Let's talk Defense!

[BandWagon]

Ok, let's assume the line stays as it is...that is primarily oriented to stopping the run and apparently not structured to present much of a pass rush...that appears to be the job for Washington and Arrington. We're picking up defensive backs like there's a fire sale, so I guess it's reasonably safe to assume Williams will favor a nickel package. So, how does everyone feel about this? I worried about getting burned by big play Tight Ends like Shockey. I wish I'd paid more attention to Buffalo this past season, so I could have a little better comfort level with what Williams is capable of putting together. Thoughts, comments, concerns, predictions?

[joethefan]

Williams has a very talented bunch of guys, he'll show different looks with different packages.... I think that once they jell together they will be very good....I just hope we pick up an immediate impact player from the draft...one that can come in a make a difference from the start oh and welcome to the site....!Hope you hang around with us....

[colkurtz]

Not to be a wet blanket, but with G. William's imaginative defenses and the present players:

Plus Taylor - #10-15 in league

Plus Winslow - average but offense scores more, less time for defense on field

Plus Udeze / Smith - 10 or so in league (if he works out as good as we think)

I think we are just one or two impact players on defense (after this year's draft) from being in the elite

IMHO, defense will be the focus of the 2005 draft. Then we start the climb up Mt Everest.

This year we climb up McKinley. 10-6

:cool:

[JoeDaSchmoe]

Hey, welcome to the site, Bandwagon, hopefully plenty of people will be jumping on ya by mid-season. Yeah, alright, bad joke, I know. Anyways, I think you're right about the direction Williams is heading in, but I'd still really, really like to pick up Udeze, or at least Will Smith, as an impact DE.

[WinslowRedskin]

After playing some madden and getting owned by really good DEs like Strahan, Freeney, and Peppers, I wouldn't mind having Udeze or Smith. Winslow would still be my A-Choice, because I don't see Rasby as an answer to our TE gap. Taylor, yeah hes good but Bowen is consitant and Ohalete has potential (if he stats), and Sean will prob be gone before our pick. So basically if we don't feel like handling Winslow OR we can pick up a second rounder and still be in position to draft Udeze or Smith, then I guess trading down won't piss me off too much.

[natgbz]

I think the screen pass could kill us right about now. We're good against the long ball, decent against the run, decent against the medium range pass, but that screen pass might just eat us alive.

[RichardBradley]

The problem we will have with running all those confusing defenses is getting Lavar and Trotter lined up in the right places they are not the most disaplined players in the world

[Skins57]

I agree RB, a few years ago the defense was "too confusing" for Arrington and company. I hope they can grasp this one and put forth the effort to make it work

[vegeta2364]

I was just wondering. Is kw2 a quick blocker. we can put him at full back since bryan johnson might be going to the saints. and use him as a blocker and a catcher I think we should forget about taylor and get kw2 or udeze. Whos with me!!!!!!!

[Counter Trey]

Originally posted by natgbz
I think the screen pass could kill us right about now. We're good against the long ball, decent against the run, decent against the medium range pass, but that screen pass might just eat us alive.

Good post. When I first read it, I thought "You have to have a good pass rush for a screen to work. We would be great against the screen because we get no penetration with our line" Usually teams run a screen against teams that get good penetration with their linemen. The O-Line lets them run by and then release to block down field. Then I realized what you were probably saying - If we are going to be sending our LB's every pass play we'll have no midrange support against screens and into the secondary goes the RB. Something to think about. I'm sure the coaching staff already has and hopefully they'll address it. Again good post.

[mrhalfbreed]

As of right now who do you think we could use as our H Back?

I'm confident in this years defense. I've always been a fan of Greg Williams style of defense. A heavily attack style defense can make you or break you at times... their will be some big plays given up, but you can count on the D making even bigger plays.

[garedskin]

Williams is more than capable of working with whom ever he has to work with so don't fret about the defence. He is alot like Gibbs in the fact of having a back up game plan and is more than willing to change things on the move if it is not working out. That is both of there strengths. That is why Gibbs brought Williams in. Williams/Gibbs will not wait for Monday to say may be we should have done this or that, it will be more like we tried and I failed my players this week in getting them ready for so and so. That is why players loved playing for him and will love playing for them.

[BurgundyNGold]

Originally posted by Skins57
I agree RB, a few years ago the defense was "too confusing" for Arrington and company. I hope they can grasp this one and put forth the effort to make it work

I don't buy the "too confusing" bit. It isn't M theory, its football. I'd refer Lavar and Jeremiah to your sig, which BTW is a quote from the new DC.

[BurgundyNGold]

We will not get anywhere with our current line. We were miserable last year against the pass. Furthermore, George Edwards' new-fangled "Swiss Cheese" model defense had more holes to run through then, well, swiss cheese.

We've added exactly two new DL folks. Neither of which are considered a top player at their position, or even a prospect to make the pro bowl. Why should we consider that anything will be different? Just because Gibbs is back? That will help but it won't be enough.

So, as our DL stands right now and unless Gibbs will be strategically placing landmines in the neutral zone in between plays, we will not be stopping anybody who attempts to run at us. I say that before we start christening this incomplete assortment of would-be NFL linemen as acceptable, let's fix this problem!

[Redskinfan28]

Originally posted by mrhalfbreed
As of right now who do you think we could use as our H Back?

I'm confident in this years defense. I've always been a fan of Greg Williams style of defense. A heavily attack style defense can make you or break you at times... their will be some big plays given up, but you can count on the D making even bigger plays.

Well said, my friend. I agree. I think Winslow would be a perfect H-Back. However, I would also be happy if we landed Taylor or Udeze.

We should know more after this week's minicamp. The coaches will evaluate the players and can then decide what they need in the draft and in June. If players like Chamberlin come in overweight and significantly out of shape, they will be gone next week.

[Redskinfan28]

Originally posted by BurgundyNGold
We will not get anywhere with our current line. We were miserable last year against the pass. Furthermore, George Edwards' new-fangled "Swiss Cheese" model defense had more holes to run through then, well, swiss cheese.

We've added exactly two new DL folks. Neither of which are considered a top player at their position, or even a prospect to make the pro bowl. Why should we consider that anything will be different? Just because Gibbs is back? That will help but it won't be enough.

So, as our DL stands right now and unless Gibbs will be strategically placing landmines in the neutral zone in between plays, we will not be stopping anybody who attempts to run at us. I say that before we start christening this incomplete assortment of would-be NFL linemen as acceptable, let's fix this problem!

Well, if you expect to get DL full of top players or pro-bowl level players, then you might as well give up now and get ready for basketball season next year. Wake up, my friend: Affordable Pro-Bowl DL are not out there!

What we need is guys to be more disciplined and to play better technique. Thats all we can expect. Our DL is what it is.

[SonnyandSam]

What we need is better defensive coaching. Two years ago, we have Marvin Lewis and we had a pretty good defense. Last year, we had a rookie Defensive Coordinator with the same personnel minus Wilkinson and Gardner.

While I will acknowledge the loss of those two DTs had an impact, the MUCH GREATER impact was losing Lewis as the DC.

Williams will do fine with this group. The DL will have Griffen, Daniels and Noble who are all much better than what we had at DT last year. Yes, we do not have a major pass rusher but these guys are all very good run stoppers. Add in some stunts and blitzes or use LaVar and/or Washington as DE in passing situations and we will be fine. Remember, Lewis lined Arrington up as a DE and used someone else as LB to get our pass rush two years ago.

We keep forgetting the impact of good coaching. I think that has been proven over and over again in the NFL.

[Yudolindo]

I agree with LaVarPA: a lot of it is coaching. I still think we really need another DT and a real DE and FS for our D to really go.

[jschlesi]

I think coaches are worth at most three wins a season. But, you must have talent. Mike Nolan is being considered as the next soon to be head coach. in the past few years he has become a "golden boy Coordinator" when he was DC for the skins we ran him out of town faster than an honest politician. He had no D Line and all his schemes failed. Petitbon used to say "you can put them in the right place but that doesnt mean they can do the right thing when they get there".
I like Taylor (wonderlic and all) but I think we really need a stronger D line than we currently have. Wilfork is the one guy in this draft-- I think-- that could take on two bloacker and free up some space behind him for our linebackers.
You cant stop the run -- you cant scheme-- you cant win!

[TwistyNiblet]

Which do you think is a more pressing issue: DE or DT?

[PennSkinsFan]

I don't think coaching can be used an excuse any longer. When you bring in guys like Gregg Williams, Greg Balche,a nd Dakle Lindsey, ummmmmm, most teams would dream of having a defensive staff like that.

The decade of excuses ENDS!

[REDMAN]

We might have to suit up and play with the DE and DT that we have. The new coaches might just put the players in a better position to take advantage of their skills. we can't fill every need with 1 off season.