[VAGolf]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2012/st ... ady-opener

Appears to be great news for Skins' fans. With all of those returning starters on defense, they look poised for another division title. Anyone agree?

[jbock13]

Redskins defense? Is that the punch line?

I love the Skins but I wouldn't go that far. The secondary needs a lot of work.

[VAGolf]

Redskins defense? Is that the punch line? :I chortle audibly.:

I love the Skins but I wouldn't go that far. The secondary needs a lot of work.

Good point but a few things to consider. The rush defense was actually 5th this season. Orakpo and Carriker were both injured all season. Brandon Meriweather was never really healthy either. If (and this is a big if) Shanahan can draft corners and safeties like he can draft RB's and QB's, the defense should improve next year. The whole NFC East should be a great watch next year though.

[NotAJerry]

The defense was top 10 in yards and points during the winning streak. The defense was top 10 in turnovers for the season. They lost their starting safeties, except for part of 1 game with Merriweather, before the season started. They lost their best pass rusher and a starting DE in the first quarter of week 2. They had a horrible habit of giving up big plays at the worst times for most of the year, but that had a lot to do with no safeties and a badly weakened pass rush. Once Rob Jackson got the hang of things, the defense played much better as he added the missing pass rush.

They're going to cut Hall ($7.5 million non-guaranteed), and maybe Moss, and should have a good bit of money to go get a starting safety. If they can nab a legit CB and S with their top 2 picks, they'll be just fine going into next year.

[Blessed1]

I'm glad RG3 will be back for next season. I cringed every time he ran with the ball. Not because he was careless like Bryce Brown of the Eagles, but because teams were flat out jealous of the attention he was getting. The media attention RG3 was getting was like Tebow times 10. Some even called him 'Black Jesus' after the Saints game. (SMH at the Jesus comment).

I like what Stephen A. Smith said yesterday on 'First Take'. He basically said that the Redskins should have take RG3 out after the second TD because they were "playing with the house's money". In other words, no one outside of the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) area expected the Redskins to do what they did; they had the lead 14-0; RG3 clearly wasn't himself; Kirk Cousins is a capable back-up; and the field was absolutely terrible (Doc Walker made a similar comment after the Dallas game BTW).

If I'm the Redskins and if RG3 is not fully healthy at the start of the season, I would sit him out for at least the first 4 games. That will give him at least another month to rehab. I know that may be considered overly cautious by many, but for him to get hurt the way he did in a wildcard game against one of the best defenses in the league, I would want nothing less for him to sit a few games until the doctors, not RG3, feels he's ready.

[bballfan84]

The defense was top 10 in yards and points during the winning streak. The defense was top 10 in turnovers for the season. They lost their starting safeties, except for part of 1 game with Merriweather, before the season started. They lost their best pass rusher and a starting DE in the first quarter of week 2. They had a horrible habit of giving up big plays at the worst times for most of the year, but that had a lot to do with no safeties and a badly weakened pass rush. Once Rob Jackson got the hang of things, the defense played much better as he added the missing pass rush.

They're going to cut Hall ($7.5 million non-guaranteed), and maybe Moss, and should have a good bit of money to go get a starting safety. If they can nab a legit CB and S with their top 2 picks, they'll be just fine going into next year.

There is no way we will cut Hall..there is no one to replace him on the current roster and with the current state of our safeties we cant have receivers running lose out there. Sure Merriweather was hurt all year but we dont know if he is going to be good for us. The guy was let go by the Bears and Patriots for a reason. I hope he returns to his Pro Bowl form but to downgrade our corner situation would just put more pressure on our already terrible safeties.

[NotAJerry]

The defense was top 10 in yards and points during the winning streak. The defense was top 10 in turnovers for the season. They lost their starting safeties, except for part of 1 game with Merriweather, before the season started. They lost their best pass rusher and a starting DE in the first quarter of week 2. They had a horrible habit of giving up big plays at the worst times for most of the year, but that had a lot to do with no safeties and a badly weakened pass rush. Once Rob Jackson got the hang of things, the defense played much better as he added the missing pass rush.

They're going to cut Hall ($7.5 million non-guaranteed), and maybe Moss, and should have a good bit of money to go get a starting safety. If they can nab a legit CB and S with their top 2 picks, they'll be just fine going into next year.

There is no way we will cut Hall..there is no one to replace him on the current roster and with the current state of our safeties we cant have receivers running lose out there. Sure Merriweather was hurt all year but we dont know if he is going to be good for us. The guy was let go by the Bears and Patriots for a reason. I hope he returns to his Pro Bowl form but to downgrade our corner situation would just put more pressure on our already terrible safeties.

Hall has been in the bottom 5 CBs for catches allowed and yards allowed for 3 straight years. He's easily one of the worst starting CBs in the NFL in the last 10 years. He's awful and he's being paid like a legit #1 CB when he's barely a nickel CB at this point. There's no way, with the NFL stealing 18 million in cap room, that they'll keep an awful CB for 7.5 million. Hall, his complete inability to cover and lack of maturity, will finally be off the roster. The only reason he wasn't cut sooner was salary cap implications. None of his money is guaranteed this year, so they can spread the cap hit and not pay him a penny. It will be a shockingly bad move if they don't.

Pro Football Focus, that grades every snap, has their current list of FA CBs already published. To give an idea of how bad Hall is, he's never had a positive rating in his career. This year there are 21 UFAs that produced positive ratings with 10 of them playing 500+ snaps. If I had to guess, I'd say that EJ Biggers would move from Tampa to DC to reunite with his old head coach Raheem Morris.

As far as Merriweather goes, he was let go by the Patriots because he wanted to be paid like a 2 time Pro Bowl safety and the Pats don't do that. He was let go by the Bears because they play Tampa 2 coverage and Merriweather is more of an in the box SS in a 3-4 set like he was in New England. I can safely say that he's better than Madieu Williams, Reed Doughty, Dejon Gomes, and Jordan Pugh who we ran out there this season. The only question with Merriweather, at least in our system, is how much the knee injuries this year took out of him.

[adam42381]

I absolutely think Hall will get cut. As NAJ pointed out, he's one of the worst cover corners in the NFL. He's been rated amongst the bottom cover guys for several years now. By some advanced stats he was rated LAST in the league for starting corners. Sure, he makes some flashy interceptions and occasionally makes a nice return, but he can't cover anyone.

[Purple Haize]

Soooo. How many people are questioning that Cousins pick now? He will be the starting QB on Week 1. He will probably remain the starter at least until the Bye Week. I personally would love to see RG3 sit next season because it will prolong his career. I understand all that implys but an ACL reconstruct, which is his 2nd ACL surgery plus LCL is a lot longer and tougher rehab than6 months. AP is the exception to the rule
I don't blame anyone for his injury. If they would have put Cousins in and still lost everyone would say 'You should have wheeled RG3 out there, they did it for Leftwich!' If the player says he can play and there is no medical information to say otherwise, they play. RG3 gambled and lost. Such is life

[forbidden]

Pls cut Hall, he def doesnt play up to any capable standards until he has been told to be on his best behavior. He is not even the best corner on the team, that goes to Josh Wilson who only problem is his height defeciency. Just think about the half a game that Merriweather played in and he was alaready better that what we had been putting out there all year.

Skins will bring in one FA S and CB and probably draft the same, with not that many picks how much can they really do.

[TDDance234]

There is no way Hall and Moss are on the roster next season at their current salaries.

[bballfan84]

The defense was top 10 in yards and points during the winning streak. The defense was top 10 in turnovers for the season. They lost their starting safeties, except for part of 1 game with Merriweather, before the season started. They lost their best pass rusher and a starting DE in the first quarter of week 2. They had a horrible habit of giving up big plays at the worst times for most of the year, but that had a lot to do with no safeties and a badly weakened pass rush. Once Rob Jackson got the hang of things, the defense played much better as he added the missing pass rush.

They're going to cut Hall ($7.5 million non-guaranteed), and maybe Moss, and should have a good bit of money to go get a starting safety. If they can nab a legit CB and S with their top 2 picks, they'll be just fine going into next year.

There is no way we will cut Hall..there is no one to replace him on the current roster and with the current state of our safeties we cant have receivers running lose out there. Sure Merriweather was hurt all year but we dont know if he is going to be good for us. The guy was let go by the Bears and Patriots for a reason. I hope he returns to his Pro Bowl form but to downgrade our corner situation would just put more pressure on our already terrible safeties.

Hall has been in the bottom 5 CBs for catches allowed and yards allowed for 3 straight years. He's easily one of the worst starting CBs in the NFL in the last 10 years. He's awful and he's being paid like a legit #1 CB when he's barely a nickel CB at this point. There's no way, with the NFL stealing 18 million in cap room, that they'll keep an awful CB for 7.5 million. Hall, his complete inability to cover and lack of maturity, will finally be off the roster. The only reason he wasn't cut sooner was salary cap implications. None of his money is guaranteed this year, so they can spread the cap hit and not pay him a penny. It will be a shockingly bad move if they don't.

Pro Football Focus, that grades every snap, has their current list of FA CBs already published. To give an idea of how bad Hall is, he's never had a positive rating in his career. This year there are 21 UFAs that produced positive ratings with 10 of them playing 500+ snaps. If I had to guess, I'd say that EJ Biggers would move from Tampa to DC to reunite with his old head coach Raheem Morris.

As far as Merriweather goes, he was let go by the Patriots because he wanted to be paid like a 2 time Pro Bowl safety and the Pats don't do that. He was let go by the Bears because they play Tampa 2 coverage and Merriweather is more of an in the box SS in a 3-4 set like he was in New England. I can safely say that he's better than Madieu Williams, Reed Doughty, Dejon Gomes, and Jordan Pugh who we ran out there this season. The only question with Merriweather, at least in our system, is how much the knee injuries this year took out of him.

After all the stats that have been presented to be i feel sheepish in defendsing D Hall...tail tucked between my legs...I will say I thought he played really well towards the end of the season during our 7 game win streak

[jinxy]

Lot of question marks on defense. One name to keep an eye on is tanard jackson. He was playing lights out along with meriweather in the preseason. He was suspended for drug use in tampa from last year, raheem morris highly recommended him when he came over after being fired. Naj is spot on about meriweather, see adam archuleta and his usage. Dhalls cap number would really hurt us to cut him, more likely is that he restructures. We need another good corner and a healthy brian orakpo if thats possible. Our pass rash stats are misleading because we blitz a ton so sure we will get sacks but we also gave up way too many big plays. Jammal brown will be the one bigger name that is guaranteed to be cut. Id cut morgan and moss to go along with brown if you could parlay that into a legit number 2 receiver. Also look for the skins to seek a better backup rb in the draft. A change of pace to big al. We should be able to fill one impact need with our 2nd rd pick.

[NotAJerry]

There is no way Hall and Moss are on the roster next season at their current salaries.

It might be safe to add Barry Cofield to that mix as well. He hasn't played poorly, but PFF had Chris Baker pull a higher rating in 1/3 of the snaps and Chris Nield played the NT spot well last year. I actually think everyone other than Hall would be back next year if not for the league literally stealing cap space from us, but since that 18 million is gone they're going to have to drop a few guys they don't want to.

[NotAJerry]

Lot of question marks on defense. One name to keep an eye on is tanard jackson. He was playing lights out along with meriweather in the preseason. He was suspended for drug use in tampa from last year, raheem morris highly recommended him when he came over after being fired. Naj is spot on about meriweather, see adam archuleta and his usage. Dhalls cap number would really hurt us to cut him, more likely is that he restructures. We need another good corner and a healthy brian orakpo if thats possible. Our pass rash stats are misleading because we blitz a ton so sure we will get sacks but we also gave up way too many big plays. Jammal brown will be the one bigger name that is guaranteed to be cut. Id cut morgan and moss to go along with brown if you could parlay that into a legit number 2 receiver. Also look for the skins to seek a better backup rb in the draft. A change of pace to big al. We should be able to fill one impact need with our 2nd rd pick.

I think Hall's cap hit would spread to 3.75 over the next two years instead of all 7.5 this year. That's a pretty big savings and I'd rather pay 3.75 for him to just go away than keep him at any price. Throw in the likely cut of Moss, and the talk about Cofield getting cut as well, and there might be a pretty good chunk available for a CB and S on the FA market.

[forbidden]

I doubt Moss goes, he actually produced in the slot like they asked him, and he also had a good repore with RG. I think you get one more year out of Moss, IMO. If you replace him who would it be with, nobody else really did anything out of the 3 wr set. The person that should nothing but catch passes all off season is 85 Hankerson, he was flat out awful, with way too many drops. We def need to do something to find a legit #2 tho, I really was not that impressed with 15 Morgan either, just to inconsistent

[NotAJerry]

Moss had 3 more catches than Hankerson on 4 more targets and Hankerson surprisingly had a slight advantage in yards per catch. The big difference was Moss pulling in some great TD catches down the stretch. His cap number is simply too high to keep with the 18 million being stolen by the league. If not for that, I'd agree he's staying. As far as the slot WR, that's the role they're grooming Robinson for and he showed signs of really getting it.

I'd be fine if they can find a way to renegotiate Moss' deal and come back with the same top 5 WR for next year. Moss is the only one that is over 27. If not, I think it's good enough to got with the top 4 plus either Dezmon Briscoe or another WR as the 5th option. It's one area where the team is really deep enough for the time being.

With the huge needs at S and CB, the need for at least some depth at ILB, the need for a legit RT, and probably the need for a #1 TE, WR can wait for another season until we get our cap space back (which works out perfectly with the deal we gave Morgan if he doesn't keep improving next year).

[jinxy]

I'm telling you Tanard Jackson, Brandon Meriweather & Reed Doughty will be 3 solid safeties (Jackson will be dirt cheap). There is certainly a need for depth there. To me the CB, Dline and 2nd WR are all the most important spots to upgrade. Then the change of pace backup RB and oline depth. Greg Jennings and Dwayne Bowe are out there but will be exp. at the WR position. Moss and Dhall will both re-structure, i've heard both of them quoted saying they were open to it to stay. I don't think they cut Cofield personally. Another key is resigning Fred Davis, he should be cheap coming off his injury.

[NotAJerry]

Cap room would be the reason for cutting Cofield, and the fact that Baker rated higher on only 1/3 of the snaps. The league imposed $18 million hit is going to cause us to make some moves. If not for the cap restrictions, there's no way they consider cutting Cofield. DL is really deep and going with a group of Carriker, Bowen, Jenkins, Baker and Nield would be good enough.

Reed Doughty is a run defender only at S, Merriweather is an unknown after hurting both knees this year (but I like him at SS if healthy), and Jackson can't be trusted with his drug history. They can't go with those 3 next season. There has to be at least 1 FA who is good enough to start and 1 high draft pick. Don't forget about Jordan Bernstein who did well enough in preseason this year that they were going to start the season with Jackson, Merriweather, Williams, Gomes and Bernstein at S with Doughty not even making the roster. I would have no problem with those five, minus Williams and plus a FA and high draft pick, battling it out for roster spots next year. One monkey wrench is that Jackson can't start practicing with the team until the end of training camp next year as the suspension is a calendar year.

#2 WR would be a wasted pick/FA move with how little we throw (3rd lowest pass attempts in the NFL this year). We also have to pick up a WR who can run block as that's something that Garcon, Morgan and Hankerson are all great at. I think Hankerson will develop into the #2 WR anyways.

Tyler Polumbus was the 2nd lowest rated RT by Pro Football Focus this year. He can't be the starter next season unless he beats out a legit starting option for the spot. I would be a big fan of picking up Ryan Harris from Houston as he rated well in 400+ snaps and they run the exact same blocking schemes we do. Maybe one of the internal options can do the job, but there's no reason to not take a flyer on someone like that to push Polumbus out (Polumbus is a UFA and should be allowed to walk). There's also a potential opening at LG as Lichtensteiger is a UFA and I could see them letting him go as both Hurt and Leribius played well in their opportunities this year.

CB and S need at least 1 FA and 1 draft pick each. RT needs a starter, preferably a FA who can play our scheme well. Fletcher might be retiring so and ILB spot may be opening up and even if it isn't, it isn't a sure thing that Keenan Robinson will be able to take over the role. Depending on what happens with Davis, TE may be a need as well (Cooley is a UFA and Paulsen a RFA). All of those spots come well before WR or DL.

Looking at some numbers from Hogs Haven, it appears they save 8 million in cap space by cutting Hall and 4.15m by cutting Moss. If Carriker doesn't rehab well, they could cut him instead of Cofield and save 3.25m. Cutting Jammal Brown saves 1.5m next season but does cut into the 2014 cap. It's going to take some maneuvering and cutting/restructuring to get things done. One move I've heard talked about is extending/restructuring Trent Williams long term.

[adam42381]

http://washingtonpost.com/blogs/footbal ... gelo-hall/

[NotAJerry]

Finally. MeAngelo Hall goes away and instantly the CB position gets better. Apparently, during the time they've told Hall they wouldn't be talking about restructuring, they actually have almost worked out a deal to keep Santana Moss so that the receiving corps stays together. Been hearing about cutting Jamal Brown and restructuring Carriker, Cofield and Trent Williams as well to open up space to grab a starting FS, veteran RT (Eric Winston since KC cut him and he knows the scheme), and maybe an ILB or CB depending on whether or not Fletcher comes back. Really strong DB draft with a lot of quality depth, so those spots will likely get a lot of new faces this offseason.

[adam42381]

Well, I just realized DeAngelo Hall was back on the team - no I didn't follow closely during the offseason. Good to see him going Prime Time like he did something besides pick up what the other team thought was a dead ball and jog/walk it back to the endzone.

[BJWilliams]

Play to the whistle...

[flamesfan30]

and then he has an incredibly dirty hit on jackson.

[lynchburgwildcats]

Well maybe next week we will see RG3 return for the 2013 season since he was nowhere to be found in the first half.