Worst Defense in the NFL
 

Lest anyone doubt that this defense sucks big time:

"Overall, the defense ranks 30th in yards allowed per game, 32nd in yards allowed per pass, 22nd in rushing defense, 29th in passing defense, 32nd in interceptions per pass play and 32nd in sacks per pass play. It is tied for 24th in points allowed and has a scoring differential of minus-63, also 24th in the league. Opposing quarterbacks have thrown 29 touchdown passes against Washington and just six interceptions -- the worst ratio in the NFL -- and have a 99.4 passer rating, a mark that also puts the Redskins last in the league."

Source: [url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/26/AR2006122600799.html?referrer=email&referrer=email&referrer=email]A Record-Breaking Season, at Bottom - washingtonpost.com[/url]

Re: Worst Defense in the NFL
 

The 'D' has been our biggest problem all season. If anyone is wondering why we are 5-10 right now, look no further than the defense which has been absolutely horrible, punctuated by the pathetic showing against the Rams.

Re: Worst Defense in the NFL
 

You guys are mistaken. This season's problems are all basically Mark Brunell and Ladell Betts' fault.

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This has been such a disappointing setback from last year. Hopefully Williams has a plan in place to right the ship. He's definitely got his work cut out for him in the offseason.

Re: Worst Defense in the NFL
 

It falls along the lines of the old "chicken or egg" debate, but I'm inclined to pin the fault for most of our 10 losses on the defense. The offense hasn't been stellar, but they've been better than the defense.

It looks like we'll actually set NFL and team records for least INTs and least sacks in a season. Also, we should set a record for least INT return yards (currently 25). That record was set at 85 yards during the strike season when they played 9 games.

What a great record to have.

Re: Worst Defense in the NFL
 

i don't need any of those stats to remind me how much we have sucked defensively this season

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The D has sucked this year but the O has not helped them very much this season. With alot of 3 and outs. I wonder if there is a stat for teams and how they rank with 3 and outs.

Re: Worst Defense in the NFL
 

"Hopefully Williams has a plan in place to right the ship."

Yeah, here's a plan: Stop thinking your scheme is so great that you can put in P.O.S's like Holdman and Archuletta, and actually get some real talent to make up for all the talent you let go in the last two years.

Re: Worst Defense in the NFL
 

Ouch. It's really made me realize how good our d was the last couple years. It's amazing to me how far this d has fallen off w/ basically the same guys here. Hard to believe.

It works both ways in regards to the o and the d. With some help from the D we could have been much better offensively.

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[quote=firstdown;263943]The D has sucked this year but the O has not helped them very much this season. With alot of 3 and outs. I wonder if there is a stat for teams and how they rank with 3 and outs.[/quote]

Let's not let them off the hook, the D has stunk plain and simple. The offense hasn't been that bad.

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[QUOTE=dmek25;263937]i don't need any of those stats to remind me how much we have sucked defensively this season[/QUOTE]

At least you have your head on straight. I think a few people still blame Brunell - just wanted to straighten that out ;)

Re: Worst Defense in the NFL
 

Anyone know where we rank in # of turnovers by the O? I know we're one of the best in the league had holding on to the ball. While that doesn't mean our offense has been highly effective, it further shows how much our D let us down - they couldn't stop or take the ball away, while for the most part our offense has at least not lost many games for us.

Re: Worst Defense in the NFL
 

It is definitely due to the loss of such players as Pierce, Smoot, Ryan Clark, Arrington (hate to say). Despite being better players at their positions than what we have now, they also had fire, attitude and leadership qualities. We all have bitched and moaned about Lavar's attitude ad naseum, but I remember when he was the spirit of the team. When that fades and ultimately becomes acrimonious, the team will suffer and it has. The Redskins have absolutely NO identity on defense. On offense, we had Santana and Clinton. But with CP's injury, we lost the lynch pin and spirit of the O. There is more to the game than just physical talent. The Redskins have no IDENTITY. That's what needs to change in order to have success next year.
Dallas Sucks.

Re: Worst Defense in the NFL
 

[QUOTE=dmek25;263937]i don't need any of those stats to remind me how much we have sucked defensively this season[/QUOTE]

This pretty much says it all. If anyone thought our D was good, they are either not a Skins fan, or their head is in their ass.

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[QUOTE=freddyg12;263954]Anyone know where we rank in # of turnovers by the O? I know we're one of the best in the league had holding on to the ball. While that doesn't mean our offense has been highly effective, it further shows how much our D let us down - they couldn't stop or take the ball away, while for the most part our offense has at least not lost many games for us.[/QUOTE]

We're 2nd best in the league for giveaways with 15 (1 more than San Diego). Unfortunately we're worst in the league in takeaways.

Means the offense has done an excellent job NOT turning it over, and that's with a young, inexperienced QB and a backup RB. The defense, on the other hand, can't force a turnover to save it's life.

Re: Worst Defense in the NFL
 

[QUOTE=firstdown;263943]The D has sucked this year but the O has not helped them very much this season. With alot of 3 and outs. I wonder if there is a stat for teams and how they rank with 3 and outs.[/QUOTE]

We're 19th in the league in 3rd down conversion percentage (37%). We're also 19th in the league in 3rd down attempts with 200.

Not exactly stellar, but I would say it's hard to attribute the worst defense in the league to the 19th ranked offense in 3rd down conversions.

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[quote=mheisig;263953]At least you have your head on straight. I think a few people still blame Brunell - just wanted to straighten that out ;)[/quote]

You are right Brunell was not the problem, actually, his stats are better than Campbell's

Re: Worst Defense in the NFL
 

[QUOTE=riggoraider;263967]You are right Brunell was not the problem, actually, his stats are better than Campbell's[/QUOTE]

Brunell WAS a problem for the offense. Do we all forget the fact that he did not throw down field at all and was Mr. Screen Pass? We needed him to take the riegns and throw the damn ball, and he didn't. Our offense is not designed for short throws, it needs to be opened up, he refused, he sits the bench...plain and simple.

Re: Worst Defense in the NFL
 

[quote=riggoraider;263967]You are right Brunell was not the problem, actually, his stats are better than Campbell's[/quote]

There goes the thread :Flush: . It is now officially about Brunell.

Re: Worst Defense in the NFL
 

[quote=mheisig;263911]Lest anyone doubt that this defense sucks big time:

"Overall, the defense ranks 30th in yards allowed per game, 32nd in yards allowed per pass, 22nd in rushing defense, 29th in passing defense, 32nd in interceptions per pass play and 32nd in sacks per pass play. It is tied for 24th in points allowed and has a scoring differential of minus-63, also 24th in the league. Opposing quarterbacks have thrown 29 touchdown passes against Washington and just six interceptions -- the worst ratio in the NFL -- and have a 99.4 passer rating, a mark that also puts the Redskins last in the league."

Source: [URL="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/26/AR2006122600799.html?referrer=email&referrer=email&referrer=email"]A Record-Breaking Season, at Bottom - washingtonpost.com[/URL][/quote]

In trying to take the optimistic approach to our defense...

We have the same defensive coordinator that we had the last 2 seasons when the defense was very good and if it only took a few player departures to get us in the position that we are in now, maybe just maybe, a few good aquisitions can turn the defense back around.

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Cowboys have been the last several games. Id be surprised if they get a playoff win.

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[quote=dgack;263914]You guys are mistaken. This season's problems are all basically Mark Brunell and Ladell Betts' fault.[/quote]

This is sarcasm, right??

Truly Yours,
Mrs. Brunell

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[quote=jsarno;263971]Brunell WAS a problem for the offense. Do we all forget the fact that he did not throw down field at all and was Mr. Screen Pass? We needed him to take the riegns and throw the damn ball, and he didn't. Our offense is not designed for short throws, it needs to be opened up, he refused, he sits the bench...plain and simple.[/quote]

[COLOR=black]Poor Brunell. He has been unfairly criticized because of our loses this year....[/COLOR]

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[QUOTE=hesscl34;263979][COLOR=black]Poor Brunell. He has been unfairly criticized because of our loses this year....[/COLOR][/QUOTE]

Please note, I said "offense".
Is he the sole problem with our team...absolutely not! Why we always look for 1 scapegoat is beyond me. There are several reasons we sucked this year, Brunell had part in it.

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[QUOTE=Blue Star;263976]Cowboys have been the last several games. Id be surprised if they get a playoff win.[/QUOTE]

It's amazing how everyone jumps on, then off bandwagons. When the cowboys were winning, everyone said how great the team was, they are the most solid team in the NFC. Now they lose one game and get exposed, and they are horrendous.
If this was the Skins, I'd say, "we have some top notch coaches, and they will figure out a way to win". WHy? Because I have faith in my team...maybe you should too.

That being said, I'd be surprised too! :D

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[quote=onlydarksets;263974]There goes the thread :Flush: . It is now officially about Brunell.[/quote]

LOL...my bad I just feel the need to give Brunell a shout out every now and then because people do try to unfairly blame him for this season. He was back there running for his life when he were in there and still managed to have a few good games including a couple of 300 yard games and a record breaking 22 for 22 performance dink and dunk as it may have been it is an NFL record but people are talking like he had the worst season in NFL history. On the other hand Campbell throws 3 good passes in 6 game and we are ready to annoint him as our savior. I just don't understand the thnking there.

Before you all get out the tar and feathers, I have nothing against Campbell and if he is going to be our QB I am going to suport him through thick and thin it just amazes me how people can see one thing in one man's performance and another thing in a performance that was worst than the first mans'.

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Of course the defense is the reason we are 5-10, everyone knows that, but what worries me is the lack of accountability or sense of crisis. Williams needs to be up there on the lectern saying look, we are costing our team a chance to be in the playoffs, it's my responsibility, I'm going to do my best to fix it, we know this is a problem, etc. That's how Gibbs was in 04 when it was the offense ranked 30th.

At some point it stops mattering how good you were the last couple years. Dropping from 9th to 30th with upgraded personnel that you were responsible for acquiring is not okay....It's just not! And I don't get the sense that Williams is worried enough.

And for all of you guys out there defending Brunell, that's okay, but back off Campbell. I don't think you could have asked much more from a second year player given the terrible circumstances.

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[quote=djnemo65;264004]Of course the defense is the reason we are 5-10, everyone knows that, but what worries me is the lack of accountability or sense of crisis.[/quote]

I don't think there's anything close to a consensus that the defense is the reason this team is 5-10. Yes, the play of the defense as been awful, but the offense doesn't finish drives and has suffered from questionable playcalling. Sometimes the other team is going to score 27 points, and you just have to find a way to score 28. This team is bad across the board. On the whole, they haven't been able to stop other teams when they've had to and they haven't scored touchdowns when they've needed to.

Ultimately, Gibbs is the one who is accountable fror everything.

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[quote=The Huddle;264009]I don't think there's anything close to a consensus that the defense is the reason this team is 5-10. Yes, the play of the defense as been awful, but the offense doesn't finish drives and has suffered from questionable playcalling. Sometimes the other team is going to score 27 points, and you just have to find a way to score 28. This team is bad across the board. On the whole, they haven't been able to stop other teams when they've had to and they haven't scored touchdowns when they've needed to.

Ultimately, Gibbs is the one who is accountable fror everything.[/quote]

But the offense shouldn't have to score 28 week-in week-out. The D is the reason for probably 6-8 of our losses, with the offense responsible for 2-4. You can't just base it on the number of points scored, though, because many times the D just couldn't keep the other team off the field.

Also, the offense has shown signs of life and of identity lately. The D has just been consistently bad.

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It is all Brunell and Al Saunders......we should trade Portis and resign D.Green. SuperBowl or bust!!!1

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[QUOTE=hooskins;264013]It is all Brunell and Al Saunders......we should trade Portis and resign D.Green. SuperBowl or bust!!!1[/QUOTE]

While this is obviously a joke, I do like the idea of bringing in Darryl Green as a CB coach.
Look at Russ Grimm in Pittsburgh, they are talking about him being the new head coach should Cowher retire.
Green has a ton of knowledge that could really help us.

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[quote=The Huddle;264009]I don't think there's anything close to a consensus that the defense is the reason this team is 5-10. Yes, the play of the defense as been awful, but the offense doesn't finish drives and has suffered from questionable playcalling. Sometimes the other team is going to score 27 points, and you just have to find a way to score 28. This team is bad across the board. On the whole, they haven't been able to stop other teams when they've had to and they haven't scored touchdowns when they've needed to.

Ultimately, Gibbs is the one who is accountable fror everything.[/quote]

How much worse would the D have to be for you to place the majority of the blame on them for this miserable season??

The D has hit rock bottom. They have been gashed by just about every back they've faced, and they've given up a ton of big plays in the passing game. Outside of about 2-3 solid performances they've been downright awful, the worst overall D we've seen here in years.

I have no problem saying they are the main reason we are 5-10. No problem at all.

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So, after this showing against the Rams, doesn't it say that the performance we saw against the Saints was more due to the Saints having a bad day?

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Our defense is horrible and lost us at least 4 games just by themselves. Anyone who can't see that isn't paying close enough attention. Just because the offense didn't go out and score 35 points every game doesn't make it their fault. The defense has to be able to maintain field position, stop teams on 3rd down, stop teams at the end of the game and create some turnovers. We basically didn't do any of those things. I think it is not a stretch to say that if our defense was even middle of the road this year our offense probably averages 4 or 5 more points a game simply because of field possession and time of possession.

Our offense was OK and our defense was horrid. That adds up to 5-10.

Plus this team is predicated on relying on our D based on the last 2 years. The whole offensive "tweaking" was made thinking that our D would keep us in games as we adjusted early on. Too bad that didn't work out.

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This got me thinking about a specific play versus the Rams. Rocky was playing outside and I think someone motioned for him at the last minute to play the middle to stop the run. He got there just as the ball was snapped and dove forward stopping Stephen Jackson from getting the conversion. Nice play but it underlined the fact that a lot of our guys look like they don't know what they are supposed to be doing out there. Pierce was great at getting his guys into position and barking out his observations to his teammates to get them ready for the current play. Who does that for us now?

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[quote=Beemnseven;264032]So, after this showing against the Rams, doesn't it say that the performance we saw against the Saints was more due to the Saints having a bad day?[/quote]

I think it was a combo of the Saints being off that day and our D actually played well for a change. We seemed to have a great game plan that day and everyone was flying to the ball. But those days have been few and far between.

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[QUOTE=dblanch66;263958]It is definitely due to the loss of such players as Pierce, Smoot, Ryan Clark, Arrington (hate to say). Despite being better players at their positions than what we have now, they also had fire, attitude and leadership qualities. We all have bitched and moaned about Lavar's attitude ad naseum, but I remember when he was the spirit of the team. When that fades and ultimately becomes acrimonious, the team will suffer and it has. The Redskins have absolutely NO identity on defense. On offense, we had Santana and Clinton. But with CP's injury, we lost the lynch pin and spirit of the O. There is more to the game than just physical talent. The Redskins have no IDENTITY. That's what needs to change in order to have success next year.
Dallas Sucks.[/QUOTE]


The defense played very well last year (9th overall) without Pierce, Smoot, and very little by way of contribution from LaVar for the last two seasons. Lemar Marshall was an overachiever at the MLB position, and this season played after having offseason shoulder surgery. The loss of Pierson Prioleau and Ryan Clark, coupled with the injuries to Shawn Springs really hurt the secondary, but not to the extent we go from 9th in the league to last. The defense this year did not play with the same disposition it did the past two seasons. They were not attacking the ball in the same fashion which in many ways explains their lack of take-a-way's. I'm inclined to agree with Phillip Daniels when he said he felt it was overconfidence. "We thought we could just roll our helmets out there and get a win".

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[quote=mheisig;263960]We're 2nd best in the league for giveaways with 15 (1 more than San Diego). Unfortunately we're worst in the league in takeaways.

Means the offense has done an excellent job NOT turning it over, and that's with a young, inexperienced QB and a backup RB. The defense, on the other hand, can't force a turnover to save it's life.[/quote]

That has to also prove that Betts is not the fumbler that people are saying that he is

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[QUOTE=riggoraider;264067]That has to also prove that Betts is not the fumbler that people are saying that he is[/QUOTE]

He also didn't have very many carries in the first part of the year.

The term "fumbler" means different things to different people. Earnest Byner was not a "fumbler", but he is probably best known for fumbling in the 1987 AFC Championship game against Denver. He might have put the ball on the ground one or two other times for the rest of his career.

Stephen Davis on the other hand, and to a certain extent, Gerald Riggs were fumblers. I'd say if you fumble it two times or more in the same season, you've earned the label. Betts did it against Tampa Bay and against the Rams (that I can think of). That's not as agregious as say, Tiki Barber - who was also known as a notorious fumbler before Coughlin started coaching him - but it does start to raise the eyebrows.

Like it or not, in this league if you fumble it more than once in a season, and have demonstrated a history of it -- your a fumbler. Plain and simple.

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[quote=Beemnseven;264071]He also didn't have very many carries in the first part of the year.

The term "fumbler" means different things to different people. Earnest Byner was not a "fumbler", but he is probably best known for fumbling in the 1987 AFC Championship game against Denver. He might have put the ball on the ground one or two other times for the rest of his career.

Stephen Davis on the other hand, and to a certain extent, Gerald Riggs were fumblers. I'd say if you fumble it two times or more in the same season, you've earned the label. Betts did it against Tampa Bay and against the Rams (that I can think of). That's not as agregious as say, Tiki Barber - who was also known as a notorious fumbler before Coughlin started coaching him - but it does start to raise the eyebrows.

Like it or not, in this league if you fumble it more than once in a season, and have demonstrated a history of it -- your a fumbler. Plain and simple.[/quote]

MORE THAN ONCE IN A SEASON!!! ...You are kind of hard on a running back aren't you? I am sure that all or the majority of the starting running backs have more than one fumble therefore all have to be labled fumblers right?...I may be wrong but if you can give me a starter that has not fumbled more than once this year please do so and I will, gladly, eat my words.

LT and LJ and Steven Jackson has 2 so they are fumblers also right?... Tiki Barber 3..Shaun Alexander ....4...Willie Parker and Frank Gore 5 ...fumblers?

Why don't all these guys be benched they are awful backs!!!