On Blache

[firstdown]

The D is just not the problem with this team at this point. Yes, we have let a few teams run out the clock in the 4th but if our O had scored 24 points it would not have mattered. We have leaned on the D way to long while our O has done nothing to help them along.

[Joe Kidd]

I do think there's been a dropoff from Williams to Blache. His schemes are much more vanilla and pretty boring frankly, and overall I think Williams is a more knowledgeable and skillful coordinator.

[celts32]

Blache is not in the top 20 of problems on this team. The Redskins unwillingness to sink draft picks and money into rebuilding thier lines is not the Defensive Coordinators fault. he works with the talent he is given and he's done a damn good job with what he has if you ask me.

[vallin21]

Exactly. The redskins have more issues in the FO than with Blache. He's laying with guys who are underachievers and past their prime on the d- line. Thats not Blache's fault.

[sportscurmudgeon]

This should not be an "either/or" discussion. It should be a "both/and" discussion. Or maybe a "neither/nor" discussion.

Greg Blache is not a great defensive coordinator. When he left Chicago, no one their held a "Pity Party" for the team or the fans or the rest of the coaching staff.

Here in Washington, Blache has no great players on the defense; he has three or four who are well above average and the rest are very ordinary on most Sundays.

Put those two things together and look at the 7-7 record and you have to say that Blache is doing fine with what he has. Neither Blache nor this assemblage of defensive talent is taking the Redskins - or any NFL team deep in the playoffs.

[MrJL]

Originally Posted by vallin21

Exactly. The redskins have more issues in the FO than with Blache. He's laying with guys who are underachievers and past their prime on the d- line. Thats not Blache's fault.

By my count we've had 57 picks since 2000.

30 for offense
25 for Defense
2 for Special Teams

7 QB
7 WR(despite the claim by the Post recently we've been drafting a lot, we've picked the same number of QB's)
4 TE
4 RB
8 OL

6 DL
7 LB
12 DB

More than any position on the O. It even tops WR and TE put together if you want to, since I counted CB and S together.

I think this strongly points to DL not being a priority. But the defensive backfield is about as good as it's going to get.

I actually think there's a good chance we will go for the line this season, even if it's by process of elimination, unless we trade the pick. Draft a reciever and we have to give up on someone we probably don't want to. RB's one of out most talented positions. We don't need another first round QB. The secondary is loaded. The only position that can make a claim for help as much as the lines might be linebacker.

[Ruhskins]

The defense needs some work, but the offensive side of the ball has the biggest issues. A lot of the woes of the defense could be fixed by our offense being more effective.

[Joe Kidd]

The D has been solid this year but at times they are prone to getting gashed at the worst times. When we need a stop late in a game they just can't seem to get it. Not saying that's all coaching but it's a part of it. I think there's more talent on the D then some people are giving them credit for.

[celts32]

Originally Posted by Joe Kidd

The D has been solid this year but at times they are prone to getting gashed at the worst times. When we need a stop late in a game they just can't seem to get it. Not saying that's all coaching but it's a part of it. I think there's more talent on the D then some people are giving them credit for.

There is talent but it's mostly on the back end and to be a dominant D it needs to be up front.

[SBXVII]

To be honest...the shiznit has been the 3-4 for several years now. I have wondered why we have not changed to that but obviously when Williams was here he like the 4-3 with his added twist. All of his pressure came from CB or Safeties and occassional LB blitzes. The whole up front scheme is based off of stopping the run unfortunatly out of 4 players 2 were run stuffers. The others were better at pass. In Blache it was for the most part similar. I however believe his scheme is based off of LB blitzes. We have not seen a whole lot of Safety or CB blitzes and when we try it they get picked up or caught up at the line.

[warriorzpath]

I don't think Blache and the defense is the problem. On West Coast offensive based teams like the redskins, the offense is the focus and drives the philosophy and identity of this team.

When defense is made to be the goat, I think that logic goes against what this team's philosophy is focused on - which is offense. The offense should drive the redskins and that's where the focus should be placed on first. Even though I like Zorn, Zorn and not Blache should be the target of discussion -when trying to place blame.

[MrJL]

Originally Posted by warriorzpath

I don't think Blache and the defense is the problem. On West Coast offensive based teams like the redskins, the offense is the focus and drives the philosophy and identity of this team.

When defense is made to be the goat, I think that logic goes against what this team's philosophy is focused on - which is offense. The offense should drive the redskins and that's where the focus should be placed on first. Even though I like Zorn, Zorn and not Blache should be the target of discussion -when trying to place blame.

I'm not trying to place blame. I'm simply saying the D isn't going to get any better with Blache.

[SBXVII]

Originally Posted by MrJL

I'm not trying to place blame. I'm simply saying the D isn't going to get any better with Blache.

It really was not getting any better with Williams either. Yes it was a top 10 every other year but people figured out it's weakness.

[freddyg12]

I think GT's points from the breakdown of the cincy game are well taken. In a nutshell, the D plays tough enough to keep us in games but at crucial times the blitz calls are so predictable that any qb can spot them. Smoot matched up 1 on 1 v. Housh. on 3rd down is asking for trouble.

I know Blache could be under pressure from Zorn to get more pressure on the qb, so I'll at least give him an out there. And we don't have any good blitzers really (maybe Horton). But the blitzes never surprise anyone, including me!

[GTripp0012]

Seems to be a lot of discussion over whether or not Blache should be credited for adjustments that help us play better as a game goes along. This is a good discussion, as the Redskins rarely stay with a bad gameplan for an entire game. Is that a credit to our DC? I don't know.

I generally think Blache waits too long to make adjustments, but going through the game film probably distorts reality a little bit as there is not much time between plays to analyze whats going on where he has plenty of time.

I can not say conclusively that the Redskins would be a better defense without Greg Blache calling the shots. I can say with great confidence that they would not be any worse.

We may miss Blache as a DL coach if/when he retires, but I think (my opinion is) that a change in defensive coaching will -- if not immediately -- generate positive results in the long term.

I hope I'm right, because if the problem with the pass rush is personnel related, we're pretty much screwed for the future one way or another.