NFL's Michael Lombardi on Coach Shanahan

and maybe two years. A return to the 4-3 is obvious and essential – we are not even close to having the people needed for the 3-4, and simply can’t waste the time and resources trying to get them. The defense would probably be adequate to good using the 4-3 – good enough to not worry about it. They must fix the O-line and WR corps (although Moss, Armstrong, Austin and Banks could be enough, with Cooley, to get us through the year), and probably the RBs (CP and Torain could be OK), but I’d still move heaven and earth to get a better QB – Donovan might be OK one more year, but it’s almost over for him (too bad, because he’s a really classy guy). Really, the entire offense lacks talent, and is average to below average in every aspect (except TE). Mike Shanahan is the offensive genius – he better start building his team.

But I disagree with the points regarding Mcnabb. Its really unfair to criticize him when he has one of the worst Olines in football, No running game, the Wrs are ass the only weapon here is tight end. He was happy to join the skins cause he thought We would run the ball we Don’t. Mcnabb doesn’t typically throw picks, but with having EVERYTHING on his shoulders im sure he is pressing and making some poor throws.

 Isn’t Peyton Manning being looked @ as having a down year now that he has no running game, His Oline is shaky, His WRs are injured and his D isn’t making any plays?
Sounds familier.

Fix the Oline Wrs D and running game and he will be fine. Course thats a LOT to fix and trading him leaves another GLARING hole so unless you can trade him for multiple draft choices give him a FAIR chance.

I hope Dan/Mike/Bruce go after talent aggressively, and are willing to spend a lot of money. I get the impression that they went very cheap this year – letting a lot of top guys get away, even after visiting here. We are short of talent and muscle in the O-line and the D-line (if we keep the 3-4), and basically very marginal at WR and RB, and could use a young QB to take over from McNabb in a year or two. I think we’re stuck with Shanahan, but hope that he lets Allen go get some talent. I think Mike refused to beef up the O-line, WRs and RBs because he vastly overrated (cheap) guys like Lichtensteiger, Heyer, Hicks, Rabach, Galloway, R Williams, LJ and Parker, and stayed with the 3-4 because of relying on Kemoeatu (and, of course, Haynesworth).

“The Detroit Lions signed wide receiver Brian Clark on Friday and worked out offensive tackles Tony Ugoh, Adam Terry and Allen Barbre.” 3/4 of the season gone and trying to rebuild the offensive line. The Skins have not gone to external sources to rebuild the line since the beginning of the regular season. By the 1st game the Team knew Jammal Brown was having problems with his hip. At least they have brought up Kris from the practice squad, but that does not mean they will activate him.

The Lombardi article also mentioned aspects of the 3-4 defense and the Skins personnel –
“They made countless mistakes by counting on certain veteran players to perform, then to compound their personnel mistakes, they also made a huge error in judgment believing they had the personnel to run a successful 3-4 defense.”
The Bills coaches realized that they did not have 3-4 players and reverted back to the 4-3 base.

Tiller56 – I was going on comments by John Keim and some tape of missed blocks and other mistakes, and other comments that he was too small for LG or C. But Shanahan likes him, he’s still young and learning, and it could be that he can be good in the ZBS – able to do what he is supposed to do. So he should start out next year as the starter at LG or C. On this we can trust Shanahan.