First!

Third!

"Can't cover the Caps Saturday - got a longstanding date with my daughter to see the Doodlebops for the second straight spring."

By Jason La Canfora | April 18, 2008; 6:54 AM ET

Aren't the Doodlebops playing in Verizon Center on Saturday night? Against the Flyers? Hard to tell the difference between the play-off Caps and the Doodlebops. Oh yeah, the Doodlebops have never set up a powerplay goal by having too many "men" on the ice.

blah blah blah
hate hate hate
caps redsox
crappy bands
blah blah blah
hate hate hate

Even though it is still very early in the morning, we have decided to confer upon jonthefisherman the "D-Bag Of The Day" Award for Friday.

Congratulations, jon!

Douch...let the man enjoy his time w/ his daughter...

J-la, great post. You nailed it about Manny in another post as well. Guy is flat out raking right now. Seriously, his last 3 at bats versus Mussina have been, HR, HR, HR. Someone needs to pass Girardi a smelling salt.

Hopefully the Redskins come out of this draft with at least 1 guy ready to step in out of training camp, to the starting lineup. Can Williams play guard?

RIP Danny Federici

jon also takes today's prize for worst haiku.

Come on, dude, were you even trying? Pathetic.

Not to bring up the CJ stuff, but saw an interesting thing regarding it last night on Rome is Burning. Rome had a reporter on from a SF Newspaper who made a great point. CJ can piss, and whine, and make all the noise that he wants. The owner of the Bengals spent 20 years NOT spending money, and trying to win. This guy is as stubborn, and vindictive as they get, and if CJ wants to hold out, thats fine by him, but Mike Brown wont give in to this guy. It was an interesting interview, didn't paint Mike Brown in a good light at all.

If the Caps get eliminated in the first round. . . will you mock them?

Or are they somehow superior to the team you hate, who also got eliminated in the first round?

Off and running on another fun day of anon stone throwing.....

I think I would be fine if every pick they made was on the O-line! I think retooling there is a major concern.

Anyone see Steve McNair retired....while I am sure I will get immediately slapped with anon barrage...I always loved this dude....what a gamer...that SB he almost one, was a great SB to watch....Thanks Steve for the NFL fun!

Beantown Greg: Dude I got Manny on one of my BB Fantasy teams....wow! I wish he could go against Mussina everynight....sick...nothing like a contract year!!!!

Let the CHRIS LARry BASHING BEGIN!

I've been following the Wiggles around the world for the past five years with my kids. The Wiggles are more like the Dead, and the Doodlebops are more like Phish -- the new generation. I'm not crazy about the Doodlebops, though, something just isn't right about their outfits. Kind of creepy to me. I've been successful at staving off any kind of infatuation with the Doodlebops.

cl, when Manny gets dialed in, like he is now, its just not even fair. His last 33 games versus the Yanks, he's hitting .478, with 13 home runs. WHY WOULD YOU PITCH TO THIS CAT?? He's just so friggin good at the plate. No wasted motion in his swing. When he's up to the plate, I call my kids into the room, and tell them to watch him swing, watch him do the thing he was put on this earth to do, swing a baseball bat. Guy is just sick....

Farnsworth is a pud for that pitch behind his head....punk...

I always loved the dude too, because he was always on the other team. The guy played quarterback like Roseanne sings the national anthem. The guy played quarterback like Dick Cheney hunts. But he was a tough SOB and I hope he can live a normal life after getting his sternum broken what was it, 12 times?

Greg

From previous, I think I meant the draft is weak early and the real value is finding players latter, for once we have a slew of picks.....again we are at a crossroads, we have some of the pieces in place (solid o line, solid D) provided we have decent health, but we have a new coach putting in a new passing O ... I guess i mean to say we can't f this thing up player personel wise if we ever want to estabilish something and get away from the perpual cycle of "transitioning" we have been doing most of last 15yrs or so......remember its coaching for (style of play, idenity and QB for on field play/leadership) but given those 2 keys you gotta make more smart moves than dumb............

greg

manny is a hitting machine, love to watch him at the plate, hitting to him is like breathing for the rest of us........

os, yeah, he just gets oblivious to his surroundings, its like everything just slows down. Pitchers think getting him down in the count is an advantage, but he just gets more dialed in.

Agreed also on finding players later. The Redskins need to, 5 years from now, be looking back on this draft with smiles on their faces for the success they had. Heck, scan the small school scene, and pick up some talent from there.

One thing the FO has excelled at the last few years is the proverbial "8th rounders" or post draft-undrfted FA dudes....

Hopefully the amount of Draft prep due to there # of picks will put them in position to snag some of those dudes as well...

In all the talk of needing O-line depth, this is the first time (I think) that I heard Stephon Heyer mentioned.

Why does no one see him as a capable backup. He filled in as a starter (winning the job over Todd Wade) last year as a rookie. Forget work-in-progress. This guy was thrown out there and performed great. I see him as the future starting tackle for the Redskins and may even challenge Jansen this year.

I'm certainly not opposed to depth at O-line, but I would say Guard is where the immediate need is. You can add a depth tackle somewhere, but I'd be shocked if Kendell/Thomas both make it through the year.

I guess I don't view "Work in progress" as an insult, and I think everyone views Heyer as part of the solution not the problem....but simply having Heyer doesn't solve depth and talent problems along the O-line. Also Heyer got abused in the Seattle playoff game, so he has some work to do.

Down the stretch the O-Line played with a lot of heart but not a heck of a lot of ability....you put 06s line on the O7 team and well...we might have had a special run...

The difference in the two lines is 07s line defended the line of scrimmage while 06s attacked and controlled it. Last year we couldn't do the stunts and pulls that put a defense on their heels and let the Skins run down field...

Just sayin

Like Hillary Clinton doing standup. Like Joan Rivers changing a tire.

Het CL, totally with you on the anon's all being gutless wonders. They need to grow a pair and use a handle like the rest of us.
I hate "doling out advice", but just ignore them.....I don't acknowledge or respond to any anon posts. At least it's died down from the initial first few days of non-registration. Those who remain are only here to flame, so ITA (ignore the anons-HA!).....

SMACK, cL, I always liked McNair a lot, too.

I also like the comparisons of his, ah, dubious capabilities as a "quarterback" to things other people do well.

"Like George W. Bush being president of the United States."

I always though he was a heck of a QB when healthy...guess I was wrong..

Maybe McNair was better than SMACK and I remember... pretty good, steady stats through the bulk of his career. Never really set the world on fire as a passer (which is what I think SMACK's jokes were about) but was always a hell of a leader.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/McNaSt00.htm?redir

And I agree on anons being gutless wonders, myself included.

Top 50 Draft Busts!

We made top 5...!!! sweet!

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/news/story?id=3325687

And I agree on anons being gutless wonders, myself included.

Posted by: | April 18, 2008 10:16 AM

Agree to disagree. Much more gutful than we get credit for.

def a couple unjustified digs at skins in the list...also Westbrook but not Ishmael....lots of debatable stuff if were bored....

Yeah I'm being a little harsh on McNair. Maybe more like Richard Simmons splitting firewood, or Yogi Berra taking the SAT.

This guy is as stubborn, and vindictive as they get, and if CJ wants to hold out, thats fine by him, but Mike Brown wont give in to this guy. It was an interesting interview, didn't paint Mike Brown in a good light at all.

Posted by: Greg | April 18, 2008 8:59 AM

Mike Brown is like Al Davis with no money, or Ralph Wilson with a hangover. Screw sons of former Cleveland greats who leave in a huff to start a team downstate (and forgetting to take their last name with them and leaving it as the "mascot").

Also, jonthefisherman = Pseudonym = jonthe"fissure"man = hemmy.

And I agree with Paul S., I anticipate that with a full off-season to slim down and workout, Heyer will be replacing Jansen in the starting line-up by midseason if not sooner. [No offense to Jansen ... that was a single entendre.]

Charlie Rogers was a bigger bust than Heath Shuler ... he was drafted one spot earlier than the esteemed Congressman from North Carolina. Shuler among the top busts ever? Agree to agree.

Just needs a little more musculature in the upper body area, to balance out those womanly hips of his, sween.

Hooray for Heyer! Love the kid. Here's hoping he's our starting RT in September 2009.

What about this guy:

11. QB Jim Druckenmiller (Virginia Tech)
Drafted by: 49ers, first round, No. 26 overall, 1997

During the 49ers' heyday, the organization was always excellent at looking at the big picture and keeping the team competitive. Although QB Steve Young was still a Pro Bowl player, he was no longer a young man, and the team looked to get its quarterback of the future. But the former Hokie simply couldn't play, starting one game when Young was injured and gone after two seasons.

Might this have been a Vinnie pick while he was at San Francisco?

The O-line needs some depth, but I think the starting 5 are pretty darn serviceable.

The weakest unit in the starting five this year is the same as last year. That would be left guard. While I could see a high pick going to the line, I suspect at the highest a 2nd rounder will be used unless Albert is available.

Manny is hitting very well. If only he could have Mussina pitching to him all the time. Did anyone see Griffy JR. hit his 596th homer?

What I am suprised is the lack of talk about the linebacking corps. We have some good ones but Marcus is getting up there in age, Rocky has questionable knees and Fletcher will give us a few seasons. I suspect a linebacker might be taken for depth and eventual replacement.

No love (er, hate) for Desmond Howard on that list? I might rank him above Westbrook among Skins' busts, because he was seen as this sort of luxury pick coming off the SB but then he amounted to diddly-poo for us as the team imploded... but maybe I'm just mad about that pick, and about how those next seasons unfolded...

Just needs a little more musculature in the upper body area, to balance out those womanly hips

Posted by: | April 18, 2008 10:29 AM

Like your tackles with big boobs, do you, you anonymous gutless wonder?

No love (er, hate) for Desmond Howard on that list?

Posted by: | April 18, 2008 10:33 AM

I think he got off because of his return skills. He was better than Rock Cartwright, not as good as Brian Mitchell. He should have been drafted about where they were. But, that's Joe Gibbs for you.

Westbrook was a bust, and for a team that had zero players on the D-Line they should have never passed on W.Sapp or K.Carter. That was Norv for ya... he thought he had his Aikman with Shuler and then he tried to get his Irvin with Westbrook. Bad times...
Speaking of that draft and busts, why no mention of Ki-Jana Carter? I know he was a bust due to injuries, but he was the #1 overall pick and never had a 1,000 yard season.

Heyer was a great story last year and should be ready to go for RT with a bit more training from Buges. Weren't the majority of the Hogs in the 80's undrafted linemen?

Down the stretch the O-Line played with a lot of heart but not a heck of a lot of ability....you put 06s line on the O7 team and well...we might have had a special run...

The difference in the two lines is 07s line defended the line of scrimmage while 06s attacked and controlled it. Last year we couldn't do the stunts and pulls that put a defense on their heels and let the Skins run down field...

Just sayin

Posted by: chris larry | April 18, 2008 9:57 AM

Just agreein

Understood that Desmond Howard didn't belong on this particular list because he went on to have at least one really good season and I think was Super Bowl MVP.

I was just trying to say that, to me, for the Skins, Howard was a bigger bust than Westbrook. Three middling seasons, one punt return TD, five receiving TDs, 66 catches total, then we cut him loose. Ugh.

I miss TCCLs.

I agree that Heyer is a work in progress - which is not a bad thing. He's got some solid work from last seasin to build off of and I see him continuing to make strides this year filling in when needed.

"boobs" do not equal "musculature", fellow anonymous person.

The running joke up here last season was that, much as we loved Heyer (great story, great kid, turned out to be a solid backup in a pinch, especially for a rookie) he had a gigantic backside and seemed to be wearing peewee league shoulder pads. The classic "pear-shaped" man body type. Hence the "womanly hips" thing. Just looked... awkward.

Okay, that'll be enough about that...

earlier i said ishmael...i meant Howard...he should be higher on the bust list than Westbrook....

What I am suprised is the lack of talk about the linebacking corps. We have some good ones but Marcus is getting up there in age, Rocky has questionable knees and Fletcher will give us a few seasons. I suspect a linebacker might be taken for depth and eventual replacement.

Posted by: JP | April 18, 2008 10:33 AM

That's why I wouldn't be upset if they picked Mayo.

http://www.rockytoptalk.com/story/2008/4/16/0222/45923

I guess I give Howard a little bit more slack than Westbrook.
Howard was brought in by Gibbs. As a rookie, he wasn't going to see a ton of playing time behind Monk, Clark, and Sanders. Then Gibbs leaves and Pettibon comes in with a new offense (WCO) to learn. We go through three QBs that season, including Rich Gannon I believe. Then in his third season as a pro he gets his third HC in Norv.
Not tyring to make excuses for the guy. He still is a bust, just not as big of a bust as Westbrook.

How is Tony Mandarich and The Boz not on that list?

I am NOOOOOOOOO westbrook apologist...but he did have a few productive season while Howard contributed Squadoosh..

Your right though Gannon was a QB in the Pettibone year..

for the record (like anyone cares)

I have decided "chris larry" is the nice guy rational conversationalist while random "ChRiS LaRry" is the F bomb throning argumentative A-hole...

Just so you can keep it straight....

F ChRIS LarRy

Interesting article on the LB class. No mention of Rivers.

http://www.lindyssports.com/content.php?id=2200

cL, if you want to throne 'em, throne 'em.

skinfanman, interesting stuff about Jared Mayo. That site had a link to another site, that had an interesting little thought process about why the Skins should pick Talib (assuming Albert is not available). I did not realize that Talib is bigger than Springs.

http://www.mockingthedraft.com/storyonly/2008/4/7/194023/5858

I'm not sold on Heyer. I hope he proves me wrong but it wouldn't surprise me at all if he doesn't make the team this year if the 'skins first pick is a tackle. Too many ifs to make that prediction.

Anyone else concerned that our new D-coordinator wants a pocket collapsing tackle? I'm guessing Monty and Golston don't fit the bill.

I'm sorry. I'm not yet optimistic. Too many question marks for this team.

The good:
22 returning starters
schedule includes NFC west
modern offense

The bad:
Injuries to Rogers and MacIntosh
new offense
1st time play caller
steep learning curve for head coach
age at key positions
depth
early schedule

I misspelled Mr. Mayo's first name, Jerod. [insert joke about 'hold the mayo' and offensive holding calls].

skinfanman, from that Lindy's site, I remember reading the Skins having a visit with Beau Bell from UNLV, who that site projects in the 4th round.

Hey....Duane Thomas is really Duane Brown of VT. Never heard of a Duane Thomas...2nd time you've called him that. NP, just thought I'd let you know. Thanks for the updates!

Anyone else concerned that our new D-coordinator wants a pocket collapsing tackle? I'm guessing Monty and Golston don't fit the bill.

Posted by: bangkokben | April 18, 2008 11:16 AM

Maybe its disinformation by Blache ... not for the consumption of Big Media, but instead for Monty and Golsten (i.e., step it up guys and do it NOW).

On the other hand, massive pocket collapsing does seem like the secret to how that team that one team that just won the Super Bowl was able to defeat the other team (the undefeated one).

dc,

I wouldn't mind seeing the 'skins getting in the Jared Allen sweepstakes for pocket collapsing pash rush. If Allen thinks the Vikes and Bucs are contenders who knows what he'd think about the 'skins.

Anyone else concerned that our new D-coordinator wants a pocket collapsing tackle? I'm guessing Monty and Golston don't fit the bill.

Posted by: bangkokben | April 18, 2008 11:16 AM

You could probably fill in 31 other teams in the NFL, and they'd want the same thing. They could be looking for the replacement for Griffin.

We have more depth at O-Line than most NFL teams.
4 Proven Starters at Tackle: Samuels, Jansen, Wade, Heyer
3 Proven Starters at Guard: Kendall, Thomas, Fabini

L. Alexander can fill in as another back up guard

So the only need is a back up center.

Can be had in Round 5. We need WR and D-Line picks in the early rounds

It occurred to me that, by pointing out Allen's booze-related suspension risks, peeps might misunderstand me. I am pro-Jared too (notwithstanding his insufficiently anti-Strahan position in those Subway commercials). But more than Jared Allen (or Chad Johnson), my druthers would be to trade Six Flags over P.G. County in order to be able to land Anquan Bolden.

anon, don't kid yourself, they need to draft OL, and do it early.

Saw a piece last night on the DT's in this upcoming draft. Casserly was on, saying that he loves Trevor Laws, but that he wouldn't touch Dre Moore.

To me, The modern day NFL D-line is about a deep and varied rotation...I think Blanche wants more quality bodies, not as a slight to Monty/Goldy but the admission that he wants a deep cycle of guys, and Monty/Goldy arent strong at the pass rush part of the game...

but what do I know...

Anyone else concerned that our new D-coordinator wants a pocket collapsing tackle? I'm guessing Monty and Golston don't fit the bill.

Posted by: bangkokben | April 18, 2008 11:16 AM

I think that while Golston and Montgomery are both good, and certainly have played beyond expectations in relation to their draft selection, neither seem like they'll be a dominant force year after year. I think Golston will be a very good rotational player, and Monty will be a very good secondary interior lineman. If/when Griffin leaves this squad, I think you'll see both of those players look very ordinary on the line. I think Monty could be an excellent complimentary piece to a dominant lineman, a Peerless Price to an Eric Moulds if you will, but asking him to take over the constant double-team work that Griffin normally handles may be asking a bit much. Rather than seeing it as a shot to Golston/Monty, I see the need for an interior lineman as a replacement for Griff, in order to maintain status quo on interior of the line.

skinfanman, interesting stuff about Jared Mayo. That site had a link to another site, that had an interesting little thought process about why the Skins should pick Talib (assuming Albert is not available). I did not realize that Talib is bigger than Springs.

http://www.mockingthedraft.com/storyonly/2008/4/7/194023/5858

Posted by: dcsween | April 18, 2008 11:15 AM

Interesting article. Qualms I have with Talib: 1. Jordy Nelson had him for lunch. 2. Generally, a CB taken in round 1 should have blazing speed. The Skins have been emphasizing speed in the backfield, so I'm doubting they'll take him. There's others with better speed they can take later and coach up, maybe.

http://www.gbnreport.com/2007cbs.html

Agree CB is a need, but figure in 2009 Smoot and Rogers are the starters, and Torrence is depth.

"We have more depth at O-Line than most NFL teams.
4 Proven Starters at Tackle: Samuels, Jansen, Wade, Heyer
3 Proven Starters at Guard: Kendall, Thomas, Fabini"

Then two years down the road we lose Jansen, Wade, Kendall, Thomas, and Fabini, and you'll see Samuels on the decline. The draft is about the future, and this needs to be addressed now. Otherwise you'll see this team drop right back into the cellar.

I wonder what Springs' 40 time was when he was a draft prospect.

skinfanman, thx for the second link ... I'm thinking that guy ranked as the #51 CB get into alot of fights about his name.

psp, we're in agreement, which is rare. Kendall is gone after this year, contract wise, so his replacement needs to be drafted a week from tomorrow. If Chris Williams is there, I'd draft him, and put him in the slot when Jansen is done, which may, or may not be sooner than we expect.

OL is a need, no doubt...

Hey....Duane Thomas is really Duane Brown of VT. Never heard of a Duane Thomas...2nd time you've called him that. NP, just thought I'd let you know. Thanks for the updates!

Posted by: Hokie-Skin in Charlotte | April 18, 2008 11:20 AM

Duane Thomas was a running back for Dallas in the early 70s. He was very smoothe. Helped them beat Miami in the SB. Famous quote about the SB, "If this game is so big how come they're playing another one next year?"

i like landry and all but is anyone out there dissapointed as i am that we passed on adrian peterson the most dominant offensive player in the league for an above average safety. any thoughts?

So I'm thinking I might be able to have the intergoogles help me find Springs' 40 time around the time he was drafted (I'm thinking that 8 track tapes where still modern technology in those days) ... and the search bar auto-prompts me to "shawn springs divorce" ... which I then follow to ES, who has stuff in late February about him selling his house and lots of people saying it was because he is getting a divorce. Where is Lisa with the info on this? Didn't he (actually, I guess the missus) just welcome a first born? a baby boy?

And how about a shout-out for Rabach, the linchpin of this line? Nary a mention, which I take as a sign that he's universally considered to be rock-solid.

Aside from a little concern about snap logistics (forcing Campbell to sit on the ground to receive a snap; "cod clearance") Rabach is not on the list of things to worry about.

skinfanman, from that Lindy's site, I remember reading the Skins having a visit with Beau Bell from UNLV, who that site projects in the 4th round.

Posted by: dcsween | April 18, 2008 11:18 AM

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/profile.php?pyid=33379

7th round, maybe.

I can't believe the draft is so close, I completely lost track of the days. I'm betting we draft 8 pro bowlers and 1 backup QB who we trade away for a first round pick three years down the road. No doubt in my mind.

^^^^And how about a shout-out for Rabach, the linchpin of this line? Nary a mention, which I take as a sign that he's universally considered to be rock-solid.^^^

The problem is the rocks are not solid enough. They're too low hangy

mark, maybe I'm nuts, but I would take LaRon ten times out of ten over Peterson. The dude is a great RB, granted, but it's LaRon for me.

-Nate in the PDX

Mark,

Surely you jest.

i like landry and all but is anyone out there dissapointed as i am that we passed on adrian peterson the most dominant offensive player in the league for an above average safety. any thoughts?

Posted by: mark | April 18, 2008 11:50 AM

disappointed mark, it was a need thing. Clinton Portis threw a touchdown pass and the D picked off two passes when the Skins held your most dominant offensive player to no TDs and 27 yards. If the Skins had picked AP, then Vikes would have picked Landry. Skins would have been redundant at RB and Landry would have picked off CP.

LaRon was the right pick. The skins had 3 quality running backs on the roster. And he made the transition to Free Saftey brilliantly after the Reaper's death.

skinfanman, thx for the second link ... I'm thinking that guy ranked as the #51 CB get into alot of fights about his name.

Posted by: dcsween | April 18, 2008 11:41 AM

They should take him in the 7th just to hear his name called.

The CB who intrigues me is Brandon Flowers. The only knock on him is his 40 time. But if you watch tape he is a player. Now I only saw what Mayock showed, but he looked great. Great tackler and great ball hawk. Too much of a reach at 21, however, especially given the Skins' needs.

This game was a thing of beauty ...

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter?game_id=29427&displayPage=tab_gamecenter&season=2007&week=REG16&override=true

Considering the fast growing importance of Safety (just look at the TE and pass catching backs in the NFC East alone...)and the unforseen ST tradegy.....plus the depth at RB...plus the gimpy injury history of AP...I am A-OK with The Ron as last years pick....

sk.fn.mn, I have this recollection that Brandon Flowers has some history with the law or rambunctious behavior or some such.

I have no problem with the Skins taking dirty thirty last year.

Duane Brown, Duane Brown, Duane Brown, Duane Brown, Duane Brown, Duane Brown, Duane Brown, Duane Brown, Duane Brown

Not Duane Thomas

Other then that it was a good article. I enjoyed it.

sknfnmn, that link to Beau Bell and the news clips thereabouts demonstrate exactly why people put too much credence on the pre-draft single day performances (like Pro Days and the Combine). Sounds exactly like the guy hurt his knee and didn't have time to heal and performed as such. [I'm waiting for peeps to start calling him lazy and fat.] Other than Landry, the other draft choice to make the roster was the Skins FIFTH round choice, Blades. I'm sayin goodonya to the Skins for having Bell come in for a visit.

sk.fn.mn, I have this recollection that Brandon Flowers has some history with the law or rambunctious behavior or some such.

Posted by: dcsween | April 18, 2008 12:05 PM

So do I, but let's not go there.

Easy to get them mixed up -- a feller named Duane Thomas DID play for the Skins, as well as the Cowboys.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duane_Thomas

I'm not saying don't take Bell, but they may be able to take him in the 7th. I'm thinking in the 5th or 6th they can take Andrew Crummey, OG out of Maryland who was also banged up and couldn't work out at the combine.

Easy to get them mixed up -- a feller named Duane Thomas DID play for the Skins, as well as the Cowboys.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duane_Thomas

Posted by: | April 18, 2008 12:19 PM

I'd forgot he played for the Skins. My recollection is he was the one who called Tom Landry a "plastic man."

I'm not saying don't take Bell, but they may be able to take him in the 7th. I'm thinking in the 5th or 6th they can take Andrew Crummey, OG out of Maryland who was also banged up and couldn't work out at the combine.

Posted by: skinfanman | April 18, 2008 12:21 PM

Crummey's projected as a 6th or 7th round pick right now. Personally I would love to see a draft where they get Duane Thomas in the 2nd after a trade down and Chad Rhinehart, the Guard out of Northern Iowa, in the fifth. Of course throw in Owen Schmitt with the 3rd comp, Jerome Simpson with an early 3rd from a trade down, and the best corner available with one of their 2nd's acquired in a trade down for Joe Flacco.

Because if the Chiefs trade Jared Allen then they might take Brohm at 17, which could be good or bad, but it might be good since it'll scare the teams behind the Dolphins that all the quality QB prospects will be gone when they pick (ie Flacco and Henne) in turn teams will look for a trade with the Redskins since they'll offer the 21st pick at a sort of discount where they'll only need to get an early 2nd and 3rd, maybe a 6th for good measure..After that they can find a stopgap at OLB in Alvin Bowen during the 7th.

Health, age, and quality depth are all issues with the OL. I like the starters, but they are all 30 or over. The Skins biggest need is to draft for OL depth this year. I expect them to use the mid-round (3-6) picks on at least one G (possibly 2), RT, and a C. Players who may not be immediate starters -- however they could be inactive, learn this year, and work their way into the ST lineup later in the season. I could see them using the 1st round pick on Albert if he's somehow available at #21.

Heyer is an excellent backup T who may be able to start at LT or RT in a few years. I think Lorenzo is the Pucillo replacement as a backup G/C and ST player. Fabini and Wade are excellent veteran G/T backups, but they are also over 30.

I don't know much about Geisinger (6-3, 322), Washington (6-3, 320), or Sampson (6-4, 312), but they are vets, look huge on paper, and will probably complete in camp this year for backup G/T with Wade, Fabini, and the draft picks.

This here doesn't identify any "character issues" with Brandon Flowers.

http://www.newerascouting.com/profiler/viewprofile.php?id=108

Am I wrong in remembering something untoward about Flowers? [Other than, after working out, his sweats give new meaning to the phrase "smells like flowers"?]

Answering my own question, I found it ... and it appears to be a bogus label. Sorry, Mr. Flowers.

http://thebiglead.com/?p=4061

Andrew Crummey
Duane Thomas
Chad Rhinehart

How big are these guys?

I want road graders.

We need a stud guard...I mean a big 6'6" ugly dude with something to prove. Maybe somebody from Middle Colorado Tech.

Speaking of which, whoever scouted Chris Cooley at Utah State should get a medal. Where is Utah State?

Speaking of which, whoever scouted Chris Cooley at Utah State should get a medal. Where is Utah State?

Posted by: sicwidit | April 18, 2008 1:00 PM

I believe it's in SE Kansas.

i like landry and all but is anyone out there dissapointed as i am that we passed on adrian peterson the most dominant offensive player in the league for an above average safety. any thoughts?

Posted by: mark | April 18, 2008 11:50 AM

i see your point about AP, but the comparison might look different in 10 years. also, to be fair, laundry was way above average for a rookie.

sic, agreed. Not just one either. I'm not so concerned with height, as I am with size. The Redskins, IIRC, had one of the smallest OL in the NFL last year. Give me 5 big baddies, and they'll ROLL over the Defense come the 4th quarter.

Utah State is in Logan, UT.

http://www.usu.edu/

i like landry and all but is anyone out there dissapointed as i am that we passed on adrian peterson the most dominant offensive player in the league for an above average safety. any thoughts?

Posted by: mark | April 18, 2008 11:50 AM

Spoken like someone who learned everything he knows about football from "Madden".

Can we please start making our jokes and attacks public and named, various AnonS...? Mark threw a topic out there, come correct with a name...own your insults!

and so what if he did, many professionals (pilot, engineers, electricians, scientists) are using simulations and games to learn....

Hockey... uhhgg - Sorry, wrong thread.

------------------------

The bad:
Injuries to Rogers and MacIntosh
new offense
1st time play caller
steep learning curve for head coach
age at key positions
depth
early schedule

Posted by: bangkokben | April 18, 2008 11:16 AM

Call me naive (actually, don't call me names, I'm not thick skined like CL) but I am not concerned with 1st time play caller. I think that Chris Meidt was brought in to help with this area. This guy is the wild card in the coaching staff.

Not a knock on AP, but give some credit to part of the Vikings OL.

Spoken like someone who learned everything he knows about football from "Madden".

Posted by: | April 18, 2008 1:12 PM

telltale sam[cubed] attack

Also, getting some better pass rushing from the DE will help the interior line push the pocket. I think Monty will do fine if teams have to be more concerned with both of our DEs.

If everyone knew then, what they know now, Adrian Peterson would of been the first pick in the 2007 draft.

Saying the Skins should of taken AD is retarded, because the Raiders would of taken AD first. Al Davis loves fast, flashy players - AD is a beast.

RB for the Skins is stable. Portis takes a lot of pounding because of his physical playing style.

i like landry and all but is anyone out there dissapointed as i am that we passed on adrian peterson the most dominant offensive player in the league for an above average safety. any thoughts?

Posted by: mark | April 18, 2008 11:50 AM

There is no real way to evaluate and compare two positions that are so uniquely different. Running back is considered to be the easiest position to come into the NFL at and make an immediate impact. A running back learns the offensive blocking schemes and plays, and then uses his natural ability to run where the holes are, as quickly as possible. In most cases, the pro position is very similar to what is played in college. On the contrary, defensive backfield (safety and cornerback) are difficult positions to pick up quickly. A rookie DB has to learn the entire defense, all of the play calls, all of the coverages, the tendencies of all the QBs, WRs, and RBs in the league, and then make split-second decisions incorporating all the information that, when done incorrectly, can result in huge gains or points scored against your team. There is a significant difference between playing a DB position in college versus the pro game.

A running back can learn the pro game in a few months; a DB typically takes 2-3 years before the information is learned and utilized most of the time. As great a talent as Sean Taylor was, he was just really coming into his own in his 4th year as a pro. Would you have traded Sean Taylor to Minnesota for Adrian Peterson after the draft last year?

If you come back and evaluate these picks against each other in about 3 more years, you will be able to make a fair assessment about which pick was better. Until then, you have possibly already seen Peterson near the peak of his skills. But the chances are very good that you will see the performance of LaRon Landry improve steadily for the next 2-3 years from a very good starting point.

Given everything we know now, Landry was the correct pick.

AP has injury issues. L2 injures people.

FIN.

There is also no way to know how Adrian Peterson would have done trying to run behind the O-Line that was the Redskins in 2007 either. Given AP's injury history at Oklahoma, there is no guarantee he would have survived a week running behind Fabini and Wade.

Posted by: SkinsSucks | April 18, 2008 1:35 PM

and so do you (even more so)

-PDX

Posted by: SkinsSucks | April 18, 2008 1:35 PM

and so do you (even more so)

-PDX

Good one, l2 personal attack (better).

Landry over Peterson?

Ahem...

Nate, I love me some Landry too, but this is truly a stretch. That dude, Adrian Peterson, is going to score a lot of TOUCHDOWNS over his career.

How you can justify passing up on a stud like that is beyond me; Peterson is a guy you build an entire team around, a cornerstone.

Gotta love Landry, but come on, get with it!

hmm... more than one PDX out there!

awesome.

Also, getting some better pass rushing from the DE will help the interior line push the pocket. I think Monty will do fine if teams have to be more concerned with both of our DEs.

Posted by: Curzon417 | April 18, 2008 1:23 PM

You know, Curzon, I think about this every time someone brings up the issue about drafting a DT instead of a DE. When you have two excellent DEs bringing outside pressure on the pass rush, it often requires the OL to shift their blocking assignments to the outside, leaving single coverage on the inside. That alone will make the DTs more effective as pass rushers who can collapse the pocket. Yes, there needs to be a plan in place to replace Griffin soon, but the current rotation of Griffin/Golston/Montgomery is solid. However, at DE, other than Carter, what current Redskin DE could start for any other team in the NFL on every down? That would be "Nobody". Vinny talks about Marcus filling in on pass rush, but Marcus is close to the end of his useful career also.

It is just amazing to me that the Redskins continue to ignore their lack of talent at DE. Let's just hope that all the DT talk this year has just been a smokescreen to conceal real intentions for drafting a starting DE.

Chia Pet, I'm only one of many who said Landry over AP.

We have dudes who can score touchdowns when things are clicking. Given the same O line (for guesstimaparison purposes only), is AP that much better than CP? Not in my book.

Also, RBs come and go. So often we've seen a couple of great seasons and then poof!

Give me the monstrously gifted dude in Landry who with LFB is the centerpiece of our D and will be so for years and years. I stand by it. Also, it doesn't matter much, does it?

-Nate in the PDX

I am a big fan of PDX, too.

It doesn't sound very smart to build your football team around a running back who missed almost half of his college games due to serious injuries. That sounds like trying to build a passing game on receivers who spend most of their time getting groin and hammy treatments.

Andrew Crummey
Duane Thomas
Chad Rhinehart

How big are these guys?

I want road graders.

Posted by: Greg | April 18, 2008 12:50 PM

Duane Brown, Duane Brown, Duane Brown. Lol, anyway Brown and Crummy get by on finnese, but Brown has an excellent frame and is very athletic all he needs is the right coach to teach him proper technique, which to me has Joe Bugel written all over him. Apparenly he has one of the highest ceilings of all the OL in the draft, save Albert. Crummy is a technician, not a road grader.

On the other hand Rhinehart definately qualifies as a road grader. Other guys you might want to look into if you're looking for road graders are Roy Schuening, Mike McGlynn (who can play all 5 positions on the line), Chilo Rachel, and Carl Nicks.

Andrew Crummey
Duane Thomas
Chad Rhinehart

How big are these guys?

I want road graders.

Posted by: Greg | April 18, 2008 12:50 PM

Duane Brown, Duane Brown, Duane Brown. Lol, anyway Brown and Crummy get by on finnese, but Brown has an excellent frame and is very athletic all he needs is the right coach to teach him proper technique, which to me has Joe Bugel written all over him. Apparenly he has one of the highest ceilings of all the OL in the draft, save Albert. Crummy is a technician, not a road grader.

On the other hand Rhinehart definately qualifies as a road grader. Other guys you might want to look into if you're looking for road graders are Roy Schuening, Mike McGlynn (who can play all 5 positions on the line), Chilo Rachel, and Carl Nicks.

AP has some freakish talent. There were also a few question marks about his health. RBs have a generally less shelf life than other positions in the league. If you're getting one with health baggage anyway (shoulder/collarbone) what makes you think he'll play 10 years?

Hope he does. Hope he makes the Vikes great for years to come (my old man's team). But come on, he's only as good as his line allows him at times. No passing game = Redskins v. Vikes in 07. What did AP do? Thought so.

Hey look! Now we have a fake tafka at 2:03. Excellent!

AP vs. LaRon....is sort of a silly debate for a myriad of reasons mentioned above (need, injuries, 20/20 hindsight, ST loss, RB Depth, The Ron's amazingness...)

Can we get back to first round busts, or DE vs DT.....WR vs. OL...

Just a suggestion, if you disagree slap me down...

that would be jm220's job. I dare not do it in his stead.

Nate,

It does matter much.

Peterson looks every bit like the monster running back, at this point, maybe evn epic. Portis, although I love the guy, is a shadow of his former self, offensive line issues notwithstanding.

Man for man, in terms of down for down value, Peterson is the guy you should want. Trust me, Jason Campbell would benefit, if nothing else.

Chia,

Two names for you. Earl Campbel and Eric Dickerson. Fantastic runners who got nowhere. Landry is a difference maker at safety - free safety - a position he could play for almost 15 years. No contest.

Having said that, I do love LaRon.

Good pick, either way.

How many games does CP last until he tweaks that troublesome knee again? My guess is he gets injured in training camp again, and admirably hobbles through the rest of the season.

I was in the stands at Fed Ex field to see CP break off a big 50 yard gain up the right seam, on his first play as a Redskin.

That was a long time ago. What happened to that explosiveness?

the original argument was L2 over AP in the draft.

We are not comparing AP to CP.

Chia Pet... it sounds like you have a man-crush on AP. You can always become a Vikings fan.

whateves...we would never have picked AP...the point is irrelevant

I agree with CL, WAY to early to be having this discussion.

Back to draft discussions....

Running back is a VERY important position to fill; with a "difference maker."

The running back spends an awful lot of time with the ball in his hands, does he not?

Chia,

Maybe you spend too much time with balls in your...

Whoops sorry stopped myself....but couldn't resist...bad Cl bad...

AS far as the "man crush" comment; homophobic barbs are not particularly funny at all, unless you're in junior high school.

A man crush?

LOL!

What's wrong, you all don't like touchdowns?

or he spends an awful lot of time under dog-piles.
RBs can carry a team in high school and college. Teams have to be a little more balanced in the NFL.

So how about that draft?

That's hillarious, CL.

You said something about my balls!

Ha!

man crush does not equal homophobia... and yes I am in junior high school.

That other guy just said something about me being under a dog pile!

Now, that is funny.

Ha!

Ok, I'll jump into this fray.

Chia, lets say the Redskins DID, draft AP. What would they have done with Portis, and Betts?

Wait, lemme guess, they would have traded Portis/Betts for a draft pick right?? And a high one too I bet....

tafka,
laron landry is no sean taylor.and portis or betts would have had some serious trade value for a veteran safety. Im with you on the defensive end position needing to be filled we should grant miami their wish trade up for cris long and sign him with the money reserved for chad johnson.cris long was unstoppable at Va and eventually will be in the NFL.he plays every down as if its late in the 4th quarter of the super bowl.

Perhaps Buzbee, Evans, Huntley, and/or Wilson can step up this year and rotate with Daniels to form an effective DE rush/pass tandem. I agree -- it would take a lot of pressure off the DTs and secondary -- if the DEs were more effective at rushing the passer. Although the inverse is also true: a more effective rush up the middle could rattle the OL and QB; plus turn the DEs and secondary into better defenders...

Either way -- the Skins have to groom replacement for Daniels -- he's 35yrs old and hasn't been very dominant or healthy over the past two years. The Skins should use the 1st or 2nd round draft pick on a DE.

What would we have done with Portis and Betts?

I have no idea.

Let's see how much production we get out of that dynamic duo in 2008.

Chia, lets say the Redskins DID, draft AP. What would they have done with Portis, and Betts?

Posted by: Greg | April 18, 2008 2:24 PM

Greg,

Come on, dude, use your noggin. We would have traded Betts to whatever team drafted Landry, and we would have Landry plus Peterson, with Portis to back him up.

What would we have done with Portis and Betts?

I have no idea.

Let's see how much production we get out of that dynamic duo in 2008.

Posted by: Chia Pet | April 18, 2008 2:27 PM

See, thats the problem is that you cannot defend your argument. Here is the problem if the Redskins drafted AP.

There is still only ONE ball. Portis, and AD can't both carry the ball at the same time. Not to mention that having signed Betts to an extension, you now have WAY too much money tied up in ONE position. I wont even get into the fact that RB is a position that can be filled later in the draft. See, Grant from GB.

With ST's horrific passing, your safeties now become, Pierson Praylow, and Reed D. That then makes drafting a S a PRIORITY this year, versus drafting the best player on the board at 21.

It must be Fantasy Football Hour.

"Man crush" is actually not homophobic...its actually admitting straight male attraction....

I have Man Crush on Vince Vaughn...I can admit it and feel ok with myself....

Laron is pretty damn good, emotions aside, we'll see how he stacks up against ST in a couple of years...also with the untimely loss of #21 I am glad as heck The Rons on the team....

again whateves, if the skins had drafted Joe Monatana would we have won more SBs....this is a dumb conversations..

As Ken Beatrice used to quip "IF ifs and buts were candy and Chia Pets Nuts...."

Good point, Greg.

Just dreaming about scoring touchdowns; having an eye popping running back.

Pure fantasy (and not a gay one), I know.

CL,

I love you, man.

Back atcha Chia

You can't have TheRon without Charlize.

I have no problem with that. Its just a hard comparison to make at this point. Didn't AP partially tear his acl last year?

Let just say both guys are great football players, and we're lucky to have one of them.

I have Man Crush on Vince Vaughn...I can admit it and feel ok with myself

What the hell has this blog come too. Not that there is anything wrong with that. lol

Did Greg just end a dispute?
wow... just wow.

chia... its fun to dream (I still dream we had Stephan Davis), but come on, you weren't coming correct.

I'm out. Funny being called "that other guy"

The Dorf abides.

F anybody who posts a comment with someone else's nickname.

Dorf, I don't know what came over me.....I'm sorry...I really am...you weren't keeping up with your abiding duties...and look what happens...

Vince Vaughn is NOT hot.

What helped AP have the incredible season last year was the guy Minn. picked up from Seattle. Look at the differences in both teams running game after that. Unless you are Barry Sanders, you need a line to run behind or you don't have the season that AP had last year.

But as stated above, you cannot have a one dimensional game or you get 27 yds rushing against the Skins.

Please make them stop. Mock drafts this time of year are like gall bladders. Everybody has one, but we can all live without them. The squeegee guy at the Mobil station on Vine has McFadden falling to the Patriots. (He also whispered to me, "Don't sleep on Gholston," but it turns out Gholston is a street in North Hollywood.) Most mock drafts, of course, are based on someone else's mock draft. One of these years one of the handful of guys who actually does his homework has to create a Sidd Finch-type player out of Shippensburg who runs a 4.3 and can do 37 reps at 225 just to see how many other people's mock drafts the guy will make it into.

-kevin hench / foxsports

JM220 admit your man crush, c'mon.....

I originally thought AP was more of a product of his o-line, but watching him last year for the couple games I saw him in, that man is simply ridiculous. Nobody has the power/speed/quickness combo that he has. Not LT, not Westbrook, not Stephen Jackson, not Larry Johnson. He reminds me of Bo Jackson, only with better vision. Peterson is one-of-a-kind. Now, if only he could stay healthy...

And even with saying all that, I'd still take LL over AP if we could do it all over again.

Perhaps the Redskins should expend all this year's draft picks on the O-line?

Sounds crazy, but you could revamp the entire mechanism in one fell swoop; with a little luck for Vinny.

Get it over with.

Have one wild card pick which we use on a WR and that's it.

I was trying to fashion a joke/metaphor about Mock Drafts being more fun to participate in than to watch/read...but got nuttin, anybody else want to jump in. I know Chris ZZ is one funny cat....

Sorry CL I don't have a man crush on anyone.

dc,

I wouldn't mind seeing the 'skins getting in the Jared Allen sweepstakes for pocket collapsing pash rush. If Allen thinks the Vikes and Bucs are contenders who knows what he'd think about the 'skins.

Posted by: bangkokben | April 18, 2008 11:26 AM

According to Floyd Reese on ESPN radio last night that guy will probably cost a 1st and a 2nd round pick AND he's one big party from being suspended for a year from the league. Not worth the risk IMO although he's a helluva player.

You would think that anything with the name Mock attached to it would be easy to make fun of.

Kind of like Mock ChRIs Larry.

No love (er, hate) for Desmond Howard on that list? I might rank him above Westbrook among Skins' busts, because he was seen as this sort of luxury pick coming off the SB but then he amounted to diddly-poo for us as the team imploded... but maybe I'm just mad about that pick, and about how those next seasons unfolded...

Posted by: | April 18, 2008 10:33 AM

Not to mention the skins gave up two first rounders to move up and draft him.

Desmond Howard did have a pretty good game in that Superbowl he played in.

Too bad it wasn't for the Redskins.

My buddy has a bunch of Heath Shuler rookie cards; drove all the way to Carlisle to get them personally signed by Heath.

Anyone interested?

WTF?

I really don't understand some one who isn't a scout breaking down a draft prospect to his waist size. I don't know, I say draft smart by according to positions of need, coach em' up, eventually put em' on the field. Thats it. It just too many of these guys who don't pan out. There are about 250 picks in a draft, right? How many of those guys go on to have at least servicable careers? What, about 40-60, if that?

Of course my feelings toward analyzing the draft could be due to my lack of patience of breaking down players to their toe nail width. But I do enjoy reading the post from all the draft fiends and nuts. I mean hell, this was THE first place I heard of Brandon Albert, and now he's all over everyone's radar. Some mocks have him in the top 10!

Who ever made the call on this guy gets MAJOR props from me!

JaMarcus Russell will amount to nothing; add him to that list.

mtn, thanks for the info on Allen, on what the Chiefs are looking for. Good point too on how he's one strike away. My thoughts are no thanks based on those two factors. A first and a second, not to mention the contract that he'd be seeking. Nope, not gon' do it.

Derriere rulz
Briere droolz

I wonder if the people that have interest in Jared Allen are also the same ones who oppose Chad Johnson.

I picked Dre Moore out of a draft list in the newspaper, simply because I like the Terps.

I picked Ryan Scheuning from that same list because he's a Beaver.

I picked Steve Slaton because I saw him play and I know he's a fast jitterbug.

I picked Joe Flacco because I like his name.

No to Allen. KC has the upper hand on that trade. Would cost way too much. I would rather us use our drafts this year on young players, hopefully trading #21 for early 2nd and 3rd rd picks then picking up CJ on a post June 1 trade for a 2nd rd pick next year. This would give us more time to develop our WR pick and use hime as a punt returner. This would help ARE with the number of hits he takes by moving him to the slot where I think he is more dangerous.

Red, I'm against both CJ, and Allen. Giving up ANY draft picks, to me, is too much.

Allen is 25, and would cost way too much in terms of a contract, and draft picks to acquire.

CJ is turning 30, and again, way too much in terms of a draft pick, and way too much of a self absorbed player for a rookie coach, and a young qb.

The Bengals came this close to playing for a championship before Palmer went down with that knee injury; extreme reversal of fortunes.

11-5, to 5-11.

All that firepower on offense to waste.

use hime as a punt returner

or use him!!

Chad Johnson catches touchdowns on a regular basis.

Is bueno.

No?

Chad Johnson does nifty touchdown dance.

No?

Chad Johnson jumps and catches football in red zone.

No?

Chad Johnson makes them look silly.

No?

Chia makes an azz of himself.

Yes!

Ch Ch Chia!

I vote no on CJ just because I think both lines are of bigger need than WR, especially a 30 year old malcontent. I would be ok with trading the 1st rounder for Allen but it sounds lke it is gonna cost more than that which kills our chances to get multiple players of need. So pass on that too. This article from ESPN on Allen is pretty interesting from last fall. Always possible the guy could fall off the wagon but it seems like he learned his lesson.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nfl&id=3075959

Greg, at least you're consistent.

Anyone of us could fall off the wagon.

I've fallen off the wagon.

Actually, I was never on the wagon.

LSD

LET'S GO CAPS!!!

This is becoming a GREAT Caps Insider 2. Thanks for the occasional Caps snippet my man!

Always possible the guy could fall off the wagon but it seems like he learned his lesson.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nfl&id=3075959

Posted by: cdubb | April 18, 2008 3:36 PM

Seeing the mess that the Broncos went thru last season with Travis Henry - who I don't think they even traded for - would make me wary of him. He was one strike away and supposedly failed a drug test - his lawyers prevailed and he wasn't suspended but it certainly screwed up their season on offense.

how come you guys are never good?

I don't know a thing about hockey. The only three things that I find entertaining is the checking, fighting, and that horn that sounds everytime a goal is scored.

Whats up with the horn?

Red,

Come on over to the Caps Insider anytime! You're welcome my friend!

The horn sounds so people who only like hockey for the fighting and checking can claim a third thing as entertaining

Thanks anon.

I know who the stars are in hockey, but how the game is played is what I'm clueless on. However, if a DC team is playing then I'm psyched about their opportunity. I've been in this area my whole life and desperately want to see a championship trophy of some kind showcased on the streets during a parade. With apologies to my 30 and older brethren, I just can't remember Jan. 93' that well.

Gee, 4:04 anon, I never knew that. Thanks for sharing that most insightful and moving comment.

Damn! Well guess it was my turn to break the blog.

I don't know about other places but its a BEAUTIFUL day here in the DC metro area. I suggest everyone get out and enjoy the weather.

Its 84 degrees right now. I'm loving it.

Have a great weekend everyone!

GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER
by Colin Lindsay, Editor and Publisher, Great Blue North Draft Report
April 16, 2008

In no particular order, here is a brief list of players not considered first round prospects who seem to be showing up on a regular basis on pre-draft team visits:

Miami LB Tavares Gooden... Considered a potentially useful second-day type LB, Gooden began shooting up draft boards around the league when he ran the 40 in around 4.6 seconds at both the combine and his pro day. Gooden is a physical player who gets to the ball in a hurry, but still may be a bit stiff when moving in reverse.

Arkansas State FS Tyrell Johnson... Rising star in a weak secondary class; Johnson has SS size at 6-0, and almost 210 pounds, but also has excellent speed with a 40 clocking in the low 4.4 range; also has underrated ball skills picking off 6 passes in 2007.

Virginia Tech OT Duane Brown... Converted TE with long arms and perhaps the best overall athleticism in this year's OT class with a sub-5.0 40; still raw and needs to be pushed now and again, but has the physical potential to develop into a top LT.

Oregon State OG Roy Schuening... With Virginia's Branden Albert now considered as much an OT prospect, Shuening could be the first OG off the board later this month, possibly as early as the late second round; Schuening is a rugged 310-pounder with decent athleticism who plays hard. And while not necessarily dominant either run or pass blocking Schuening is solid at both facets of the game.

Northern Iowa OG Brandon Keith... Pro scouts watch NIU tapes to check out fellow offensive lineman Chad Rinehart, who more than held his own at this year's Senior Bowl, but come away just as impressed with Keith, a 345-pounder, with surprising quickness and agility for a big man who runs the 40 in under 5.20 seconds. More of a mauler, Keith still is something of a project, but has the tools to develop into a versatile pro who can play either RT or OG.

Arizona State C Mike Pollak... Was invited to the Senior Bowl almost as an afterthought, but may have been the best offesnive lineman in Mobile this year. Indeed, in a very weak year for centers, Pollak is perhaps the only player at the position likely to be taken within the first three years. Pollak isn't huge at just a few ounces over 300 pounds, but he's very quick with a sub-5.0 40 clocking; also a technically solid player who plays hard to the whistle. Other Cs who seem to be attracting some growing late round interest include Jamey Richard of Buffalo and Georgia's Fernando Velasco.

Louisille WR Mario Urrutia... Had all the look of a legitimate first rounder entering the season, but struggled through a very disappointing 2007 season; at 6-6, 232 ith 4.6 speed is still a potential match-up problem at the next level for a team looking for another Marques Colston. After virtually disappearing from the draft radar was in both Cincinnati and Pittburgh for visits this week.

Purdue DE Cliff Avril... Avril, a tweener edge rusher with good strength and a burst is being checked out by just about every 3-4 team in the league as a potential pass rush OLB. Other explosive tweener edge rushers who are getting extra attention from pro teams these days include Marcus Howard of Georgia, Bryan Smith of McNeese State, Curtis Johnson of Clark Atlantic and Hilee Taylor of North Carolina.

Meanwhile, other players on the rise these days appear to include WRs Eddie Royal of Virginia Tech, Donnie Avery of Houston, Will Franklin of Missouri, and Dexter Jackson of Appalachian State, OGs Jeremy Zuttah of Rutgers and Utah State's OG Shawn Murphy, and CBs Tyvon Branch of UConn and Antwuan Molden of Eastern Kentucky.

At the same time, small-school players who have been showng up as invited guests of pro teams include Richmond RB Tim Hightower, OTs Thaddeus Coleman of Mississippi Valley State and Northwest Louisiana's Demetrius Bell, Bentley OG Mackenzie Bernadeau, Montana DE Kroy Bierman, LBs Shane Simmons of Western Washington and Vincent Redd of Liberty, and CBs Brandon Carr of Grand Valley State and Cary Williams of Washburn.

skins, thanks for posting, seems like this is a great year to pick up offensive linemen. I like what they had to say about Duane Thomas:
"the best overall athleticism in this year's OT class with a sub-5.0 40"

Love the strong as ox, athletic linemen, but does a 40 time really mean jack? if he pulls, isn't it more about his acceleration and 10 or 15 yard burst to the LB

... I mean hell, this was THE first place I heard of Brandon Albert, and now he's all over everyone's radar. ...

Posted by: Red f/ the DMV | April 18, 2008 3:15 PM

Someone here linked to the local Fredricksburg (VA) paper of an article about how Joe Bugel monopolized Albert's chatting time at the UVA Pro-Day ... then Jasno pimped Albert a couple few days later re: a show he was supposed to be on that afternoon. I don't remember when Albert became the blog-consensus-non-plash pick (whether it was before or after the Jasno thread), but the wagons circled around Albert quickly b/c (1) Buges seemed genuinely interested and (2) nothing says "sexy pick" like a guard.

The sports beat reporter for the Fredricksburg Daily Press, Melinda Waldorp, is the writer who sparked Branden Albert's rise in draft stock for the article she wrote on March 18th (which is now, 30 days later, archived and requires payment to read).

I'm with CHriS LaRRy...just draft Offensive Linemen.

I just want to see them blow the defense off the ball -- down after down. I want to see ball control and big gains in the 3rd and 4th quarter.

I've heard that Albert is Way over-rated. His off season workouts have been mostly rib eating contests.

League sources say his work ethic is questionable and that he will probably drop off the map after his first paycheck...(wink, wink).

RIGHT JasNo!

I've heard that Albert is Way over-rated. His off season workouts have been mostly rib eating contests.

League sources say his work ethic is questionable and that he will probably drop off the map after his first paycheck...(wink, wink).

RIGHT JasNo!

Posted by: Stumped | April 18, 2008 5:01 PM

If they were human ribs off live bodies that qualifies him to be the #1 overall pick.

did someone say rib eating contest?!?!?! Sign me up!

The five foods I would most want to compete in an eating contest are:

1. Ribs
2. Oysters
3. Wings
4. Mini Sliders
5. Popcorn

It'd be nice to have AP's explosiveness. I keep hoping Portis can do what he did in Denver, but I'm accepting that it's probably not going to happen. Hopefully a better blocking scheme and new offense will help, but I still love me some Landry.

What is a mini slider, cL?

Improvement on the OL will help every one on the team. Think about it. Sustained drives keep the defense off the field and keeps them fresh.

Jason Campbell will perform better (as will the receivers) and Portis would benefit perhaps more than anyone.

Sure a defensive player like Landry (a great pick) can make the players around him look better. He can even make a few picks that would give the offense more opportunity, but those opportunities are squandered if the offense doesn't have a strong foundation.

mini slider = mini hamburger

CP was asked to be a different back in D.C. than he was in Denver....does he bust as many huge runs...no...does he bust up more heads grinding up yards...yes...

Skin haven't gotten back to the promise land since 93...but ridin CP we had two fabulous playoff runs, and even a victory....maybe I am small minded but those CP lead playoff teams provided me with the most fun its been to be a fan since 93.....

And I say thankyee CP!

mini sliders. No one can eat just one.

https://webspace.utexas.edu/yw8/pictures/finger%20burger.jpg

isn't mini slider actually a pleonasm? a slider, by itself, is a mini hamburger. So a mini mini hamburger, then?

Speaking of CP - Yeah, he may not have broken those long runs he did while out here (kinda like up here), but he has put the team on his back on multiple occasions and ground out tought tough yards, knowcked people's heads off blocking and has really been a stand up guy his entire Skins career. I've got nothing but complete respect for the dude and love watching him play.

u may be right mile high.....but whateves I'll gladly gobble both!

And it looks like we're already past the AP/LL debate...

Looks like this is the draft to get some bruisers on the line. I would love to go back to real Skins football pounding it down the other team's throat. I've defintely got a man-crush on those kind of linemen.

no doubt, CL!

Both Mike Mayock and Charles Rogers (Path To The Draft) started singing Brandon Albert's praises after the Pro Day. Both of them moved him into their Top 5 picks.

Correct me if i'm wrong, but his natural position is guard, right? Why does everyone think he'll be a brilliant left tackle? Did he play any tackle at UVA?

Caps in 7, baby! Gotta believe!

Wizards and Caps in playoff games tomorrow, at the same time. Wow...just wow. Would they do that to any other city? I'll be at the Caps game, as some tickets have recently become available. Can't lose it at home right?

Oh yeah, Merling, Nelson, Albert, Sweed, Otah. CJ, Jared from Subway, and Pacman. Make it so, Mr. Snyder!

Went to Game 5 yesterday at the Shark Tank. Sharks 4 Flames 3. No voice left. Chechoo rocks.

Both Mike Mayock and Charles Rogers (Path To The Draft) started singing Brandon Albert's praises after the Pro Day. Both of them moved him into their Top 5 picks.

Posted by: Lisa | April 18, 2008 5:51 PM

Actually Mayock has liked him ever since the whole draft process started after the Super Bowl. I don't know what happened, but something other then Mayock's praise sent Albert flying into a new stratosphere.

This thing on?

watching Mets vs. Phillies....in philly...Jose Reyes slid head first into a knee...is hurt...crowd cheered when he was hurt...booing when he got up...booed when it took awhile to decide if he was staying in game...

wow typical classy philly fans...35,000 in stadium cant be wrong....philly fans are...how do I say this...without class.

Of course Wright tripled, scoring Reyes....that Karma, sure is a beatch!

whoops! above was me

Correct me if i'm wrong, but his natural position is guard, right? Why does everyone think he'll be a brilliant left tackle? Did he play any tackle at UVA?

Posted by: mile high | April 18, 2008 5:53 PM

He played 33 (not sure why I remember that) games at guard and two at tackle. Not sure about left or right on either, but he was the pulling guard, or at least they used to pull with him out in front alot.

Rated as the #50 best steal of all time in the NFL draft.

RB Brian Westbrook (Villanova)
Drafted by: Eagles, third round, No. 91 overall, 2002
The Eagles were in need of a running back and made the wise decision to pass on guys such as William Green and Ladell Betts in the first two rounds. Westbrook led the league in total yards from scrimmage a year ago and has recently been the Eagles' most consistent offensive weapon.

In 2004 the Redskins selected one Taylor Jacobs with the 44th overall pick, passing up on guys like Osi Umenyora and Anquan Boldin,
who went at 56 and 54 respectively.

c'mon its friday nite, keep it lite! your making me depressed

In 2002, the Washington Redskins select Patrick Ramsey in the first round at the 32 spot and WR Cliff Russel at 87.

Safety Andre Lott and center Jeff Grau are selected in the later rounds.

In 2006, the Washington Redskins select Rocky MacIntosh in round 2 at #35, passing up on guys like Devin Hester at #57, Darryl Tapp, Maurice Jones Drew, and Joe Klopfenstein.

In 2005, the Washington Redskins select Carlos Rodgers with the #7 pick, whiffing on Shawne Merriman and DeMarcus Ware.

With the 25th pick, the Redskins select the venerable Jason Campbell, while Derek Anderson falls to the Ravens in round six at #213 overall.

Why didn't people make the same excuses for Derek Anderson that they still make for Jason Campbell?

Derek has bounced around between two teams, was initially considered a long shot, and earned a right to be the starting quarterback of the Browns.

Why has Jason Campbell been anointed the quarterback of the future for the Washington Redskins when he's not even the best quarterback on their roster?

Todd Collins:

I know starting QB's, and you, sir, are no starting QB.