Poll: Do you want Dre Bly?

by Skin Patrol on Mar 8, 2007 10:42 AM EST

First the results from our last Poll: Who would you take at #6?

Michigan DT Alan Branch 28 votes - 32 %
Arkansas DE Jamaal Anderson 26 votes - 30 %
Clemson DE Gaines Adams 25 votes - 29 %
Louisville DT Amobi Okoye 7 votes - 8 %

Alan Branch wins, though I suspect that's just because Jamaal Anderson and Gaines Adams were splitting the Defensive End Vote. Overall DE picked up nearly 60% from Hogs Haven reader(s).

Jason La Canfora has intimated that the guy the Redskins really like is actually the one few of you chose: 19 year old DT Amobi Okoye.

In [one of the Dre Bly trade] scenario[s], the Skins would make a big play for the 19-year-old defensive lineman from Louisville, Okoye, to address that need, and get young offensive and defensive linemen with the additional picks (I hear they love this kid by the way).

Of course that is a conditional love, based on what happens with Denver. I think we'd probably pick Branch, Adams, or Anderson at #6 ahead of Okoye. A trade down is likely the only way he ends up a 'Skin.

And how might a trade down happen? One of a few ways involves new Denver Bronco Dre Bly, who we're currently trying to secure away from them for some kind of complicated, possibly convoluted trade situation.

The big question is, do you even want Dre Bly? I'm fairly comfortable with a Shawn Springs, Fred Smoot, and Carlos Rogers Defensive Back unit as even when Springs goes down with injury we'll still have some semi-reliable starters on the field -- as opposed to, say, Kenny Wright or Mike Rumph. But I'd also be fine with a Dre Bly, Fred Smoot, and Carlos Rogers unit as that's of comparable quality without the major injury ~~inevitability~~ concern.

So do you want Dre Bly? Keep Springs? Both? Vote and then post your comments below.

Poll

Do you want Dre Bly?

Yes, he will complement Springs well.

9 votes

Yes, he is a fine replacement for Springs.

33 votes

No, I'm fine with Springs/Smoot/Rogers.

25 votes

No, trading with the Broncos gives me cold chills.

23 votes

No, I simply don't like Dre Bly. He smells (just what I heard).

4 votes

94 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 4 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

There are a few problems here...

I can't see Springs staying after his contract is up. Bly is from the area (Chesapeake, VA) and wants a long term deal to stay here. That would put Bly and Smoot here for a while, and probably Rogers as well. The three would make DC Williams happy, as he could do all sorts of crazy things in coverage and blitz more often.

He can do the same things with Springs/Smoot/Rogers, well until Springs has his yearly breakdown. And only until Springs' contract is up. Then Smoot becomes the #1 CB... something I'm not sure how I feel about. My initial reaction is "Yikes" but it could be worse... like last year, when the #1 was Rogers.

With Rogers as the de facto #3, behind Smoot and Bly/Springs, I think this defense could do very well. Someday he'll make a great #2 CB, but I'm not convinced he'll ever be that #1 CB for this (or any other) team.

The more this Bly things goes on and the more crazy situations that are thrown out, the less I like it. If it was a straight #6 for Bly and picks, then I could handle it. But then to turn around and package Springs and some of those picks to move up again in the first round... I don't think I like the team playing draft board elevator.

by TexSkins on Mar 8, 2007 11:31 AM EST reply actions

Really?

I honestly think Carlos Rogers has the talent to be an excellent #1 one day. As Hog Heaven pointed out, he matches up pretty well statistically with Smoot and Springs last year. Admittedly CB is one of those positions where a lack of stats might be more telling, but remember that he also dropped a ton of passes. If he had caught half the balls that bounced off his finger tips, he would've had 5 picks last year. He was in position to make a play on the ball a lot: 17 passes defensed last year, with 1 pick.

Go Register. Or else.

by Skin Patrol on Mar 8, 2007 12:07 PM EST up reply actions

I guess my point is...

I see him as capable of being an outstanding #2 CB someday after he grows up (and learns to catch the ball.) But on the other hand, I can see him being a mid-range #1... but I don't see him as the next Darrell Green or Champ Bailey.

He's very talented and gets better with every game. In his thrid year, he should come into his own. But given the choice, I'd put him on the #3 reciever and let Smoot (#2) and Springs/Bly (#1) take the other guys.

Think about this possibility: having Bly and Springs. Do you know of a better #4 CB than Rogers? Or a better #3 than Smoot?

Or, moving Springs to S... having your pass coverage S (Springs), 3 top quality CBs (Bly, Smoot and Rogers) to go with the hard hitting, run-stopping, punter-killing-machine that is Sean Taylor. That's a total upgrade from a year ago.

by TexSkins on Mar 8, 2007 12:22 PM EST up reply actions

Not yet sold

on Springs as a Safety, though I'm not averse to it either.

My big thing against Rogers as a #4 is that you take his development back a year and virtually guarantee that he finishes his career outside of Washington.

And the problem with Springs is that the team has already reached the conclusion that he isn't worth his salary; and I tend to agree. As injury prone as he is, it simply isn't worth it to pay him 7-8.5M a year, which is where his cap hit is headed. If it makes sense for us to even think about cutting or trading him when it would actually cost us a few hundred grand to do so, that doesn't bode well for him as a 'Skin in '08 when it will save us over 2M to cut/trade him.

And with a guy who can't stay on the field, his value decreases drastically. Perhaps an additional year is good because he can increase his value substantially by being on the field, but I wonder if it's now or never -- Shanahan seems to like him, we're pursuing Bly, let's trade him to an interested party while there is still an interested party.

That's just my opinion... I'd be fine if Springs remained a Redskin, as I think the addition of Smoot already solves the major problem of keeping a Kenny Wright or Mike Rumph type player off the field.

Go Register. Or else.

by Skin Patrol on Mar 8, 2007 12:33 PM EST up reply actions