New Look Defense

The front 5 has taken a huge step forward; to the point where on paper they match-up well with any front 5 in the league.

ROLB-Gallette
RDE-Hatcher
NT-Knighton
LDE-Paea
LOLB-Kerrigan

I agree, with a couple of caveats. First, I think Hatcher needs to bounce back with a good season. Second, a lengthy suspension for Gallette would slow down our pass rush. Otherwise, the unit is looking good.

We have great defensive line depth now and we will be substituting a lot to keep the guys fresh. That is great. I still say we should not use Hatcher as a you would a starter. Especially in preseason and early in the season. He is very valuable but he is an older guy that has knee issues as most guys his age do. We need to use him like we used Jumpy Geathers back in the day. Pass rush and goalline specialist.

While Scot McC is my current man-crush, I just keep waiting for the other shoe to fall.

On paper, as it almost always does, things look good. I mean, on the DL, it looks like upgrades to talent and depth across the line. However, I have fallen for this one too many times. So Scotty got some reputably talented guys at market cheap deals (Knighton, Paea, Gallette) and some reasonable depth (Francois). They all have flaws and there were reasons they were not "highly prized" UFA's.

As much as In Scot I Trust, been there done that too many times, I will wait and see what they look like in Sept. before I let myself surrender to the call of the Kool-Aid.

While Scot McC is my current man-crush, I just keep waiting for the other shoe to fall.

Keeps me awake at night...
I am trying desperately NOT to board the band wagon until it's more than on paper.

I agree, with a couple of caveats. First, I think Hatcher needs to bounce back with a good season.*Shrugs* I think Hatcher is an example of perception not matching up with reality. Hatcher as 34 DE was getting after the passer at high rate despite Haslett's scheme. His PRP (pass rush productivity combo of sacks, hurries and QB hits) was 2nd only to JJ Watt @ 9.6. He finished with 40 total pressures out of 333 rushes. Looking at the PRP suggests a flaw with the scheme/playing time because Hatch's 333 rushes is a low number compared to other top 34 DE/43 DTs: Watt 632, Heyward 501, Suh 530, Geno 459, Casey 487, Richardson 434.

Another good sign though? Paea also finished top 10. He was 9th with a PRP of 8.7 with 47 total pressures out of 418 rushes.


https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/02/09/sig-stats-prp-defensive-interior/

Second, a lengthy suspension for Gallette would slow down our pass rush. Otherwise, the unit is looking goodI hear yah on the looming Gallette suspension. I think its a matter of how long a suspension because it sure seems like one is coming. But when he comes off suspension? Sick. It will be like have 2 Ryan Kerrigan's rushing the passer.

And even without Gallette I think Trent Murphy and Preston Smith will add something to the pass rush simply because they'll have easier match-ups then last year. Adding Paea next to Hatcher and Ryan is gonna make life easy for whomever the 4th rusher will be. And I really like Smith as movable chess piece. In college the dude played everywhere from stand up OLB to hand in the dirt DT lined up over a OG.

Here are some defensive stats from last year:
FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | 2014 DEFENSIVE EFFICIENCY RATINGS (http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamdef)

Football Outsiders Defensive Efficiency Stats:

Overall Defense: 30th

Pass Defense: 32nd Dead Dog Last

Rush Defense: 9th

I like the above FBO defensive stats because raw yards and even points doesn't completely isolate the defense from special teams and offense.

Other stats I like to judge the defense:
NFL Stats: by Team Category (http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?tabSeq=2&season=2014&seasonType=REG&role=OPP&d-447263-n=1&d-447263-o=2&d-447263-p=1&conference=ALL&defensiveStatisticCategory=TEAM_PASSING&d-447263-s=PASSING_SACKED)

QB rating against: 108.3 or Dead Dog Last

YPA against: 8.2 tied w/ ATL for Dead Dog Last

Total Interceptions: 7 tied for 4th least

Sacks: 36 tied for 21st

Football Outsiders Defensive Efficiency Stats:

Overall Defense: 30th----->21st(2016)

Pass Defense: 32nd Dead Dog Last------>19th(2016)

Rush Defense: 9th---------->22nd(2016)

NFL:

QB rating against: 108.3 or Dead Dog Last------------>96.1

YPA against: 8.2 tied w/ ATL for Dead Dog Last--------->7.8

Total Interceptions: 7 tied for 4th least------>11 tied for 21st

Sacks: 36 tied for 21st----------->38 sacks 14th

From Football Outsiders:
FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | 2015 DEFENSIVE LINES (http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/dl)
Front 7:

20th in stuffed runs (runs stop for no gain or a loss) down from 13th

30th in 2nd level yards (RBs yards between 5-10 yards past LOS) down from 8th

Sack rate was 8th at 7.3% up from 17th 6.6%

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2016/01/08/pro-top-10-defensive-lines-of-2015/

9. Washington Redskins (7)

Starters: OLB Trent Murphy, DE Chris I. Baker, NT Terrence Knighton, DE Jason Hatcher, OLB Ryan Kerrigan

Rotation: DE Ricky Jean-Francois, DE Stephen Paea, DE Kedric Golston, OLB Preston Smith

Washington’s front is not the stoutest against the run, but they have a number of consistent pass rushers. Ryan Kerrigan and Trent Murphy were not outstanding by any means, but they combined for a +16.7 cumulative pass rush grade. Interior defensive lineman Chris Baker (82.7) and Jason Hatcher (74.6) also pushed the pocket on a consistent basis. The former also played the run well in 2015 (81.7 run defense grade), unlike his teammate, Hatcher (48.4 run defense grade), who’s been a specialist pass rusher for awhile. Jean-Francois and Knighton combined for a +13.8 cumulative run defense grade, giving Washington a pair of stout run defenders. Stephen Paea (75.8) also proved to be a useful free agent addition, despite getting on the field for just 221 snaps. Preston Smith gives Washington some depth on the edge, even if he ultimately ended up with a poor overall grade this season (68.8). He’s flashed serious potential as a pass rusher, finishing the year with eight sacks and 35 combined pressures

What do you attribute to the decline in stopping the run this year?

Is a 1 gap that much different than a 2 gap against the run? Does that mean our LBs dropped the ball?

Do others 1 gap teams play a true NT? Denver doesn't have a 350+ NT but they are kind of the exception.

What gives?

Just from a fan perspective, Compton seemed to be able to control and set the defense up for stopping the run a lot better than anyone else.