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In a recent one-on-one interview of head coach Mike Shanahan by ESPN blogger Dan Graziano, he made it clear that he intends to search high and low for offensive playmakers this offseason.
The team finished the season ranked 16th in the NFL in offensive yards per game, but 26th in scoring. Part of the drop off has to do with the player that lines up under center, and part of that has to do with who he’s throwing to. Shanahan commented on both aspects of that relationship, with a cautionary warning.
Everyone wants a franchise, but there aren’t enough to go around:
“Not everybody understands that,” he said.
“Everybody wants a franchise quarterback,” Shanahan said. “Every team you talk to, if you don’t have a franchise quarterback, everybody’s looking for a franchise quarterback. I understand…If they’re out there, you try and get one.”
Every great quarterback has a franchise wide receiver to throw to:
“We’ve got to get a wide receiver that’s a playmaker. You’ve got to have a No. 1, no question about it…You’re still looking for a guy that can go the distance and make plays, running on a short shallow cross and go the distance. Everybody’s looking for that.”
In that same conversation with Graziano, Shanahan noted that Santana Moss and Jabar Gaffney were quality players, but with 11 and 10 years in the league, respectively, they aren’t part of the long-term solution.
Shanahan commented on budding receiver prospect Leonard Hankerson, who got injured at the end of his breakout game in Miami:
“I think he’s got a chance to be the guy. Health is what we don’t know…You can see in practice where he’s a natural. Big. The thing that separates guys at No. 1 is when they can beat bump coverage and they don’t have to slow down to beat it. They’re able to keep their speed and be able to get by somebody. He’s got that.”
On the defensive side of the ball, Shanahan also noted that he will again target players that are reaching free agency for the first time (in their mid to upper 20’s), rather than those in their early 30’s. That strategy was employed last year with starters like Josh Wilson, Stephen Bowen and Barry Cofield.
Check out the rest of Graziano’s exclusive for full Shanahan quotes.
Brian Tinsman 
This is where Snyders money will come into play. Every team needs a nucleus of below 30 guys and with Rak, Kerrigan, Riley, Landry, Bowen, Coefield and Wilson on D and Helu, Royster, Davis, Hankerson and Davis on O, they can bring in a superstar like DeSean Jackson and know he won’t carry any weight in off-field behavior, just in his play. Landry Jones is our QB, but I hope we can trade down to get him and snag Floyd and Glenn in the late 1st and 2nd round.
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Coach needs more than playmakers. He needs to solidify both lines or his playmakers won’t do squat..
I see the REDSKINS are already on the path to 2012 with four off-season contol contracts allowing the brass to get a look at the group in the off-season OTA’s. A QB, RB, G, and S, three off the practice squad, and one experienced FA. I’ve never seen McCASKILL the FA from HAMPTON U, but I read he was a good position player at LG.
Good the see management addressing the areas of immediate concern viz: QB, o-line and d-backs.
I would certainly go after 30 year old Scott WELLS as ERIK COOK’s replacement, and WIL MONTGOMERY’s running mate.
.Looking at guard, MAURICE HURT didn’t comport himself well on the field, and a FA or mid-level pick are in order there. FA LAYNCE NIX would be a good choice.
I would absolutely lock down a R-OT with our second pick.
On defense FS, SS, and CB all are important concerns.
I would add AUBRAYO FRANKLIN FA NT to the defensive line allowing COFIELD some breathing room at the position as BOWEN needs to be spelled in certain sets.
And a search should begin for LONDON’s ultimate replacement. But with FOX on hand, that might be deferred to 2013.
We need a better kicker than GANO. His distance is great, but accuracy and ‘pop’ are lacking.
I know SHANNY wants shiny new toys at QB, RB and WR.
I’m not sold on any QB’s after LUCK and RG3. TANNEHILL late first maybe. WEEDEN looked good for OK. ST., but the guy’s going to be a 29 year-old rookie and could be had in the middle rounds because of his age. i don’t see ALLEN-SHANAHAN giving up the store and the future to move up to grab either of the top two.
SHANAHAN already has a solid RB in HIGHTOWER. There is no telling what the effects of TIM’s injury will ultimately be however, and with SHANAHAN’s emphasis on elite power-running, I believe he feels improvement is necessay at RB despite the showing of both rookies ROYSTER and HELU.
I think he will draft TRENT RICHARDSON at #6 unless he gets a shot at JUSTIN BLACKMON. If neither is available, I think he trades out of the slot if possible, and picks up more draft choices.
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Going for guys on first free agency was emphasized by every coach since Shotty, but that doesn’t mean it happens or works out. The best acquisition of the last decade was London Fletcher on the other side of 30. On the other hand, their worst two moves, haynesworth and trotter aside (as they only cost mega money, not other players), were letting Champ and Pierce go right as they entered their primes. Their next worst move was acquiring Lloyd in his mid-20s, but apparently 5 years before his prime It seems to me the Redskins spend too much time on the grass being greener and worrying about age…
The organization did much better before mass free agency when they mostly kept and built their own. Now, regardless of who is coaching, they trade away draft picks for one-year players as if that is going to get them to the super bowl….
This is the opposite of the way the Patriots, Steelers, Eagles (before their very strange 2011), and Giants work…and, painfully, those have been the most successful teams of the free agency era (aside from the Indianapolis Mannings).
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Liked this article, thank you for it! Gives me hope to know all the names I’m praying about us getting are also bouncing around Mikes head… I have all the faith in the world in the coach and his team and know we will get it together. That being said, I liked Griffin long before he was the Heisman winner and have been hoping someone there at Redskins park was bringing him to the coaches attention. I was never on the Luck bandwagon. I’ll tell you what though, I really enjoyed Weeden when I watched him match up in the Tostitos Bowl against Luck. He was able to get me off my Griffin III kick for a minute. He possesses a confidence I think will really give him an advantage as he enters the NFL. Personally I feel Luck is good but lacks that special inner “thing”. Hear you the mention of needing a wide receiver such ad Blackmon is music to my ears. What better QB, WR duo to bring in. These two have been working together for a while already. Can’t wait to see how it all falls together. That my two cents…For now at least
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This is SHANAHAN’s darkest hour. Now we will begin to see if he truly is a great coach or not. By the end of 2013, the REDSKINS will be in the palyoffs or the SHANNY’s will be gone. I would be surprised if ALLEN leaves however. I thought his picks in this draft were superb. If he comes close to duplicationg those results this time around and in 2013, the REDSKINS should be a solid group.
NOTE to ALLEN.
Size matters.
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Trent Richardson is the answer. Good fundamentals, great technique, proven talent, behaviors not going to be a problem. This guys a no brainer. Hes going to be a superstar wherever he goes
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