JeffSchmeff Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Pretty good piece of an NFL notes article by Albert Breer. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d82586704/article/shanahan-practices-patience-as-redskins-rebuilding-continues The Redskins aren't going to the playoffs this season, and they didn't go last year either.And by the standards Mike Shanahan set in his championship years in Denver, the results in Washington certainly aren't good enough. Not then. Not now. Not ever. But the situation the coach faced in Washington, when he arrived there two Januarys ago, was much different than the job he had previously. Then, Shanahan had a Hall of Fame quarterback in his mid-30s, John Elway, and a veteran roster dictating a quick retool and win-immediately approach. Now, he's overhauling a place that had been dysfunctional for a decade. Thirty-one games into his Redskin life, this much is clear: If Shanahan needed a proverbial chisel in Colorado, he's had to pull out the jackhammer in D.C. "We needed to get depth at all positions," Shanahan emphasized, over the phone from his office recently. "We had no depth at all. And now, with a good draft and run in free agency, we'll be right in the thick of things next year. I really believe that. I told the owner when he hired me, 'This is not gonna happen overnight. You hire me for five years, you're gonna have to give us that time.' We're getting there." Here's proof: 21 of the 53 men on the active roster (and this isn't including suspended left tackle Trent Williams, or injured rookies Jarvis Jenkins and Leonard Hankerson) have two or fewer years in the league. The club had just two picks in the first five rounds of the 2010 draft -- part of that was the swing-and-miss on Donovan McNabb, part of it was the previous regime's free-wheeling ways -- and both the first-round pick (Williams) and fourth-round pick (LB Perry Riley) in that equation are starting. Last year, Shanahan attacked the depth problem head-on by dealing his way into a dozen picks, and all 12 of those players remain on the team. Four are starting, and another two could be, but are injured. And on top of all that, the veterans that Shanahan has brought are young and not back-breaking financially. The defensive line is now made up of three such 27-year-olds -- Stephen Bowen, Barry Cofield and Adam Carriker. Knowing that group will get rookie Jarvis Jenkins back and is bookended by Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan is enough to have Shanahan think coordinator Jim Haslett's unit has a big future. "You're looking at a defense that's going to be in the Top 10, for sure," Shanahan said. There's more work to do offensively. While Roy Helu may have answered questions at tailback and the line has a foundation, the team needs more young talent on the perimeter and, most importantly, a guy to get that talent the ball. But again, Shanahan knew this would take time. And he's not pressing to fill holes. "I feel very good, especially going into next year with what we'll have back, especially having gone through some adversity," Shanahan said. "We're gonna keep building on it the right way. We're not gonna take guys just to get guys. Only one team is happy at the end of the year, and to be that team you have to build the organization the right way. To do that, you make sure you limit mistakes, especially with the cap, and bring in the right guys." McNabb is one example of a player who didn't fit. Albert Haynesworth is another. Those guys were traded for sixth-round and fifth-round picks in 2012 and '13 respectively, and both have since been whacked by their new teams. And while Shanahan wasn't pointing fingers at those guys in particular, he did say that his second team has developed far more of an all-in mentality than his first Redskins group ever could. "You get rid of guys that don't want to be part of it. Every coach does that," he said. "You don't do that, you have no chance. You have to have guys who wanna do it, who pay the price, who aren't just collecting checks. You get rid of them in that first year, or the first couple years, and we may not have it nailed yet, but we're much closer." Last Sunday's loss to the Vikings aside, they've been close against some pretty good teams over the past month, as well. They had the Cowboys and Jets on the ropes, and were on the verge of tying their game with the Patriots at the wire, before breaking through with a convincing win over the Giants in Week 15. "We want to try to be able to dominate teams," Shanahan said. "I thought with the Giants game, we played very well, did what we had to do in the second half, and took it to them physically. What we have to do now is do it week-in and week-out. Sometimes, when you have a young team, you have to grow. We have to learn how to win, and we've been close playing against some very talented football teams." So what does it add up to? Shanahan has certainly changed the mentality at Redskin Park, and a load of the ancillary pieces to a team that should contend going forward are in place. The elephant in the room remains the quarterback position, but Shanahan was in position to take one last year and passed, proving that he's willing to wait on the right one. On the surface, it appears to have been the right move. The team took the pick that wound up being Blaine Gabbert, who's been shaky in Jacksonville, and parlayed it into Kerrigan, receiver Leonard Hankerson, tailback Roy Helu, and safety D.J. Gomes, who have all started games. When I asked Shanahan if he'll be in the market for a young signal-caller this spring, he said coyly, "I think everybody's in the market for one." But he promised, too, that he'll take the same measured approach with that position that he's taken with every other one. The coach has already been through 20 losses in Washington. He suffered just 17 in his first four years in Denver. Different challenge here, sure. But the ultimate hope for Shanahan is that the end result will be the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theismann07 Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Nice article. I still have full faith in this new regime and I'm confident that they will get the job done. It just shows how much Vinny and Danny had screwed this organiztion up over the years. It's not an easy fix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
issapunk Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Good article. Anyone who wants Shanny gone before 5 years is a straight up doofus. This draft is the defining point of his regime. Take a QB and we got a chance. Somehow don't get one and hope is lost for next year at least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedro Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 You get rid of them in that first year, or the first couple years, and we may not have it nailed yet, but we're much closer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Levi Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Good article. Anyone who wants Shanny gone before 5 years is a straight up doofus. This draft is the defining point of his regime. Take a QB and we got a chance. Somehow don't get one and hope is lost for next year at least. Did you not pay attention to the article? We got TWELVE dudes in last year's draft, and they are all still on the team. I'd take another draft like that over ONE QB. I know most of you wouldn't, but that's how I feel. QB can wait another year if things don't line up right for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsoe Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Getting rid of players like 'Los. I don't care what he's doing in SF, he didn't want to be here and warranted being let go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RFKFedEx Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 I'm w/ Levi. Stock the roster for another year if the QB isn't there for us in 2012. The ShanAllen approach is slowly working us into the right direction. After a decade of taking failed shortcuts, I'm more than willing to be patient another year to get this right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hail2skins Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Out of the 10-15 college QBs that Shanny is supposedly evaluating, you would think that he has a few that he thinks will work, even aside from Luck or RG3. We need a viable alternative to Rex in here this season. Whether RG3/Luck falls to us, whether we trade up to get them, or whether Mike likes somebody else.......anyone. After two straight 6-10 seasons with a lazy McNabb and a turnover-prone Grossman, we still want to continue the rebuilding process, but its time to stop kicking this QB situation down the road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRAVEONAWARPATH Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 I know most of you wouldn't, but that's how I feel. QB can wait another year if things don't line up right for us. I've heard many ESers spout this opinion for years now. Just when will things "line up right for us?" One more year? Two? Three? Time to get a QB now. :2cents: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FSUSkins24 Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Did you not pay attention to the article?We got TWELVE dudes in last year's draft, and they are all still on the team. I'd take another draft like that over ONE QB. I know most of you wouldn't, but that's how I feel. QB can wait another year if things don't line up right for us. Amen Brotha! I'd take another draft like last year over trading for Luck or trading too much for RG3 in a heartbeat. People on this board need to realize what building a team means. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Levi Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 I've heard many ESers spout this opinion for years now.Just when will things "line up right for us?" One more year? Two? Three? Time to get a QB now. :2cents: You make it sound like there's only one way to do this, and it's not so. I'd rather have another draft where we bring in 10 players - even if one of them is a 2nd or 3rd round QB - than trade away the draft. We are FINALLY doing things right here and people still want to go back to the days where we get 3 picks a draft. That doesn't work. We've seen it year after year in D.C. Last year's draft was amazing. Another couple drafts like that and we'll have a winner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hail2skins Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 I'd rather have another draft where we bring in 10 players - even if one of them is a 2nd or 3rd round QB - than trade away the draft. And that's fair Levi. In another thread recently TK made the good point (allusion) that Shanny will see what kind of holes we'll be able to fill in FA in March and early April and then make the analysis of what his strategy will be in regard to the draft. Either way, I'd like him to get the guy he feels most comfortable with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hitman21ST Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 You make it sound like there's only one way to do this, and it's not so. I'd rather have another draft where we bring in 10 players - even if one of them is a 2nd or 3rd round QB - than trade away the draft. We are FINALLY doing things right here and people still want to go back to the days where we get 3 picks a draft.That doesn't work. We've seen it year after year in D.C. Last year's draft was amazing. Another couple drafts like that and we'll have a winner. We're not going to trade away the whole draft, and we can get by without a first rounder for a year or two. We'll find great players in the second, third, and fourth rounds like Shanny has done the past two years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinfan2k Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Shanny is doing it right. I wish he doesn't get a QB just to get a QB. You have to be 100% right otherwise every other move you make is pointless. I don't care if the best 52 man roster but if your QB is of the makeup of John Beck, Akili Smith, JaMarcus Russell, the team won't be successful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Levi Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 And that's fair Levi. In another thread recently TK made the good point (allusion) that Shanny will see what kind of holes we'll be able to fill in FA in March and early April and then make the analysis of what his strategy will be in regard to the draft. Either way, I'd like him to get the guy he feels most comfortable with. If we hit on FA, that certainly frees us up to do something more in the draft. I agree that Shannahan will do the right thing. Who would rather have Gabbert than last year's draft? And we need a QB just as bad last year. He made the right move. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hitman21ST Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 If we hit on FA, that certainly frees us up to do something more in the draft. I agree that Shannahan will do the right thing.Who would rather have Gabbert than last year's draft? And we need a QB just as bad last year. He made the right move. I'm curious to see who we'll go after in free agency. It'll be interesting to see Shanahallen work their magic with a full offseason for once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussieskin Posted December 31, 2011 Share Posted December 31, 2011 the advantage in building depth etc then getting the QB is the QB we have will be experienced and wont be so gun shy, then when the new QB comes in the OL and the peripherals will know the system, all the new QB has to do is watch and learn, then execute i am very pleased where the franchise is now MS has brought this club a long way in two years next march and april will define where we are going Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gortiz Posted December 31, 2011 Share Posted December 31, 2011 Getting rid of players like 'Los. I don't care what he's doing in SF, he didn't want to be here and warranted being let go. I agree man ... call us homers, but Los was done with us and visa versa. He only played well because he had a chip on his shoulder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD_washingtonredskins Posted December 31, 2011 Share Posted December 31, 2011 That was a nice article. I fully, 100% believe that Shanahan will have us contending at or before the five-year milestone. He's made far too many great personnel decisions in the first two off-seasons to believe otherwise. I really hope he's here for another contract after this one. After that time, I want him to remain the VP while someone (hopefully Kyle) takes over as the coach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zazzaro703 Posted December 31, 2011 Share Posted December 31, 2011 This is the catch 22 for me. As much as i would love to use all of our picks (and using some of those to get more even) and continue adding depth, If the Shanahan's grade RGIII or Luck as an absolute can't miss prospect what do we do? I think we are close enough all around on the depth chart that trading away picks to acquire the QB the Shanahan's want wouldn't hurt us too bad. But then we all know it will be a circus saying Dan Snyder is back running the team. I guess the good thing is, if the Shanahan's actually do trade away picks it will be for a good reason and not just an ill advised cannon ball into the pool. As much as i want to get a top prospect QB, it's good to know if the cards don't fall that way it's because smart people are making the football decisions and we will end up ok. I really do feel though if the Shanahan's really like Luck or RGIII we will make a huge play to trade up and not just sit back and wait to see what falls to us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loyal2Washington Posted December 31, 2011 Share Posted December 31, 2011 We'll find great players in the second, third, and fourth rounds like Shanny has done the past two years. Usually like your posts Hitman but really, "GREAT" players? 2010 2nd- McNabb- No longer on team 3rd- Jarmon- No fault of Shanny 4th-Perry Riley- looks solid but not exactly great 2011 2nd- Jenkins- Going off TC hype only. 3rd- Hankerson- Looks OK but after one game against Miami I'm not ready to say he's Jerry Rice 4th- Helu- Best of the bunch and looks like a capable NFL starting RB. I wouldn't toot that horn too many times. You can make an argument that two of the four seven round picks from this past draft, Chris Neild and Maurice Hurt have contributed more to the team then the six picks listed above combined. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conn Posted December 31, 2011 Share Posted December 31, 2011 Chris Neild and Maurice Hurt have contributed more to the team then the six picks listed above combined. Even Helu? Don't think so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redskins4ever Posted December 31, 2011 Share Posted December 31, 2011 What's that old saying? Rome, Egypt, and Greece weren't built in a day? It will undoubtedly take the time of Mike Shanahan's full five year contract to restore the Redskins back to the glory years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinfan2k Posted December 31, 2011 Share Posted December 31, 2011 People don't realize how bad this team is and the team he inherited. this team will need 3 full drafts/offseason to get rid of this trash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Symbol Posted December 31, 2011 Share Posted December 31, 2011 What's that old saying? Rome, Egypt, and Greece weren't built in a day? It will undoubtedly take the time of Mike Shanahan's full five year contract to restore the Redskins back to the glory years. And then hopefully, if he still has the itch to coach, he'll sign on for another 5 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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