Why I do not see us getting a DE before the season starts

[Mike Bass]

There have been a lot of discussions on why we did not draft a pass rushing DE or why we should pursue Jason Taylor. IMO, I do not see the dire need for a pass rusher on either end of the defensive line. We have pass rushing specialist in Andre Carter, Marcus Washington, Chris Wilson and now, Curtis Gatewood who can come off the end on passing downs. These guys would be able get to the QB, off the end as well as some of the top tier DE's in football IF the DT's were able to push the pocket back enabling them a better path to the QB.

THIS is why Glen Dorsey was the top player on our draft board this year rather than a top DE. Our defensive line excelled in '05 because Griff and big Joe collapsed pockets disallowing QB's to have the time to make decisions and allowing guys to get to the QB . We have not had that type of pressure up the middle since then. BUT hopefully with Monty's game experience, progression and Blache teaching him the needed techniques that he taught his guys in Chicago, we can get some of that pressure this season that, we sorely need from our DT's.

Bottom line...pass rushing DE is NOT who we should be focusing on right now, we have enough of them. Right now our problem is letting the QB  step into the  pocket allowed by the DT's, sit in it too long and therefore giving him too much time to locate his targets. I wouldn't care if it was Taylor, Peppers or whomever, if you do not have the complementary DT's it is going to effect your ability to get to the QB.

[Bzapf]

I think if we could get him for a good deal it would be a good upgrade. If not I agree that we will do fine without him. We do need Gatewood/Buzbee/Jackson to step up and prove they can play in the NFL because we can't assume Daniels and Carter will both be healthy for 16 games. From what I've read I think Daniels is going to play DT some this year and Wilson isn't an every down player. I find it hard to belive Danny won't use his 8 Mil in cap room.

[Mike Bass]

I think if we could get him for a good deal it would be a good upgrade. If not I agree that we will do fine without him. We do need Gatewood/Buzbee/Jackson to step up and prove they can play in the NFL because we can't assume Daniels and Carter will both be healthy for 16 games. From what I've read I think Daniels is going to play DT some this year and Wilson isn't an every down player. I find it hard to belive Danny won't use his 8 Mil in cap room.

For sure, it would definitely be an upgrade because neither on that side is as good as Taylor but the Dolphins had already had offers that would be considered a deal. Right now I think whoever gets him will be overdealing for a guy who will probably bolt to Hollywood after this season. If that would happen the team would not only not have the player but they will not have the draft pick next year either. That is too big of a price for ONE ten sack season.

You are also right about our young guys stepping up. It is indeed a must but they are who we have and I think that Blache has shown that he is pretty much trusting that position to be stable enough to handle adversities.

[BMahoney]

I agree that Jason Taylor shouldn't be a top priority right now, but not because we need a tackle.  Rather any team that looks goes for Jason Taylor needs to be in the running for the SB(in my opinion), and assume that adding one more piece will take them to the promised land.  He is only going to play for a few more seasons but he has the ability to be a one of the league's best DE's when playing. 

-But I also think, that if Campbell somehow comes out of his shell this year and goes wild in the new WCO(that would put us in contention), and we will be sorely missing Taylor at the end of the season(around playoff time) and be wondering why we still have 8 mil in cap space for no reason.  I know he has been doing his hollywood thing, but can you blame him he is how old and played for a 1 win team last season. Jason Taylor will be a great DE if the right team gets him (close to the SB) for the right price (no higher than a 3rd).  The guy has had over 10 sacks 6 of the last 7 yrs one year he got 9.5 and his high was 18.5, with mainly non household name d-tackles next to him, so imagine what he could do on an elite defensive line in the NFL

[Mike Bass]

We definitely do not need a DT and like DE we will probably be going into the season with what we have now but we do need to get better pressure up the middle from the ones that we do have and if so, I think that we will see that the DE's that we have now is more than capable of getting to the QB.

Edit: What is wrong with letting that 8  mil in cap space just sit there if there is nothing out there to spend it on?

 I think that we gained that space for a specific reason and it did not work out but just because we have it doesn't mean that it is a must that we spend it.

[BMahoney]

Well first of all I think there are still FA's worthy of a low contract, skins could be looking at lb's right now as well as a DE.  Not saying they will pick one up or that they must, but having 8 mil in cap space doesn't seem very logical to me, might as well try and find some talent to sign, if they don't work out so be it won't be the end of the world, we just won't have as much cap to play with during the season.  However if we sign lets say, takeo spikes or Jason Taylor, and one of them breaks out, then the off seasons move will appear very smart and could be extremely beneficial to the redskins.  Its a no lose situation for us as fans, because it isn't our money that will be spent if the given player flops.

[Mike Bass]

I know that there are a lot of reports and fanbase talk about the team needing a DE but I really do not think that team is showing that they are interesting in signing a DE. If so, I think that Jared Allen would have been the one that they would have pursued and I do not think that we even contacted him with a offer. Also,  Phillip Merling was available when we traded down in the draft and even afterwards, Calais Campbell was available when we had already selected a big receiver in Devin Thomas but we chose to go with a another big  receiver in Malcolm Kelly.

I do not think that the need for a DE is as pressing as the fans are making it out to be, at least not in our FO eyes.

[BMahoney]

I believe we chose the receivers because our biggest concern right now needs to be the progression of Campbell, it is no mystery in the NFL that teams with franchise qb's are far more consistent than teams that don't (and contend year in and out USUALLY).  Davis and both receivers will hopefully speed up this progression.  We didn't take merling because he is good against the run not pass, pretty much the same as having Daniels and he had his sports hernia or whatever.   I think Campbell could have been a good pickup for us, but there was soo much talk about his work ethic, and his progression really slowed down.

As far as the team needing a DE, I think they demonstrated with the trade for Jones, that they are still searching for a DE to compliment Carter (hopefully Jones can get back to his 05 numbers, along with a few other skins)

[BigMike21]

I know that there are a lot of reports and fanbase talk about the team needing a DE but I really do not think that team is showing that they are interesting in signing a DE. If so, I think that Jared Allen would have been the one that they would have pursued and I do not think that we even contacted him with a offer. Also,  Phillip Merling was available when we traded down in the draft and even afterwards, Calais Campbell was available when we had already selected a big receiver in Devin Thomas but we chose to go with a another big  receiver in Malcolm Kelly.

I do not think that the need for a DE is as pressing as the fans are making it out to be, at least not in our FO eyes.

Philip Merling was not available after we traded down.  Miami scooped him with the first pick of the second round.

[BigMike21]

And we are still looking for a DE.  The reason we haven't (other thatn James) in free agency or draft is simple:  The guys weren't there.  The Redskins were not the only people by far in the league who thinks that Calais is not going to be a productive DE in the NFL so we took the receiver instead.  There was no other DE to be had at that value spot.  We could have taken Merling in the first round but we felt that we could drop back and still have a chance at him, it just didn't happen.  Cerrato said on 980 a couple weeks ago that indeed we were looking at Merling with the trade down.

[Mike Bass]

I know that there are a lot of reports and fanbase talk about the team needing a DE but I really do not think that team is showing that they are interesting in signing a DE. If so, I think that Jared Allen would have been the one that they would have pursued and I do not think that we even contacted him with a offer. Also,  Phillip Merling was available when we traded down in the draft and even afterwards, Calais Campbell was available when we had already selected a big receiver in Devin Thomas but we chose to go with a another big  receiver in Malcolm Kelly.

I do not think that the need for a DE is as pressing as the fans are making it out to be, at least not in our FO eyes.

Philip Merling was not available after we traded down.  Miami scooped him with the first pick of the second round.

He was available WHEN we traded down.

[Mike Bass]

And we are still looking for a DE.  The reason we haven't (other thatn James) in free agency or draft is simple:  The guys weren't there.  The Redskins were not the only people by far in the league who thinks that Calais is not going to be a productive DE in the NFL so we took the receiver instead.  There was no other DE to be had at that value spot.  We could have taken Merling in the first round but we felt that we could drop back and still have a chance at him, it just didn't happen.  Cerrato said on 980 a couple weeks ago that indeed we were looking at Merling with the trade down.

Where are we looking for one at now?....The June 1st cuts?

There's no way you gamble on Merling falling to the second round if you wanted him....Miami was lucky and they snatched him up as they should have with the  1st pick in the 2nd round.

I think that we saw all the receivers falling and knew that we were assured a good big receiver with a trade down.

[BigMike21]

I respectfully disagree.  I don't think anyone thought Thomas would fall to us.  Teams gamble on players falling to them every single time they trade down.

[Mike Bass]

I respectfully disagree.  I don't think anyone thought Thomas would fall to us.  Teams gamble on players falling to them every single time they trade down.

It's cool to disagree BigMike...I think that if Thomas weren't there for the taking,  we would've taken Kelly at that spot. It was a given that a big receiver was going to be there but there were teams drafting after the 21st pick and before our trade down position that was assured to take Merling. You are talking like 13 picks after the 21st pick that we would have been expecting Merling to fall to but there were at least 3 receivers still available that we could've taken after the trade (Thomas, Kelly and Sweed)  and I think that we knew that one would still be there when we drafted.

[BMahoney]

Phillip Merling has sports hernia, and he's really not a pass rushing specialist thats probably why the skins passed on him.  His game is very similar to Phillip Daniels, for example he only had 12 sacks in his collegiate career while James had 18, and was injured for awhile.  Though Phillip did have a good season register 7 sacks, but James Junior yr he got 8.5.  Phillip Merling will be a good DE for some team, but he wasn't what the Redskins needed. Calais Campbell is a much better argument for what DE the Redskins may have taken in the draft, but with problems concerning his work ethic he was just what a new coach didn't want.