RI: Skins to use more press coverage this year

Mattyk72 · 07-23-2008, 05:12 PM

The Redskins have been playing a lot of press-man coverage with their corners early in camp, more than what seemed to be the norm. Playing man is nothing new around here, but there was no cushion being given at all. Fred Smoot and Shawn Springs, the starting corners, have loved it, 'cuz now they're even closer to the WRs to beat them up a bit and also to ensure all of their smack talk is audible.

Smoot said he expects the team to play a ton of it this season, and that CB Coach Jerry Gray is stressing press technique. I asked Jim Zorn if the prevalence of the coverage was just to give the offense that look in practice, and he said, no, that he figured the Redskins would be a pressing team. Not 100 percent of the time, of course, but given the size and skills of their corner, the enhanced pass rush with Jason Taylor and the presence of a ball-hawk, head-hunter like LaRon Landry behind the corners at safety, it makes a lot of sense.

The CBs have to get a solid jam on the WRs and derail them from their route - within the ever-shrinking legal limits of doing so - and it's definitely a high-gamble tactic (if the corner whiffs you've got a streaking WR going deep all alone), but it can be smothering if done properly. Makes for some fun battles during 11-on-11s as well, especially when the kid WRs are out there.

More...

Sheriff Gonna Getcha · 07-23-2008, 05:21 PM

I didn't particularly care for the 10 yard cushion our CBs gave WRs last season. Then again, we did pretty well last year when we employed the "bend, but don't break" defense.

riggins44 · 07-23-2008, 05:26 PM

This is great news. I hated when they played 6-7 yards off regardless of down and distance.

Daseal · 07-23-2008, 05:58 PM

Makes sense. We actually have a pass rush in our front 4 now.

MPNRedskins · 07-23-2008, 08:05 PM

That's good news. I see our defense being in the top 5 this year, but that's my opinion only.

Giantone · 07-23-2008, 09:20 PM

Opps! sorry ,wrong press!

mooby · 07-23-2008, 09:27 PM

I like this move as well. We should be getting good pressure up front with Taylor and Carter, and I wasn't that big a fan of the 10 yard cushion either. Some cushion is ok but I don't like seeing it all the time, like we saw with Rogers in '06. I really think our pass defense will be fine until Rogers gets back and it should improve once he's back.

chrisl4064 · 07-23-2008, 09:37 PM

This could be also in part because the NFL has come back a little on being so harsh towards the DB's. I heard they are allowing a little more contact this year and not penalizing everything. Good news for Smoot....

Schneed10 · 07-23-2008, 09:56 PM

I can't argue with the results we got on defense last year, because we had a pretty good season. But when I think back to one of the best Redskin defenses of all time, the 2004 season, there was no cushion given. We played up on the WRs and stopped the run like nobody's business as our CBs were involved in a lot of run stops. We also didn't give up much over the top because we kept teams in so many 3rd and longs, and then brought the blitz. I like that aggressive style.

This year we can be aggressive with our CBs and still get the pressure on the QB without blitzing. That's what two stud DEs can do for you.

FRPLG · 07-24-2008, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schneed10

I can't argue with the results we got on defense last year, because we had a pretty good season. But when I think back to one of the best Redskin defenses of all time, the 2004 season, there was no cushion given. We played up on the WRs and stopped the run like nobody's business as our CBs were involved in a lot of run stops. We also didn't give up much over the top because we kept teams in so many 3rd and longs, and then brought the blitz. I like that aggressive style.

This year we can be aggressive with our CBs and still get the pressure on the QB without blitzing. That's what two stud DEs can do for you.

That was a great year. Our DLine was honestly the best that year since the Mann/MAnley days. Griffin was a beast and we got a lot of pressure up the middle which gave our CBs a better chance in press. When our DL started getting beat a little more then Grills had to back the dogs off. It took some time but he figured out how to make it work. I miss Grills. He was awesome. Too bad it didn't work out but I have faith in Blache.

Hog1 · 07-24-2008, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

The CBs have to get a solid jam on the WRs and derail them from their route -

Redskin D!!! CANNOT WAIT!
It drives me crazy to give the big cushion to the wide outs

07-23-2008, 05:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mattyk72 custom user title Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: NY Posts: 33,228	RI: Skins to use more press coverage this year The Redskins have been playing a lot of press-man coverage with their corners early in camp, more than what seemed to be the norm. Playing man is nothing new around here, but there was no cushion being given at all. Fred Smoot and Shawn Springs, the starting corners, have loved it, 'cuz now they're even closer to the WRs to beat them up a bit and also to ensure all of their smack talk is audible. Smoot said he expects the team to play a ton of it this season, and that CB Coach Jerry Gray is stressing press technique. I asked Jim Zorn if the prevalence of the coverage was just to give the offense that look in practice, and he said, no, that he figured the Redskins would be a pressing team. Not 100 percent of the time, of course, but given the size and skills of their corner, the enhanced pass rush with Jason Taylor and the presence of a ball-hawk, head-hunter like LaRon Landry behind the corners at safety, it makes a lot of sense. The CBs have to get a solid jam on the WRs and derail them from their route - within the ever-shrinking legal limits of doing so - and it's definitely a high-gamble tactic (if the corner whiffs you've got a streaking WR going deep all alone), but it can be smothering if done properly. Makes for some fun battles during 11-on-11s as well, especially when the kid WRs are out there. More... __________________ Warpath VIP \| Warpath Shop \| DC Pro Sports Report

07-23-2008, 05:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
Sheriff Gonna Getcha Malcolm Kelly Apologist Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 8,162	Re: RI: Skins to use more press coverage this year I didn't particularly care for the 10 yard cushion our CBs gave WRs last season. Then again, we did pretty well last year when we employed the "bend, but don't break" defense.

07-23-2008, 05:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
riggins44 Special Teams Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Yorktown, VA Posts: 148	Re: RI: Skins to use more press coverage this year This is great news. I hated when they played 6-7 yards off regardless of down and distance.

07-23-2008, 05:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
Daseal Puppy Kicker Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Fairfax, Virginia Posts: 6,736	Re: RI: Skins to use more press coverage this year Makes sense. We actually have a pass rush in our front 4 now. __________________ Apparently not having unrelenting optimism means you're not a fan.

07-23-2008, 08:05 PM	#5 (permalink)
MPNRedskins Special Teams Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 118	Re: RI: Skins to use more press coverage this year That's good news. I see our defense being in the top 5 this year, but that's my opinion only. __________________ Go Redskins!!!!! R.I.P. Sean Taylor #21

07-23-2008, 09:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
Giantone The Starter Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 1,225	Re: RI: Skins to use more press coverage this year Opps! sorry ,wrong press!

07-23-2008, 09:27 PM	#7 (permalink)
mooby Director of Zornography Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Woodbridge, VA Posts: 4,129	Re: RI: Skins to use more press coverage this year I like this move as well. We should be getting good pressure up front with Taylor and Carter, and I wasn't that big a fan of the 10 yard cushion either. Some cushion is ok but I don't like seeing it all the time, like we saw with Rogers in '06. I really think our pass defense will be fine until Rogers gets back and it should improve once he's back.

07-23-2008, 09:37 PM	#8 (permalink)
chrisl4064 Impact Rookie Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lake Travis, Texas Posts: 786	Re: RI: Skins to use more press coverage this year This could be also in part because the NFL has come back a little on being so harsh towards the DB's. I heard they are allowing a little more contact this year and not penalizing everything. Good news for Smoot.... __________________ Retire #21

07-23-2008, 09:56 PM	#9 (permalink)
Schneed10 I'll Salary Cap Your Ass Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Havertown, PA Posts: 5,614	Re: RI: Skins to use more press coverage this year I can't argue with the results we got on defense last year, because we had a pretty good season. But when I think back to one of the best Redskin defenses of all time, the 2004 season, there was no cushion given. We played up on the WRs and stopped the run like nobody's business as our CBs were involved in a lot of run stops. We also didn't give up much over the top because we kept teams in so many 3rd and longs, and then brought the blitz. I like that aggressive style. This year we can be aggressive with our CBs and still get the pressure on the QB without blitzing. That's what two stud DEs can do for you. __________________ Skins' Salary Cap Status \| 2009 Cap Burdens \| CrazyCanuck's Cap Figures by Player \| Salary Cap 101 Pray for a CBA.

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RI: Skins to use more press coverage this year

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