I would like to see the Redskins resign Caldwell, but at the same time I like what they've done this year as far as setting a price and then sticking to it, in other words good sound business practices.  Sometimes though you do have to bend to maintain a good mix and the right feel.  I hope that is the case with Caldwell. ([editor's note, by Skin Patrol] I agree entirely. I also think Caldwell is a good candidate to splurge ever so slightly on, since his familiarity with the staff and a year under his belt in Washington increases our likelihood of getting him for a fair price.)

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

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First, this is a March Madness open thread. I hadn't done one until now because there are a million better places on the Internet to go to discuss March Madness than my shit Redskins blog, though knock yourselves out here. My brackets all have Kansas winning the championship against Texas, because I'm a Big 12 homer. My favorite team couldn't even make the NIT.

Second, the famous Dead Tree Crew (see here and here) has now become more famouser. They've gone film and official, says Mister Irrelevant:

Third and in conclusion, speaking of blogroll, it's in need of some updating, which I'll get to some time this year. For now, the newest entry into the Redskins nerdblog-o-sphere is Beltway Braves. Go enjoy, I will, daily, because that's what I do.

Update [2008-3-20 16:49:32 by Skin Patrol]: What the deuce I forgot to post the video. Enjoy, though know it is NOT safe for work, because DTC is too awesome to be safe for work. Video from Mr. I:

Update [2008-3-20 16:54:3 by Skin Patrol]: You have to watch the video if you haven't already. The Mayor with Dan Steinberg might be the funniest video clip I've ever watched. The gentleman's timing is perfect, I am morally convinced he and Dan smoked pot later.

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Among a post chronicling a happier, more evangelical Joe Gibbs, the "much less then the 2 million" we offered Hackett (he settled for 3.5M... elsewhere), and the suggestion that locker room chemistry is more important than the big FA signing -- novel, I know -- comes this gem from Vinny Cerrato (in "an interview that will air tomorrow on Comcast and re-air when [Bram Weinstein] fill[s] in for the Riggo crew next week") at Covering the Redskins:

Which is not to say anything untoward. We were right to move up and draft Chris Cooley. I feel as though we were right to do the same with Jason Campbell and Rocky McIntosh. But with such a proclivity for making good decisions with few picks, it troubles me that the team hasn't retained more of them in years past. Now we finally have an opportunity to do so, and I'm pleased to see Vinny committing to, once more, additional picks as opposed to fewer ones. Trading down isn't nearly as valuable at 21 than it would be for a top 10 pick, but it would yield a few additional later round picks and would also save us on the signing bonus to whomever we do end up selecting. Depending on how the board shakes out, and there can be no clear consensus as to who we should take 21 picks into the draft, we'll have more incentive to move down for picks than move up, at least as Cerrato tells us.

Personally I appreciate that strategy more than moving up, though say that admitting how well we've done with that strategy. If we can maintain the success we've had at drafting quality players, then the sky really is the limit on how we do when we actually have picks.

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Not really Al Sharpton, though he is apparently the founder of the National Action Network which recently asked the NFL...

Oh, here it is:

Suffice to say, I doubt this story is going anywhere fast nor do I think it should. The Redskins will play the Colts in Canton, police misconduct is wrong, but that's got nothing at all to do with football. In a related story, in protest of Miller Lite's morally corrupt and reprehensible decision not to provide me with a lifetime supply of free beer, I demand that all River Dance shows be canceled in all cities in which Miller Lite sells alcohol that they should be distributing to me for free instead. All I ask is that they hold Irish Dance to the same strict standards they hold all their employees to, for reasons I am unprepared to either defend or explain.

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Different year same story. We annually discuss who is or isn't showing up to voluntary workouts and why they should/we shouldn't care, and 2008 will be no different. The results are mixed on missing voluntary workouts. Sean Taylor had, in the past, skipped voluntary workouts instead opting for Miami as his preparation destination. And he turned out to be just fine as a result. Shawn Springs has done the same though I question what impact that has had on his body, since he is kind of a perennial injury concern.

Traditionalists who think players have a responsibility to show up for voluntary workouts aren't going to like this. I don't especially like this, either, as I have traditionalist leanings that inform me players should be with their teammates to show solidarity if nothing else. But this team ran a lot of "voluntary" sessions in 2006 that weren't so voluntary. At least one of our better players, and I believe others, were not fond of that policy. Whatever I thought of it, I hated the results: 2006 was a disaster. Just around two months after Clinton Portis complained publicly of the '06 policy, which tends to suggest acquiescence (to the players or the results I won't speculate), Joe Gibbs said peace out and told players they could practice elsewhere prior to the 2007 season. If there is a relationship to be drawn from having players workout voluntarily at Redskins Park it probably isn't the one people who think the team should workout together want, at least as applied to the past two years. 2007>2006.

I'm not saying that voluntary team workouts should be avoided. I'm just saying that I'm approaching ambivalence on the issue; it isn't clear to me that it helps, it might be the case that it hurts. So I don't view recent events with much apprehension. Per Redskins Insider:

The main concern is that players are out and about up to no good, because offseason is typically where arrests happen. Hopefully that is a non-concern, mitigated in large part because:

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By this point, it seems (almost) a lock that the team is not interested in signing any free agents from other teams.  There are some holes to fill and those will most likely be filled utilizing the draft.  It seems that Dan and Vinny have finally realized that they can save money (and keep from restructuring contracts every year) by getting young, cheap talent... or, at least everyone hopes they finally realized that.

Anyway, here's the breakdown of the most important and glaring needs... at least, how I see the needs.  Oh, and here's the current roster for reference.

WR -  The release of two young WRs sets the table for newer, younger WRs to come in.  The offense that new head coach left in Seattle had turned from a run first offense that made Shawn Alexander a MVP in 2005, to a pass-first offense that spead the field with 3 and 4 WR sets.  That might be more due to the fact that Alexander was a shell of the back he was in 2005 (Pre-Big Contract or PBC) than it was a change in the direction of the WCO.  Either way, this team needs more bodies (if nothing else) at the WR position.  Moss and ARE are reaching that point where they'll start to become less productive over their careers and Thrash is on the downside.  Caldwell might be an option here... if he chooses to resign.  The team will definately need to draft for depth here.

DL - The team signed a young DT along with bringing back Boski (seriously, no one has a better nickname for this guy???), both moves (presumably) being more for depth than anything else.  Griff is back, along with the young, late round picks from '06, Anthony Montgomery and Kendric Golston.  Those players make up the bulk of the DT depth.

As for DE, the team has Andre Carter and Philip Daniels as the incumbants, but the former CFLer Chris Wilson came on late last season as a 3rd down rush end to go opposite Carter.  He and Demetric Evans are the only backups of note.

Both spots need to be addressed, though I think DE is lacking any sort of real depth where DT has 3 or 4 guys that could form a pretty good rotation.

CB - The team is bringing back their top 4 CBs, which is good.  But Carlos Rogers is coming off a knee injury so his availability for the beginning part of the season is in question.  Also, Shawn Springs is getting older and a heir apparent might not be a bad idea.  Freddy Smoot is back and ready to hold the fort down.  Backups Leigh Torrence and John Eubanks are still around, as is Hogs Haven favorite Byron Westbrook.  We always seem to like the guys who never play... but anyway.  The CB position looks good... when healthy.  But with an aging group, it is about time to look to bring in some young talent.

S - I personally like the job that Reed Doughty did filling in when Sean Taylor passed away.  Obviously, he's no #21 but he complemented last years first rounder LaRon Landry really well.  Vernon Fox is still around, but that's about where the list ends.  Some of the key backups from a year ago, including safeties Omar Stoutmire and Pierson Prioleau, are still on the free agent market and it looks like the team is looking elsewhere to fill some needs.  I personally would draft for depth at the S position and keep Daoughty and Landry as the starters, but the case could be made that a young talent is needed to start right away.  I just can't justify spending two consecuative first round picks on the same position.  Maybe that's just me.

OL - The team had to scramble last year to plug holes after a series of injuries.  The line isn't getting any younger (with the exception of T Stephen Heyer) and looking at the roster we see that all the projected starters are over 30.  Oh, and Randy Thomas is the only G listed on the roster (Pete Kendall is listed as "OL" for some odd reason.)  There needs to be some serious depth added here, but I think that late round picks and undrafted FAs (like Heyer) could do just fine.

Obviously, there needs to be some depth across the board.  OLB could use some bodies, especially with the health concerns surrounding Marcus Washington and Rocky McIntosh.  Mike Sellers is the only FB on the roster... but he's not what you would consider a WCO FB, nor is he getting any younger.  I could see the team drafting for some depth there.

So, using any of the numerous draft lists (I picked the NFL Draft Countdown page because it has pretty comprehensive breakdowns of the players but you can use another if you so choose) a small group of players that make for possible first and second (and maybe even third) round picks starts to come together.

WR - Check out the bios here, but we have the following:

1. Limas Sweed, Texas, 6-3 7/8, 215, 4.52
   
2. DeSean Jackson, California, 5-9 3/4, 169, 4.35
   
3. Malcolm Kelly, Oklahoma, 6-3 3/4, 224, 4.55
   
4. Devin Thomas, Michigan St., 6-1 7/8, 216, 4.40
   
5. James Hardy, Indiana, 6-5 3/8, 217, 4.51
   
6. Mario Manningham, Michigan, 5-11 3/4, 181, 4.60
   
7. Early Doucet, L.S.U., 6-0 1/8, 209, 4.50
   
8. Lavelle Hawkins, California, 5-11, 187, 4.52
   
9. Andre Caldwell, Florida, 6-0 1/4, 204, 4.37
   
10. Earl Bennett, Vanderbilt, 5-11 1/2, 209, 4.48
    
11. Donnie Avery, Houston, 5-11, 192, 4.45
    
12. Eddie Royal, Virginia Tech, 5-9 5/8, 184, 4.39
    
13. Jerome Simpson, Coastal Carolina, 6-1 3/4, 199, 4.47
    
14. Adarius Bowman, Oklahoma St., 6-2 7/8, 223, 4.67

  1. Chris Long Virginia 6-3 272 4.75
  2. Vernon Gholston Ohio St. 6-3 266 4.67
  3. Phillip Merling Clemson 6-41/4 276 4.75
  4. Derrick Harvey Florida 6-45/8 271 4.83
  5. Quentin Groves Auburn 6-3 259 4.57
  6. Lawrence Jackson USC 6-41/4 271 4.76
  7. Calais Campbell Miami (FL) 6-73/4 290 5.04
  8. Jason Jones Eastern Michigan 6-51/4 273 4.74
  9. Chris Ellis Virginia Tech 6-41/4 263 4.71
10. Jeremy Thompson Wake Forest 6-43/8 264 4.75

And at DT we got:

  1. Glenn Dorsey L.S.U. 6-11/2 297 5.05
  2. Sedrick Ellis USC 6-01/2 309 5.23
  3. Kentwan Balmer North Carolina 6-41/2 308 5.28
  4. Pat Sims Auburn 6-21/8 310 5.11
  5. Trevor Laws Notre Dame 6-03/4 304 5.06
  6. Red Bryant Texas A&M 6-41/8 318 5.04
  7. Marcus Harrison Arkansas 6-23/4 317 4.98
  8. Dre Moore Maryland 6-4 305 4.86
  9. Ahtyba Rubin Iowa St. 6-23/4 315 5.22

At S we have:

  1. Kenny Phillips Miami (FL) 6-21/4 212 4.55
  2. Reggie Smith Oklahoma 6-01/2 199 4.45
  3. DaJuan Morgan North Carolina St. 6-01/8 205 4.54
  4. Thomas DeCoud California 6-13/8 207 4.50
  5. Tyrell Johnson Arkansas St. 5-117/8 207 4.45
  6. Tom Zbikowski Notre Dame 5-111/4 211 4.55
  7. Craig Steltz L.S.U. 6-13/8 213 4.60

And finally at CB we have:

  1. Leodis McKelvin Troy 5-101/4 190 4.38
  2. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie Tennessee St. 6-11/2 184 4.33
  3. Mike Jenkins South Florida 5-101/4 197 4.40
  4. Aqib Talib Kansas 6-03/4 202 4.45
  5. Patrick Lee Auburn 6-0 200 4.42
  6. Antoine Cason Arizona 6-01/4 191 4.48
  7. Tracy Porter Indiana 5-107/8 188 4.37
  8. Justin King Penn St. 5-107/8 192 4.31
  9. Charles Godfrey Iowa 5-113/4 207 4.44
 10. Brandon Flowers Virginia Tech 5-93/4 189 4.58
 11. Tyvon Branch Connecticut 5-113/8 204 4.31
 12. Terrell Thomas USC 6-01/2 202 4.49
 13. Chevis Jackson L.S.U. 6-0 192 4.62

Those are the players at the positions of need in the NFL Draft Countdown's top 100.  So, all we have to do is mix and match to find a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd rounder from that last that fills multiple needs.  And here's where the mock draft fun begins.  So, for the, say, Mile High Report mock draft, you have to wait and see who's available at pick #21... but keeping in mind who you think will be availaible at other positions of need in the 2nd round and 3rd round.

Based on the team needs and looking at the players on all three lists... I'd go with any of the top 4 CBs listed.  If they're gone before pick #21, I'd probably go with either WR Sweed or Kelly.  Personally, I like Kelly more but those two are the two I'd be looking at there.

I think DE will have some talented players that fall into the second round, but there are a few I would look at in the first.  I think that outside of maybe Ellis or Balmer, there is not going to be a DT at the 21st pick worth taking there.  Dorsey and Ellis will probably be gone.  I'm happy with the Skins' safeties... so I would wait and draft someone like Steltz or Zbikowski in the 3rd or wait even further for someone like Griffin out of Texas.

So, then my first round list of possible selections becomes (in no particualr order):

CB - Leodis McKelvin,
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie,
Mike Jenkins,
Aqib Talib,

WR - Limas Sweed,
Malcolm Kelly,

DT - Sedrick Ellis,
Kentwan Balmer,

DE - Phillip Merling,
Derrick Harvey,
Quentin Groves,
Lawrence Jackson,
Calais Campbell

What do you think?  Any glaring omissions or any problems with my logic?  Hit up the comments.

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In an encouragingly titled article, for us at least, Rick Gosselin argues that Smart NFL teams spend little in free agency. I'm not crazy about Rick -- he writes for a rival supporting Dallas Morning News and I felt he was an integral part in keeping Art Monk out of the Hall for so long, but can't confirm that since Gosselin had a no-talkie talkie policy with fans (though he seemed like a nice enough guy when I emailed him) In Re: Art Monk HOF bid -- but I absolutely support his contention that not spending huge boatloads of cash on free agents can be a viable winning strategy and in fact often is. He has some convincing anecdotes:

Even though the 2006 Giants were tame in comparison to those two teams at 8-8, they were a postseason contender that was 4 points shy of a playoff victory over division rival Philly. They also made the postseason in '05 and were, I believe, the NFC East champs. In other words it was a pretty talented team that needed little fidgeting.

So when I support not messing with a roster, what I really support is not messing with a good thing. There isn't any utility in keeping the same staff and personnel if you're, say, the 1-15 Miami Dolphins. Refusing to mix up that roster would be akin to throwing in the towel. Off the top of my head the 2005 New Orleans Saints won just three games and 10 the following year, largely because of the addition of Marques Colston and Reggie Bush in the draft and expensive free agent Drew Brees from San Diego. If your team sucks, if the personnel isn't there at key positions, you're crazy not to mix things up. In other words, sometimes it is best to acquire players in free agency, and I'd even go so far as to say the Redskins did it right last offseason. Rick disagrees:

As a practical matter, there's a world of difference between the '06 49ers, who won just 7 games in the worst division in football, or the '06 Browns (4-12) and the '05 Colts, '04 Steelers or '06 Giants. Those were bad teams that needed to spend to improve, and in fact the Browns did improve, dramatically. They won more games than they had in 13 years. Rick can "Au contraire" all he wants and poo poo that spending strategy, but every one of the teams he listed improved sans the 49ers (his Cowboys, for instance, matched a franchise record with 13 wins as a result).

The Redskins, who were not good in '06 and needed personnel to improve and did precisely that. I fail to see what's foolish about having a 5-11 team, spending some money, and finishing with a better 9-7 product that happens to be contending in the postseason in a pretty difficult division. In other words, it's a good idea not to spend money on expensive free agents... except when it's not. Circumstance is important and any categorical strategy is sure to fail when it seeks to apply itself equally to a 16-0 Patriots team and a 1-15 Miami Dolphins team.

But, given the circumstances described by Rick for Super Bowl bound teams in '04, '05, and '06, I think the Redskins and others are on the right side of the strategy in sitting on their roster. The Redskins erred, in my opinion, in trying to church up a 2005 roster that was good enough to win 10 games. The result was a disastrous '06, but we rebuilt and here we are again right on the precipice of looking like a contender, perhaps for more than one year at a time. Rick opened the article thus:

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I believe it was mentioned in the same release yesterday as the cutting of Espy and Harris though I neglected to say anything on it. The Redskins signed Matthias Askew:

This is actually Askew's 2nd stint with the team as he was signed but later cut in 2007. I don't know to what extent the legal issues (which he resolved in his favor, incidentally) have affected his ability to find a new home since Cincy, but he has not had a significant impact in his professional career. Injuries have also hampered him. I wish him the best in Washington and to the city of Cincinnatti I would suggest the following:

Don't taze Matthias Askew, bro!

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Per the Official Site we've lost Steven Harris and Mike Espy:

I enjoy watching the discussion here on drafting a WR but don't want to read too heavily into these cuts. I doubt either Mike Espy or Harris were ever threatening the #2 or #3 spot on the roster. If we were set, or opposed to, drafting a WR on the first day of the draft, those plans have probably not changed substantially.

Mike Espy is especially missed. For a guy who was effectively a practice squad overachiever for much of his tenure here, I typed his name on at least 24 different posts.

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Per Redskins Insider, which has Chris Cooley discussing the emerging offensive scheme under new Head Coach Jim Zorn:

Some craaaaaazy friend of mine (aside: Drew Rosenhaus got fired? Unbelievable my eading comprehension sucks) used to insist that Captain Chaos was slow, too slow to be the madman we see week in and week out dicing up the bad guys. Any scheme that finds footballs to Cooley's hands more, or better places him in a position to do horrible, immoral things to an opposing defense, is a net positive in my book. I don't have much of a feel for how the different philosophy will translate on the field -- does this mean more catches but lower YPC? Al Saunders did succeed in increasing Cooley's YPC -- but I'm excited nonetheless.

Clinton Portis is likewise pumped up. Redskins 360 has the full scoop, a teaser:

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For all the huffing and puffing about Hackett visiting the team, he ended up with the Panthers. Per ESPN:

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Hat tip PFT on this story which is actually a few days old. Although this AJC article makes clear that it thinks Hall is heading to Oakland (more on that here) it takes the time to get his thoughts:

It's important to quantify "overrated" since that could just as easily mean a lot of things. When I say overrated, I mean he is some amount worse than the 57 million and two picks our Raiders colleague seems to think he'll cost. The truth is I don't know what his price tag is in a trade, but I'm sure it's sizable for a young allegedly talented cornerback.

Interesting: For a guy who has sworn off losing teams categorically, he is primed for self-loathing. Since 2003 the Oakland Raiders have won just 19 football games, which is worst in the NFL in that span. No wonder he's distancing himself from these reports; cognitive dissonance. If he does end up in Oakland, I will be one step closer towards believing that we live in a Just world. If he wants to whine his way out of a moderately successful Atlanta (The Falcoholic is already thinking replacements) into the lesson in fail that has been Oakland recently, more power to him. It will simply be one more reminder that when one wishes, it's best to do so carefully.

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