LaRon Landry on LaRon Landry

by Skin Patrol on Apr 23, 2007 11:25 AM EDT in Draft Comment 10 comments

Update [2007-4-23 11:38:11 by Skin Patrol]: More Landry on Landry quotes, per the Chicago Sun-Times:

I have great technique. I can play down in the box, fit the runs, take on pulling guards. I just have a passion for the game. I give 110 percent effort, and I make the players around me work to try to match my intensity...

Also from the article is the suggestion that Chicago might want to trade up to the #6 pick with Washington to acquire Landry, though it isn't clear if they're still talking about a possible Briggs deal or a separate trade proposal.

Per the Times:

"I'm a complete safety," Landry said. "I'm fast and physical. I communicate well. I'm able to read offenses. I can play the middle of the field. I can play man to man. I have great technique. I can play down in the box. I can take on pulling guards.
"I just have a passion for the game."

I like confidence bordering on arrogance, as does the Times, apparently, as they are in full enabler mode for this kind of ego expansion:

Landry has a right to be so bold. Most NFL teams would agree with his self report, which is why he is the draft's top defensive back and a candidate to be selected sixth overall Saturday by the Washington Redskins...

"One of my favorite players in the entire draft is LaRon Landry," NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said.

Mel Kiper's in love, too:

"He should be a Pro Bowl-caliber player. He'll be better than Roy Williams, no question, but his ball skills downfield are not necessarily what you would want them to be."

Although he caveats that praise with the only criticism I've heard of Landry; that he sometimes misjudged passes in the air. That's a rare critique in mounds of praise, so I take it lightly. Everything I've read on Landry has been overwhelmingly positive, and I don't doubt for a second that he makes our defense better for many years to come.

Still, I'd prefer Defensive Line help. It would not hurt my feelings in the least if Your Washington Redskins select Landry with the 6th pick in the draft, but I think the LSU safety is worth more to us as trade bait than he is on the field. My understanding is that Pierson Prioleau earned the starting job last year, and if the Coaches were comfortable with him heading into the 2006 season (unfortunately he was injured early in our first game) I doubt he's significantly regressed.

View my apprehension simply as an organization of needs, where replacing Prioleau and Omar Stoutmire is a close second to an immediate and drastic youth movement along the D-Line. With so few draft picks early on, moving down a few spots so that someone else snags Landry could let us get a quality DE or DT in rounds 2-4. And if the team is truly married to Safety in the 1st round, there's no shortage of talent that can be had later in round one: Brandon Meriweather (Miami), Reggie Nelson (Florida) and Aaron Rouse (VT) could all be developed into the necessary complement Sean Taylor needs to eat souls on Sundays.

But here's one more thing to think about, admittedly stolen from elsewhere (though I cannot remember whom). Do we really want to burden Sean Taylor with the mentor role next year given his regression in '06 sans Ryan Clark? Perhaps what Taylor needs right now is the veteran presence of a Pierson Prioleau or Omar Stoutmire, who can line him up at the right place on the field so that Sean can go out there and destroy our opponents. As excited as I'd be to see a Taylor/Landry safety unit knocking opposing receivers senseless, it might contribute to a continued regression on the part of Taylor. Reader(s), is that a justifiable concern?

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oh yes

Unfortunately, that is a very real concern. Though Landry has strong instincts, if London fletcher isn't keeping an eye on Landry to ensure his assignment is understood, then Taylor will be forced to do it. Landry will have to learn a new and fairly complicated system, and though I'm sure ST can handle it, he still has a little new car scent on him.

I still want Landry...only because I'm not truly sure what we'll get out of Prioleau-but Landry will see a few pro bowls, more than any of our current safeties will (excluding Sean Taylor...if the league doesn't purposely keep him out because he's too rough with the kids). For God's sake, it's FOOTBALL! A contact sport! (I'm sorry, I can't get over how soft the No Fun League has gotten).

Landry band wagon-away!

by JustinU804 on Apr 23, 2007 12:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I forgot about Fletcher

and hopefully he should have a big leadership impact on the entire defense, as that's one of the main reasons we brought him in. How that affects Sean Taylor I haven't the foggiest, though it provides a bit of optimism for his development. Ditto on Carlos Rogers.

Go Register. Or else.

by Skin Patrol on Apr 23, 2007 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Fletcher is already watching Landry...

can't he also watch Taylor? I mean, if it's going to be such a big problem getting the rookie positioned, can't he position Taylor at the same time?

I know this is a lot to ask, but Fletcher already knows the defense. He won't have to learn much in terms of his positioning, so maybe he can help get everyone aligned properly as is the duty of the MLB and defensive leader.

Just something to think about...

by TexSkins on Apr 23, 2007 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's the hope

though I'd think of it more in relative terms. Will having Landry on the field -- even with Fletcher assisting -- mean that Taylor can focus more or less on making plays? I'd say less, as he'll presumably have some kind of role assisting the rookie, even if that role is mitigated by London Fletcher. Best case scenario I'm wrong and Sean Taylor focuses every ounce of his attention on knocking the shit out of opponents.

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by Skin Patrol on Apr 23, 2007 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think you also have to take into account...

the fact that Williams won't play Landry right away. He doesn't really play any rookie at first, or at least doesn't start at first. golston got into all 16 games, but wasn't starting to beging with. And it's easier to get D-lineman in because of the rotation.

So landry probably wouldn't play for the first, I'd say, 3 games at least. The early BYE week nmight be a good time to make sure the kid is ready and then unleash him on the world. That would also gibe Taylor some more time to get adjusted and going on his own.

But all of this is just hearsay anyway... at least until after next Saturday.

by TexSkins on Apr 23, 2007 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

In terms of

what kind of rookie would get the most immediate PT and impact the Defense positively right away, I think DT fits the bill. Given Salave'a and Griffin's age and recent history of playing injured or semi-injured, a DT rookie would see rotational time and could earn a starting spot fairly quickly.

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by Skin Patrol on Apr 23, 2007 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

By the way...

and this is an open question to everyone. What would you guys like to see me write about? I'm kind of at a loss for what new posts to provide and am having a hard time spitting out 8 posts a day when there isn't anything going on, hence NFLE notes and constant draft lists, neither of which are all together interesting.

I'd like to keep providing quality content but worry that Hogs Haven is suffering from a dearth of anything substantive or interesting going on with our beloved 'Skins. Any input or suggestions on how to proceed with the site would be greatly appreciated.

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by Skin Patrol on Apr 23, 2007 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

After next weekend...

you'll have plenty to write about. All sorts of draft posts will come about, both in terms of who the Skins drafted and who other teams drafted. Who the team should have drafted instead and who other teams stole with the draft picks the Skins traded away.

This week is probably just a bad one because most draft scenarios have been written about extensively, and they're still just guesses.

Next week, they become reality.

This week is going to be slow anyway, as all the fans are hibernating before everyone's favortie day of the NFL year that isn't during the season.

Let the nerd hockey begin.

by TexSkins on Apr 23, 2007 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Landry

Landry is literally the only top-10 player the Redskins should consider. The only other option is to trade down.

Period.

by Burgundy and Gold on Apr 23, 2007 5:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

One more thing...

I considered this morning. We say that Taylor regressed last year, because he was more like a linebacker than a free safety (he did lead the team in tackles). Wouldn't it be possible with a hawk like Landry to easily shoulder a large portion of the load then leave Taylor to be more like a FS, not a MLB???

by JustinU804 on Apr 24, 2007 9:06 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs