Corners are trying to play like a champ

[RedskinsVision]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...-2004Sep1.html

love the Smoot-smack...

With one final tuneup -- tomorrow against the Atlanta Falcons at FedEx Field -- before the Sept. 12 regular season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Redskins contend that last week's debacle isn't a true gauge of life after Bailey.

"That's just BS if you really want to know. Excuse my French," Smoot said, adding that the Redskins played only a basic defense without any of the wrinkles that will be employed during the regular season. "We were real vanilla while they were real uptight about the butt whipping they had taken the week before that and didn't put up a point. They were bringing out their midseason plays. I can't wait to see them in the playoffs."

Defensive backs coach DeWayne Walker said: "I think it was a game that we needed to experience."

The Rams, coming off a Monday night trouncing by the Kansas City Chiefs, opened up much of their playbook against Washington's conservative schemes, which were mostly zones. Gregg Williams, the Redskins assistant head coach-defense, inserted several untested defensive backs on the first unit to help evaluate them before final cuts.

Smoot and Springs have been solid but unspectacular during training camp, although Smoot in particular struggled against the Rams. Smoot said he has used training camp to improve his technique and learn to play with Springs, his new partner.

"We're just left and a right shoe," Smoot said. "To take steps, you need the left and the right. One foot can't do it. We're learning what each other likes to do."

Springs said: "I think people are going to be surprised. We're going to be much better than people think."

Williams, who is known for using multiple cornerbacks in his defensive schemes, doesn't believe in designating a top cornerback. Instead, Williams will generally place Smoot on the left side and Springs on the right side while occasionally basing their matchups against opposing receivers on physical attributes. In third-down passing situations, Springs switches to nickel back and Walt Harris plays right cornerback.

Williams believes that a defense can have an advantage if the offense doesn't know ahead of time which cornerback will face its top wide receiver. "I don't want you to know when we're going to play matchups," Williams said.

Smoot and Springs echoed Williams that Washington's secondary doesn't distinguish between which cornerback is number one and which is number two. But when pressed, each player indicated that he considers himself the top dog.

"You know Fred Smoot is going to tell you me," Smoot responded, smiling. "I've waited out my time. I've put the time in and the work in."

Smoot had played in Bailey's shadows since being selected in the second round of the 2001 draft. Smoot, who has taken more of a leadership role this year, must adjust to playing more zone defenses instead of the one-on-one coverage he is used to.

"During the course of the season if one of those guys emerge as being a shut-down type guy," Walker said, "then maybe we'll consider that."

Regardless of Williams's outlook on cornerbacks, Springs said that defenses will determine the No. 1 cornerback, by staying away from that player.

"It's not a touchy subject: You'll find out who the number one cornerback is when you see how many balls you get thrown at you," said Springs, laughing heartily. "I can't come out and say I'm the number one cornerback. The teams will let you know who the number one cornerback is."

[hail2skins]

Good info. Alot of people were upset after our last game and I hope this calms them a bit. We played a lot of zone defense and had 2nd and 3rd stringers playing with the 1st team. The coaches needed to evaluate some players so I expected that. We'll see even more of that on Friday because players who are on the bubble will get a lot of playing time. Decisions need to be made and this is their last chance.

[PyroGenic]

Originally Posted by hail2skins

Good info. Alot of people were upset after our last game and I hope this calms them a bit. We played a lot of zone defense and had 2nd and 3rd stringers playing with the 1st team. The coaches needed to evaluate some players so I expected that. We'll see even more of that on Friday because players who are on the bubble will get a lot of playing time. Decisions need to be made and this is their last chance.

agreed, it's preseason... why would you wanna give away what we're going to do before it even matters?

[LadyNRedskinsfan]

good article. i would love to see shwan stay healthy and have our defense be ranked better than 24th. what would the media say then?

[PyroGenic]

Originally Posted by LadyNRedskinsfan

good article. i would love to see shwan stay healthy and have our defense be ranked better than 24th. what would the media say then?

im sure they'd find something, they always do

[RedskinsVision]

http://washingtontimes.com/sports/20...1837-1214r.htm

we knew Williams wanted Taylor to respect the speed of NFL WR's and got it the last game.. now that he's back down to earth, the lessons he learned will propel him to dangerous heights..

Springs, Smoot and assistant head coach for defense Gregg Williams offered a variety of defenses yesterday for the seeming lack of defense. The trio isn't the slightest bit concerned about critics who cite the loss of Bailey, the four-time Pro Bowl pick who was traded for running back Clinton Portis last spring.

"They've been saying that since we got C.P.," Smoot said. "We're going to be real good in the secondary. All they've got to do is be patient and wait."

The biggest reason Washington's coverage appeared deficient, according to Williams, was that "you could have baked a pizza at times on the pass rush." The coach said he deliberately toned back pressure and used inexperienced rushers to gauge how several young players would perform in a tough spot.

Under particular scrutiny was rookie safety Sean Taylor, who played with such precocious talent through three exhibitions that he was beginning to get a swelled head. Getting turned around a few times by the "Greatest Show on Turf" (though Taylor did recover to intercept a pass) punctured the rising star's ego.

"The thing he learned the other night was to trust his coach a little more," Williams said. "Those great ones are a little bit full of themselves to where they know everything. What was fun for me was to watch him go to [safeties coach] Steve Jackson on the sideline and say, 'Teach me something else, Coach.' He needed to get back to that."

Starting at right end was Ron Warner, a young player Williams wanted to see against first-stringers. Getting quick hooks — before St. Louis scored its first touchdown — were left end Renaldo Wynn and defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin. And pressure from the linebackers and defensive backs was kept to a minimum.

So don't blame Springs and Smoot, according to Williams.

"Corner play and pass rush work hand-in-hand," Williams said. "If people want to place the heat on the corners in that game, I go into the [film] room and place the heat on pass rush. That's where your eyes need to be, to see how long the routes are going down the field."

Meanwhile, the schemes, as they have been all preseason, were somewhat of an issue. Washington ran a lot of zone against what Smoot called St. Louis' "zone-beaters." Redskins coach Joe Gibbs and Williams continue to show little of their regular-season strategy, hoping to catch the Tampa Bay Buccaneers off-guard in the Sept. 12 opener.

Also, the cornerbacks conceded they weren't exactly fired up to play another exhibition in this seemingly never-ending preseason.

"You're going to go in [saying], 'I don't want to make myself look bad,' " Smoot said. "But you're not going to go all out to the point that 'I'll make this play even if means me getting hurt.' And that's how you make plays, by going all out. You're not going see too many people go all out, unless it's [on] the second team, third team."

Said Springs, an eight-year NFL player: "I've played in 40-something preseason games. It's more getting back familiar, working on my own technique and improving myself. For most guys, as they get older, they work on improving themselves. Then when the first game [occurs], we focus on how to play that opponent."

[GolfFreak]

I love Smootty ... this was my favorite part --> "I can't wait to see them in the playoffs".

[joethefan]

Everyone is saying that Taylor has a swelled head...I never heard hims say anything yet...so how can we tell that his head is swelled ...he only got 4 picks and 2 caused fumbles and one recovery.....!

[TexSkin]

Well I am finally glad someone said something about that dam playbook of the Rams. They looked like a Spurrier run team out there. Using all kinds of crazy plays.

[smoak]

Originally Posted by joethefan

Everyone is saying that Taylor has a swelled head...I never heard hims say anything yet...so how can we tell that his head is swelled ...he only got 4 picks and 2 caused fumbles and one recovery.....!

i definitely worry about him being over confident but not egotistical.

[IowaSkinsFan]

Originally Posted by GolfFreak

I love Smootty ... this was my favorite part --> "I can't wait to see them in the playoffs".

That's definately a good attitude to have.

[whitskins]

"I can't wait to see them in the playoffs." That was my exact sentiment.

[RedskinRyan]

a little confidence is nothing bad. dont you want a player back there that is confident he can make plays? tentiveness is not good. i dont think he will get an ego since that st.louis game, cause im betting he understands now that nobody is invinceable.

[smoak]

i doubt the rams make the playoffs.

[ihatedallas]

Smoot has a good attitude...A little cocky but one that helps in winning.He's probablly a good guy to have in the locker room