Importance of Defensive Tackles and Depth on Defense

[gabe1984]

This is my opinion of what the Redskins need to do to be a contender again next season. I’m not sure if I’ll gain any support for this approach, but here is what I think they need to do………
Starting with last year, it’s obvious that the most important thing the team needs to fix is the defense. In my opinion, the most important part of the defense that we need to fix is the defensive line, and to be even more specific, the middle of the defensive line. I believe that getting a big ugly in the middle will make players at every other defensive position better for the following reasons.

1. Last year teams pounded it up the middle on us and when they got bored of that, they’d run it to Carter’s side. A good defensive tackle will help clog holes up the middle and will be able to prevent guards from blocking our linebackers. Once the linebackers are free they will be able to make more plays, and will have a better chance of stopping running backs who run to Carter’s side, who we already know is weak in the run.
2. We will not always have to put extra men in the box to stop the run, thus letting us leave more players in the secondary to help stop big pass plays.
3. Having a good defensive tackle in the middle will make opposing team’s have to worry about him and Carter, they can’t double team both of them, and Carter will wreak havoc on quarterbacks this coming season.

With that being said, I think that we should not use our draft pick on anything other than a defensive tackle; most of the defensive tackles we have now are over 30, in the second half of their career (so I’m assuming production will start to drop off), and are injury prone. If we cannot get Branch, I say we trade that pick and try to pick up a different defensive tackle later in the first round, and then use whatever other pick we get in the trade to build more depth on defense. We had too many people get hurt last year and then not have a backup who could step up.

I know Gaines Adams is a stud, but IMO, it is more important they we address the middle of the line, as opposed to drafting a pass rushing DE, when we already have one in Carter. I believe extra picks in the draft is more important than another pass rushing DE. I don’t see how drafting another DE is going to stop opposing guards from constantly blocking our linebackers and making big holes up the middle. I suppose he could draw a double, but they could just run it to the other side, plus he’s known for his pass rushing. Does anyone share this idea?