redman
Footballguy
Theoretically, the Redskins secondary is set in the following way:
CB: Springs
CB: Rogers
Nickel CB: Smoot
FS: Taylor
SS: Fox; Archuleta
Springs, however, has a big contract and is showing his years in his reduced durability. They're trying to get Springs to renegotiate his contract, but so far Springs hasn't yielded. They've just acquired Smoot which allows for some flexibility regarding Springs, but Springs is still (when healthy) their best cover CB. It's hard to imagine the team simply releasing Springs given that they won't be able at this late date to replace him. Then again, can they afford to keep him for what IIRC is a $7+M cap number in 2007? Rumor has it that David Macklin is going to visit the team soon. Could this be a precursor for releasing Springs?
There has also been talk of moving Springs to safety, which would really shake things up. He would have to play FS, which is Taylor's spot, which would then move Taylor to SS. Personally, I don't think you touch Taylor. He's the supreme athletic talent in the league at FS, especially considering his size - nobody's better at running from the middle of the field to the sideline to provide "up top" coverage, or bursting upfield in run support. Any problems he has come from lapses in discipline or bad reads, or failures of his teammates. He's also got great hands, and he brings a nice intangible to that position: intimidation.
Springs aside, the team certainly can't be thrilled about the prospect of Fox and Archuleta being their SS options. Fox during the second half of last year filled in admirably, but he was a street FA in August. Archuleta plain flat sucked in the coverage responsibilities that he had to take on. In fairness to him, that was not what he was signed to do, and it was forced on him due to injuries elsewhere that made the pass defense too weak to blitz him or play him in the box as was intended. Even so, I can't see how you can effectively play such a one-dimensional player as AA. It's not like anything he's going to do is going to surprise an offense on any given play. I think they want to upgrade here, but I'm just not sure how that's going to happen. If they trade down out of the 1.06, I could see this being a position that they draft with the extra picks they receive.
Bottom line: at least two of the four spots in the Redskins secondary are in flux right now, and if Taylor is indeed a candidate to be moved to SS to accommodate Springs, and Rogers fails to impress again and beat out Smoot, all four might be. Keep your eyes on this situation.
CB: Springs
CB: Rogers
Nickel CB: Smoot
FS: Taylor
SS: Fox; Archuleta
Springs, however, has a big contract and is showing his years in his reduced durability. They're trying to get Springs to renegotiate his contract, but so far Springs hasn't yielded. They've just acquired Smoot which allows for some flexibility regarding Springs, but Springs is still (when healthy) their best cover CB. It's hard to imagine the team simply releasing Springs given that they won't be able at this late date to replace him. Then again, can they afford to keep him for what IIRC is a $7+M cap number in 2007? Rumor has it that David Macklin is going to visit the team soon. Could this be a precursor for releasing Springs?
There has also been talk of moving Springs to safety, which would really shake things up. He would have to play FS, which is Taylor's spot, which would then move Taylor to SS. Personally, I don't think you touch Taylor. He's the supreme athletic talent in the league at FS, especially considering his size - nobody's better at running from the middle of the field to the sideline to provide "up top" coverage, or bursting upfield in run support. Any problems he has come from lapses in discipline or bad reads, or failures of his teammates. He's also got great hands, and he brings a nice intangible to that position: intimidation.
Springs aside, the team certainly can't be thrilled about the prospect of Fox and Archuleta being their SS options. Fox during the second half of last year filled in admirably, but he was a street FA in August. Archuleta plain flat sucked in the coverage responsibilities that he had to take on. In fairness to him, that was not what he was signed to do, and it was forced on him due to injuries elsewhere that made the pass defense too weak to blitz him or play him in the box as was intended. Even so, I can't see how you can effectively play such a one-dimensional player as AA. It's not like anything he's going to do is going to surprise an offense on any given play. I think they want to upgrade here, but I'm just not sure how that's going to happen. If they trade down out of the 1.06, I could see this being a position that they draft with the extra picks they receive.
Bottom line: at least two of the four spots in the Redskins secondary are in flux right now, and if Taylor is indeed a candidate to be moved to SS to accommodate Springs, and Rogers fails to impress again and beat out Smoot, all four might be. Keep your eyes on this situation.
