Redskins report: Strategy and personnel Jan. 22, 2004

[BillyKilmer]

Redskins report: Strategy and personnel Jan. 22, 2004

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/teams/report/WAS/7026324

Notes, quotes, anecdotes | Inside slant Washington's list of needs is starting to firm up with scouts having looked over tape and coach Joe Gibbs' staff having begun the process of eyeing last year's team. The highest priorities are expected to be running back, defensive line and tight end.

The Redskins likely will have another free-spending offseason, though much will depend on how quickly Gibbs gets up to speed with cap and contract issues. Projected targets include Cincinnati RB Corey Dillon, Tampa Bay DT Warren Sapp and Tennessee DE Jevon Kearse.

A big key to the offseason will be the No. 5 overall pick. At this early stage, it appears Washington might select one of several juniors -- Virginia Tech running back Thomas Jones, Oregon State running back Steven Jackson and Miami tight end Kellen Winslow Jr.

"With the juniors, I think it will end up a pretty deep class," vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato said. "The juniors are going to add to it. It'll make it a good class."

UNIT BY UNIT ANALYSIS

QUARTERBACKS

Starter -- Patrick Ramsey. Backups -- Tim Hasselbeck, Gibran Hamdan.

Ramsey finished with a 75.8 rating but there continues to be confidence that he can thrive given the right system.

RUNNING BACKS

Starters -- RB Trung Canidate, FB Bryan Johnson. Backups -- RB Ladell Betts, RB Chad Morton, RB John Simon, RB Sultan McCullough, FB Rock Cartwright.

An almost certain position to be overhauled as the team lacks a legitimate feature back.

TIGHT ENDS

Starter -- Zeron Flemister. Backups -- Kevin Ware, Byron Chamberlain, Robert Royal.

Another position with virtually nothing to keep. Royal is the only player with some potential, but he has spent the bulk of his two NFL seasons on injured reserve.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Starters -- Laveranues Coles, Rod Gardner. Backups -- Darnerien McCants, Patrick Johnson, Taylor Jacobs, Cliff Russell.

Coles had a great start, nice game against Seattle and decent finished helped him put together an 82-catch, 1,204-yard season. It will be interesting to watch a new staff utilize his skills.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Starters -- LT Chris Samuels, LG Derrick Dockery, C Lennie Friedman, RG Randy Thomas, RT Jon Jansen. Backups -- T Brandon Winey, C/T Pita Elisara, T Daryl Terrell, C Larry Moore, G Dave Fiore, T Kenyatta Jones.

Samuels and Jansen still have the potential to be one of the NFL's better combinations. Thomas has tremendous footwork for a guard and is very effective when Washington gets him out into space for pulls or upfield blocks. Dockery, a third-round pick, struggled when he replaced injured Fiore but held his own late in the season.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Starters -- RDE Regan Upshaw, NT Lional Dalton, DT Berard Holsey, LDE Renaldo Wynn. Backups -- DE Bruce Smith, DE Peppi Zellner, DT Darrell Russell, DT Martin Chase, DT Brandon Noble, DT Jermaine Haley.

Big changes loom for a line that couldn't rush the passer or stop the run.

LINEBACKERS

Starters -- LaVar Arrington, Jeremiah Trotter, Jessie Armstead. Backups -- Antonio Pierce, Kevin Mitchell, Lemar Marshall, Clifton Smith, Nic Clemons.

Washington's big-name corps didn't live up to its billing under coordinator George Edwards.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Starters -- CB Champ Bailey, CB Fred Smoot, SS Ifeanyi Ohalete, FS Matt Bowen. Backups -- CB Rashad Bauman, CB Ade Jimoh, S Andre Lott, S David Terrell, S Todd Franz.

The Redskins won't let four-time Pro Bowler Bailey escape, though negotiations with the franchise tag should be lengthy and difficult.

SPECIAL TEAMS

K John Hall, P Bryan Barker, LS Ethan Albright, KR Chad Morton.

Hall steadied a longtime problem position for Washington. Barker came back from a dreadful 2002 season to drop 24 punts inside the 20.

[Heavy Jumbo]

The Redskins likely will have another free-spending offseason, though much will depend on how quickly Gibbs gets up to speed with cap and contract issues.[/b]

Why didn't we hear about Spurrier running into possible problems with the NFL rules in free agency? All they said was his system won't work. That that we have Gibbs, they don't question his system, but say he will have problems with the salary cap?

There always has to be something wrong with the "Skins.

[bulldog]

this analysis is pretty superficial and includes nothing we haven't posted ourselves about the team.

for the wide receivers the article only mentions Coles.

while he is the best player at the position there are other players whose talent may merit a look here under Gibbs in 2004 including Gardner, McCants, Johnson and even Jacobs.

in fact it may very well be that this is once again going to be the receivers corps for the Washington Redskins.

it is not beyond the realm of possibility.

Patrick Johnson is just the kind of player that Gibbs likes, hard working, versatile and a guy with a good mix of skills.

[Thinking Skins]

Originally posted by BillyKilmer

SPECIAL TEAMS

K John Hall, P Bryan Barker, LS Ethan Albright, KR Chad Morton.

Hall steadied a longtime problem position for Washington. Barker came back from a dreadful 2002 season to drop 24 punts inside the 20. [/b]

I'm so mad that they put in a positive note about Barker!!!!

[ummagumma]

What irks me is that they make the typical back handed comment about "another free spending offseason", but then proceed to point out all the obvious problems the Redskins have. Well, what are the Skins to do? Not fix their problems? If they do they're "free spending". But if they don't they're not smart and hammer them for omissions.

[chazz2]

Indeed theres going to be changes, D-line and RB should not go to next year the same. Major changes will happen to get the skins in competition mode. Players with heart like PJ and McCants we likely stay. We just need a good blocking TE that knows what he is doing.