Trade Clinton Portis. Cut Brandon Lloyd, Mark Brunell and Adam Archuleta. Focus the draft on defense.
It’s time for the Darlings of Downtime to start their annual winning of the offseason. With only two seasons remaining in his five-year plan and a 5-11 season showing no progress, Washington coach Joe Gibbs needs bold moves over coming months.
This isn’t about coaching them harder. It’s about getting the right pieces together.
The Redskins are never going to win consistently until they fix this botched front office setup with no real personnel man or salary negotiator. Gibbs refuses to change it. Thus, when Gibbs says blame the 5-11 season on him, he’s not kidding. Bashing Gibbs always feels half-hearted given those three Super Bowl trophies from ages past, though.
Here’s the biggest problem: The Redskins are just plain stupid when it comes to personnel. The football side has no confidence in the personnel department, for good reason. And when it comes to negotiations, every agent knows owner Dan Snyder overpays. For a billionaire, Snyder spends money like a 12-year-old with a Christmas gift card at Best Buy. Comparatively, Jack Kent Cooke made staffers use both sides of paper.
So let’s make it simple. Forget drafting offensive players and redouble efforts on defensive playmakers. The team only has four picks and just one of consequence. Forget about those pretty wide receivers. Look for a defensive tackle in the first round after drop from No. 6 overall to the middle of the first round to pick up a second-round pick for a safety or another defensive lineman.
Next, spend free agency cash on a No. 1 cornerback and No. 2 receiver (again). However, don’t empty the checkbook for all-stars (again). Didn’t last year teach them anything (again)?
Do the hard thing and cut Lloyd, Archuleta and Brunell. Lloyd is not worth the trouble. Archuleta isn’t a good fit and Brunell is too old. The fans booed his brief appearance on Saturday. Find a journeyman to back up Jason Campbell.
Re-sign free agent guard Derrick Dockery. The Redskins have been horrible at keeping their own free agents. Don’t blow it this time. Dockery is a good fit on a line that played very well.
Portis is a great player, but the Redskins can’t afford two top backs — given other needs — and win over the short term. Trade him for a No. 2 pick, starting defensive tackle or quality No. 2 receiver. The Redskins won’t get full value, but they overspent to obtain Portis anyway.
Gibbs also needs to review his staff; there was too much drama from a bloated group. Time to weed it down, get some younger blood. Gibbs also needs to make peace with offensive guru Al Saunders. Either show confidence in Saunders or fire him. Gibbs and Saunders seemed on the verge of making it work in the final weeks so an offseason together should prove the difference.
The Redskins have again reached a fork in the road. If they can’t post a winning mark in 2007, Gibbs needs to step aside and a new coach and general manager (read: two different people) should be hired.
For those wondering about getting Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher, let’s just say Snyder and Cowher wouldn’t last a weekend together and the Redskins don’t need that drama.
Just seven months until training camp.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
