SN Unit Analysis: Safeties
 

June 3 issue:

Washington Redskins: "B - Sean Taylor's concentration must match his talent; the run support is good."



Inside the NFC:
REDSKINS LE Renaldo Wynn makes excellent use of leverage and has worked extensively to fine-tune his handwork. He's exceptionally bright. has a good work ethic and is a stable presence in the locker room..."

Re: SN Unit Analysis: Safeties
 

I forgot this...

NFL FOCUS: Position Battles:
"Redskins CB Walt Harris relies on his experience, savvy and solid technique to get in position to contain passing games and make plays. Harris will be challenged by Carlos Rogers, who was drafted with the expectation that he will start at some point in 2005. Rogers has excellent speed, is a big hitter and can play press coverage. but he has a great deal to learn. The likely scenario is that Harris will hold the job through training camp, with Rogers gradually taking over."

Re: SN Unit Analysis: Safeties
 

I like how our defense has an overall rating of B while we were number 3 in the league last year.

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We've had some big changes on our D.

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[QUOTE=Daseal]We've had some big changes on our D.[/QUOTE]

But mostly for the better is we stay healthy this year.

Re: SN Unit Analysis: Safeties
 

Rogers for Smoot - Even with potential for upgrade
Holdman for Pierce - Even with potential for upgrade
LaVar will be back
We've added ridiculous depth at safety

The D will be better this year!!!!!

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[quote]Rogers for Smoot - Even with potential for upgrade[/quote]
Even? Not quite. Potential for an upgrade sure. However Rogers is an unproven commodity thus far.
[quote]Holdman for Pierce - Even with potential for upgrade[/quote]
I don't buy this. I think Pierce was glorified by the system, but he ran it flawlessly. Holdman hasn't been what he once was (from all the reports I've seen/read) and is moving to the inside. I bet 95% of the people here would much prefer to have Pierce.
[quote]LaVar will be back[/quote] Yep, unfortunately OLB was one of the positions I think we have pretty solid depth at.
[quote]We've added ridiculous depth at safety[/quote]
We already had depth at safety. Clark, Lott, Bowen, Taylor, Franz (got cut), etc. Problem is, only so many DBs can play at once.

I'm worried about MLB, our CBs (I could definitely see a time this year where Rogers and Harris are our starters. I hope it's not true, but Sean Springs isn't exactly known for his durability.). Well, that's about it. Our line is fine for their job. We have a great coordinator. Not saying we'll slip very far, but a B with two big losses to the defense and Taylor being kinda wishy washy is an adequate grade.

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i think they deserve a "A" especially there was some injuries to some key players last year and now we are getting them back. We have added a faster,bigger corner than smoot but like it was said he has a lot to learn but could be a star in the system in which it allows you to make big plays if you can.

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B for talent, A for effort and execution

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Oh one more thing Holdman. Pierce had one good breakout season and Holdman is a proven starter. I think that was a major upgrade. I mean he is faster than Pierce. You need speed in our system to make the system work and that what he has. Along with that being said he has some of his old coaches from chicago who know how to use him. Trust me folks he will make you forget about Pierce, but I like to thank him for all of his hardwork though.

Re: SN Unit Analysis: Safeties
 

I don't think we'll notice much of a dropoff in the D this year, if anything they could be even better because of experience in the system and the return of some key guys like LaVar, Daniels, etc.

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[QUOTE=Daseal]Even? Not quite. Potential for an upgrade sure. However Rogers is an unproven commodity thus far.[/QUOTE]

Agreed. Rogers still has a lot to prove at this level

[QUOTE=Daseal]I'm worried about MLB, our CBs (I could definitely see a time this year where Rogers and Harris are our starters. I hope it's not true, but Sean Springs isn't exactly known for his durability.).[/QUOTE]

I'm not sure why people keep saying Springs isn't exactly known for his durability. That's not true. He got hurt one year where he missed 8 games then the first four of the next season. But otherwise in his 9 year career he's played in just about every game

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Springs definitely gets a bad rap for being "injury prone"

Here's his career starts

97: 10
98: 16
99: 16
00: 16
01: 8
02: 15
03: 12
04: 15

5 starts missed over the last 3 years, not really a huge concern. He's a physical corner, he's going to stick his nose in plays that other corners wouldn't.

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Glad someone could point that out. Before I looked at sites like this, I only relied on my news from ESPN. I remember them saying he was injury-prone, but I guess that was only one season.

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Our d this year may get the most help from our offense and special teams. They were forced into alot of bad situations last year from the lack of production in our offense. We had alot of three and outs given them no rest and our opponents good field position. They performed better than any other d in the league with what they were given. Our special teams should be alot better this year and that will also help with field position and help take some of the presure off the d.I feel we would have had the number one d last year if they had received any help at all from our offense and a little more help from special teams.

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Very true. With all the signings of people just for special teams, hopefully we should have one of the top cover units in the league.

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Yeah it's kind of pointless to sit and evaluate the changes we've had in personnel when you look at our defense. You can't really say that a Pierce for Holdman switch is going to be a good thing or a bad thing. And you can't really say a Smoot for Rogers switch is a good thing or a bad thing.

We went out and signed all kinds of depth. Gregg Williams says he doesn't have first and second string, he just has a team full of starters. He's right. He'll roll various combinations of personnel out there and the D can still be just as good, if not better than last year.

I'm not worried about our secondary one iota, especially if we land RW McQuarters. There's depth left and right in the secondary. I am slightly concerned about our ability to find another QB of the Defense. Don't evaluate Pierce for his speed or talent or any of that crap, it was his recognition and signal-calling that made our D so good last year. We need to find a good replacement for that, and if we do, our D will be better than last year.

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When you look only at players, I guess a "B" is reasonable, though my guess is that if Taylor shows up (which I believe he will), he's a pro-bowler this year. Safety in the NFL requires some experience, and Taylor was a rookie last year.

But who really cares about individual talent (beyond a certain point, that is)? The real reason we should get an A is because of how Williams uses the DB's. His system makes great use of the safeties, puts pressure on the QB from a wide range of places, and puts the CBs in position to make palys when the QB unloads because of pressure. I'll take a great system over great individual talent any day (and I think we have A talent, for what it's worth...).

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In other words, I completey agree with Schneed! (should really read the posts first...;) )

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Last year our run D was supposedly dire (pre season pundit theory) and I don't think we've truly lost anything in any phase of the D for this season.

Still top three, challenging for number 1.

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Yeaaaah...I remember them saying that we might have a good secondary, but our run defense was "porous" as I remember that word being used. All I ask is we continue to stop the run like we did last year. I'd love to see us step up against the bigger backs.

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Yeah I think it's way too early to consider any changes being for the better or worse.....especially rookies. However, with the mix of young guys and older vets, I think we have a good mixture on our defense and I believe Williams will have this defense ready. Heck, look at last year when guys were dropping like flies it seemed - yet we still finished the season at number 3...

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[QUOTE=TheMalcolmConnection]...I remember them saying that we might have a good secondary, but our run defense was "porous" as I remember that word being used. [/QUOTE]


Aha! That's the word. Yup, over and over.....

So it just goes to show that all the prognosticating is hot air.

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Which is also why I'm hesitant to start thinking the D will be as good as this year. (Or at least say it):smashfrea

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Yeah, we finished as the 3rd ranked defense despite an offense that couldn't sustain drives worth a crap. I remember watching a game late in the season which was being called by Joe Buck and he said something like "this defense really has been nothing short of amazing all season. When you consider how anemic the offense has been, to rank near the top of the defensive rankings is an impressive feat."

There's a saying that the best defense is a good offense. Well this year I see our offense improving, meaning they should keep our D off the field. Our D will seem better in the rankings and in the stats for that reason alone. And I think Williams can get them to play just as well as last year, if not better, if we can fill the signal-calling void.

I think there's a difference between how the stats rank you and how you actually played. The stats can't account for the success of your offense. Last year, in my opinion, we had the #1 D. Pittsburgh and Buffalo finished ahead of us in the rankings, but when you have McGahee and Bettis sustaining drives like they did, it makes the D look better. I don't want to take away from Pittsburgh or Buffalo, but I think we played better on D last year.

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I think it was Culpepper that said the Skins were the best D he faced all year.

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[QUOTE=Mattyk72]I think it was Culpepper that said the Skins were the best D he faced all year.[/QUOTE]


So did Rothlesberger (sp)

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If our front office gives Williams good to above average players he has the ability to plug the right players into the right schemes to make it work. I feel that we have given him the talent he needs and he will come up with game plans that will keep our D at the top of the NFL. He showed last year this ability with players playing in his system for the first year. We will now be in our second year with Williams(thank god) and our players will know the system even that much better. I don't think we would have let Peirce go for such a little difference in offers if he was not convident he could be replaced. Our worries should remain with our offense.

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[QUOTE=TheMalcolmConnection]Yeaaaah...I remember them saying that we might have a good secondary, but our run defense was "porous" as I remember that word being used. All I ask is we continue to stop the run like we did last year. I'd love to see us step up against the bigger backs.[/QUOTE]I think the prduction from the bigger backs was more of an offensive problem and a lake of production. If they could have only given our D alittle more rest which they deserved they would have been just fine in handling the bigger backs.Just look at the Stealers game and how many attempts it took the bus to gain 100 yards. He should not of had that many oppertunities.

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Right. That's what I mean. Also, defensive rankings are based ONLY on yards allowed right? Considering we had so many three-and-outs, it's amazing we were even ranked in the top 10.

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[QUOTE=TheMalcolmConnection]Which is also why I'm hesitant to start thinking the D will be as good as this year. (Or at least say it):smashfrea[/QUOTE]

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Re: SN Unit Analysis: Safeties
 

[QUOTE=RedskinRat]Last year our run D was supposedly dire (pre season pundit theory) and I don't think we've truly lost anything in any phase of the D for this season.[/QUOTE]

Yup, and I was one of those pundits. I'm damn glad Williams proved me totally wrong.

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[QUOTE=TAFKAS]Well all I have to say about that is [URL=http://161.58.5.90/Starwars/faith.wav]this[/URL][/QUOTE]

Yoda: "A team player, he is not." :)

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[QUOTE=Redskins_P]So did Rothlesberger (sp)[/QUOTE]

i heard it was brett favre. maybe all three said it. i know favre said it.

Re: SN Unit Analysis: Safeties
 

[QUOTE=TAFKAS]Well all I have to say about that is [url="http://161.58.5.90/Starwars/faith.wav"]this[/url][/QUOTE]

LOL! Very short and sweet.