Well, I would make the first thing I do going into the offseason...........

[Utah]

I would make 2 players my main goal for resigning.

1)Westbrook. If for no other reason, which there are alot of them, he will bring in a big QB. IF we go after a name or have a shot at a trade, Westbrook will be a key for any of the QB's to come here. Its great to have Davis, Samuels and Jansen, but they have to have someone to throw to. Gardner will be there, but QB's will know of his drops.

2)Lang. We need him to start getting bigger reps at end because he will be the future there. While I hope Bruce will be back, Lang should see quite a bit of time there to take advantage of his time spent at DT. I think we may get the same reaction from him that we got from SD when he was at FB. Should be interesting.

I think regardless of what happens with trades or anything, we will be going after a young DT. Big against the run and moderate against the pass.

Just thoughts for now.......

[@DCGoldPants]

a lot of people don't want westbrook back Utah.

However, I am one of the people who don't see anything better out there and available.

Lang is a must.

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[bulldog]

one thing I keep hearing from fans here on this board is how there is no quarterback out there that can be an upgrade on Banks, how there is no wide receiver that will be capable of being a starter, how there are no defensive tackles out there that can come in and help stop the run.

let's not allow our paranoia and frustration which has reached a peak at 6-8, take us down that road.

I GUARANTEE you there will be more than one quarterback that becomes available in the offseason that will be an upgrade on Banks. Whether Marty determines the qb spot is important enough to commit the resources to making such a move is a question mark. But the opportunity will be there.

I also GUARANTEE you that at least one wide receiver and defensive tackle will change teams in the offseason in free agency that have a MAJOR impact on their new teams in 2002. In fact there will probably be MORE than one each.

I really don't think it is of any value for fans to think it is impossible for the team to upgrade itself before we let the offseason unfold and see who becomes available in the draft and free agency.

There are surprises every year. Players you don't think will become available, become available. Players fall in the draft whom you would think are going to be #1 picks, like Fred Smoot last year.

This is way too early to be Chicken Little going around crying that the sky is falling.

If the Redskins can't come up with a quarterback for next season that can finish above #12 in the NFC passer ratings (that's NFC not NFL) then we should bring in Ron Wolf and give him a stake in the team as a GM because that is unacceptable.

[KevinthePRF]

I agree that other WRs and DTs will become available. Those are markets that tend to saturate over the spring and summer.

Although the opposite can be said, or "GUARENTEED" for that matter, concerning quarterbacks. Schottenheimer probably didn't dedicate himself to Jeff George early because he wanted to, it's because he had to. The same can probably be said for him sticking with Tony Banks.

The free agent market wasn't so abundant this past offseason. And the top two free agents, Grbac and Brad Johnson, have actually made their teams MORE unstable than a year before.

Making a big trade for a QB would be a viable option, but we have yet to see if it has paid dividends for the Chiefs.

The draft should almost be an afterthought concerning QBs unless your drafting a Peyton Manning. Forget this year's rookies. It's still unsure if Chad Pennington, Chris Redmon, or Tee Martin are NFL QBs or not, and I'm sure Redskin fans don't have a 3 year plan in mind the way their begging for an upgrade at the QB position.

[bulldog]

I disagree. Marty set himself up for failure by counting on a unreliable player in Jeff George and backing him up with a player in Husak that had thrown a total of 2 passes in the NFL. When George got hurt in camp, this team's offense came to a grinding halt and it really has never recovered.

Gardner and Westbrook never got the reps in the preseason games they needed to be sharp. Alexander was never integrated into the offense when healthy early on.

Regarding Elvis Grbac. Grbac was a high profile acquisition, but what has to be remembered is the Ravens have been pelted with injuries all season long.

At one point the Ravens were down to their #4 running back. Jamal Lewis was hurt in camp, Jason Brookins got hurt, Terry Allen got hurt. Special teamer Moe Williams was starting 2 weeks ago. That is a huge dropoff.

On the offensive line the team lost 2 starters to free agency/injury in the offseason, Jeff Mitchell and Leon Searcy.

Without Lewis and a consistent running game, I don't see Trent Dilfer taking this team to the Super Bowl last year.

And outside of Shannon Sharpe, the Baltimore receivers are not stars, merely workmanlike. You won't see any Ravens wideouts in the pro bowl.

so the question becomes to whom is Grbac supposed to throw the ball when the team can't run the ball and they are behind by 7-10 points?

[indyskinsfan]

Good points Kevin and Bulldog. I was happy to see that at least in a critical point two WR's showed seperation and presence of mind on the field when we weren't down to our last minute. Some strange QB selections, kept taking the wind out of their sails, but they forged on. Westbrook and Gardner. Although I think on general principle of playing under Raye, Westbrook will want out, exspecially if Marty gets brain-lock in February and says he's still going to keep Banks.

I think Marty will come to his senses. Derius Thompson was a "goat" in the game or the Skins were just desperate to try anything. Why they didn't include this guy in the last couple of games more often, I'll never know. Whatever. The work ahead IS WR, DT (sign a young FA, no oldies please), move Lang to DE, and definitely QB.