FIRST!

Shabangus

This IS NOT pay for performance. There is nothing about the quality of performance. It is pay for playing. Fabini got a ton of snaps because the Skins had no one else who could play guard when Thomas went down. But did Fabini play well? Pay for perfromance doesn't attempt to answer that.

Interesting...

Thank God for this system! I can't imagine trying to live on 600,000 dollars a year without some kind of assistance.

Does this mean that Bradon Lloyd actually owed the Redskins money?

I could equal Fabini's performance. The more I think about it I would be better. I only weight about 175 so when I got picked up and tossed into the QB it would be easier for him to shake off the blow and keep playing as opposed to when Fabini's 800 lbs body gets tossed into him.

Has this pay-for-play system been in place for a while or is this something new under the CBA? I know that the new revenue sharing deal REQUIRES that the players (collectively) get paid something north of 60% of total league revenues ... this seems like the last way to distribute the crumbs remaining after everyone else actually gets their individual salaries and bonuses.

Interesting to see Dawan Landry and Atari Bigby up there ... two dudes (or in greg(b) lingo, "cats") I wouldn't mind seeing on the Skins roster.

Bigby is the most overhyped player out there. The man plays one decent game because the weather conditions robbed everyone of their footing and everyone loves him.

NFL | Brennan to undergo hip surgery
Tue, 1 Apr 2008 11:43:19 -0700

Stephen Tsai, of The Honolulu Advertiser, reports University of Hawaii QB Colt Brennan (hip) will undergo surgery Monday, April 7, to repair a slight tear in his right hip. The recovery period is between eight and 12 weeks, after which Brennan will not need any additional medical procedures for the injury. Brennan indicated that he suffered the injury during a Senior Bowl practice in January.

~~This guy might be available in the 7th round.

sam3, Bigby played several decent games, including the one against the Skins in the middle of the season ... his game against the Giants in the snow was not decent, it was awesome.

Most over-hyped player out there is Asante Samuel ... but currently the over-hype is being spent on the college guys pegged to get picked in the first round.

skins, I think he's got too many character concerns. I'd rather take my chances on using the 7th to draft some DT/OL types.

Redskins | Team voted against defensive radio helmets
Tue, 1 Apr 2008 10:52:39 -0700

John Clayton, of ESPN.com, reports the Washington Redskins voted against using defensive radio helmets Tuesday, April 1.

I'd rather take my chances on using the 7th to draft some DT/OL types.

Posted by: gregmarino88 | April 1, 2008 03:21 PM

With 7th round picks, I'd want to take my chances on guys who have played like maniacs on special teams coverage ... athletes ... safties ... tight ends ... guys who are big, fast, a little dumb, and clearly reckless with their own bodies.

Most over-hyped player out there is Asante Samuel ... but currently the over-hype is being spent on the college guys pegged to get picked in the first round.

Posted by: dcsween | April 1, 2008 03:20 PM

Before this year I would have had to say Lito Sheppard but now that Philly desided that he is no longer of any value ( when a year ago they were claiming he was dion sanders ) I will agree and go with Samuel.

skinsfanman,

i am SOLD on picking up colt brennan as high as the 5th round if we think he might get snagged later. the guy can be a solid backup and has enough promise that if he develops well behind campbell, some qb-needy team would offer us a 2nd rounder for him in a couple years. this dude has "matt schuabb" written all over him. he would be a worth investment, either has campbells backup/successor or trade-bait. sign me up.

As for the Chad Johnson discussion from the last post. NO. Chad Johnson needs to play for a winner. Much like Randy Moss, much like TO. In a bad organization, these guys are a problem. When Moss has Belichek and Brady around him, he is a different person. When Dallas switched QBs from Bledsoe to Romo, TO totally changed.

Chad Johnson needs a coach and QB he can respect ... someone who has standing. Gary Clark could fight with Joe Gibbs because it was Joe Gibbs. Joe Gibbs was not going to get fired because of Gary Clark.

If Joe Gibbs were still the coach, I'd say bring Johnson in. But Zorn has too many things to deal with and a loose cannon, even a talented one like ocho cinco, won't work.

I do agree with a point someone else made on the blog, that the Skins should use up much of the remaining cap room by advancing bonuses to current players, etc. That will give them more room in 2009. It is time for the Skins to get out of cap hell.

Sorry, I just got out of a three-hour meeting. Otherwise, I would have cross-pollinated to that Maske item.

sam3, perfect example in Lito Sheppard* ... mark my words ... as went Sheppard, so goes Samuel. After this year, Samuel will be "right-hyped." A market adjustment in the market of hype.

* The NFC-East-guy-who-shall-not-be-named (except via his association with the need for the NFL to pass a rule against horse collar tackles) also ranks up there highly among the overrated.

in sad news, i have seen several mocks having brandon albert go to as high as 13th overall in the draft. i am beginning to think we may not be able to land him.

On the other hand, If carolina or detriot snag him (as i have seen in another mock), then it could have a ripple effect where merling and harvey are both available at 21... cbssportline even has a mock that has rogers-cromartie available when we pick.

if albert were gone, i would have a hard time chosing between rogers-cromartie and merling/harvey.

Cindy, I did the cross-pollination at the end of the previous post. [I also made a pitch for Maske to get a WaPo bonus cheerio ... you know, around the time Jasno gets a whole bowl of frosted flakes.]

defensive radios are useful to a limited extent. The defense almost always adjusts prior to the snap and you need a quick reacting veteran like Fletcher to see that type of thing. My guess is that the benefit to the Skins will be almost nothing ... and it will be almost nothing to most teams. In some cases, it could be distracting.

Mayock is having a cow over Albert, sees him going top ten.

Posted by: corkczar | April 1, 2008 02:36 PM

Albert seems to be rising on every site I see. Can't see him being there at 21 anymore.

greg, I like Nicks w/3a.

if albert were gone, i would have a hard time chosing between rogers-cromartie and merling/harvey.

Posted by: SETH.LEMASTER | April 1, 2008 03:32 PM

fortunately for fandom, no one on the RI blog has any input into that choice ...

"Sorry, I just got out of a three-hour meeting. ..."

Posted by: TheCindy | April 1, 2008 03:29 PM

Meetings: Because none of us individually is as stupid as all of us together.

Otherwise, I would have cross-pollinated to that Maske item.

Posted by: TheCindy | April 1, 2008 03:29 PM

Ever the busy bee! Better a busy bee than a busybody. On the other hand, busy body is not a bad thing.

* The NFC-East-guy-who-shall-not-be-named (except via his association with the need for the NFL to pass a rule against horse collar tackles) also ranks up there highly among the overrated.

Posted by: dcsween | April 1, 2008 03:30 PM

Williams may actaully be the worst safety in the NFL. His rep was built on "big hits" I see Fred Smoot make bigger hits than Williams does. Infact he is always so out of position that he can't even make a standard tackle unless the whole team directs a runner into him squared up.

no one on the RI blog has any input into that choice ...

Posted by: dcsween | April 1, 2008 03:34 PM

Not so quick, there, sween! They don't call me "talent evaluator" for nothing. Actually, I guess I call myself that. And, yeah, it is for nothing. As you were.

Seth, my concern with taking Cromartie is that the Redskins lack of pass rush would expose him as a rookie.

Nicks, or Bradon Keith, in the third. They've got to get some young maulers in place on that line.

We're picking 21st. We will take BA, best available. Watch the blog on draft day and right after the 20th pick I'll let you know who that is, as soon as I get off the phone with Mr. Cerrato. I don't call myself talent evaluator for nothing.

Gotta be honest. Reading about welfare for millionaires kind of gets me in a bad mood.

greg, i guess my idea is that if we went rogers-cromartie with the 1st, our 2nd (and likely another pick as well) would be used on upgrading the defensive line. so the question would be, are we better off with a 1st round CB and 2nd/3rd round DL or a 1st round DL and 2nd/3rd round CB?

With albert on the board, we spare ourselves that little dilema. i really hope we get albert, but if someone else takes him, it could create a very nice "problem" for us.

+++We're picking 21st. We will take BA, best available.

Posted by: talent_evaluator | April 1, 2008 03:50 PM++++

First of all, what do you mean "we" Kimo Sabe? Second of all, when have the 'skins taken the best available at any position? THAT would more or less require competence in the FO.

++++I don't call myself talent evaluator for nothing.+++

Hey wait a minute. didn't you JUST say you DID call yourself that for nothing? Nuh? I mean, huh? This causes confusion and um, something else.

Nothing beats a Makers Mark Manhattan before a nice steak dinner. sometimes I have several and forget to order dinner. I appear somewhat intoxicated.

Then the waiter asks "May I call you a cab, sir?"

I respond, "Yes, please do."

He says "You're a cab."

Then I laugh til I cry. Life is good.

seth, while I agree with you about DL/OL needing an upgrade, I think that WR needs to be upgraded as well, moreso, than CB does.

I think that in order for their offense to be as successful as it needs to be, they need to draft a stud at WR. They can't afford another year of having nothing after ARE, and Moss at WR.

when have the 'skins taken the best available at any position?

Posted by: corkczar | April 1, 2008 04:03 PM

Sean Taylor

when have the 'skins taken the best available at any position?

Laron Landry

seth, while I agree with you about DL/OL needing an upgrade, I think that WR needs to be upgraded as well, moreso, than CB does.

I think that in order for their offense to be as successful as it needs to be, they need to draft a stud at WR. They can't afford another year of having nothing after ARE, and Moss at WR.

Posted by: gregmarino88 | April 1, 2008 04:10 PM

I think our WR woes are exaggerated. Our #3 looked so bad because we tried so hard and wasted so much time on making the Brandon Lloyd experiment somewhat reasonable, and he simply turned out worse than anybody imagined. After that, though, we had players continually surpassing expectations, starting with Thrash (then he got hurt), and then Mccardell and Caldwell. All this was occurring in a season when our top 2 receivers struggled to stay healthy, and yet our QBs still combined to throw for over 3500 yds. I think we'll find some veterans on the FA market the way we found Mccardell and Caldwell last year. Sure, I would like to have a young receiver to develop, but I don't think the need is that great to where we HAVE take a WR early, or even in the 1st day.

http://kcchiefsfanatic.com/?page_id=390

This mock has the Skins:
1. Otah
2. L Jackson, DE, USC
3. Jordy Nelson

I'd take that.

THAT would more or less require competence in the FO.

Such as trading up to get Cooley?

Not saying they're perfect, but they have done some good things....

Greg,

You know, I started to write Laron, too, but I can't bring myself yet to put the two of them in the same category. Maybe next year.

Do you remember when the 'Skins chose Sean Taylor? Most of the mock drafts had them selecting Kellen Winslow, Jr., "the chosen one." He was going to "redefine" the position of tight end.

psp, Caldwell is gone, McCardell isn't here, and Thrash is the only one left, but you don't see a need to get a WR early?? I don't get that.

So basically you don't want the offense to start taking steps towards being more effective than it has been? This offense has been average, at BEST the past few years. Why not give JC some playmakers so that while Moss/ARE/Portis are in their prime the team has a chance to make some noise??

i wholeheartedly agree that WR is a need, but i agree with psp that we can pick up a guy in free agency - possibly a post june1st cut. It wouldnt be a permanent solution but i simply do not feel "sold" on any of the 1st round WRs in this years draft.

I think if we used a 1st rounder on a WR, it should be because we think the guy can develop into a #1WR and probowler. looking at the 1st round WRs in this draft, the MOST i think we can get out of any of them is a guy who can develop in a solid #2 guy in a couple of years. Nothing i have seen or read about any of the 1st round WRs makes me think they will be ready to contribut on september 4th.

The same can't be said for guys like merling, harvey, and albert. they would be immediate starters and immediate upgrades over the players they would be replacing.

The difference between a guy like jordy nelson (2nd round) and the 1st round WRs is negligble in my opinion. Its just my opinion, but i don't think a team should ever spend a 1st round pick on a guy they don't think can be an immediate starter who can play every down.

I'm suggesting using a 2nd or 3rd round pick on a wide receiver. Picking something off the scrap heap again this year, will get the team no further ahead than it did last year.

that would be good. i'd prefer going WR in the 3rd but i don't think nelson will last that long and i must say i am quite smitten with him. So currently (assuming albert is gone), i'm hoping we go

1) BPA Rogers Cromartie/Harvey/Merling (CB/DL)
2) Nelson (WR)
3) BPA CB/DL
3) BPA DL/OL

Cork,
I'll let the FO make the draft decisions. Whoa be to them.

As for me:
Do I order the Makers Mark on the rocks or go for the Beefeater Martini before the steak?

Should my decision be based on the elixir of need or should I go with the best available?

(Inevitably the next person to order at the table says: I'll just have a diet coke.... Well, F them!)

Too bad more of the skins past draft picks weren't compensatory ones. I like that they're forced to keep it and can't trade.

It can be argued that the skins are weak at WR, DE, OL, OLB, and CB and should draft any of those positions early. All things being equal I'd vote for them to go DE or OL early on.

So basically you don't want the offense to start taking steps towards being more effective than it has been? This offense has been average, at BEST the past few years. Why not give JC some playmakers so that while Moss/ARE/Portis are in their prime the team has a chance to make some noise??

Posted by: gregmarino88 | April 1, 2008 04:31 PM

I'm all for adding a playmaker, I'm just not sold on any of the receivers in the draft. That's one reason why I would advocate trading for Chad Johnson (for the right price). Getting a playmaker would definitely help JC and this offense, but I'm not so optimistic on finding one early in the draft.

I think the offense will be more potent simply with having healthy players on the o-line next year and having ARE and Moss healthy again. I know it's wishful thinking to assume everybody will stay healthy for a full season, but I think it's reasonable to assume we won't be WORSE next year injury-wise than we were this year (knock on wood). In all, if I had to choose between adding high-quality depth to the o-line or adding high-quality depth to WR, I would choose o-line. I'm not opposed to adding a playmaker at WR, but if push comes to shove and we have to choose between o-line/d-line/WR, WR would be last on my priority list. By a long-shot.

Thanks, Sween, belatedly....Just got back from Talking Pts. I'd seen your comment on the other entry ... It's a very busy hive today! It's giving me hives.

my sentiments exactly, psp

Thanks for that. I think Im more confused now.

FYI, BTW and stuff, Jim Zorn will speak at the NFC media breakfast at the annual meeting at 7 a.m. tomorrow. Maske will post it first to his blog, then we'll have a condensed version here linking to that blog....I know you're going to want that info ASAP.

Sorry, I just got out of a three-hour meeting.
Posted by: TheCindy | April 1, 2008 03:29 PM

Talk about how to take the fun out of sports.

But I had you beat; a one-hour followed by a three-hour followed by 30 minutes to drive between sites and get lunch followed by a four-hour followed by a one-hour. And I missed another one-hour due to double-booking.
And what did I learn today? That some organizations embrace FUBAR as their fundamental operational principle.

And lest there be any confusion, that was not the first time I've learned that particular lesson.

know a few guys involved with the Skins draft and a few prospects. wont name the sources, but there are a couple of local guys that some coaches and scouts have high on their wish-list. one of whom is offensive guard andrew crummey out of maryland. word is the team feels crummey has starter potential.

I like Albert, but a top 15 pick for a guard? Seems high to me. I know some project as a tackle, but what if he can't play that position? There has to be a huge leap goinng from pass protecting DT in college to pass protecting against NFL speed rushers. I'm having a difficult time seeing a team pulling that trigger when Otah, and Chris Willimas still on the board.

Draft Dish: Great offensive debates for '08
March 31, 2008 Print it

By Russ Lande

As we reach the end of individual campus workouts for most of the top 2008 NFL draft prospects, nearly all of the 32 teams' scouts return to their respective facilities to begin the final set of predraft meetings. Most teams' draft meetings involve all the scouts, pertinent coaches, scouting directors and the general manager.

Although many of the player evaluations go pretty smoothly because most observers in the same organization tend to view the same player similarly, there always are several prospects whose pro potential leads to arguments -- sometimes quite heated.

Below is one prospect from each offensive position who has become a subject of great debate heading up to draft decision day '08:

Joe Flacco, QB, Delaware. Flacco (6-6 1/4, 237) is a tall, strong-armed quarterback about whom scouts have been talking since they evaluated Delaware tight end Ben Patrick during the '06 season and the buzz has just gotten stronger. Prior to the '08 Senior Bowl, many others viewed Flacco as simply a scout's invention and wondered if he was really as gifted as scouts had been telling their teams. Then Flacco went out and had a solid week of practices in Mobile. He did not dominate, but he definitely showed the arm strength and the quick release that are very hard to find.

The debate will center around Flacco having started his college career at Pittsburgh, where he arrived the year after a stellar freshman season from then Panthers quarterback Tyler Palko. Flacco was immediately stuck behind Palko on the depth chart and after backing up Palko for a few seasons, Flacco chose to transfer to Delaware for the chance to play.

Some NFL people will voice the opinion that either a) "He couldn't beat out Palko, who is barely hanging on in the NFL, this kid is a big-time prospect?" or b) "He choose to transfer to another school instead of continuing to battle Palko, knowing that in the worst case he would get one full season as a starter after Palko was done at Pitt?" or c) He transferred to Delaware instead of another Division 1-A school where he might have had the chance to really stick it to Pitt?"

Rest assured that the battle over where to place Flacco on team draft boards around the league will not only be vocal, but will lead to his final grade varying tremendously from team to team.

Ray Rice, RB, Rutgers. Rice (5/8 1/8, 198), very productive in his three years as a Scarlet Knight, was expected to be a first-round pick after he made the decision to forgo his senior season. But when he arrived at the Combine and measured so lightly, he slid down draft boards all around the league.

The debate on Rice will come down to those people who want to base the bulk of his grade on his on-field performance during his three years at Rutgers and those people who will not care how productive he was or how athletic he is and will only look at his size because backs his size have historically struggled to make it in the NFL.

Although there are many reasons to love Rice and feel that he will turn out to be a better pro than a number of the backs who eventually get drafted ahead of him, there is little doubt that he will get drafted below backs who were not nearly as productive or durable in college, but are bigger and look more like NFL backs walking around in shorts and a T-shirt.

Jerome Felton, FB, Furman. Felton (5-11 1/2, 242) is a big, strong and very skilled athlete who we, along with many in the NFL, feel has the talent to become a good all-around starting fullback. A big part of the debate about him, however, will stem from the fact that Felton was primarily a ballcarrier at Furman and has limited experience as a lead blocker. Additionally, he struggled through a disappointing senior season after a great junior year. It's a matter if teams think their coaches believe that Felton can be taught to block as well as the scouts believe he has the natural athleticism to do so.

Dexter Jackson, WR, Appalachian State. Jackson (5-9 5/8, 184) has turned himself into a player who will cause much debate with his outstanding spring (Shrine Game, Senior Bowl and Combine) after finishing an inconsistent college career. Scouts who evaluated him off Appalachian State game film, including us in The War Room, have felt he is a gifted athlete who has struggled with inconsistent hands, making him best suited to be either a fourth- or fifth-round pick.

However, many NFL coaches' first exposure to Jackson was his performance as the Senior Bowl and then the show he put on at the Combine, so their initial view of him was likely as a second-round prospect, and this is where the debate begins. Scouts will bring up his inconsistent play at Appalachian State and argue that he isn't consistent enough to warrant being drafted as high as his postseason has pushed him, but coaches will argue that he showed the athleticism, hands and smarts to be coached to play as well as he did at the all-star games and Combine.

This debate will like cause Jackson's draft value to be high in NFL clubs where the coaches have the real power, but lower in NFL clubs where the scouting department has more pull and will definitely lead to some great internal back-and-forth during some draft meetings.

Kellen Davis, TE, Michigan State. Davis (6-6 5/8, 256) is the ultimate tease because he has great physical ability, but he also was a very inconsistent player in terms of producing for the Spartans, especially coming up short with his effort and aggressiveness. His draft value will cause real debate because his production did not match his talent and players like that rarely get support from all people in one organization.

The biggest debates will take place in the draft rooms of teams that use highlight tapes instead of touch tapes -- videotapes made of a player that include every pass thrown in his direction, not just highlight-reel plays. On a cutup tape, Davis will look like a star, especially when splicing in his workout at the Combine. On game film, however, Davis just shows up as being inconsistent.

Cody Wallace, C, Texas A&M. Scouts, including us in The War Room, liked Wallace (6-3 3/4, 292) right away after evaluating on film during the '07 season. He was not a star, but he showed good athleticism, great competitiveness and generally good production. In addition, from what we were able to find out from other scouts, Wallace was viewed as a solid fourth-round prospect who just might become a Day 2 steal by developing into a long-term NFL starter.

At Senior Bowl week, however, Wallace struggled mightily and was pushed around, looking like he was small and lacking strength. His struggles in Mobile were the first looks many NFL coaches had at him, which will lead to them not wanting to fight hard for him regardless of what scouts say about how he played at Texas A&M. Count on some lively debate as scouts try to sell him as a great Day 2 pick who could eventually start, while coaches won't be able to shake the thought of his bad week in Mobile.

Carl Nicks, G, Nebraska. Nicks (6-4 3/4, 342) played offensive tackle for the Cornhuskers, but much of the debate surrounding Nicks will come down to what position he needs to play in the NFL to be successful. After starting for only one full season at Division I-A, Nicks was viewed as one of the most intriguing offensive line prospects entering the postseason process because he has such good natural athleticism for such a massive man.

However, scouts, along with us in The War Room, have been frustrated when evaluating Nicks on film because he isn't a consistently competitive blocker and allowed his blocking assignments to either make or disrupt far too many plays in college. Then at the Senior Bowl, the inconsistency continued. He showed the natural athleticism that excited so many scouts during the season and clearly grabbed the attention of many coaches, but he also struggled with blocking throughout the week, which raised the concerns that he might be best suited to play guard in the NFL.

The debate about Nicks then will have several layers to it. Everything will start with what would be his best NFL position, and then it would turn into whether he is competitive enough to be a consistent NFL performer, regardless of position. The last, and certainly not least issue is whether Nicks can keep himself in the necessary shape to hold up as an NFL lineman.

Chris Williams, T, Vanderbilt. Williams (6-6 1/8, 317) may be the most debated player in draft rooms around the league and the main reason is that left tackle has become such a vital position over the past decade, and Williams has the chance to be a very special one.

Although nearly everyone in the media was focused on Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long throughout the '07 season, Williams was the talk of scouts because he is a premier athlete for the position -- no doubt more athletic than Long -- and played much better in 2007 than he had in 2006, but he still did not play with the aggressiveness/passion that teams loved when they evaluated Jake Long. Then at the Senior Bowl, Williams was dominant, both athletically and competitively, and raised the question among NFL people if he was the best tackle prospect because of his potential.

Long still will be chosen ahead of Williams, but you can be sure that there will be some very vocal arguments between those who favor the "safe" pick (Long) and the player with more potential (Williams). Williams also is seen as more of a risk because of perceived limited aggressiveness and passion for playing the position.

know a few guys involved with the Skins draft and a few prospects. wont name the sources, but there are a couple of local guys that some coaches and scouts have high on their wish-list. one of whom is offensive guard andrew crummey out of maryland. word is the team feels crummey has starter potential.

Posted by: jperkmd82 | April 1, 2008 07:19 PM

This is the sort of stuff that Crummey's agent and parents do. They're posting this all over the web right now.

What a nice theme
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