These are my Washington Redskins. A team that feels their defensive line is pretty set enough that they refused to bring in anyone to help bolster it [despite everyone else in the football world saying it sucks] ... yet Joe Gibbs has constantly have added defensive backs to the roster despite having spent numerous high draft picks on them over the last decade.
And it's happening again. The Skins added former St. Louis Ram cormerback Jerametrius Butler to the fray. Interestingly, the Skins signed Butler to an offer sheet back in 2004 that the Rams matched. Since then, he's had significant injury problems, playing in just six games over the past two seasons.
"We feel like corner is a really important spot," Gibbs said. "When you get a chance to add there, we're going to do it."
Again, but defensive line isn't. If the line was a bit better, the defensive backfield wouldn't have to be. So far the Redskins have added Butler, Fred Smoot, David Macklin, Omar Stoutmire, Byron Westbrook and Brandon Register via free agency and drafted LaRon Landry with the #6 pick in the draft [obviously not all will make the team]. They've also decided to keep CB Shawn Springs despite a high price tag, an injury plagued 2006 and the fact the Skins have added depth to the unit. Washington cut DB Chip Cox to make room on the roster for Butler.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-10-2007 @ 10:32AM
Skins Hurt said...
Obviously, they think the performance of the D-line last year was more a by-product of injury and inexperience (Golston and Montgomery with the NFL and Williams’ system and Carter with just Williams’) than quality players. In addition, there wasn’t a lot of quality at the d-line position in the draft or free agency. I liked the kid from Louisville but most people around the league didn’t think he was worth a 6th pick and no wanted to trade up to enable the skins to go down. I am not thrilled that they decided to stand pat with their d-line, but I can see where they are coming from. Remember, the skins were a top five defense for two years in a row with the d-line they have and they like the young guys they picked up in the draft last year. It also appears that they think Carter will break out as a pass rusher with a year in the system under his belt. We shall see.
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6-11-2007 @ 9:25AM
Skin Patrol said...
So who is the odd man out? Ade Jimoh? Byron Westbrook? Are we going 6 CBs and 4 Safeties?
Here are the guys I think are locks: Springs, Rogers, Macklin, Smoot, Prioleau, Taylor, Stoutmire, Landry. That leaves (optimistically) two available spots for defensive backs, and we've got more than two legitimate NFL players right now.
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