Michael Phillips (Richmond Times Dispatch) on D-Hall, Trent Murphy

[redskinsfan]

According to Michael Phillips of the RTD, Gruden gave D-Hall a vote of confidence today, opining that D-Hall could be a contributor in a CB unit that's looking a lot better than last year's band of scrubs. If/when he comes back, Culliver and Breeland would be our starters. D-Hall could play nickel and/or slot. Amerson would then be pushed down to #4 on the CB depth chart; or, as we've discussed for the longest time, it may be worth it to play him at FS. With D-Hall coming back, this should also spell the end for Tracy Porter, whose departure will clear around $2M.

As for Trent Murphy, Phillips offered his opinion that Murphy would be a legit bookend OLB to Kerrigan. He explained all the bad press Murphy got was mostly unjustified and that he could serve as a very competent pass rusher the Redskins have been looking for. Of course, if another promising OLB drops in the Redskins lap on draft day, they should take a flier on him.

As much as I respect Phillips' views on this issue, I still think we look for another pass rushing OLB. If we're stuck at #5, we take someone like Dante Fowler. Then we take a RT with our second rounder. In the third round, I'd like to take a guard. But the thinking there may be that we're okay at that position. If so, do we take someone like an Ameer Abdullah if he's still available?

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

After the 2nd injury I had kind of written DHall off. Butnot anymore and I'm cool with Breeeland, Culliver, and Hall is a big improvement. Amerson has not earned the right to be more than the 4th corner and if this means finally saying goodbye to Biggers well I'll personally drive him to the airport.

Murphy showed to be surprisingly good against the run and will be a solid player. But he is simply too slow to ever be a pass rusher at the level of Kerrigan. You can never have too many pass rushers and if they don't trade back I'm totally on board with picking Fowler. The talk of Williams falling to 5 is nonsense IMO.

 

[redskinsfan]

After the 2nd injury I had kind of written DHall off. Butnot anymore and I'm cool with Breeeland, Culliver, and Hall is a big improvement. Amerson has not earned the right to be more than the 4th corner and if this means finally saying goodbye to Biggers well I'll personally drive him to the airport.

Murphy showed to be surprisingly good against the run and will be a solid player. But he is simply too slow to ever be a pass rusher at the level of Kerrigan. You can never have too many pass rushers and if they don't trade back I'm totally on board with picking Fowler. The talk of Williams falling to 5 is nonsense IMO.

I agree(d) with your view on Murphy's speed and his abilities as a pass rusher. But Phillips was awfully confident in his abilities as a pass rusher. Go figure. Not sure what he's seeing that we're not.

 

[skinsdad62]

i see us drafting a CB and moving him to FS . not high mind you but i bet we go that route

 

[j_y19]

i see us drafting a CB and moving him to FS . not high mind you but i bet we go that route

If that is the route we take, it's highly unlikely that he will be in a position to contribute much this year. It will be a developmental year.

 

[skinsdad62]

hence not a high pick

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

Anyone we put at FS will be an improvement over what was there last year. With the new corner and SS this will be a much improved secondary even if they do not acquire another player.

 

[Skin'EmAll]

IMO, We are being way too hard on Murphy. Let's see what he does with a year of experience and a REAL 3-4 d-line. Kerrigan has already proven he can handle playing injured and game planned against, so that means Murphy should face 1-on-1 battles.

Also, I think it could be time to give Amerson a shot at S. I still have nightmares of Dez catching a 5yd pass on him and gaining like 50. What was so disturbing is that Amerson never lowered his shoulder or went for Dez's body, he grabbed for his shoulder pads like it was a 2-hand touch game. The Colts game further exposed Amerson looking at the QB and not his man. At least at S, everything will already be in front of him, and he can assist in tackling.

 

[j_y19]

IMO, We are being way too hard on Murphy. Let's see what he does with a year of experience and a REAL 3-4 d-line. Kerrigan has already proven he can handle playing injured and game planned against, so that means Murphy should face 1-on-1 battles.

Also, I think it could be time to give Amerson a shot at S. I still have nightmares of Dez catching a 5yd pass on him and gaining like 50. What was so disturbing is that Amerson never lowered his shoulder or went for Dez's body, he grabbed for his shoulder pads like it was a 2-hand touch game. The Colts game further exposed Amerson looking at the QB and not his man. At least at S, everything will already be in front of him, and he can assist in tackling.

I agree on Murphy. He did OK as a rookie and should only get better

As for Amerson, your example is exactly why he can't play FS. His tackling is suspect at best and FS is the last line of defense. We need a sure tackler at that position.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

I don't think we are being too hard. He played very well last year and those were the comments. But to expect him to develop into a "bookend" like Kerrigan is a bit of a reach. There is a reason the guy who led the nation in sacks was available in round 2, he isn't a real pass rusher. But what he is is a football player and I'm glad we have him.

 

[Skin'EmAll]

I agree on Murphy. He did OK as a rookie and should only get better

As for Amerson, your example is exactly why he can't play FS. His tackling is suspect at best and FS is the last line of defense. We need a sure tackler at that position.

Yeah, If he made the switch I'd hope he could pick up pursuit angles. I'm almost thinking Rambo in the run game, BUT what we THOUGHT Rambo would be in the pass, lol. Also our d-line could finally be legit against the run, so the FS may not be in too many last line of defense situations...(guessing, reaching a little)

 

[Skin'EmAll]

I don't think we are being too hard. He played very well last year and those were the comments. But to expect him to develop into a "bookend" like Kerrigan is a bit of a reach. There is a reason the guy who led the nation in sacks was available in round 2, he isn't a real pass rusher. But what he is is a football player and I'm glad we have him.

I truly believe not everyone has the ability to adjust the league as a rookie, There's no reason this guy shouldn't get 7 sacks this year, and then double digit sacks the next. He will have the advantage of being a "nobody"
He already has the prototypical size you'd want in a OLB, I think he could shock.
And let's be realistic, Fowler, Gregory and Ray....only one of those guys is going to be "good" this year.
another one is going to miss games with an injury, and the other will be a bust.
Our odds of getting the right one are under 50%. I'd roll the dice on Murphy and use that 5th on someone else

 

[j_y19]

I truly believe not everyone has the ability to adjust the league as a rookie, There's no reason this guy shouldn't get 7 sacks this year, and then double digit sacks the next. He will have the advantage of being a "nobody"
He already has the prototypical size you'd want in a OLB, I think he could shock.
And let's be realistic, Fowler, Gregory and Ray....only one of those guys is going to be "good" this year.
another one is going to miss games with an injury, and the other will be a bust.
Our odds of getting the right one are under 50%. I'd roll the dice on Murphy and use that 5th on someone else

While I am optimistic about Murphy, I wouldn't hesitate to take a OLB with our 5th pick if I thought he was the BPA. You can never have enough pass rushers. The rotation of Murphy and the rookie could be devastating with Kerrigan on the other side. And when all 3 are in at the same time, watch out. The quickest way to improve our secondary is to apply constant pressure on the QB.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

While I am optimistic about Murphy, I wouldn't hesitate to take a OLB with our 5th pick if I thought he was the BPA. You can never have enough pass rushers. The rotation of Murphy and the rookie could be devastating with Kerrigan on the other side. And when all 3 are in at the same time, watch out. The quickest way to improve our secondary is to apply constant pressure on the QB.

Yeah that's how I see it too. Murphy can switch inside and provide pressure that way, as we said you can never have enough pass rushers. But again with average speed he is simply not going to consistently beat NFL left tackles IMO. Double digit sacks is again a huge reach to me.

 

[redskinsfan]

IMO, We are being way too hard on Murphy. Let's see what he does with a year of experience and a REAL 3-4 d-line. Kerrigan has already proven he can handle playing injured and game planned against, so that means Murphy should face 1-on-1 battles.

Also, I think it could be time to give Amerson a shot at S. I still have nightmares of Dez catching a 5yd pass on him and gaining like 50. What was so disturbing is that Amerson never lowered his shoulder or went for Dez's body, he grabbed for his shoulder pads like it was a 2-hand touch game. The Colts game further exposed Amerson looking at the QB and not his man. At least at S, everything will already be in front of him, and he can assist in tackling.

I thought Murphy was a good run defender but left something to be desired as a pass rusher. But now I'm hearing people like Mike Phillips offer a very different opinion. Murphy didn't get a lot of playing time until the season was already lost and wasn't able to completely fill into his role. It'll be interesting to see how he does with more playing time this season.