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CanesSkins26
Canes Skin
Joined: 13 Aug 2007
Posts: 6870
Location: Alexandria, VA
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:07 pm Post subject: WP: Redskins Are Switching Sides |
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Redskins Are Switching Sides
As Draft Weekend Approaches, Focus Turns to Offensive Needs
By Jason Reid and Jason La Canfora
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, April 15, 2008; Page E03
The Washington Redskins resumed preparations for the draft at Redskins Park yesterday, shifting their attention to offense after primarily focusing on defensive players last week.
"We're getting there," Coach Jim Zorn said. "We've got a lot of the defense done, most of the defensive board, and now it's on to offense. I think everyone in the organization is" pleased with the progress.
Since early last week, Zorn and Vinny Cerrato, executive vice president of football operations, and their staffs have met for about 16 hours a day, reviewing videotapes of players and discussing options, Cerrato said. Washington, which holds the 21st pick in the April 26-27 draft, also has scheduled visits this week with draft-eligible players. Former Oklahoma wide receiver Malcolm Kelly and former Tennessee linebacker Jerod Mayo are among the players the Redskins plan to host.
The Redskins have nine picks (they do not have a fourth-round selection), including three compensatory picks -- an extra one in the third round and two additional seventh-round picks. Washington has needs along the offensive and defensive lines, at wide receiver, cornerback and safety. The Redskins also plan to select a quarterback to fill the No. 3 job behind starter Jason Campbell and backup Todd Collins.
"It's still a work in progress, but we're making good progress," Cerrato said. "The scouts, coaches, everybody . . . you can tell that they've all done a tremendous job of preparing for the meetings. And the meetings, thus far, have been very productive.
"Everybody has been very forthright about the players. There's a good understanding in the room of what we need to do as an organization. So the preparation is going well, we've got two more weeks of preparation and we're going to take advantage of the time we have."
Some mock drafts have the Redskins selecting Kelly with the 21st pick. At 6 feet 4 and 224 pounds, Kelly fits the size requirements of a big wide receiver, and the Redskins hope to provide Campbell with a bigger target as they make the transition to Zorn's version of the West Coast offense.
Although he played only three seasons at Oklahoma, Kelly is second on the school's all-time list with 2,285 yards receiving and fifth with 144 receptions. With 21 career touchdown receptions, Kelly is tied for seventh in Big 12 Conference history. At a recent workout for NFL scouts at Oklahoma, Kelly had a disappointing performance in the 40-yard dash. And after being clocked at 4.68 seconds, Kelly raised eyebrows in making critical comments about Oklahoma and how the workout was conducted.
Kelly said he had 40-yard dash times of 4.5 seconds and 4.47 seconds in another recent workout. To allay concerns about his speed, Kelly would be willing to run again for any team, his agent told reporters after the workout at Oklahoma.
With weak-side linebacker Rocky McIntosh recovering from reconstructive knee surgery, the Redskins are expected to draft an outside linebacker. The Redskins have expressed optimism about McIntosh being ready to start the 2008 season, but McIntosh also has a potentially degenerative condition in both knees. Mayo, who also declared for the draft after his junior year, was a weak-side linebacker in his first two years at Tennessee and switched to middle linebacker before last season. Mayo (6-1, 242) led the Volunteers with 140 tackles last season.
The age and the health of the offensive line are among the Redskins' top concerns. Washington wants to add a versatile lineman who could challenge for time at guard immediately and could potentially start at tackle soon, said sources involved with Washington's draft process. Virginia guard/tackle Branden Albert (6-7, 315) is highly regarded by the Redskins.
Defensive coordinator Greg Blache has voiced his desire for the team to draft an interior lineman, preferably one with superior pass-rush skills for the position, with its top pick, sources said. Cerrato, however, said no coaches have made specific position requests in the Redskins' meetings. "The comments coach Blache has made is that he wants the best player for the Redskins. That's it," Cerrato said. "When the pick is made, I think that's the one thing we have with our scouts, coaches and everybody in the organization . . . we all just want to do what's in the best interest of the Redskins.
"No one is in the meetings saying that they've got to have this position or that position. Everybody is on board with getting the best guy, and the right guy, for the Redskins. There's no coach in there saying, 'I've got to have him.' That's totally not happening. It's all about what's best for the team." |
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/14/AR2008041402483.html |
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SkinsFreak
Fire in the Sky
Joined: 27 Dec 2005
Posts: 4884
Location: Surfside
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 7:16 am Post subject: |
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| It appears they're really taking their time and doing their due diligence. I hope it produces some good talent for us. We need it. |
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SkinsJock
08 Champ
Joined: 24 Feb 2004
Posts: 11514
Location: New England
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 7:47 am Post subject: |
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I am just hoping that they can stick to the game plan that they have indicated - that is, they know their positions of need and they think they know who the players are that can fill those needs. IF they have done their homework and can identify the future good to very good NFL players from these picks then we will be fine.
We need to get younger and add depth - we have 9 picks and one of the best draft gurus of the past 15 years running things - we have the June cuts to fine tune things and we have an offense that no defensive co-ordinator has any film on PLUS a defense that should be stronger than last year by adding a few players.
Lets get ready to rumble  |
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gay4pacman
Pacman Rules
Joined: 17 Apr 2005
Posts: 1855
Location: Lawn Monster
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 8:07 am Post subject: |
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it is very exciting having 9 picks including 2 third rounders. i like the third rounders because this year only the first two rounds are on sat. with the third round starting on Sunday morning. After the two rounds are done the redskins can focus in on their two third rounders sat. night and make two good selections. in the chaos of the first day it is hard to focus on third round picks especially when the time between rounds have been shortened.
I look for the redskins to add two quality players in the third round. There is plenty of talent to pik tweo good contributors in the third.
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SkinsFreak
Fire in the Sky
Joined: 27 Dec 2005
Posts: 4884
Location: Surfside
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 9:33 am Post subject: |
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| SkinsJock wrote: | | Lets get ready to rumble |
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PeetyPa
swine
Joined: 12 Feb 2008
Posts: 53
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 1:17 pm Post subject: |
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| I am excited too. Now that they are talking offense. Yesterday I watched a full game of Houston vs Perdue, thier last game last year. I really like Hardy...He has speed and get off the line pretty quick. I dont know how good Perdue DB were, but Hardy made plays when he had to. He is a like a Berrian...thin and tall and can go get it...not as fast though...but we have fast already with Moss. |
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SkinsJock
08 Champ
Joined: 24 Feb 2004
Posts: 11514
Location: New England
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| Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 7:16 am Post subject: |
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The point of the article is ONLY that the focus has changed from defensive players to offensive players. One might conclude that the focus was first placed on the defensive players because that is the area of most concern. 
I think that they are just doing their due diligence and covering all the bases - However, I do hope that given a preference the team would like one of the defensive linemen gems that they have selected in this process to be available at the #21 spot.
I think they will take the player that they feel is most likely to help the team that is at a position of need. I feel that IF the players available are very highly rated by the team at WR, OL, DL or DB the selection should be the player that the team thinks will most immediately impact the team and I think that is at DL.
As we know we need to get younger and add depth - Cerrato and his bunch just better be really good at finding about 5 or more guys in this draft that can make the team - It is imperative that any picks we make in the first 3 rounds make this team. If not, then I hope Cerrato leaves or gets fired for not doing his job to the standard we require  |
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VetSkinsFan
One Step Away
Joined: 19 Jul 2007
Posts: 7779
Location: NoVA
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| Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 7:27 am Post subject: |
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| With the lack of news before draft day, I think this article is just filler. I have a feeling that we'll do good in the draft. I want Zorn and co to come out and do great and wonderful things... |
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GSPODS
Hog
Joined: 03 Sep 2007
Posts: 4983
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| Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 7:31 am Post subject: |
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I think the term "due dilligence" is being over-used in terms of the Washington Redskins.
You figure out who you want, and you figure out how to get who you want.
You can either get who you want with your draft selections or you can't.
You can either trade up or you can't.
You can either trade down or you can't.
If the best three players available at #21 are all at positions your team doesn't need, then you screwed up.
If your targeted first round player is still available at #51, then you screwed up.
This isn't rocket science. You make a draft board of who you want and what it will take to get who you want. If the cost for one prospect is too high, you erase that name and move on to the next name.
Meeting with prospects is fine for character evaluation but teams already have all of the film and have already made the phone calls to college coaching staff and anyone else necessary well before scheduling any meetings with prospects.
Due dilligence means you do what you have to do to get who you want, not that you interview everyone just in case you have no plan of action.
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PulpExposure
Pushing Paper
Joined: 06 Sep 2005
Posts: 4461
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| Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:40 am Post subject: |
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| PeetyPa wrote: | | I am excited too. Now that they are talking offense. Yesterday I watched a full game of Houston vs Perdue, thier last game last year. I really like Hardy...He has speed and get off the line pretty quick. I dont know how good Perdue DB were, but Hardy made plays when he had to. He is a like a Berrian...thin and tall and can go get it...not as fast though...but we have fast already with Moss. |
I don't know why you'd get anything of value regarding Hardy from Houston v. Purdue.
James Hardy played for Indiana. |
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fleetus
Hog
Joined: 25 Apr 2004
Posts: 1757
Location: Charlottesville, Va.
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| Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 1:49 pm Post subject: |
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| GSPODS wrote: | I think the term "due dilligence" is being over-used in terms of the Washington Redskins.
You figure out who you want, and you figure out how to get who you want.
You can either get who you want with your draft selections or you can't.
You can either trade up or you can't.
You can either trade down or you can't.
If the best three players available at #21 are all at positions your team doesn't need, then you screwed up.
If your targeted first round player is still available at #51, then you screwed up.
This isn't rocket science. You make a draft board of who you want and what it will take to get who you want. If the cost for one prospect is too high, you erase that name and move on to the next name.
Meeting with prospects is fine for character evaluation but teams already have all of the film and have already made the phone calls to college coaching staff and anyone else necessary well before scheduling any meetings with prospects.
Due dilligence means you do what you have to do to get who you want, not that you interview everyone just in case you have no plan of action.
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Due Diligence just means they are doing their homework on all the players. You can't accomplish any of those things you mentioned above if you don't know everything about all of the players.
and drafting for need is not the way to succeed in the NFL. You draft for talent first, need second and hopefully find a nice combination of the two. To get the exact player you want will almost always require a trade. You can only trade up and down depending on which other teams will even discuss a trade. (and for what price?) All these GM's are poker players and they're not telling you who they want or how badly they want them. So due diligence is required because the draft has a life of its own. None of the so-called expert mock drafters will predict even the first 15 picks exactly right, much less the whole 7 rounds. So to draft well, you need to know about every player, even the ones you don't think you have a shot at. Because one of those players may fall into your lap. or maybe another team's favorite player falls into your lap (e.g. - Brady Quinn last year) and you have to be smart enough to know how to convince the right team, that you may really draft this player, to force a trade. It is not a simple process. |
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old-timer
Hog
Joined: 20 Nov 2005
Posts: 393
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| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 10:45 pm Post subject: |
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| fleetus wrote: | | GSPODS wrote: | I think the term "due dilligence" is being over-used in terms of the Washington Redskins.
You figure out who you want, and you figure out how to get who you want.
You can either get who you want with your draft selections or you can't.
You can either trade up or you can't.
You can either trade down or you can't.
If the best three players available at #21 are all at positions your team doesn't need, then you screwed up.
If your targeted first round player is still available at #51, then you screwed up.
This isn't rocket science. You make a draft board of who you want and what it will take to get who you want. If the cost for one prospect is too high, you erase that name and move on to the next name.
Meeting with prospects is fine for character evaluation but teams already have all of the film and have already made the phone calls to college coaching staff and anyone else necessary well before scheduling any meetings with prospects.
Due dilligence means you do what you have to do to get who you want, not that you interview everyone just in case you have no plan of action.
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Due Diligence just means they are doing their homework on all the players. You can't accomplish any of those things you mentioned above if you don't know everything about all of the players.
and drafting for need is not the way to succeed in the NFL. You draft for talent first, need second and hopefully find a nice combination of the two. To get the exact player you want will almost always require a trade. You can only trade up and down depending on which other teams will even discuss a trade. (and for what price?) All these GM's are poker players and they're not telling you who they want or how badly they want them. So due diligence is required because the draft has a life of its own. None of the so-called expert mock drafters will predict even the first 15 picks exactly right, much less the whole 7 rounds. So to draft well, you need to know about every player, even the ones you don't think you have a shot at. Because one of those players may fall into your lap. or maybe another team's favorite player falls into your lap (e.g. - Brady Quinn last year) and you have to be smart enough to know how to convince the right team, that you may really draft this player, to force a trade. It is not a simple process. |
Like all good poker players, the best ones know what their competition needs. It remains to be seen whether we can expect the same mediocrity from Cerrato and Snyder this year that we have seen in the previous 8.
So, the WP thinks we need a linebacker. Is Antonio Pierce available? Perhaps we could trade a no. 1 for him? What about a cornerback..think Denver will part with Champ Bailey?
Of course, our biggest needs are O-line and D-line. |
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