Redskins' Secondary Woes

[wilsowilso]

The pass rush last year was pitiful. If we see a dramatic improvement in that category everything changes. Blache must adjust his secondary philosophy to match.

[The Goat]

Well I think a big issue here is our scheme. It does seem there's always a gap somewhere between the backers and secondary for offensive targets to sneak in and get open for a completion. Translation: teams move the chains on us in chunks here and there, which leaves the d on the field too long and sets up FG opportunities etc, etc. I think Blache/Gray/Landry must find a way to break up those attempts. Maybe Laron plays a bit closer. Maybe Horton roams somewhere in that gap. What I doubt though is our improved pass rush fixes this completely. We need our DB duo to get more INTs and Laron to put fear in the heart of WRs, but we also need to see some kind of adjustment.

[budw38]

Originally Posted by The Goat

Well I think a big issue here is our scheme. It does seem there's always a gap somewhere between the backers and secondary for offensive targets to sneak in and get open for a completion. Translation: teams move the chains on us in chunks here and there, which leaves the d on the field too long and sets up FG opportunities etc, etc. I think Blache/Gray/Landry must find a way to break up those attempts. Maybe Laron plays a bit closer. Maybe Horton roams somewhere in that gap. What I doubt though is our improved pass rush fixes this completely. We need our DB duo to get more INTs and Laron to put fear in the heart of WRs, but we also need to see some kind of adjustment.

I agree with Goat here . Very good points . I think our problems are bigger at LB than with our DB's , as I doubt Orakpo or Fletcher could cover me one on one . I would rather see O-Sak-Po at end , and hope we do not ask Fletch to cover guys like Westbrook , and we should be ok .

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by The Goat

Well I think a big issue here is our scheme. It does seem there's always a gap somewhere between the backers and secondary for offensive targets to sneak in and get open for a completion. Translation: teams move the chains on us in chunks here and there, which leaves the d on the field too long and sets up FG opportunities etc, etc. I think Blache/Gray/Landry must find a way to break up those attempts. Maybe Laron plays a bit closer. Maybe Horton roams somewhere in that gap. What I doubt though is our improved pass rush fixes this completely. We need our DB duo to get more INTs and Laron to put fear in the heart of WRs, but we also need to see some kind of adjustment.

I think your analysis is quite good.

Here's my optimistic take on the problem: greater pressure up front should cause qb's to throw more quickly, taking away some downfield routes. Knowing this, our db's can play tighter, thereby closing that gap that you mentioned between the linebackers and defensive backs. The 85 Bears defense thrived on this way of doing things. I'm not saying that we are the 85 Bears. I'm just saying that, strategy-wise, things may work out similarly, at least on occasion.

[KI Skins Fan]

First, I appreciate your analysis. I actually feel better that the big plays we gave up were spread around rather than concentrated in one area. For some reason, I had the impression that our LB's were getting beaten a lot in coverage.

Nevertheless, I'm one of those who feels that we should have a more effective pass rush this season that should mitigate any problems we may have in the secondary. So, I'm not very worried about it.

Also, we didn't score many points last season so I think that every 20-yard pass play by the opposition may have been magnified more than it would have been if we had had a more potent offense. If the offense can score more this season, then most defensive lapses pobably won't seem quite as significant.

[GusFrerotte]

Yeah there was a marked improvement from the Ravens to the Steeler game. My god, the yardage we gave up in game #1 had me almost morphing into chicken little. Shit we made both Flacco and Smith look like Pro Bowlers.

[diehard]

Great study. I believe the only way for guys to get better is to get in the game. Rodgers sitting tomorrow will surely give way for the younger guys to step in and likely step up.

[Schneed10]

Not only does pass rush aid the secondary, but a stout defensive line against the run leads to longer subsequent passing downs.

The return of Phillip Daniels will go largely unnoticed because of Haynesworth, but he's one of the best run stuffing ends in the league. The two of them will make a huge impact against the run. We'll see longer passing downs, the pass rush will make an impact, and the corners will hold up better.

We'll miss Springs, he was still our best CB last year IMO. But it all starts with the run defense, and we'll be fierce in that department.

[The Goat]

One question this thread raises for me is how our defensive schemes put a certain player in position to cover say the flat. From what I've seen Rocky is our best cover LB but I don't see him get "stuck" in coverage that often. Sometimes it looks like Rocky is hovering there around the LOS while London sort of roams 7-10 yards off the LOS, which inevitably gets him "stuck" in coverage. London covering is a bit of a sh*t show IMO...i mean come on how much reach can a 5-10 bowling ball w/ short arms really have to defend a pass? Why doesn't Blache have London hover around the LOS and Rocky sit back further?

[JWsleep]

Good thread, GT.

I agree with many of the comments about the affect of an improved pass rush. The conventional wisdom is that almost any WR will beat coverage with enough time. Our rush was weak, especially late in the games, late in the year. So, lots of time for long routes to come open. Plus, we had to send more blitzes to compensate, and our blitzes were particularly lame last year down the stretch. With an improved rush, both of these things should change.

Still, I agree that the loss of Springs has not be fully dealt with. But recall that the issue with Springs was never his play--it was his health (combined with his cap hit).

I would like to see better play out of the safeties in the passing game, as would we all. I do think we've got the talent there, it just needs to show.

As for the CBs, let's hope Carlos gets better, and that some of the youngins' step up.

[RedBar]

G Tripp you have really been beating this "we were not a top five defense" drum this offseason. I am not sure I understand your analysis help me understand after watching this offense last year and so far this preseason why I should be worried about our "downgraded secondary and questionable defensive strategies" and not an offense that simply doesn't score that much, has a tendency to leave the defense in precarious positions and kill momentum. Not to mention a specialty team unit that missed a lot of field goals. Personalities aside the defense has been the only thing to really applaud the last few seasons and whether you agree with the statistics that the league uses to rank defenses (or offenses for that matter) they are what they are and we WERE a top five defense. If our offense was top 15 we would probably have been in the postseason. There was no balance. But you really have to work the numbers to blame the teams collapse last year on the play of the defense.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by RedBar

G Tripp you have really been beating this "we were not a top five defense" drum this offseason. I am not sure I understand your analysis help me understand after watching this offense last year and so far this preseason why I should be worried about our "downgraded secondary and questionable defensive strategies" and not an offense that simply doesn't score that much, has a tendency to leave the defense in precarious positions and kill momentum. Not to mention a specialty team unit that missed a lot of field goals. Personalities aside the defense has been the only thing to really applaud the last few seasons and whether you agree with the statistics that the league uses to rank defenses (or offenses for that matter) they are what they are and we WERE a top five defense. If our offense was top 15 we would probably have been in the postseason. There was no balance. But you really have to work the numbers to blame the teams collapse last year on the play of the defense.

Great post. Tripp you bitched and moaned about Blache last year but in the end we were one of the top scoring defenses in the NFL w/out a pass rush. Say what you want with the stats but if the offense could score 20 points a game we're a playoff team. That's the bottom line.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

Great post. Tripp you bitched and moaned about Blache last year but in the end we were one of the top scoring defenses in the NFL w/out a pass rush. Say what you want with the stats but if the offense could score 20 points a game we're a playoff team. That's the bottom line.

Sounds like your problem is less with the analysis and more with the fact that I was the one bringing it.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Sounds like your problem is less with the analysis and more with the fact that I was the one bringing it.

It's just think that you're always finding things to pick at about the defense. I think everyone here knows that we're not in the same class as Pittsburgh and Balt. They've got better players and their schemes are better. But the scoring defense was very good. Do you agree with that?

[Lotus]

I'm thinking and hoping that Blache is keeping his cards hidden and we see a different defense scheme-wise on Sept. 13 and following.