Redskins 2010 Off-Season Report Card; Youth Still Missing But Talent Much Improved
by Kevin Ewoldt on Mar 30, 2010 9:57 AM EDT
in Redskins Analysis
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PrintSo, the NFL draft is only 23 days away. Since we're roughly half way through the off-season, I thought it'd be worth doling out our first report card. An interesting thing does stand out: the Redskins have exactly the same team age average after cutting 12 players and adding 7 so far this year.
The Redskins have replaced most of the players they've cut, but the youth is still lacking (hence the draft). The roster really has been built well so far everything considered. Shanahan has signed veterans for cheap, minimal contracts, who will have their starting roles competed for by the draft picks. What sucks is Vinny as a going away present only left the Redskins five picks.
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Redskins Cuts |
Redskins Signings |
|||
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Randy Thomas, G |
34 |
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Artis Hicks, G |
32 |
|
34 |
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Ma'ake Kemoeatu, DT |
31 |
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Ladell Betts, RB |
30 |
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Larry Johnson, RB |
30 |
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Todd Collins, QB |
38 |
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Rex Grossman, QB |
29 |
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Fred Smoot, CB |
31 |
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Phillip Buchanon, CB |
29 |
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32 |
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Josh Bidwell, P |
34 |
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33.166667 |
30.8333 |
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| Others... | Others... | |||
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Antwaan Randle El, WR/PR |
30 |
25 |
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Rock Cartwright, KR/RB |
30 |
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Eddie Williams, FB |
22 |
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JD Skolnitsky, DE |
23 |
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Marcus Mason, RB |
25 |
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Chris Samuels*, LT |
32 |
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30.083333 |
30 |
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*-retired |
- Randy Thomas simply cannot play anymore. He's a beloved Redskin, but anyone at that position is an upgrade simply because they can stay on the field. I am actually still in shock he wasn't a.) cut before last season, and b.) had a backup in place in case he did fall. (BMW was a project at best).
- I struggled with Ma'ake vs Griffin since Ma'ake is coming off an Achilles tear, which has to be a difficult rehab for someone 345 pounds. His agent claimed as of 20 days ago he was jogging and everything was sound. If it wasn't for the 3-4, I'd choose Griff, but even an immobile Ma'ake is enough to stuff the middle.
- Betts tore his ACL later in the season, which makes his recovery time for camp all the more difficult. LJ, even with the mental baggage, is an upgrade, minimal as it is.
- Todd Collins: the perennial bench warmer. It's clear Rex is an upgrade here simply since he knows Kyle Shanahan's scheme. I took a good look at Todd at training camp last year. He surely throws a pretty ball; the problem however is that it wasn't consistent.
- Phillip Buchanon is an easy upgrade on Smoot. Fred definitely has lost a step and some tackling skills, which was evident to anyone watching the game. He'll always be a fan favorite, but Phillip is an upgrade in speed and adds the possibility for some returns.
- Hunter Smith I feel is the better kick. Not simply because he tied Clinton Portis in TDs last year, but the fact he's healthy and is the best holder in the league. Bidwell is coming off Injured Reserve for a hip tear. Bruce Allen knew Bidwell in Tampa, but that was 2 years ago.
The roster will dive back into the 20's once the draft comes, but cleaning up Vinny's mess is not an easy task. There are some questionable signings on the roster, but when you can cut them for a minimal salary loss, that makes for a much more flexible situation. Thank the Lord the 2000s era is over.
In short...based on the 2/7 hand Shanahan and Bruce were dealt, I think they've done well. A-.
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2/7 off-suit
nonetheless. I found it interesting that the Colts signed Skolnitsky almost immediately after we cut him. They signed Cody Glenn after we cut him last season. Do they think we have a great scouting department or something?
We actually do have a great scouting department...
Just didn’t have the ppl that listened to them. I had heard our scouts were against Malcolm due to his previous knee injuries but Cerrato pulled the trigger anyway.
Scouts found Cooley.
"I am excited about starting 2009. We are looking forward to an outstanding year. We're on our way. We have a lot of healthy players this year." - Vinny Cerrato
by Kevin Ewoldt on Mar 30, 2010 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions
I'd love to see a comparison of NFL games played and pro bowl appearances by Redskin Draftees
vs other teams.
Every team has found a few gems, but I wonder how we actually stack up.
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
So far so good
With the exception of Larry Johnson. I just don’t see him and Portis getting along for an entire year.
As long as they don’t draft Clausen #4, then this offseason will have gone about as well as we could possibly ask for…
by Hustler of Culture on Mar 30, 2010 10:20 AM EDT reply actions
'don't do anything crazy'
The Redskins goal since 1999.
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
However, the FFO did
a decade long imitation of Daffy Duck instead. At least it looked it from my seat.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Given the free agency issues..
And that it was basically impossible to sign any players that are under about 26-27 b/c of the restricted free agency policies, that’s a decent offseason. It was nice to pick up Buchanon…
I agree about Hunter Smith. The guy is just a great athlete and I hope we have a competition between him and Bidwell, because I think Smith would probably win out.
Vinny left behind a beautiful mess
I have to admit the players that we drafted werent’ really THAT bad. Vinny didn’t address the O-Line we all know that, but I think we found a sleeper in Marko Mitchell. With more playing time I think this guy will outshine Kelly and maybe Thomas. I could see Thomas, Mitchell with Moss in the slot. Cooley and Davis in the inside. Hopefully our line stays healthy. We have weapons, just couldn’t use them or didn’t use them properly. Shanny with put an end to it.
BTW….I like Malcolm Kelly, but I also like consistancy. If he can stay on the field, starting him is a must. We need chemistry.
by SylvesterofRio on Mar 30, 2010 11:02 AM EDT reply actions
True, but drafting 1st and 2nd round players is perhaps the easiest part of being a GM
The hard part is having a plan, building a complete team, and finding lots of depth and the occasional gem in the mid/late round picks.
Besides Chris Horton, Vinny didn’t achieve any of the above.
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
I don't know who was responsible for bringing the 2009 UDFA in, but
with few exceptions most of the ones that got cut found another team to pick them up.
by Jefferson1935 on Mar 30, 2010 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions
It's a shame that Zorn
We have weapons, just couldn’t use them or didn’t use them properly.
apparently can’t tell the difference between a holster and a chastity belt.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Performance so far
I don’t disagree with anything you said, but it’s hard to see such a good grade considering that we haven’t done anything much to improve the offensive line, especially the tackles, which are a disaster area.
Mid-terms...
I want to agree with Donnio, but ultimately I’m ok with the grade when I think of it as mid-terms – even if we might be near the mid-point of the timeline, 70% of the stuff being graded on has still yet to come.
There’s still the draft, undrafted people to sign, further rounds of cuts as rosters are trimmed, not to mention the cuts that will come once we get down to the actual season’s roster. Yes, those later candidates are not as likely to contribute as starters, but they’ll add the much needed O-line depth that’s been such a concern.
I look at everything they've done as prep work
They’ve cut back on salaries, got a little younger with the replacements, got some insurance for certain positions. Now for the real work like you say in the draft and UDFA’s.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
The UDFAs might find the Redskins a more attractive team
in 2010 than it has been for a number of years. The team should be proactive rather than passive in their approach to these undrafted players.
by Jefferson1935 on Mar 30, 2010 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Small moves, big cuts
But all in all we are improved.
At the very least we are no longer cap strapped. Even DeAngelo and AH’s contracts are written to take the cap hit this year. Bonus. That makes CP the only burdensome contract on the roster.
Personal Note: Saddened that Vasher didn’t even get an invite.
We actually did get considerably younger
as the people who were direct replacements were all younger than whom they replaced. Skolinski, Mason, and Williams were non-contributors, so their ages don’t matter. So it really wasn’t correct to have them skew down the average like that. Of course, as you said, the truth will be reflected after the draft – we did get younger, slightly.
If we do a trade for Gaithers, we will get even younger.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
One reason for the age stat...
that worries me is that we did not expect the impact of injuries last season. We were looking good during the summer, we had some people like Jeremy Bridges, Samuels, Thomas healthy at one point. Bridges was cut and then all the injuries pilled up with no depth and plugging in guys who will never be good at the scheme we employed, showed the lack of support of drafting top notch lineman that could have been there to step in and take their places. Time will tell but we need to get like the rest of the league that is sucessfull with building a young line and stop trying to win right away.
I have to disagree on Betts-Johnson
I know the recovery time sucks, but even if Betts could have been healthy for, say, week 6, it would have been better than an entire season with a broken down Larry Johnson. I still think Betts has something left in the tank. That knee injury is his only (I think) whereas Johnson has had, what, 3? 4?
I’m still surprised that Randy Thomas was cut. I thought it would have been retirement. Maybe they reached out to him, gave him the chance to retire, and he thought he could still find a place on someone else’s roster. I just assume that they would have given him the option to keep his dignity intact by retiring instead of being forced into retirement. I don’t think there’s any employment opportunities on the horizon for him.
I suspect they offered
and he refused. Something he said.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Look at Jansen last year.
It is almost like the older players feel an entitlement. Jansen could have been shifted to RG and stayed with the team for 2009.
Jansen was in better health than Thomas even though he has lost a lot of lateral movement.
by Jefferson1935 on Mar 30, 2010 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Great athletes have a mindset
that’s part of the deal. Objectivity about their skills may not pertain.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
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