Scouting the Redskins Defense

[PennSkinsFan]

http://www.hailredskins.com/SkinsScout.htm

Thanks Flave!

[MONK_in_HOF]

Good perspective there Flave.
I agree with everything you say except for 1 thing. The one thing I would disagree with is Archuleta not being beaten in coverage. While we don't know the exact assignments for every player on every play, it appears to me that he gets sucked into the line too often on play action and it results in him not being deep enough to provide help over the top. This happened on the big pass play to Andre Johnson on Houston's first drive. I am just expecting a lot out of AA b/c I feel it was a luxury upgrade in a position that wasn't one of the biggest needs on the team. Not placing the pass defense deficiencies solely on Archuleta, I just think he seems out of place in coverage too often.

[oldskinfan]

Good overall assessment, Flave. Two comments:

- Marcus Washington did seem to have a quiet game, but when I looked at my TIVO again, I swear it was him (and not Montgomery as some people thought) who created the fumble that Golston recovered. I think he is playing very well, as is Lemar Marshall.

- I also tend to agree w/ M4HOF that if Archuleta bites on play fakes, he has a tough time recovering. Terry Glenn got a TD on a similar play as Andre Johnson's big 53yd gain. Do you blame Arch for that, or Taylor for not getting over?

[dj_stouty]

Great stuff, as usual.

I agree about AA. This is a brand new scheme...and he seems to be one of the better students of the game so I have no doubt he will get comfortable very soon...

The fact is..AA WILL be close to the line in many situations...so if a WR from the other side of the field slants into the soft spot of the field 15 yards behind him, he won't be in a position to cover the guy. (ala the Andre catch last week) In this instance, it seemed like Taylor should have rolled with Andre instead of letting him go untouched to the strong side, where AA was on the line and the other CB was running with his receiver. This is just another reason I wish our coaching staff would tell us exactly what happened in these situations...but of course I know why they dont'.

I think a big reason GW brings in guys like Prileau is because there is less rampup time for them to get used to the system. AA has only three games under his belt...

[flave1969]

Good perspective there Flave.
I agree with everything you say except for 1 thing. The one thing I would disagree with is Archuleta not being beaten in coverage. While we don't know the exact assignments for every player on every play, it appears to me that he gets sucked into the line too often on play action and it results in him not being deep enough to provide help over the top. This happened on the big pass play to Andre Johnson on Houston's first drive. I am just expecting a lot out of AA b/c I feel it was a luxury upgrade in a position that wasn't one of the biggest needs on the team. Not placing the pass defense deficiencies solely on Archuleta, I just think he seems out of place in coverage too often.

I will admit one thing I do not see all these games, my observations are based on the Radio commentary. As eccentric as Sonny and Sam are they are descriptive and you get a good feel for the play. I did put in the disclaimer for people to correct me. My main observation having seen the Dallas and Minnesota game is that the zone in general has been very soft and easy to pick apart, mainly because the lack of pass rush is giving QB's time. I dont feel that the DB's are free from criticism, they have to be a half second quicker in their minds. Too me it seems Archuleta is learning each game, he has neither the luxury of having a rapport with team mates, or any prior time in the system but he is getting better.

[PennSkinsFan]

I will admit one thing I do not see all these games, my observations are based on the Radio commentary. As eccentric as Sonny and Sam are they are descriptive and you get a good feel for the play. I did put in the disclaimer for people to correct me. My main observation having seen the Dallas and Minnesota game is that the zone in general has been very soft and easy to pick apart, mainly because the lack of pass rush is giving QB's time. I dont feel that the DB's are free from criticism, they have to be a half second quicker in their minds. Too me it seems Archuleta is learning each game, he has neither the luxury of having a rapport with team mates, or any prior time in the system but he is getting better.

The pass rush is horrendous. There is none. Problem here is this....our DEs are not getting free. Carter has been a disappointment and daniels has not regained last year's form. Personally, I think we are a better defense with Renaldo Wynn and Demetric Evans in the game. Evans has a knack for getting to the QB and making plays. Wynn does not get as domninated as Daniels. The lack of Shawn Springs i think has handcuffed GW. We do not appear to be blitzing as much from safeties or Cbs with the absence of Springs. I attribute that to hesitation and wariness with our remaining CBs.

The other thing i think we are lacking in is turnover, specifically by teh pass defense. Rogers has dropped two interceptions that were tailor made, no judgment issues, no difficulty, but thrown right at him, essentially gifts. Yiou have to make those. You have to have to have to. Rogers hands have been super suspect.

[shally]

http://www.hailredskins.com/SkinsScout.htm

Thanks Flave!

nice article.. especially agree at how much we miss prioleau.. maybe rumph can continue to grow into a similar role for the team..

[shally]

The pass rush is horrendous. There is none. Problem here is this....our DEs are not getting free. Carter has been a disappointment and daniels has not regained last year's form. Personally, I think we are a better defense with Renaldo Wynn and Demetric Evans in the game. Evans has a knack for getting to the QB and making plays. Wynn does not get as domninated as Daniels. The lack of Shawn Springs i think has handcuffed GW. We do not appear to be blitzing as much from safeties or Cbs with the absence of Springs. I attribute that to hesitation and wariness with our remaining CBs.

The other thing i think we are lacking in is turnover, specifically by teh pass defense. Rogers has dropped two interceptions that were tailor made, no judgment issues, no difficulty, but thrown right at him, essentially gifts. Yiou have to make those. You have to have to have to. Rogers hands have been super suspect.

agree about the pass rush.. do you think daniels is suffering fromthe move to the opposite side? if so, move him back and then use carter in reserve or move him around the defense..

[BigCountry]

Good analysis Andy.

I agree with everything you said scheme wise but sometimes a good defense has to get right off the bus and smack the others guys in the mouth. As you mentioned, that's not happening right now and I don't think that has anything to do with X's and O's. I'm not seeing the same fire in this defense. Last year there were certain games where the guys on defense just played like they were angry at the opposing offense, like getting a first down or trying to block our guys on defense was a deep personal insult. That's what needs to happen first in my eyes.

[bwparker]

Good overall assessment, Flave. Two comments:

- Marcus Washington did seem to have a quiet game, but when I looked at my TIVO again, I swear it was him (and not Montgomery as some people thought) who created the fumble that Golston recovered. I think he is playing very well, as is Lemar Marshall.

- I also tend to agree w/ M4HOF that if Archuleta bites on play fakes, he has a tough time recovering. Terry Glenn got a TD on a similar play as Andre Johnson's big 53yd gain. Do you blame Arch for that, or Taylor for not getting over?

Thats what I thought I saw too. It wasn't until I came to the boards monday and looked at the stat sheet that I ever doubted. I think this one is a mistake on the stat sheet and it was really Washington. I'll rewatch on TIVO tonight to check also.

Also, didn't the big pass to Andre Johnson come on their FIRST drive, not their second?

[flave1969]

Good analysis Andy.

I agree with everything you said scheme wise but sometimes a good defense has to get right off the bus and smack the others guys in the mouth. As you mentioned, that's not happening right now and I don't think that has anything to do with X's and O's. I'm not seeing the same fire in this defense. Last year there were certain games where the guys on defense just played like they were angry at the opposing offense, like getting a first down or trying to block our guys on defense was a deep personal insult. That's what needs to happen first in my eyes.


Agree with you about intensity. It is the most puzzling thing because we have for two years played with a lot of fire and it seemsto be missing, except for Taylor who IMO has been very impressive so far.

[flave1969]

.

Also, didn't the big pass to Andre Johnson come on their FIRST drive, not their second?

Yes it did, I made an error.

[Meatsnack]

I think I am equally disappointed but slightly less alarmed at the defense's performance.

The D-line has had its moments of giving up the big play and the long third down but has performed reasonably well considering that they hardly played together as a unit in preseason with Griff’s injury, the recovery of Wynn, Salavea’s injury and the addition of Carter. The fact that Daniels has really spoken up for Carter in the media and has pointed to him as a guy who is doing the right things - the things his coaches are asking from him – allays some of my concerns there. Blache seems to be asking Carter to play the run first, just as he did Wynn (my inference from Daniels’ comments). I think Carter will be a good player for us. It may take him an entire season to realize his potential in this defense, though, ala Warrick Holdman. I look for Carter to get better with each game and to be asked to do more and more.

Our LBs are our strength right now. They aren’t the wrecking crew many of us expected when we had a healthy LaVar, MW, and a newly acquired and presumed healthy Mike Barrow. But, Lamar Marshall continues to impress me in coverage and in reading his gaps to meet the ball. MW is a Pro Bowl caliber guy who excels in every phase of the game. There aren’t three LBs in the league I would rather have than him. Holdman is the Comeback Player of the Year for us and has been consistent, dependable, and a sure tackler. Who’da thunk?

The Safeties have been a disappointment but, for me, not to the degree others have thought. Sean Taylor has been over-aggressive at times crashing the line and has been caught out of position providing safety support for our corners. Archuleta is, I agree, playing better than is widely reported. He is performing very well to his strength, run support and blitzing when he has been asked. He has also played out of position at times giving deep support to the corners, though. Reports from the locker room suggest that he is still thinking and playing instead of just playing. I am confident that AA will round into being a superior player for us and will eventually get the same locker room acceptance as the departed Ryan Clark.

Our corners, after being pretty abysmal in Game 1 and being up and down in game 2, played better in game 3 against superior WRs. Yes, Andre Johnson had a lot of yards but he only had the one score. I am willing to surrender all the yards in the world if we keep people out of the endzone. I expect our big corners and safeties to match up very well against the Jags big WRs. Jones is dinged and not as fast as he is when healthy, which will help. Rumph looks like a player and many times better than Taylor Jacobs was on offense. Wright got a pick in the endzone last game. Things are coming together for us in the secondary, I think.

Overall, if we can limit the Jags on the ground and make them one-dimensional, we will win the defensive battle. Leftwich is not good enough to beat us when his running game isn’t working and he is relatively immobile as well. Jacksonville held the ball for 40 minutes against Indy last week. We have to hope our offense is up to the challenge.

[guinness4health]

Good overall assessment, Flave. Two comments:

- Marcus Washington did seem to have a quiet game, but when I looked at my TIVO again, I swear it was him (and not Montgomery as some people thought) who created the fumble that Golston recovered. I think he is playing very well, as is Lemar Marshall.

- I also tend to agree w/ M4HOF that if Archuleta bites on play fakes, he has a tough time recovering. Terry Glenn got a TD on a similar play as Andre Johnson's big 53yd gain. Do you blame Arch for that, or Taylor for not getting over?

Marcus caused the fumble for sure....

and the big caught by Johnson was certainly Arch's fault they were playing a simple cover two, he did not start to get deep until Johnson was 10 yards past him on a simply crossing pattern..... Talyor was in the correct position and left his zone to made a hell of a play to simply track Johnson down....

Taylor's range is crazy....but it has caused him to be blamed for a few of Arch's mistakes this year

[MONK_in_HOF]

The fumble was definitely caused by Washington. My TIVO just confirmed it.

[shally]

as of game 3 arch is credited with 19 tackles and clark with 17.. both have 2 passes defensed..
i would say it is about equal, although i have no idea how many times clark has been caught out of position on passes

[esmith1790]

comparing stats can be misleading, so if you have Deion Sanders shutting down the one side and you have someone, say me, on the other side. I will get attacked and all WRs would catch everything against me so that is more chances for me to get tackles or for the safety to come over and tackle my man. also if the DL and LBs are not making tackles then the Safeties make all the stops and get more sacks. You would hope all ur LBs are making all the tackles and ur safeties get very little.

[WarEagle]

Flave's analysis of Carlos Rogers was very interesting. We expect a lot more from a first-rounder, and I'm sure Carlos knows that. I'll be watching him carefully over the next few weeks.

[bgforever]

Flave's analysis of Carlos Rogers was very interesting. We expect a lot more from a first-rounder, and I'm sure Carlos knows that. I'll be watching him carefully over the next few weeks.

This guy's not only a stud, oozing with confidence, he's a person that grows on you in his game. Its a win win situation. As the games build so does he, always there. Look for the glue to find his hand in this one :)

When you respond the way he has, SHOWING on a national stage, improvement, even when its very, very clear everyone knows what's coming at you, it speaks volumes for his game.

My concern is Wright, even though he was ok last week, I want more. - Break it fast- But watch yourself, Show me what you working with