott and Jay will try and have a very healthy RG3 run a pro style offense - Mike and Kyle utilized a ZBS and tried to use an offense that was based on RG3's talent and similar to what he had been used to in college - this will not be the same and RG3 will be a lot better QB - you still need a good offensive line or you don't do well offensively

I'm not convinced that the O line we'll see this season is going to be a lot better and more effective - unless we are able to find players to replace 4 of the 5 starters from last season and have them playing at a good level - normally, that takes time

I'll grant that a healthy RG3 behind last season's O line would have helped a little

but

no matter how good the weapons are you need a good O line

[DarthMonk]

RGIII's health should help the O-line.

how does that work, exactly?

[SkinsJock]

so you think the 2012/3 O line would be a lot better this season with a healthy RG3 - that makes no sense at all

fortunately Jay and Scott will not game plan or design an offense anything like what we had here in 2012 or 2013 - BIG difference

this will be a better game planning and use of RG3 as a QB - we are also going to see a completely different O line than we saw in 2012/3

[DarthMonk]

Griff being healthy as opposed to not being healthy would help ANY O-line.

Additionally, looking at what Gruden did with AJ Green, Marvin Jones, and Mohamed Sanu absolutely offers clues to how he will use Jackson, Garcon, and Roberts, etal. Same goes for Morris and Helu, etal. with regards to Green-Ellis and Bernard. I'd guesstimate that at least 75% of the plays we run this season will be plays run by the Bengals last year and that the frequency with which we run them will also be at least that high compared to the frequency they were run by the Bengals.

Of course, as you point out (somewhat), we do have different personnel as well as different opponents. So for those reasons, and others, the offenses will not be identical.

Anyway, looks like Garcon will be our X as Jones was for the Bengals while Jackson will be our Z as Green was for the Bengals.

[SkinsJock]

I am excited about the weapons that Scott and Jay can use and about having a healthy RG3 - I am not convinced the O line will be as good as they need to be ... any offensive line will 'benefit' from having a talent like RG3 as QB - however, the O line will need time to develop continuity after adding a RT, RG, C and LG to the 5 that started most games last season

I find it hard to believe that some here really think this offense can be a top 5 offense without a really good O line

[riggofan]

I find it hard to believe that some here really think this offense can be a top 5 offense without a really good O line

I doubt anybody disagrees that the offensive line can be improved, but your statements about how dire it is just seem wildly off base to me.

In 2011 we were ranked #16 in total offense. In 2012 when we added RGIII we were ranked #5. I'm not sure why you would find it "hard to believe" we could be a top 5 offense with this offensive line. We WERE a top 5 offense with this offensive line.

How about the Broncos? They were ranked #23 in total offense in 2011. Add Manning in 2012 and they are #4.

Neither of these teams had to replace four of five offensive line players to make these improvements.

[SkinsJock]

I'm concerned about the offensive line because of what I saw last season and what has been done to address that - what happened before that is not going to help me feel that this O line will be a big improvement over last season's group

IMO - the O was ranked #5 in 2012 because defenses were not well prepared for what we were doing

Jay & Scott are not going to have a gimmicky offense or game plan like Mike and Kyle utilized in 2012

I agree that having great talent at the skill positions helps an offense

but

I just think it takes time to build an effective O line when we really need to replace 4 players

[KazooSkinsFan]

I'm concerned about the offensive line because of what I saw last season and what has been done to address that - what happened before that is not going to help me feel that this O line will be a big improvement over last season's group

IMO - the O was ranked #5 in 2012 because defenses were not well prepared for what we were doing

Jay & Scott are not going to have a gimmicky offense or game plan like Mike and Kyle utilized in 2012

I agree that having great talent at the skill positions helps an offense

but

I just think it takes time to build an effective O line when we really need to replace 4 players

Riggo's right, that we require an elite offensive line to have a top offense is just factually wrong. Obviously the better it is the more it helps, but top offenses are often achieved with OK lines. Now a bad line is a detriment and they can undo our offense with being really bad, but we can still have an exceptional offense with an adequate line as many top offenses have done.

[SkinsJock]

I am only concerned because the line last season was so bad - I'll agree it's hard to imagine that the line will be that bad again

to think we're looking at a top 5 offense this season is just a stretch to me

[Countertrey]

While it goes both ways... a Great O-line can make an average qb look fantastic... see Mark Rypien, Joe Theisman, Jay Schoeder, Doug Williams... it is much less common for a great quarterback to make an average line look fantastic. Not saying it doesn't happen, but most often, it's pretty clear that the quarterback was doing more of it on his own.

I will be pleased with any improvement in our line play this year.

[cowboykillerzRGiii]

I actually think the exact opposite SJ.. it'd be a stretch for us NOT to be a top 5 Offense.

Griffs health does more than just improve mobility to get away, it also makes edge rushers have to think twice and can't over pursue leaving him a lane to run down.. or that they have to have a lb spy instead of blitz.. It also means he is practicing this off-season instead of rehabilitating. He will have improved foot work, hold the ball higher and better vision. That all will translate to a quicker release and needing less time in the pocket. Lets add to that the fact that the Online of last year was hurt more by our wrs inability to get any separation. Lets be honest our wr core was weak using number 6 guys as a 2 or 3!
The line was not great last year but there is more to it than just oh we need to replace the lot of em (save Tw). Garçon broke the Skin's single season reception record largely due to the fact that he was the ONLY reliable target 90% of the time. If you want to bash the line you have got to watch some replays or recall that when Robert DID have time, he had no where to go with the ball!

-a healthy Griffin improves last years linemen
-a formidable wr core greatly helps last years linemen
-having used two picks on linemen and 2 through free agency we also help last years line with depth and hopefully a new starter or two

I think there is a lot more to be excited about than you think SJ. With Griff ever nearing his big payday this staff wants to bring home the trophy NOW, not later... and I think we have made some great moves this off-season to make an honest run at it. Djax and the new dbs are all great to have, but the biggest bang for our buck is the new leadership and the rapport the have already built.

Be excited brah, its not 2005 anymore!!!

[SkinsJock]

I think there is little chance that we don't see a better performance from everyone - coaches and players

the O line needs 4 new players - now, it would be hard not to be as bad as last year, it will still take time to gel

we shall soon see

I'm hoping for great improvement but that's what we Redskins fans are used to - wishing & hoping

[cowboykillerzRGiii]

Yay I hear Ya... we always are the off-season champs...
I disagree that we need to replace 4 starters to have a "good" line.
with everything I mentioned I think the current line will be improved... now if Long and Mosses are better than our current starters there is half of your wish.. plus we added 2 lineman via free agency right? I believe depth looks better and we will have new starters and a shuffling of the current ones.

[SkinsJock]

the Redskins were blitzed more times than any other team last year - the reason being, the O line was horrible

we had a WR set records for catches and yet we only won 3 games

I want an effective offense not a statistically great offense

stats are for fantasy football not real football

[riggofan]

the Redskins were blitzed more times than any other team last year - the reason being, the O line was horrible

we had a WR set records for catches and yet we only won 3 games

I want an effective offense not a statistically great offense

stats are for fantasy football not real football

And yet you're prattling about some stat that doesn't mean what you're saying it means. lol.

[cowboykillerzRGiii]

So our line sucked so it was blitzed more than any other.. or BECAUSE it was??
Think about that one.

Garçon set a record because he was the only threat... our lime looked worse because of that same fact. If he was double or triple teamed, Bob had no where to go with the ball since our wide outs struggled to get open.

Your actually helping my case.. thank you