Washington Redskins Team Needs - 2008 NFL Draft
The Redskins were 5-7 before the death of Sean Taylor, but finished by winning 4 straight games to make the playoffs in Taylor’s honor. It was one of the most memorable seasons in Washington due to all the adversity they had to face. The team also rallied from several key injuries to CB Carlos Rogers, LB Rocky McIntosh and QB Jason Campbell. Todd Collins stepped in for Campbell and was marvelous, but he’s a free agent this season and could get some nice dollars elsewhere as a backup. A mostly new coaching staff will try and get the Redskins back to the playoffs in 2008 following the retirement of Hall-of-Fame coach Joe Gibbs. The Redskins are one again in poor salary-cap shape and must make some crucial decisions on a few free agents.
2008 Washington Redskins NFL Draft Needs:
1.) Defensive Linemen
DE Phillip Daniels will be 35 in March and other DT Cornelius Griffin turns 32 next season. Griffin also has and injury history too long to ignore this offseason. The team has ignored this position long enough after passing up Amobi Okoye last season. New defensive coordinator Greg Blache likes his starters up front, but he has to sense reinforcements are needed. The Redskins like smaller, quicker rushers in Andre Carter and Chris Wilson. Washington will look for versatile linemen starting with the DT position on Draft Day.
2.) Defensive Backs
There is talk that CB Shawn Springs and his fat contract could be gone. That would leave the position short, especially with Blache expected to run more man coverage. Rogers is coming off a torn ACL and young CB Leigh Torrence is not yet ready for the big stage. If Springs stays, then safety becomes a bigger need for the Redskins. As good as he was, Reed Doughty cannot replace Taylor by himself. The depth behind him and LaRon Landry is very thin.
3.) Offensive Line
The offensive line in Washington was a trouble spot all season, especially on the right side. ORT Jon Jansen and ORG Randy Thomas both suffered injuries last season and each is on the back end of their careers. Undrafted rookie Stephon Heyer did an exceptional job at right tackle in Jansen’s place, but he was also nicked up and needed constant help. Right guard was a trouble spot with Jason Fabini not a starting-caliber replacement for Randy Thomas.
4.) Wide Receiver
The Redskins have a lack of speed at this position with every wide receiver other than Santana Moss. Keenan McCardell and Reche Caldwell filled in, but neither did much of anything. There is also a lack of size here for the big red zone target needed in Washington. Their opposition too often keyed in on TE Chris Cooley when the Redskins got close to the red zone. Look for the Redskins to draft speedster and a player of size to fill in their WR spots via 2008 NFL Draft.
5.) Linebacker
With Rocky McIntosh going down to injury, the Redskins were exploited by their lack of depth at linebacker. Randall Godfrey played decent down the stretch, but it’s no guarantee he’ll be back for another season. H.B. Blades made himself a name on special teams and impressed the coaching staff when asked to step in, but he lacks the size of the monster linebackers in the NFL today. Matt Sinclair and Khary Campbell are their top backups. A versatile, big and fast linebacker would fill the needs of what D-coordinator Bache is looking for.
2008 NFL Draft Prospects to fit Offensive Scheme:
Jim Zorn takes over as offensive coordinator in Washington and will work to install the team’s new West Coast system. Zorn’s offense could resemble what the Seahawks have become. He likes a quick-rhythm passing game with short, precise throws and a zone-running scheme. WR James Hardy of Indiana would be a great red zone target in Washington. WR Donnie Avery of Houston and WR Davone Bess of Hawaii are the types of speedsters the Redskins will be looking for on Draft Day. OT Anthony Collins of Kansas, OT Demetrius Bell of Northwestern State and OG Marry Lindner of TCU would bring in a nice youth movement to help the offensive line in Washington.
2008 NFL Draft Prospects to fit Defensive Scheme:
Gregg Williams was last year’s D-Coordinator in Washington and ran his cover-2 and Tampa-2 schemes. But new coordinator Geg Blache will use much more aggressive schemes to try and get more QB sacks and force more turnovers. Blache believes a good defense starts with the coverage outside, allowing defensive linemen to get more pressure and he likes to keep the strong safety in the box. This allows for more run support. DT Letroy Guion of FSU, DT Keilen Dykes of WVU and DT Carlton Powell Jr. of Virginia Tech are the types of defensive tackles Blache will be looking to get on Draft Day. DE Quentin Groves of Auburn, DE Louis Holmes of Arizona and OLB Philip Wheeler of Georgia Tech will be on the Redskins radar to shore up their front seven.
Related Articles You May Be Interested In: