Does Joe Gibbs have a model for building the team? If so, how is he doing? (long)

[Jumbo]

Beautiful work Sonny, and thanks for putting out such an interesting and informative effort. I agree with what Oldfan says, we are only a couple of players and plays (and maybe this 2nd year experience w/system) away from winning most of the games we're losing. At the risk of being stoned, I would like to see us address both lines first, even with the DE need. On D, a better interior rush on obvious pass plays would help us a lot, and switching personnel on such plays would keep the D fresher and lessen the 4th qtr big plays we give up. I also have been criticizing the explosiveness (lack of) of the O-line for our short yardage problems, but the coaches seem to love it the way it is so I'm skeptical we'll look for new starters there, but maybe some new back-up besides Molinaro. Maybe Nemo will be the answer for short yardage, but I don't think it's a RB problem. I can only hope I'm wrong.

[Art McDonough]

1. We have a short yardage back: Nemo Broughton. Betts could also easily fill the bill. What we need is a short yardage offensive line.

2. A solid No. 2 WR.

3. Robert Royal couldn't block his own mother. We need another Donnie Warren.

4. One good speed rushing DE is all we need there. It would change the entire dynamic of the defensive line because he would command double teaming freeing up others like Griffin. We need some quality depth at DT.

5. We just need a quality return specialist for punts and kickoffs. Suit up Brian Mitchell.

My additions:

6. Punter

7. Two offensive linemen who will push Samuels and Dockery in camp.

8. Coaching changes on offense. Time for Joe Bugel, Jack Burns, and Don Breaux to return to retirement.

9. Pay Russ Grimm anything he wants to become assistant head coach-offense (not a chance he would accept, though).

10. Take a hard look at QB. Brunell has had a very good year in my opinion, but he is not the long term solution there. In the past two years, an amazing number of very young QB's have been highly successful around the league. Maybe we need one.

[Sonny Joe Hog]

Pretty cool work...but I don't know how a 5-6 team can be compared to an 11-0 team just by using the stats of their main players. I think the main difference between the 2 teams is the role players and depth.

I agree with you that depth and role players are major differences in the two teams. But that is true not just for these two teams but it is true for all of today's teams compared to the teams of 1991. Joe Gibbs has been called "the ultimate role players coach" and I'm not sure that is an advantage in today's NFL where it is so much harder to find good backups and role players due to expansion, free agency, and the salary cap.

I also agree with others who have posted that much of a team's depth in today's NFL must come through the draft in order to overcome the challenges of free agency and the salary cap. So far, I think that Joe Gibbs has played a little fast and loose in giving up valuable draft picks. He may need to figure out a way to get some more draft picks in order to improve team depth.