The Redskin Offseason Thread (1 Viewer)

[thayman]

very nice post lion.....I completely agree with you that the early stages of Snyder's ownership were rocky at best. I guess I have also been trying to look at things a bit more optimistic, since Gibbs has been back it seems to me that Snyder is doing a bit better of a job. I have heard that he is quite the tool, and rather abrasive to say the least.

I have so many thoughts on the whole LeVar situation.....I love the guy, and hope the rest of his career is nothing short of fantastic. But I would also have to be one of the obtuese fans you were speaking of, not because I don't care, just because I resigned myself to the fact last off season that LeVar would be gone come 2005.

But he.....winning cures all pains, Snyder can be the biggest ##### in the world if he brings a Super Bowl back to DC.

 

[fatness]

This whole Arrington situation is, at it's core, a direct result of the relationship forged between 'then rookie owner' Daniel Snyder and 'then rookie player' Levar Arrington from the moment he was drafted by the Redskins. It wasn't a healthy relationship, for the good of the team, from the start. An Owner and an active player can NEVER have a relationship like Snyder strove to forge between them, without it affecting the team in a negative way. The blame for that lies entirely with Snyder. Lines have to be drawn and there has to be some degree of separation between Ownership and active players. It was a relationship that was in place well before the return of Gibbs, and which, over time, began to deteriorate publicly to the detriment of all parties involved, until it was something that couldn't be ignored or pushed under the rug. Lately, it had the potential to negatively impact the teams' focus and, with it, some chance for progressive success leading ultimately to a Super Bowl.

That's an accurate description of what was always wrong with Arrington's relationship with the Redskins, and why it began that way. Arrington was in effect treated as more valuable than coaches, and proper lines of authority (and decision-making) were not established when Snyder took over the team. I do give Snyder credit for hiring Gibbs. He did not hire him as coach, he hired him as President of Football Operations. After several years of floundering on his own, with Vinnie Cerrato, with Marty Schottenheimer, Snyder recognized someone else had to be the main decision-maker. That has been Gibbs since his hire. Snyder is to be commended for stepping back and doing what benefits the Skins.

I'm a fan like you ---- I'll criticize them far and wide when they're screwing up, not making an effort, or making bad decisions. The bad decisions are fewer now, the team is run more consistently, the players have bought in, and they're doing better as a result.

I had been a Skins fan for a long time when I was 38. That was a long time ago. I'm a lifer.

Skins fan since the '60's

 

[thayman]

This whole Arrington situation is, at it's core, a direct result of the relationship forged between 'then rookie owner' Daniel Snyder and 'then rookie player' Levar Arrington from the moment he was drafted by the Redskins. It wasn't a healthy relationship, for the good of the team, from the start. An Owner and an active player can NEVER have a relationship like Snyder strove to forge between them, without it affecting the team in a negative way. The blame for that lies entirely with Snyder. Lines have to be drawn and there has to be some degree of separation between Ownership and active players. It was a relationship that was in place well before the return of Gibbs, and which, over time, began to deteriorate publicly to the detriment of all parties involved, until it was something that couldn't be ignored or pushed under the rug. Lately, it had the potential to negatively impact the teams' focus and, with it, some chance for progressive success leading ultimately to a Super Bowl.

That's an accurate description of what was always wrong with Arrington's relationship with the Redskins, and why it began that way. Arrington was in effect treated as more valuable than coaches, and proper lines of authority (and decision-making) were not established when Snyder took over the team. I do give Snyder credit for hiring Gibbs. He did not hire him as coach, he hired him as President of Football Operations. After several years of floundering on his own, with Vinnie Cerrato, with Marty Schottenheimer, Snyder recognized someone else had to be the main decision-maker. That has been Gibbs since his hire. Snyder is to be commended for stepping back and doing what benefits the Skins.

I'm a fan like you ---- I'll criticize them far and wide when they're screwing up, not making an effort, or making bad decisions. The bad decisions are fewer now, the team is run more consistently, the players have bought in, and they're doing better as a result.

I had been a Skins fan for a long time when I was 38. That was a long time ago. I'm a lifer.

Skins fan since the '60's

wow that is awhile....i'm only 26 and have such a love the skins...as Nittany Lion put it....I do have a tendancy to look through glasses of burgandy and gold.....doesn't help that I bleed burgandy and gold either.....

 

[fatness]

I think the Redskins should have signed Lloyd, not signed Randle El, and used that money to sign an LB.

 

[Marvelous]

Although I'd never root for the Giants, I will root for Levar when he plays vs the Redskins, and barring hurting someone, I hope like hell he does show up Snyder, Greg Williams and Dale Lindsey. As a matter of fact, nothing would make me happier than seeing him have career days vs the 'skins (in a Giants loss, of course), and enjoying a season of 'return to pro bowl form' and having the local media pepper the Redskins staff all year about the whole situation. Just my biased opinion, but Levar should have been a Redskin For Life and a fixture in the DC area long after his career was over. I view this entire situation as just another black mark on the Snyder Era of the franchise; that he'll continue his career, and I hope it's a glorious one, with, of all things, a Division rival in the Big Apple.

I find it really amusing that when people bash the Redskins, for some reason they leave out Joe Gibbs. Joe Gibbs is President of Football Operations and is running everything football related. If you have a problem with how the Redskins have been run football-wise over the last 2+ years, it all starts and ends with Joe Gibbs. My personal opinion, despite how the Arrington situation turned out, Gibbs has done a fantastic job especially in the personel moves. So many moves look absolutely crazy at the time and they have all worked out well. It is absolutely amazing.

 

[thayman]

I think the Redskins should have signed Lloyd, not signed Randle El, and used that money to sign an LB.

My vote is still out. I like having lloyd as #2. ARE as our #3 and returning punts and kicks could be outstanding. Plus I love the extra dimension he brings with trick plays. A buddy of mine is a huge Steelers fan, and I would watch the Steelers if a Skins game wasn't on. Watching Randle El run and end around was absolutly amazing......Also remember that WR Hitch play we ram with Moss all last year? ARE is disgustingly awesome running that play as well.

edit to add....now if he ends up as the next One Trick Pony, ala Chad Morton, I'll be pissed

 

[cscmtp]

Gibbs is ALMOST batting .1000 since his return to the Skins. Even when he made moves that we thought were CRAZY (signing Brunell, trading Coles for S.Moss) in a matter of 1 season those moves looked to be brilliant. He took a team stuck in the toilet and made them a playoff contender if not SB contender in just 2 years. That is nothing short of amazing IMO...

 

[(HULK)]

Time after time, he continues to stick it to the folks who are probably the most passionate members of the fan base. The one's who now can't afford to go to the games, and spend their money in the sports bars surrounding the Capital Beltway every weekend during football season. Those who's butts should be in seats cheering the team on in person, instead of the 'see and be seen' festival that thinks it's a football game, that only recently changed when they went on that mini-run at the end of last year. The kind of fans that wouldn't be caught dead in a cigar lounge watching the game on TV while AT THE STADIUM, or remain in the beer courts in the concourse trying to get laid well into the 4th quarter, rather than screaming their lungs out and making life hell on the other team's QB.

Hey, I am by no means blue collar, but I wouldn't be caught dead being anywhere besides my seat at a game, if the ball is in play. Rain or shine. Hot or cold. Losing by 40 with 5 minutes left.Just because I work in an office doesn't mean I am incapable of being a die hard fan that leaves the game with no voice left. And I resent the implication.

 

[thayman]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2423215

Prosecuter DJ Funky Greico......or whatever his name is resigned......

 

[Marvelous]

I think the Redskins should have signed Lloyd, not signed Randle El, and used that money to sign an LB.

My vote is still out. I like having lloyd as #2. ARE as our #3 and returning punts and kicks could be outstanding. Plus I love the extra dimension he brings with trick plays. A buddy of mine is a huge Steelers fan, and I would watch the Steelers if a Skins game wasn't on. Watching Randle El run and end around was absolutly amazing......Also remember that WR Hitch play we ram with Moss all last year? ARE is disgustingly awesome running that play as well.

edit to add....now if he ends up as the next One Trick Pony, ala Chad Morton, I'll be pissed

The trade for Lloyd will probably work out well. It looks more promising than the trade for Santana Moss this time last year.I am a bittle puzzled by the signing of Randle-El. He does not appear to be a legit (at least a good) #2 wr. That makes him a very expensive #3 wr and kick returner. Of course, somehow, the Redskins grow salary cap $ on trees, so this is never an issue. Patten also becomes a very expensive #4 wr.

 

[thayman]

I think the Redskins should have signed Lloyd, not signed Randle El, and used that money to sign an LB.

My vote is still out. I like having lloyd as #2. ARE as our #3 and returning punts and kicks could be outstanding. Plus I love the extra dimension he brings with trick plays. A buddy of mine is a huge Steelers fan, and I would watch the Steelers if a Skins game wasn't on. Watching Randle El run and end around was absolutly amazing......Also remember that WR Hitch play we ram with Moss all last year? ARE is disgustingly awesome running that play as well.

edit to add....now if he ends up as the next One Trick Pony, ala Chad Morton, I'll be pissed

The trade for Lloyd will probably work out well. It looks more promising than the trade for Santana Moss this time last year.I am a bittle puzzled by the signing of Randle-El. He does not appear to be a legit (at least a good) #2 wr. That makes him a very expensive #3 wr and kick returner. Of course, somehow, the Redskins grow salary cap $ on trees, so this is never an issue. Patten also becomes a very expensive #4 wr.

It also gives us alot of depth at WR. Patten didn't do anything as far as numbers go, but he was at least enough of a threat to keep defenses from double teaming Moss. I like the fact that if Randle-El, Lloyd, Patten don't perform to the level they should, or get injured, we now have the depth to be OK.

 

[Marvelous]

The contract squabble also really hurt Arrington. Since Snyder is the lead contract negotiator with the big deals, I assume he was personally involved the Arrington's extension. When Poston and Arrington went public that a $6.5 M bonus was left out of the final contract, they basically accused Snyder of cheating them.

Another unusual thing: Poston admitted he did not read the final contract before recommending Arrington sign it. This is negligence.

What would you have done is such a situaton, after the contract is signed:

1. fire Poston

2. fire Poston and sue him

3. file a greivance against the Redskins, and once it becomes clear you have not case, fire Poston and sue him

4. carry on the greivance with the Redskins for over a year, signing some face-saving contract mod, pay $4.4M to get out of the contract, and sign some incentive laden contract with Poston.

Carl Poston has destroyed Arrington's relationship and career with the Redskins. Yet, Arrington still sticks with him.

 

[fatness]

Sean Taylor's trial has been postponed again. There's a new prosecutor and a new judge now, so they need some time.

Washington Post

Thursday, April 27, 2006; E02

All scheduled hearings in Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor 's felony assault case have been postponed, including one set to take place yesterday, and his trial date of May 8 likely will be pushed back as well, according to members of the defense and prosecution. There will be a new judge and lead prosecutor, with the case recently reassigned to both parties, who will require additional time to prepare.

Ed Griffith , a spokesperson for the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office, said that Criminal Court Judge Leonard Glick will be taking over for Judge Mary Barzee , who had been handling Taylor's case since its original trial date last September but will be handling civil cases after this week.

Glick is a former assistant state attorney.

Mike Grieco , the former lead prosecutor in the case, recently withdrew from Taylor's trial after the defense team objected to postings on his Web site, and Richard Sharpstein , one of Taylor's attorneys, said he has met with the new prosecutor, Abe Laeser . Sharpstein said Taylor's defense team is allowing Laeser ample time to review all materials and has temporarily withdrawn motions to dismiss the case "out of respect to Abe." However, Sharpstein said that those motions could be refiled should Laeser opt to pursue the case and not dismiss it himself.

Sharpstein and Griffith said they expected the trial to be delayed before May 8 as a procedural matter given the influx of new personnel in the case, but as of now there are no new dates set for hearings or the trial.

Taylor was arrested in the Miami area last June and charged with three felony counts of assault wit h a deadly weapon -- each of which could carry a three-year mandatory minimum sentence -- as well as a count of battery. The Redskins chose Taylor fifth overall in the 2004 draft, and the Florida native attended the University of Miami.

 

[redman]

nittanylion - given that Lavar has most assuredly not been above reproach, couldn't someone just as credibly accuse you of peering through Happy Valley glasses?

Here are the things I'm sure about:

1) Snyder is a first class jerk. I have a feeling that he's an insufferable little martinet with a massive Napoleon complex who I couldn't stand to be around for 5 minutes, much less work for. In a perfect world, he's not the owner of my favorite team in all of sports.

2) You're kidding yourself if you think that Snyder is really all that different from Cooke in that regard. JKC was a real S.O.B. too.

3) Snyder and JKC are parallel in one important set of ways, which makes them acceptable to me as owners: they want to win more than anything else and to that end they recognize when they have a winner at the helm - the same Joe Gibbs - to get out of the way.

4) You give Snyder no credit for improving the way in which he's run the team. You're throwing perjorative things about him around as if it was six years ago. He's not suddenly become a saint, but he has figured out how to stop stepping on his Johnson with stupid, impulsive moves that mortgaged the team's future. Had he failed to mend his ways in this regard, I'd be at the front of the line asking for his head, I assure you.

5) Lavar is a prima donna (I've said this elsewhere). He's a fun guy to root for, and his raw physical talent is (or at least was - we need to see him return to this level) second to none at his position. The problem is that he's fundamentally the same player now as when he was drafted, and he's never accepted that he has to play within a scheme. This is true now with a hall of fame head coach and a first class defensive coordinator, it was true with Marvin Lewis - a man whose reputation continues to rise - 4 years ago, and it was true with your beloved JoPa in Penn State before Lavar was drafted into the NFL.

Lavar, for all the lip service he's paid over the years towards being a "true Redskin" and a "Redskin for life" was never even able to make the one basic committment that all players on the team are assumed to make, which is to learn their assignment and play it.

Don't you find if fascinating that the man who spent the first four years of his career bellyaching about how there was constant change in the organization at the coaching level and a new scheme to learn each year, washed out when he got undoubtedly the best head coach, coaching staff and defensive coaching staff returning and providing stability? My theory on that is that Lavar's lack of discipline and immaturity as a player was in fact camoflaged by the constant parade of defensive coaches pre-Gibbs.

I don't hate Lavar. I in fact wish him well except for two (maybe three) times a year when our team plays his. He continues to benefit from amazing talent, and my prediction is that, like Shaq last year in Miami, he'll experience a resurgence and will probably show more willingness to play within a scheme in NY if for no other reason that to try to "prove" things like what I've written above "wrong". But let's not get carried away, Lavar is no saint, and what I've written is not incorrect, regardless of what he does from this point forward.

 

[redman]

More draft speculation, albeit thoughtful:

Scout.com > Washington

Redskins Draft: Griffin's the One

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rich Tandler

WarpathInsiders.com Apr 28, 2006

Tandler's Redskins Blog Ver. 04.28.06--There are a lot of variables in play with the Redskins' initial selection in Saturday's draft, the primary one being who will be available. It says here that after the dust settles, the best available player at a position of need will be Cedric Griffin of Texas.

You can reach Rich Tandler by email at WarpathInsiders@comcast.net

The first day of the draft is going to be a long one for Redskins fans. The proceedings start at noon and the Texans will be on the clock. Teams are allotted 15 minutes to makes their selections and, with all the talk of teams wanting to move up and down, it is likely that many teams will use something near the maximum time allotment.

Do the math with 32 teams and it could take as long as eight hours to get through Round 1. It probably won’t take that long, but it should run until at least 6 PM. When selection #33 comes up, Houston will have five minutes to make that pick. The pace does pick up considerably, but it will be another hour or so before the 21st pick of that round rolls around and the Redskins are on the clock at #53. Look for the Redskins to make their selection at around 7:45.

If you are watching the first round as it unfolds, you can do something to make the pain of not having a first-rounder a bit more bearable. When the 49ers select at #22, imagine that the commish is going to the microphone and saying, “With the 22nd pick in the NFL draft, Washington selects Jason Campbell, quarterback, Auburn.” That essentially is what that selection went for and Campbell has a year in the system under his belt.

That is, of course, unless they trade up, a possibility that has been discussed here in the past week or so. Even if that happens--and I now believe that it’s possible but not probable--they could only trade up high enough to get, say, to the Bears’ pick at #26. That would still make for a five hour-plus wait.

The second day will have much more action. Of the 98 picks on that day, six belong to the Redskins. I think that there is a very good chance that they will take Wisconsin tight end Jason Pociask with one of those second-day picks. Among the other second-day prospects that the Redskins will be taking a close look at are guards Will Montgomery of Virginia Tech and Adam Stenavich of Michigan, Purdue defensive end Rob Ninkovich, and Miami of Ohio cornerback Darrell Hunter. I would not be surprised if the Redskins took a running back in the late going as Ladell Betts is in the last year of his contract, but I don’t have an educated guess at a name.

As to predicting a first-day pick, I’m going to figure that the Redskins will stay put. If they do move up it will be to snag a cornerback like Kelly Jennings of Miami. I’ll put the chances of that happening at about 25%.

Let’s look at three names for pick number 53: Thomas Howard, LB, UTEP, Cedric Griffin, CB, Texas and Mathias Kiwanuka, DE, Boston College. Howard has excellent size (6-3, 249) and speed (4.5 in the 40) and some work on his pursuit angles and tackling technique is all that is needed for him to become a solid NFL player. Griffin is in the tough, physical cornerback mold that Gregg Williams prefers and could also move to safety should injury or Sean Taylor’s legal problems create a hole there. A poor showing in the Senior Bowl along with a knee injury he struggled with throughout the 2005 season sent Kiwanuka’s draft stock plummeting from a mid to late first round level to well into the second.

The Redskins would have a tough time passing on Kiwanuka if he’s there, with Renaldo Wynn and Phillip Daniels get up there in years. He probably will be gone, as will Howard. That leaves Griffin, a consolation prize that Williams and Jerry Gray will be most happy with. Although I really think that they’re looking at corner over linebacker, should they decide to go LB, look for Roger McIntosh of Miami to be the guy.

Rich Tandler is the author of The Redskins From A to Z, Volume 1: The Games. This unique book has an account of every game the Redskins played in from when they moved to Washington in 1937 through the 2001 season. For details and ordering information, go to http://www.RedskinsGames.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Story URL: http://redskins.scout.com/2/525265.html

 

[thayman]

By the way....love the signature Redman.......

 

[ExaltedOne]

I think the Skins should sign Ahmed Plummer and either Jamie Sharper or Tommy Polley.

 

[Marvelous]

One player the Redskins may take is Jai Lewis of George Mason. I know the Redskins attended his workout. He is local to the DC area which may help him.

I heard Lewis is 6' 4" and 290 lbs. He is not in football shape and only worked out for one week prior to his workout. He has not played football since high school, where he was a TE. He is a project, but men that move as well as Lewis does are rare. He will probably be an OL, but could work as a TE.

 

[redman]

One player the Redskins may take is Jai Lewis of George Mason. I know the Redskins attended his workout. He is local to the DC area which may help him.

I heard Lewis is 6' 4" and 290 lbs. He is not in football shape and only worked out for one week prior to his workout. He has not played football since high school, where he was a TE. He is a project, but men that move as well as Lewis does are rare. He will probably be an OL, but could work as a TE.

I too have heard the talk about him. He sounds like a UDFA signing to me.

 

[dgreen]

One player the Redskins may take is Jai Lewis of George Mason. I know the Redskins attended his workout. He is local to the DC area which may help him.

I heard Lewis is 6' 4" and 290 lbs. He is not in football shape and only worked out for one week prior to his workout. He has not played football since high school, where he was a TE. He is a project, but men that move as well as Lewis does are rare. He will probably be an OL, but could work as a TE.

I too have heard the talk about him. He sounds like a UDFA signing to me.

I agree. I can't imagine him being drafted. The Skins do have several 6th and 7th round picks, so they may use one on him, but I doubt it. Either way, he's likely headed for the practice squad for a year or so if he makes a team. As a Mason grad, I'd love to go to Fed Ex and at least see him in a preseason game.

 

[dgreen]

Hello,

I am Redskin fan and I have just discovered this board. I read through this thread today, and I was really impressed by the knowledge of your members. Several posters seemingly hit the nail on the head with thier predictions over the course of the offseason, as well as thier takes on the coaching staff.

Just giving props to the guys on this site, you really know your stuff.

Belated welcome. Feel free to add your thoughts. We'll tell you if you are wrong.

 

[redman]

Hello,

I am Redskin fan and I have just discovered this board.  I read through this thread today, and I was really impressed by the knowledge of your members.  Several posters seemingly hit the nail on the head with thier predictions over the course of the offseason, as well as thier takes on the coaching staff.

Just giving props to the guys on this site, you really know your stuff.

Belated welcome. Feel free to add your thoughts. We'll tell you if you are wrong.

Yes. And no charge for our wisdom - it's free.

 

[fatness]

Yes. And no charge for our wisdom - it's free.

Yeah, we buy it in bulk. Sometimes there's a bad batch, but whatever......

 

[fatness]

Brown and Jones Released

The Washington Redskins released kick returner Antonio Brown and defensive lineman Aki Jones on Friday.

Brown began last season as the Redskins' main kick returner, but was released after fumbling in Week 1, then was re-signed in November. He averaged 23.1 yards on kickoff returns, 4.8 on punt returns, and had a 91-yard kickoff runback for a touchdown against Arizona on Dec. 11.

Jones appeared in four games last season, recording one tackle.

I guess they're clearing room for draft picks. This is a big setback to Aki Jones's drive to get 4 tackles in one year.

 

[thayman]

Now honestly I am so incredibly happy about the Campbell trade last year. With Bush not going #1, I'm so relived that I don't have to sit here for the next few hours stressing about the Skins completely mortgaging the future for a RB we don't need.......

 

[Assani Fisher]

Thoughts on Roger McIntosh?

 

[redman]

Thoughts on Roger McIntosh?

I truly know zero about him.*ETA that it's funny to me that they got another player from "the U".

 

[fatness]

Roger 'Rocky' McIntosh

SUMMARY

McIntosh quickly flashed his athleticism and consistently made plays all over the field. He is a very quick, smooth athlete who plays very well behind the line of scrimmage and can adjust to make plays out in space. He has the quick burst off acceleration and playing speed to catch fast running backs in pursuit before they can turn the corner on outside runs. He has the playing speed to cut behind blockers and chase down plays from behind. His versatility is what makes McIntosh so valuable because he will be a force against the run at him, runs away and in all types of pass coverage. He needs to bulk up and add 10-15 pounds to play stronger at point of attack and must improve his use of hands vs. low blocks in order to move through traffic well in the NFL. Overall, McIntosh is the type of linebacker who often gets a little overlooked because he is slightly undersized and does not make a lot of big, flashy plays, but in the end, he is going to develop into a very good all-around linebacker who can stay on the field for all three downs and is consistently productive vs. the run and the pass.

STRONG POINTS

McIntosh is a very good athlete whose instincts combine with his athleticism for him to consistently make plays from sideline to sideline. He does a very good job of using his hands to keep blockers from getting ahold of him, can slip between blocks and makes tackles consistently. He does a very good job of bending his knees to adjust and tackle well out in space. He drops off the ball into zone coverage well, reads the quarterback/pass quickly and breaks and closes in time to make the tackle right after the catch. He has the playing speed to cover very well in tight man-to-man coverage and does not lose contact out of cuts. He is highly competitive and consistently reads and reacts to the play quickly.

WEAKNESSES

McIntosh is a little lighter than ideal and once a blocker gets ahold of him, he can be tied up and eliminated from the play. At times, the blocker has shown the ability to toss McIntosh off his feet and out of the play. He does a bad job of using his hands to protect his legs from low/cut blocks and gets cut to the ground too easily. He is not an explosive pass rusher who is going to be able to burst off the ball and consistently pressure the quarterback in the NFL.

Sounds like he defends the run and pass well, is quick, recognizes plays quickly, and isnt' strong enough. Adding weight and strength can be done.

 

[fatness]

More about McIntosh: Washington Post article

Midway through the first round of the NFL draft yesterday, the Washington Redskins began to see their expected scenario unfold. For weeks, they had a specific linebacker in mind for their draft position, but it quickly became clear that a trade would be necessary if they were to get their player.

The target was Roger "Rocky" McIntosh, a 6-foot-2, 231-pound linebacker out of the University of Miami. He had visited the Redskins weeks ago, was a former teammate on the Hurricanes with safety Sean Taylor and had been projected by the league as one of the top six linebackers in the draft. Another consideration was that the Redskins were impressed with the 29 McIntosh scored on the Wonderlic test, the controversial aptitude test that can seriously affect a player's draft value.

The Redskins did not believe McIntosh, 23, would be available when their draft slot late in the second round arrived, and began making phone calls. A day earlier, on Friday, the club made calls to attempt to move up in the draft, but Coach Joe Gibbs said teams seemed more content to take a reserved approach, preferring to wait until draft day. Then, as the first round neared the 20th selection, the Redskins received the phone call they were hoping for.

Surprisingly, Gibbs found a willing partner in the New York Jets, which traded the third pick of the second round -- the 35th overall -- to the Redskins, who then drafted McIntosh. The price was a swap in second-round picks -- the Jets received the 53rd overall pick -- plus a sixth rounder as well as the Redskins' second-round selection in 2007. "He can really run and he is explosive," Gibbs said. "He covers a lot of ground. You can see when he gets matched up with tight ends and backs, he does a very good job there."

If history can serve as a measure, the Redskins should not have a problem signing McIntosh. According to the NFL Players Association, 75 percent of second-round picks signed last year, for an average base salary of $234,000 per season and a guaranteed signing bonus of $1.37 million. Gibbs said yesterday the Redskins did not try to trade up into the first round, but it was clear that they were never comfortable with the 53rd pick and intended to move up. "Our guess was that at 53 we were in trouble," Gibbs said. "Now, we had a game plan at 53, but it didn't include Rocky."

For his part, McIntosh believed he would be a first-round pick, but according to draft experts over the past few weeks, McIntosh fell fairly in line with his projections. Gibbs said what they liked about McIntosh was both that he played at Miami, well known as a veritable factory for professional players, as well as his athleticism. "I thought I was going to go a little higher. I guess everyone does," McIntosh said from his family's diner in South Carolina. "But they traded up to come and get me and I appreciate that."

Gibbs's fears that McIntosh would not be available at 53 were accelerated by two events yesterday. The first was that the five linebackers rated ahead of McIntosh were on their way to being drafted, the second being that two linebackers -- Alabama's DeMeco Ryans and Maryland inside linebacker D'Qwell Jackson -- were selected with the first two picks of the second round. Four linebackers -- Ohio State's A.J. Hawk and Bobby Carpenter, Florida State's Ernie Sims, and Iowa's Chad Greenway -- had already been selected in the first round. "As soon as they started going, it kind of spurs you on. You kind of thought there was going to be a run on linebackers," Gibbs said. "We made up our minds that if it got down to the end of the first round we were going to try and move. . . . We made some calls before this just seeing if there was going to be a possibility. Most times when you call the day before, they say we'll wait until we're on the clock."

In McIntosh, Gibbs believes he has solved a central problem for the Redskins while simultaneously being able to exploit a part of their defense -- using strong-side linebacker Marcus Washington as a pass rusher -- that was underutilized last season. The problem, Gibbs said, was that the team was not comfortable with its personnel at weak-side linebacker.

Gibbs said a main target of the draft was a linebacker who could play all three downs, a luxury the Redskins did not believe they had last year, with LaVar Arrington, Chris Clemons and Warrick Holdman rotating. Arrington, who last week signed with the New York Giants, played on first and second downs, only to be spelled on third down by Clemons. Holdman played sporadically after the Redskins settled on the Arrington-Clemons rotation.

"I spent a lot of time with them when I was there," McIntosh said. "They were saying nothing but positive things about me. They showed me they really cared about me." McIntosh played 46 games at Miami, started 26 and finished with 266 tackles and nine sacks. He played sparingly in 12 games in 2003 after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery and appeared in 10 games (six starts) in 2004 because of a shoulder injury. The Redskins believe that McIntosh has the versatility to play either outside linebacker position -- strong or weak side -- as well as middle linebacker. The Redskins have had a keen interest in the weak side as Lemar Marshall impressed them last season in his first year at middle linebacker and Washington is a former Pro Bowl player on the strong side.

"Obviously a spot on our team where we were thinnest was linebacker," Gibbs said. "We had a game plan there."

 

[buster c]

A steal in waiting?

Montgomery's stock has risen, but questions abound as draft arrives

BY JOHN SHIPLEY

Pioneer Press

For Laurence Maroney, this weekend's NFL draft is a formality that will make him a millionaire but nonetheless already is wearing out its welcome.

"I'm just waiting for it to be over with," he said Wednesday.

That's because the tailback knows he will be drafted in the first round. Anthony Montgomery has no such certainty, so for him, it will be a whole different experience.

"I'd be lying if I said it doesn't matter if I get drafted," the University of Minnesota defensive tackle said. "It's always been a dream of mine to play in the NFL, and that involves the whole process of the draft and seeing your name on TV."

Maroney, center Greg Eslinger and guard Mark Setterstrom are generally recognized as the Gophers' top NFL prospects, but Montgomery's stock has been rising since he worked out for NFL scouts at Minnesota's pro day March 6. At 6 feet 5 and 310 pounds, he has the frame and strength to play at the next level, and some believe he already has the skills.

A draft analyst for msnbc.com ranked Montgomery fourth among 10 potential steals of the draft, and Gophers offensive coordinator Mitch Browning said he wouldn't be surprised if Montgomery is the second Gopher taken this weekend, behind Maroney and ahead of Eslinger.

"We've taken a lot of calls about (Montgomery)," he said. "A lot of people really like him."

There is one rub: Some teams are interested in him as an offensive tackle. Montgomery said he recently visited Green Bay for interviews and a tour of the Packers' facilities because they're interested in making him an offensive lineman. With that in mind, he worked out with Eslinger and Setterstrom this spring.

"I've never played offensive line," said Montgomery, who was a quarterback in high school. "I've played defensive tackle for four years (at Minnesota), and I'd love the opportunity to play defensive line in the NFL. But if it's offensive line, I'm willing to do what I have to do to play in the NFL."

Montgomery said the Gophers' pro day — at which more than 20 NFL scouts and coaches put draft-eligible players through a battery of drills — helped earn him attention. He was not invited to the official NFL combine, held each winter in Indianapolis.

"I think the question before pro day was, 'How good an athlete is he?' " Montgomery said. "I think I showed what kind of athlete I can be because my scores were right on the average with the other guys at the combine. I feel like teams are interested."

Another question was whether he can effectively, and consistently, rush the passer; Montgomery had 41 tackles last season but just six for losses and three sacks. By comparison, Penn State tackle Jay Alford had 11½ tackles for losses and 8½ sacks.

On the other hand, Alford played with three senior linemen, including All-Big Ten Conference ends Tamba Hali and Matthew Rice. Montgomery had no such help, and he spent most of last season being double-teamed.

"Getting double-teamed is frustrating," he said, "but it's a compliment, I guess. I was part of a team, and that was my role. I got lot of hurries and a lot of hits, but I didn't get a lot of sacks. I can't blame that on anybody else."

Montgomery said he has visited the Washington Redskins and that his agent, Joseph Palumbo, has been fielding calls daily. He is working out at home in Cleveland, where he will watch today's first three rounds and Sunday's final four.

Maroney is home in St. Louis, where his family will hold a reception to watch the draft. Eslinger said he will be in Minneapolis but won't be watching.

"After the combine and pro days, it's out of my hands, so there's no sense in worrying and getting worked up about it," he said. "I'll be on the golf course."

John Shipley can be reached at jshipley@pioneerpress.com.

 

[Kenlin]

Good call ! ^

 

[buster c]

Reed Doughty

Height: 6-1

Weight: 208

40 Time: 4.69* Position: SS

College:

Grade: F 5.5 ST

SUMMARY

Doughty is the typical tough, hard-nosed safety who consistently reads and reacts to the play fast and gives an excellent effort hustling to make plays. He has quick feet and has shown the ability to close fast on plays in front of him and can make hard hits/tackles right after the catch on quick hitting passes in front of him. He does not line up deep in coverage often and does not get outside to make plays on the ball from over-the-top coverage. He usually lines up in the "Box" and flies to the ball between the tackles and makes hard, physical hits, but he does not consistently wrap up and misses some tackles. On outside runs, he has flashed competitiveness to chase down ball carriers in pursuit, but he lacks the good playing speed to do it consistently in the NFL. He is not a good all-around athlete and his tight hips hinder his ability to adjust and tackle consistently well out in space and limit his ability to flip his hips and turn and run with tight ends in tight man-to-man coverage -- he often allows a step of separation and lacks the burst to consistently catch up. He is the type of safety who often gets over-graded because of his toughness, intelligence and competitiveness. He is going to be an excellent backup safety in the NFL who can do an adequate job when asked to spot start, but is not the player you want starting over the long term. An added bonus is that he was very good on special teams coverage units in college and will be a good special teams player in the NFL.

STRONG POINTS

Doughty is a very tough and instinctive safety who often lines up near the line of scrimmage and is consistently around the ball. He aggressively attacks the line of scrimmage on running plays and can make hard, physical tackles on runs between the tackles. In coverage, he reads the quarterback/pass quickly, closes fast on passes in front of him and can make hard hits/tackles right after the catch. He does a very good job of maintaining his responsibility on play-action fakes away and picks up the tight end releasing on the backside. He reads the screen pass quickly, gets out to the flat fast and does not hesitate to make hard hits on big ball carriers and usually gets the man down.

WEAKNESSES

Doughty is stiff in the hips which limits his all-around athleticism -- he can't adjust and tackle well in space due to his tight hips. Once he is chasing after the ball in pursuit, if the angle has to change for him to make the play, he can't adjust on the move to make the play. Additionally, while he can close quickly on plays in front of him, he lacks the playing speed and closing burst to catch running backs in pursuit consistently. Despite measured size, he plays smaller and struggles to consistently wrap up big ball carriers and they consistently drag him for extra yards. He tends to launch himself at ball carriers and goes for the big hit too often and does not wrap up which leads to some missed tackles. He does not get outside from deep coverage in time to make plays on the ball on deep outside passes.

 

[ChrisCooleyFan]

With pick 196 I'd like to see the Skins select

OL Adam Stenavich Michigan

 

[ChrisCooleyFan]

Kedric Golston

Height: 6-4

Weight: 301

40 Speed: 4.95*

Position: Defensive Tackle

College: Georgia

Final Grade: I 5.8 MED

GM JR Scouting LLC Grading Scale/Key

SUMMARY

Golston is tough to evaluate because he was usually playing with an injury (he was limping due to a sprained ankle) which limited his production and did not finish plays he was consistently close to. He is definitely a good athlete with very quick feet which give him the ability to get off the ball fast and disrupt plays consistently -- even though he does not finish consistently, he does regularly disrupt/blow-up plays before they get started. Despite looking smaller on film, he has good size for a defensive tackle and he plays with good strength to hold ground at the point of attack on inside runs and can collapse the pocket to pressure the quarterback. He is talented enough to be a productive NFL starter, but in order to become the player he is capable of, he is going to need to finish plays more consistently and will need to stay healthy. The trouble is that most players who struggle with injuries in college usually have injury/durability issues in the NFL. Teams should be careful not to over-draft him based on his off-field workouts because he has a lot of things working against him to become the consistent NFL starter he has the talent to be.

WHY THIS GUY? INJURY PRONE

 

[buster c]

NFL Draft: Bulldogs on different paths

By Josh Kendall

TELEGRAPH STAFF WRITER

ATHENS - In the best of times, they've been, literally, inseparable, a fused block in the middle of Georgia's defensive line controlling the point of attack. In the lean times, they've each nursed injuries ranging from severe to nagging.

Through it all, Kedric Golston and Gerald Anderson have been linked. Anderson arrived one year earlier, but his redshirt season in 2001 left them matriculating at the same rate. Nineteen times they lined up hulking shoulder to hulking shoulder as the Bulldogs' starting defensive tackles.

They were a duo in conversation - "Golston and Anderson" or "Anderson and Golston" -depending on the week. And their connection was expected to last at least until Saturday's NFL Draft as they sweated out each other's professional fate.

Instead, this is where it ends.

Golston will watch the draft with a personal stake, but Anderson has moved on. He made the decision early this month to quit the sport and accept a position as defensive line coach at Pierce County High School.

"We grew a tight bond on the field," Anderson said. "It's kind of hard that I'm not going to be going through this process with him, but I know he's not going to turn his nose up at me because I'm not going to the NFL."

Said Golston: "I still love him to death. He just took that (job) and figured he was satisfied with his career. I hate it for him, but I think he's happy."

Anderson was hired by first-year Pierce County coach Mike Woodard, who was Anderson's defensive coordinator at Ware County High School. The pair remained close since Anderson left South Georgia, and Woodard had a standing offer for Anderson to join him on the sideline when his playing career was finished.

"That time just came sooner than both of us thought," Woodard said.

Anderson has moved back home to Ware County, Pierce County's neighbor, and already begun his duties with the team. Golston, meanwhile, must wait at least a week before he's gainfully employed.

"I'm pretty sure that he's not envying me right now because he's got a job, and I'm still looking for one," Golston said.

Sticking with it

Golston, who trained in Miami following the Sugar Bowl, thinks he's improved his draft stock during February's NFL Combine. He ran the fastest 40-yard dash of any of the defensive tackles (4.88 seconds), benched 225 pounds 33 times and had a 34-inch vertical leap, he said.

"The numbers I wanted to hit, I hit them," he said.

Golston's agent, Lance Courtney, is optimistic the player could be picked on the first day of the draft.

"We're hoping for the third round," he said.

Added Golston: "That's been a goal of mine ever since I started training to be a first day pick, but I don't have any more control over that. I think I'm a top-three round kind of player. I know my stats weren't the best, but I think my film is good and I played on some good defenses."

Todd McShay of Scouts Inc. predicted this week that Golston will be taken late in the sixth round (205th overall) by the New England Patriots. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. doesn't have Golston listed in his latest mock draft, which covers only the first four rounds.

Any team that selects Golston in the late rounds will be getting a steal, Georgia defensive line coach Rodney Garner said. Golston's natural talent is unquestioned.

He was a Parade All-American and ESPN.com's top defensive tackle prospect in the country coming out of Sandy Creek High School in 2002.

The course of his career was forever altered, though, by a severe car accident five months prior to signing with the Bulldogs. Golston, who was thrown from his vehicle and airlifted to the hospital, suffered a broken leg and internal injuries.

"It would've been great to see Kedric Golston play without that car wreck," Garner said. "People don't realize how serious that wreck was. He almost lost his life. They didn't know if he was going to live, much less play football."

Golston not only played, but started the season-opener of his first year, becoming the first true freshman to start his first game at defensive tackle since Travis Stroud in 1994 and the first ever to do it with a steel rod in his leg.

"What he did his freshman year shows how tough he is," said Garner, who's received several calls from pro teams inquiring about Golston. "Everybody likes the motor he plays with. It's hard to find guys as big as he is who play as fast as he does."

The Redskins, who don't have a third-round pick, are the only team that has flown Golston in for a personal workout, but he talked to plenty of suitors at the Combine.

"They all say that they like me," he said. "I don't know what that means. You don't believe nothing you hear and only about half the stuff you see. Hopefully, I'm relaxed (next weekend) and my name will get called early so I don't have to worry about it, but wherever I go that's where I'm supposed to be so I won't worry about it."

Moving on

Anderson, who considered leaving Georgia early for the NFL following his junior season, could have been picked as high or even higher than his linemate.

"I heard everything from fourth to sixth round," he said.

Anderson didn't play in the Sugar Bowl due to back spasms, but returned to the field in January for the Hula Bowl and signed with agent Eugene Parker, who had him working out in Florida for the draft. Anderson had even signed up to participate in Georgia's pro day, where more than three dozen NFL scouts came to campus to evaluate players.

However, on the morning of the work out, he was a no-show.

"I didn't want to sign on with a team and then quit," Anderson said. "I went on and did what my heart wanted to do."

The decision didn't catch Woodard completely off guard.

"We have a good relationship," he said. "Through his senior year, I kind of listened to him a lot. He's really ready to be a teacher and a coach. His body is beat up a little bit, but that's not the whole reason why he's not going through the draft."

Garner was "shocked," he said.

"He just told me his heart wasn't in it," he said. "Obviously, if you're heart is not in it, it's hard to prepare for something of that magnitude."

Anderson missed four games last year due to a concussion and back spasms, and he was ineffective in several others. He finished the season with just 15 tackles, the lowest of his career, and no sacks, but Garner detected no lack of effort, he said.

"I think he had fun," he said.

Fun might be a stretch.

"I was getting frustrated," said Anderson, who had his best season as a sophomore with 55 tackles, including eight for loss. "There was a lot of frustration because I wasn't making the big plays I had in the past. I didn't think I was going out with a bang like I should have."

Immediately after the Sugar Bowl, Anderson knew what he wanted to do, but he was afraid to share his thoughts, so he went through the motions.

"It's something I've been battling for about the last four or five months," he said. "Football is not what I want to do. I'd rather teach it and work with kids."

Anderson already has impressed his new boss.

"He's showing me a lot already that a lot of veteran coaches don't do as far as relationships and being hands-on," Woodard said.

Pierce County has fallen on very hard times the last two seasons, but Anderson thinks the program can be turned around.

"We're going to have fun again down here in Pierce County," Anderson said.

Starting with the defensive line coach.

________________________________________

Contact Kendall at kendall @bellsouth.net

 

[Marvelous]

Reed Doughty

Height: 6-1

Weight: 208

40 Time: 4.69* Position: SS

College:

Grade: F 5.5 ST

WEAKNESSES

Doughty is stiff in the hips which limits his all-around athleticism -- he can't adjust and tackle well in space due to his tight hips.

What is "stiff in the hips"? Is this something that the coaches can work on or is it a physical attribute that can't be changed?I suspect he was drafted primarily for special teams.

 

[ChrisCooleyFan]

Kevin Simon

Height: 5-10

Weight: 236

40 Speed: 4.92*

Position: Inside Linebacker

College: Tennessee

Final Grade: G 5.8

GM JR Scouting LLC Grading Scale/Key

SUMMARY

Simon is an undersized linebacker who has been injured throughout his college career, so he had a low grade coming into his senior season. He is a smart and instinctive linebacker who consistently reads and reacts to the play quickly. He accelerates to ball fast and has a very good closing burst to finish plays. He drops off the ball into zone coverage quickly and smoothly, reads the quarterback pass very well, breaks and closes fast and uses his front arm to break up passes well. He has the athleticism and playing speed to cover tight ends/runningbacks in man-to-man coverage and can make hard tackles right after the catch. Obviously, the biggest concern is whether Simon's body can hold up physically in the NFL after all his injuires at Tennessee. Overall, Simon will not be drafted as high as he's rated now, but in time he will develop into a good starting linebacker who consistently makes a lot of tackles and is always around the ball. But until he becomes a starter, he will be a very good special teams player.

Again an Injury Prone player WHY?????????????

 

[ChrisCooleyFan]

The draft is over and now RUDY is on. Cant't wait till Sept 11th. Thoughts on the Redskins Picks!!!!

 

[fatness]

I didn't see it but apparently Joe Gibbs called out Sean Salisbury on ESPN.

Gibbs is on the ESPN Draft Show right now being interviewed, and before Trey could ask him questions he stopped and asked where Sean was and if he could talk to him. Trey asked why and Gibbs replied that everyone in Washington recalled Sean saying he would walk to DC naked if the Skins made the playoffs and that they all had their cameras ready for when it happened. Gibbs then giggled for like 30 seconds.

First they intoduced Gibbs. As soon as Trey Wingo was going to ask Joe some questions, Joe jumped in and asked if he could talk to Sean Salisbury . After Trey asked why , Gibbs said that everybody in Washington wanted to know about Sean walking to D.C naked. Gibs also said that they all had their cameras ready. Trey than laughed for a while along with Gibbs saying that , that was the best openings for a interview he had done( or something like that). After the laughs , Trey asked Joe about the free agent pick ups in the off season . Gibbs basically said that all the players really fitted in well . He said that they are going to try to get Antwaan the ball as much as possible knowing how much of a factor he is. Also he said that Archuleta and Sean make a great combo at the safety position . There was also something said about Fauria , but I cant recall what he said. Trey went on to ask about Rocky the trade made to get him. Gibbs said that , the "BIG" move was made because they feel that Rocky can play all three linebacker positions and also because he is a good pass and run defender. Joe was then asked about Jason Cambell , and said that he is really getting a good chance to learn from Brunell and newly aquired Collins. After Wingo asked "so , Mark Brunell is the starting QB" , Gibbs answered "YES" without hesitation. But went on to say that Jason will get alot of snaps in pre season and they will see how it goes. The NFC east was then brought up to Gibbs by Wingo . Gibbs said jokingly that there are trying to get out the NFC east because it such a hard division. . Joe said that he thinks the Eagles will come back roaring this year . Said the Cowboys and Giants coaches are really good and that they made off season moves. He did not talk about LaVar Arrington. After the questions were over , Wingo said something along these lines" Out of all the interviews I've done , this was one of the best openings to an interview" refering to the call out of Salisbury. Gibbs than laughed . After a good luck or something along those lines from Wingo , Gibbs said thank you , and the interview was over.

 

[ChrisCooleyFan]

I didn't see it but apparently Joe Gibbs called out Sean Salisbury on ESPN.

Gibbs is on the ESPN Draft Show right now being interviewed, and before Trey could ask him questions he stopped and asked where Sean was and if he could talk to him. Trey asked why and Gibbs replied that everyone in Washington recalled Sean saying he would walk to DC naked if the Skins made the playoffs and that they all had their cameras ready for when it happened. Gibbs then giggled for like 30 seconds.

First they intoduced Gibbs. As soon as Trey Wingo was going to ask Joe some questions, Joe jumped in and asked if he could talk to Sean Salisbury . After Trey asked why , Gibbs said that everybody in Washington wanted to know about Sean walking to D.C naked. Gibs also said that they all had their cameras ready. Trey than laughed for a while along with Gibbs saying that , that was the best openings for a interview he had done( or something like that). After the laughs , Trey asked Joe about the free agent pick ups in the off season . Gibbs basically said that all the players really fitted in well . He said that they are going to try to get Antwaan the ball as much as possible knowing how much of a factor he is. Also he said that Archuleta and Sean make a great combo at the safety position . There was also something said about Fauria , but I cant recall what he said. Trey went on to ask about Rocky the trade made to get him. Gibbs said that , the "BIG" move was made because they feel that Rocky can play all three linebacker positions and also because he is a good pass and run defender. Joe was then asked about Jason Cambell , and said that he is really getting a good chance to learn from Brunell and newly aquired Collins. After Wingo asked "so , Mark Brunell is the starting QB" , Gibbs answered "YES" without hesitation. But went on to say that Jason will get alot of snaps in pre season and they will see how it goes. The NFC east was then brought up to Gibbs by Wingo . Gibbs said jokingly that there are trying to get out the NFC east because it such a hard division. . Joe said that he thinks the Eagles will come back roaring this year . Said the Cowboys and Giants coaches are really good and that they made off season moves. He did not talk about LaVar Arrington. After the questions were over , Wingo said something along these lines" Out of all the interviews I've done , this was one of the best openings to an interview" refering to the call out of Salisbury. Gibbs than laughed . After a good luck or something along those lines from Wingo , Gibbs said thank you , and the interview was over.

Yes he did it was great. He (Gibbs) was also great yesterday, on the web cast. Making alot of jokes, and laughing alot....

 

[fatness]

One of the things that several of their draft picks seem to have in common (in the scouting reports) is being quick to recognize plays and get to the ball.

 

[Marvelous]

Kevin Simon

Height: 5-10

Weight: 236

40 Speed: 4.92*

Position: Inside Linebacker

College: Tennessee

Final Grade: G 5.8

GM JR Scouting LLC Grading Scale/Key

SUMMARY

Simon is an undersized linebacker who has been injured throughout his college career, so he had a low grade coming into his senior season. He is a smart and instinctive linebacker who consistently reads and reacts to the play quickly. He accelerates to ball fast and has a very good closing burst to finish plays. He drops off the ball into zone coverage quickly and smoothly, reads the quarterback pass very well, breaks and closes fast and uses his front arm to break up passes well. He has the athleticism and playing speed to cover tight ends/runningbacks in man-to-man coverage and can make hard tackles right after the catch. Obviously, the biggest concern is whether Simon's body can hold up physically in the NFL after all his injuires at Tennessee. Overall, Simon will not be drafted as high as he's rated now, but in time he will develop into a good starting linebacker who consistently makes a lot of tackles and is always around the ball. But until he becomes a starter, he will be a very good special teams player.

Again an Injury Prone player WHY?????????????

The thinking must be "if they can stay healthy, they can be a really great player." Don't know the odds of that working out though. My only opinion: given how well Gibbs has done on getting players, he gets the benefit of the doubt. Plus we are talking about 6th and 7th round draft picks, who may have a difficult time making the team to begin with.

 

[fatness]

McIntosh Arrives at Redskins Park

Can Washington Redskins draft pick Rocky McIntosh handle the pressure of replacing LaVar Arrington? Compared to the pressures of romance, that should be no problem.

McIntosh arrived at Redskins Park on Monday, two days after the linebacker was selected in the second round of the NFL draft -- and only five days after getting married. Married right before the draft? Why? "Just because a lot of stuff is going to be going on in the next month or so, and I was having a lot of pressure from her," McIntosh said. "A lot of pressure. But it was cool, though. I love her a lot."

McIntosh met his wife, Alessia, on his first day of school at the University of Miami. They've been engaged for "a year or two," he said. They were married on a beach in Miami last Wednesday. "I know he had a big week," coach Joe Gibbs said.

Because the Redskins didn't have a first-round draft pick, the annual formal introduction of their top draftee was more low-key than usual. McIntosh was taken early in the second round at No. 35 overall and will compete for the weakside spot vacated when three-time Pro Bowl linebacker Arrington left as a free agent in March.

"What he did was great," McIntosh said, "and I'm just glad they picked me up. I'm used to the pressure."

McIntosh will make his on-field debut Friday, when the team begins a three-day rookie minicamp. He will become the fourth ex-Hurricanes player on the Redskins roster, joining running back Clinton Portis, receiver Santana Moss and safety Sean Taylor.

"Football is a big deal at Miami," Gibbs said. "They play a tremendous schedule. If you're taking a look at somebody -- if he can play at Miami and be that kind of a guy and a leader there, then chances are he's going to be successful up here, too."

Poor guy. Just got married, and soon Mike Sellers will be blocking him.

 

[redman]

Reed Doughty

Height: 6-1

Weight: 208

40 Time: 4.69* Position: SS

College:

Grade: F 5.5 ST

WEAKNESSES

Doughty is stiff in the hips which limits his all-around athleticism -- he can't adjust and tackle well in space due to his tight hips.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What is "stiff in the hips"? Is this something that the coaches can work on or is it a physical attribute that can't be changed?I suspect he was drafted primarily for special teams.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's talked about most with DB's and it has to do with their ability to adjust to change of direction while running by swivelling their hips. The best DB's, usually CB's, do this very well.

 

[Bizkiteer]

BTW - Redskins drafted the smartest LB (McIntosh) in the draft, wonderlick score of 31. That means he should know where the ball is going before the opposing QB does, right?

 

[fatness]

31 on Wonderlic = Jedi mind control

 

[ChrisCooleyFan]

BTW - Redskins drafted the smartest LB (McIntosh) in the draft, wonderlick score of 31.  That means he should know where the ball is going before the opposing QB does, right? 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Maybe Vince Young should of sat next to him

 

[redman]

Redskins eye help beyond draftBy David ElfinTHE WASHINGTON TIMESMay 5, 2006 Their names generally only make the paper in the small type of the transactions section. They are the forgotten players of the much-hyped NFL Draft weekend. But at least one of the eight undrafted rookies whom the Washington Redskins signed on Monday figures to make an impact, perhaps as soon as this season.     Four of last year's undrafted rookies, punter Andy Groom, defensive tackle Aki Jones, linebacker Zak Keasey and kick returner Rich Parson, got into games while offensive tackle Jon Alston, running back Jonathan Combs, receiver Steven Harris and tight end David Kashetta spent time on the practice squad. Alston, Combs and Harris remain on the roster while Keasey is with San Francisco.     Last year's regular Redskins lineup included three starters who weren't drafted: receiver David Patten, linebacker Lemar Marshall and safety Ryan Clark. Another 16 players who were never drafted also played last season, including kicker John Hall, punter Derrick Frost, tight end Mike Sellers and receiver James Thrash.     All of that success by players whose names weren't called on a draft weekend is par for the course for coach Joe Gibbs, whose championship teams in the 1980s and 1990s were full of low-round draft choices and undrafted free agents.     "You're picking people," explained Gibbs, who gets his first look at this year's crop of unknowns during a three-day rookie minicamp that starts today at Redskin Park. "It's not a science, for sure. I'll be willing to bet in our rookie camp there will be guys [about whom] I'll say, 'Good Gosh, I don't believe this. This kid is really good. What's the deal here?' That excites me and always has. All of the guys we've had who've been [rookie] free agents played here for a long time and had great careers."     The famed original Hogs included tackle Joe Jacoby, center Jeff Bostic and tight end Doc Walker -- none of whom were drafted -- and tackle George Starke, taken in the 11th round, meaning he would've been bypassed in today's shorter draft.     Tight end Ron Middleton, linebackers Mel Kaufman and Neal Olkewicz, safeties Todd Bowles and Mark Murphy started on Redskins' Super Bowl-winning teams without having been drafted. Running back Earnest Byner, guards Raleigh McKenzie and Mark Schlereth, defensive end Fred Stokes, linebacker Monte Coleman and Martin Mayhew were all chosen low enough that they would've been undrafted by 2006 standards.     "You draw up these pictures of what we want, a guy that's real fast and big, but I go all the way back to a guy like Mark Murphy and people like that," Gibbs said. "They don't come close to a profile you would draw up and he played for years."     Given all that history, Gibbs said he doesn't sign undrafted rookies on a lark.     "I just don't take a bunch of guys to take a bunch of guys," Gibbs said. "Most of the people we go after we feel could have an opportunity [to at least make the practice squad]. I feel like we have an obligation to tell them exactly what the situation is, this is where we think you fit in. We make sure their eyes are wide open."     That's also in part because Gibbs knows that unlike the draftees, the rookie free agents often have a choice of employers.     "I talked to one agent [on Sunday after the draft] who said, 'I made four other teams mad so you better take care of this guy,'?" Gibbs said. "A guy works his entire life to get a chance to play pro ball, so I take it real seriously when I want to sign him. It's a dream for them. I dreamed about playing in the NFL, but I wasn't good enough. It's a dream that everybody chases."     The latest version of that chase begins today. The six draft picks, eight undrafted rookies, three inexperienced holdovers -- Alston, running back Jesse Lumsden and offensive tackle Jonta Woodard -- and dozens of players invited on a tryout basis, as Keasey, Alston and Combs were last year, constitute the talent pool.     Running back Mario Merrills and defensive backs Milton Harris and Dennard Wilson of Maryland, Virginia Tech running back Mike Imoh and Georgetown linebacker Mike Ononibaku are among the tryout players.

 

[fatness]

Redskins Mini-Camp, Day 1

There's a lot of information there, including this first-hand account and this one.

Al Saunders may well have stolen the show. The man is about as energetic as they come ... you'd think he was 25. He is animated, involved, critical, supportive, funny, scary (if you're a rook who just screwed up) ... and has this endearing habit of sprinting down the field in pursuit of players.

When they do something wrong, they hear about it. And not when they come back to the huddle either---they're as likely to be met 30 yards deep in the defenseive backfield. Same, interestingly enough, when they do something RIGHT. We'll have some "Al Quotes" for you once we transcribe all our notes (which are copious). If we manage to capture the tone/flavor at all, you're probably going to fall for the man as we have.

Rocky McIntosh did some good things. Nothing GREAT, but nothing awful either. The impression I walked away with was a guy thinking his way into position. He never seemed to explode, but by the end of the almost 2-hour practice, I was thinking maybe that's because he doesn't often get OUT of position and HAVE to go Superman to make the play.

One play that stood out the most was when Imoh beat him in the left flat on a quick out, only to have Rocky close yard, reach over and around with his left hand and strip the ball loose. Showed good closing speed and football instincts. He was also VERY soft-spoken and humble in the interviews after. Hard not to like the kid. BTW, John and I both agree ... he'll probably be asked to put on the 10 pounds of muscle some of us have suggested he will by next training camp................

..................Anthony Montgomery was intruiging. He is by far the biggest presence among all the linemen, and just has that NFL body. The first impression of him was on the blocking sled, and while he had decent explosion, the thing that actually caught my eye was how athletic he looked coming OFF the sled. Most guys 6-5, 312 don't move particularly nimbly. Anthony showed good athletic ability. He also was the only one individual lineman who got individual coaching from the position coach during the sled drill.

HOF Head Coach Joe Gibbs separates from some coaches he’s been talking to at the back of the zone far right, and strides purposefully toward the tree line. Some things can’t wait.

 

[fatness]

Redskins Minicamp, Day 2

Including first-hand accounts

Offense

#37 – Jesse Lumsden - RB

Prior to camp someone who speaks with Redskins’ players regularly told me to look out for this running back from Canada. He told me that he heard Lumsden could play. He could not have been more right. Lumsden is having the best camp of anyone I’ve noticed. He shined today with a few terrific runs. He appears to be a very good inside runner with breakaway speed. He received a few accolades from Coach Saunders today. What most impresses is Lumsden’s ability to run in traffic and how fast he is.

#85 – Andre Thurman – WR

I mentioned Andre yesterday as the wideout running the best routes. Today he was the wideout making the best catches. Thurman is not technically a rookie, having spent last year with Green Bay, probably on the practice squad. Thurman again showed very precise routes, good burst and decent speed. I asked him how he learned to run such great routes and he said it was from playing with the best QB in the NFL, Brett Favre. If we have any slots for a WR on teams, I hope this guy gets it.

#89 – Jared Hicks – TE

This man looks exceedingly large for a tight end at 6-5, 286. He also doesn’t seem to run with any particular grace. What he does do is catch everything thrown his way. Hicks had a great day today with at least five or six big catches in traffic. He is also faster than you would think by looking at him run.

It was difficult at times to find and observe individual players, but I can say that one group especially impressed me – the Tight Ends. #89, Jared Hicks, a 6’5” 286 behemoth hailing from Arkansas, was all over the field. This guy has great hands and didn’t drop a single catch. He’s not ‘fast’ (how many guys his size truly are), but he moves well, can change direction smoothly, and really put on a show out there today. At least twice, Al Saunders rushed across the field to tell him ‘good job!’. Obviously there was little contact and no tackling today, but there’s no doubt, this guy is a beast who would be very difficult to bring down. I caught him coming off the field and he commented on how impressed he was with how involved the coaches were – that he felt like all of them had been treated like Redskins from the moment they walked in. I told him I was impressed with his hands, but that Redskin’s football would require he be able to knock someone on their behind as a blocker. He assured me that at Arkansas, their power running game had required him to do a lot of it. And he LIKES it  A very impressive guy who I’d keep an eye on.

The other tight ends, #88 Dustin Dunning, 6’5” and 237 lbs from Vanderbilt University, and #90 Brandon Sebald, 6’6” and 251 lbs out of Hofstra University, also did very well. Not as physically imposing as Hicks, both made some nice catches. If this coaching staff decides to add another tight end, they’ve got some solid ones in this bunch to bring into camp. I’m calling it now – Jared Hicks has a future.

I was also very impressed with the play of Reed Doughty. At 6’1” and 209 lbs, the Northern Colorado grad obviously isn’t physically imposing, but he reminds me of Matt Bowen. He has great lateral movement, and always seems to be in the right spot to make a play. He got dinged on a play late, and didn’t do much after that, but he’s definitely a sharp kid and knows how to play football. My impression of him talking to him as he came off the field today is that he is, above all other things, a humble and hard-working young man – the kind Joe Gibbs seems to fall in love with. He’ll be another one who’s got a real chance to catch on, particularly if he shines on special teams.

Rocky McIntosh looked good out there, and had a coach in his ear most of the day. He doesn’t look as big as his bio says he is (6’2”, 237 lbs), but I think its because he is so well-proportioned and athletic. He moves very smoothly, and just looks like a natural out there.

Jesse Lumsden had one of the most dazzling plays of the day, taking a hand-off in the backfield, juking left and busting through the middle for a long TD run. He also has that ‘something’ you just feel good things will happen more often than not when he’s got the ball in his hands.