Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

Jason LaC posted a preview of an article he's working on for the weekend. It's a VERY depressing piece about the defense.

[url=http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/]Redskins Insider[/url]

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

Wow...I pretty much agree with all of that, however, I was hoping for something a little more confidence inspiring. And it's interesting that he makes the same point that I did about the Archuleta-Clark switch.

I think, however, that Carter could return to form as a defensive end. I think he would be a dominant LE. But I don't know if he's suited to be the type of top flight pass rusher they were hoping for. I think he'd be a 10 sack guy with anyone else on that line. That's not based on anything but one great season, I just think he has it in him.

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

accurate. a lot of typos though :/

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

[quote=jdlea;235235]I think, however, that Carter could return to form as a defensive end. I think he would be a dominant LE. But I don't know if he's suited to be the type of top flight pass rusher they were hoping for. I think he'd be a 10 sack guy with anyone else on that line. That's not based on anything but one great season, I just think he has it in him.[/quote]

I agree about carter. I was pretty high on him a couple years ago. The author thinks he suffered from playing LB last year. If we got freeney, carter would probably go wild.

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

i dont like to read depressing stuff about my team. but i agree with the majority of what he said

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

[QUOTE=GhettoDogAllStars;235236]accurate. a lot of typos though :/[/QUOTE]

It is a blog so no editing. His blog stuff is the best thing this season.

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

[QUOTE=FRPLG;235251]It is a blog so no editing. His blog stuff is the best thing this season.[/QUOTE]

I agree. He's been pretty spot on there, and it's pretty funny to boot.

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

[quote=FRPLG;235251]It is a blog so no editing. His blog stuff is the best thing this season.[/quote]

Oh, I see. I'm new to blogs. :)

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

Great blog, thanks for posting it.

I agree with everything he said (unfortunately).

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

None of this should be a shock to anyone. I ripped the current defense several weeks ago and said that the 2004 unit was head and shoulders above this and the 2005 unit. All I heard was "Lemar is as good as Pierce... We don't need Smoot". Well guess what, the truth hurts and I wouldn't be surprised if we win 4 games this year.

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

Great read! Now that its ruined my day I am going to go drink some whiskey.

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

It bothers me that we can pay $10M bonuses for both Archuleta and Carter, but couldn't pony up when Pierce was a free agent. He was the QB and leading tackler on the #3 defense in the league, yet Gibbs let him walk, to a division rival no less. Ryan Clark should have been even easier to keep. I fine mess we have with Archuleta - the highest paid safety in the league, and he can't play a lick.

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

[quote=SouperMeister;235287]It bothers me that we can pay $10M bonuses for both Archuleta and Carter, but couldn't pony up when Pierce was a free agent. He was the QB and leading tackler on the #3 defense in the league, yet Gibbs let him walk, to a division rival no less. Ryan Clark should have been even easier to keep. I fine mess we have with Archuleta - the highest paid safety in the league, and he can't play a lick.[/quote]

The worst is that these guys (Pierce, Smoot, Clark) would sign for even less than their FA deals if they were signed during the season. But you don't get to fly existing players in on Redskin 1.

This is a marketing maching, not a football team. I have a feeling that at least one bad thing is going to happen during the offseason (Williams leaves, Taylor holds out or both).

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

Like everyone else has said, he's right. It's gonna take a lot to fix our defense.

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

i think we really need to start troy vincent at SS right now...he could actually cover

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

[quote=SouperMeister;235287]It bothers me that we can pay $10M bonuses for both Archuleta and Carter, but couldn't pony up when Pierce was a free agent. He was the QB and leading tackler on the #3 defense in the league, yet Gibbs let him walk, to a division rival no less. Ryan Clark should have been even easier to keep. I fine mess we have with Archuleta - the highest paid safety in the league, and he can't play a lick.[/quote]
And you ain't just whistlin' dixie SouperMiester!

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

[quote=SouperMeister;235287]It bothers me that we can pay $10M bonuses for both Archuleta and Carter, but couldn't pony up when Pierce was a free agent. He was the QB and leading tackler on the #3 defense in the league, yet Gibbs let him walk, to a division rival no less. Ryan Clark should have been even easier to keep. I fine mess we have with Archuleta - the highest paid safety in the league, and he can't play a lick.[/quote]

Agreed. I've mentioned this a couple times before. We don't sign these guys because we're being frugal w/ spending (ex. we don't pay smoot more than springs) but then turn around and sign these other guys for more. Do we not have any intellegent scouts?? Doesn't make sense.

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

[quote=Grim21Reaper;235275]None of this should be a shock to anyone. I ripped the current defense several weeks ago and said that the 2004 unit was head and shoulders above this and the 2005 unit. All I heard was "Lemar is as good as Pierce... We don't need Smoot". Well guess what, the truth hurts and I wouldn't be surprised if we win 4 games this year.[/quote]


if that's all you heard, you weren't listening very well, cause people have been saying letting pierce go was a mistake right as it was happening, and i've been saying it since, but i don't think i've been the only one.

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

I didn't find the post particularly interesting. He started out the post with a discussion of how Williams got things done in 2004 with the likes of Jermaine Haley and Garnell Wilds. Even if our free agent additions are overrated busts, they're certainly better than Wilds, Haley et al. So, it doesn't seem to explain why our defense is playing so poorly.

What was the point of the post? I simply do understand. All it seems to say is that the free agent acquisitions are bad.

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

[quote=Sheriff Gonna Getcha;235418]I didn't find the post particularly interesting. He started out the post with a discussion of how Williams got things done in 2004 with the likes of Jermaine Haley and Garnell Wilds. Even if our free agent additions are overrated busts, they're certainly better than Wilds, Haley et al. So, it doesn't seem to explain why our defense is playing so poorly.

What was the point of the post? I simply do understand. All it seems to say is that the free agent acquisitions are bad.[/quote]

It also mentions that maybe after three years of being here, GW's message is getting tired and worn out, and that maybe the players aren't buying in anymore.

EDIT: I'm not sure I buy that, but I do think it's possible that some of our fringe players aren't responding the way our old fringe players once were.

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

[quote=That Guy;235414]if that's all you heard, you weren't listening very well, cause people have been saying letting pierce go was a mistake right as it was happening, and i've been saying it since, but i don't think i've been the only one.[/quote]

I'm on that train too. Antonio Pierce was the most significant free agent loss we've had in the last 15 years or so. His value as QB of the defense was irreplaceable.

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

I think a lot of what he said is spot on. Most of all I think our play makers from 04 haven't been replaced or aren't currently as good. Griffin just hasn't had the same impact the last two seasons. Joe Sal has been about the same but he wasn't a play maker then and isn't now. His injuries have kept him out too much. I am realistic with the Arch siging because he is playing a role that he wasn't supposed to play. He isn't playing the same role that Clark would have played. Clark was our running down safety who supported pretty well in the run and was adequate in pass coeverage. Arch is having to play all four downs because Priloeau is gone and has been exposed on passing downs. I do wish we had kept Clark because he was serviceable and Arch isn't much better for the money. But he hasn't been an 'abject' failure since he can't be blamed for being relied on to do things no one expected to to do.

At DE they took a gamble on a guy just like they gambled on Griffin and this time we haven't had the same impact results. He isn't any worse than what we had though. I now agree that losing Pierce was the biggest deal. Lemar is serviceable but Pierce was a player. We haven't had a decent weak side LB since Lavar was good which was before 04 but somehow we hid it better then. Maybe Pierce was the reason.

I think our biggest problems have been, and I hate to say it, that our two 1st round draft picks on D have not brought play making to our team. Rogers is not a play maker at this point and some would even say he isn't very good. I can't argue since he hasn't shown much. I would have expected him to be better against WR1s. Maybe not lights out but he should be making his share of plays. He is making no palys at all. Even more disappointing has been the failure of Taylor to grow as a playmaker. Let's be honest, the guy can hit and he knows it. The problem is that basically all he ever tries to do is hit someone. He isn't ball hawking, or shutting down the TE or anything. If Rogers and Taylor made some plays we'd be talking about a much better defense.

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

I wish he was like he was last year against Arizona. He COULD have killed the receiver, and I'm talking decapitated him, but instead read the ball perfectly and came down with the pick.

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

Is Pierce the better player? Yes. But was replacing him with Marshall some sort of huge blunder? I really don't think so.

Marshall hasn't had a good season that's for sure, but neither has anyone on the entire D.

Based on what's happened this year I'm not ready to go back on what I've said. I still don't think it was a giant mistake in letting Pierce go. Marshall proved last year that he is capable of doing a very solid job. I believe he will rebound when the rest of the D does as well.

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

I really wish we'd made a run at Will Witherspoon in the offseason. He is a STUD for St. Louis.

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

[quote=Mattyk72;235500]Is Pierce the better player? Yes. But was replacing him with Marshall some sort of huge blunder? I really don't think so.

Marshall hasn't had a good season that's for sure, but neither has anyone on the entire D.

Based on what's happened this year I'm not ready to go back on what I've said. I still don't think it was a giant mistake in letting Pierce go. Marshall proved last year that he is capable of doing a very solid job. I believe he will rebound when the rest of the D does as well.[/quote]

letting pierce go put holdman in the lineup, and he SUCKS. so it was a huge downgrade because of that.

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

[quote=TheMalcolmConnection;235507]I really wish we'd made a run at Will Witherspoon in the offseason. He is a STUD for St. Louis.[/quote]

Yeah I hear you there, I was actually very surprised that we didn't get him. I wonder if we were even tried.

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

[quote=That Guy;235512]letting pierce go put holdman in the lineup, at he SUCKS. so it was a huge downgrade because of that.[/quote]

I do agree there, Holdman is a stop gap. It's gotta make you wonder when McIntosh will see the field. We have to do something with that spot whether it's McIntosh or a free agent next year. Holdman is not the answer to anything.

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

I think sometimes GW's ego gets in the way of his decision-making skills. Like he's a GREAT coach, but I think sometimes he thinks he can create talent that isn't there.

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

I mean I'd much rather have a VASTLY talented player over-achieving than an average one.

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

[quote=TheMalcolmConnection;235519]I think sometimes GW's ego gets in the way of his decision-making skills. Like he's a GREAT coach, but I think sometimes he can create talent that isn't there.[/quote]

Most definitely. He is the real EGO. I can't even compare.

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

I mean I don't know how Peterson is working out for the Seahawks, but there were a number of great LBs in free agency (since we wanted to go that way).

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

[quote=TheMalcolmConnection;235528]I mean I don't know how Peterson is working out for the Seahawks, but there were a number of great LBs in free agency (since we wanted to go that way).[/quote]

peterson has an injury history now and got offered 7mill a year. seattle VASTLY overpaid for him, but other guys were available.

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

[QUOTE=TheMalcolmConnection;235519]I think sometimes GW's ego gets in the way of his decision-making skills. Like he's a GREAT coach, but I think sometimes he thinks he can create talent that isn't there.[/QUOTE]

I have wondered this too. I think JL is right about a lot but the tone of the post was a little gloomier than it should. I think essentially the team made a only one real mistake and one sorta mistake amid some very good decisions.

I have slowly realized the value of Pierce. Not that Marshall hasn't done a good job but I'd say that he hasn't been a huge play maker. It always seemed Pierce was in on the big tackles in 04. Marshall seems to have done a decent playing job but the smartness of our unit on the field seems to have suffered. I think the Arch deal was basically an over pay for a guy who WOULD have been a relative upgrade had we been able to use him as intended. Instead he now has to do things he simpyl can't and it makes him look real bad.

Again, with better play from Rogers and Taylor we're talking a huge difference. Like I think we are 4-2 if Taylor and Rogers play like they probably can. I seriously think good play from them is that big a difference.

Re: Great Blog about the D--Jason LaC
 

One thing is that there seems to be an inherent contradiction in the article--we have no talent now, unlike when we were good (with no talent!). My feeling is that Gwill can get good things out of mediocre talent, but this year we've been hurt at crucial postions, and new flolks haven't stepped up. Is it unfixable? Are the players not listening to GW? I'm not sure I buy any of that. It's fixable for two reasons: one, GW can make his D work without big money stars (he's proven that); two, we can play better as a team. This is about momentum, attitude, and chemistry. Just as easily as you can lose these things, you can get them back. Sure, I'd love to have more draft picks. Who wouldn't on this board? But I think it's very much a MENTAL thing right now, and that this is a positive, becuase you can't teach speed, but you can instill the metnal stufff. It'll get better. And then next year, we need to draft on defense in round 1 and get a mid-priced FA or two. Arch and Carter are not doing it right now. But I am not sure that they never will. And remember, the GMs that Jason spoke to are evaluating the team after two harsh loses. Would they have said the same after the Jax game? It's not an exact science.

Sure, I agree, we suck right now. But just as down-turns happen, so do up-turns. All is not lost.