Forcing turnovers/QB pressure an issue again?
 

So we've played 3 (well, 2 3/4) preseason games so far. Sure the backup D has scored two TD's off turnovers, and that's great for them. But the starters by my count haven't forced a single turnover, and haven't gotten much pressure on the QB at all.

They've been outstanding as far as scoring D goes. But turnovers and sacks create an emotional high, dramatically impact field position, and can turn the momentum of a game in an instant. And once again the starters aren't coming through in that department. Anyone else concerned?

Re: Forcing turnovers/QB pressure an issue again?
 

I agree we haven't seen any turnovers from our starters, and we haven't had a lot of pressure either, which is a concern, but if our starters on D continue to play the way they have been playing we won't need many sacks, or turnovers to be a top 10 defense.

Re: Forcing turnovers/QB pressure an issue again?
 

I would be if we have been giving up TD's but our starting D has only surrendered 1 touchdown this pre-season. I think we will end up being a top 10 defense.

Re: Forcing turnovers/QB pressure an issue again?
 

I don't think we've even scratched the surface yet as to what blitz packages GW is going to run this year, plus we haven't had the entire starting defensive personnel in the lineup yet.

Re: Forcing turnovers/QB pressure an issue again?
 

It's a concern, but they've been hitting people and flying around. Plus, the LB play overall looks MUCH improved, and LL is a huge upgrade. TOs come in bunches--I think we'll see that this year.

As for QB pressure, it is a concern. Carter got some pressure, but no one else seems able to do so. Then they just double team Carter. Maybe with Marcus back rushing the passer on the other side it will help, but it's a worry. Have any of our young backups shown any spark there? We'll see. We'll get pressure from the LBs/DBs, but that exposes things, as we saw last year.

Re: Forcing turnovers/QB pressure an issue again?
 

[quote=Mattyk72;343943]I don't think we've even scratched the surface yet as to what blitz packages GW is going to run this year, plus we haven't had the entire starting defensive personnel in the lineup yet.[/quote]

I understand we haven't been full tilt on either side of the ball as of yet, but we haven't exactly played against 3 stellar offenses either, and 1 or 2 turnovers by the starters would make me feel a lot better. I want to see a few sacks and a pair of forced turnovers in the week 1 match up in FedEx against that below average Miami offense.

Re: Forcing turnovers/QB pressure an issue again?
 

At this point in time I'm more concerned with the lack of consistency from the offense. This unit has not scored a point with Jason under center so far, and it's a strange resemblence to last year, the inability to sustain an offense. I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt right now because it's early yet, and we know injuries play a part. We're going to need more production on a sustained basis from the offense, or the defense will grow tired as the season progresses.

Re: Forcing turnovers/QB pressure an issue again?
 

Well, they've had 2 defensive TDs this preseason, that's a nice start.

Re: Forcing turnovers/QB pressure an issue again?
 

Fear not folks, Landry will be our savior. Man is he good. No wonder GW inserted him into the starting lineup.

Re: Forcing turnovers/QB pressure an issue again?
 

Defense will be solid, no worries. We haven't seen anything yet, except that we look to have pretty good depth. I expect opposing QBs to be forced to hold on to the ball longer than normal which will help our D-Line get there more, plus you can count on the occasional "jail break" blitz, and other hidden blitz packages that will catch opposing offenses by surprise. There will be turnovers, you can bet on that.

Re: Forcing turnovers/QB pressure an issue again?
 

I'm not going to sit here and be worried about the D again this year.

If we are all to worry, worry about the Oline and offense. But I think we are going to be a Playoff team for sure again. The guys look good. They remind me alot of the 05 team.

Turnovers and sack will come week one against the Fins and Trent Green.

Merged: The Pass Rush... & turnovers...
 

will it be improved to the level we need it too?

our defense should shine this year but alot of professional opinions is that we have a non-threatening pass rush and will still finish last in the division..
IMO that's completely falase, I see Andre Carter doing big things, as well as our LB's and other blitz pacakges..

thoughts? expectations..

we finished with a pathetic 19 sacks last year...

turnover turnover turnovers .... killed us .... horrid +/- ratio...
again... expectations... thoughts?

Re: The Pass Rush... & turnovers...
 

I feel like we'll get plenty of turnovers, but only coming from the fumbles from sacks department. Our DBs should be in place to grab INTs, but someone mentioned that GW's system is to prevent the long gain and allow underneath passing (high percentage stuff). I'll be happy if we can improve upon the sack totals, hopefully leading to the QB dropping the ball.

Re: The Pass Rush... & turnovers...
 

I personally think you'll see more pressure off the edge with a stronger secondary. Springs and Smoot on the blitz, picking up blockers and letting guys like Carter and McIntosh through to make plays. I think GW will feel more comfortable applying heavy pressure with Landry and Taylor playing center field.

Re: The Pass Rush... & turnovers...
 

I don't anticipate a big rush from our front four but you would like to see some improvement. Not that many teams in the league get great pressure with four , so I don't get into a twist about it. The key is you have to be able to lock down the receivers with the other seven. This is the area where we failed last year and where we need to improve the most. We must get better secondary play. Springs being healthy is the biggest help there

Also, I anticipate a better yield from our blitzes because of better, healthier personell. Landry blitzes well. Ditto Godfrey. And Washington and Pray-Low will both be healthy(soon) and they are fantastic blitzers.

Turnovers are something that happen because you are doing other things well. I think once we break the seal in that regard, it will be Katey bar the door as the great Ken Beatrice used to say.

Re: The Pass Rush... & turnovers...
 

I'll make a bold prediction for the year: Landry leads in sacks.

Not that bold, but I bet we'll have quite a few sacks, but Landry will lead the team with 8-9. I think Carter and Daniels will get some pressure, but mostly just to occupy blockers leaving Landry wide-open.

Re: The Pass Rush... & turnovers...
 

here is my bold prediction....we will lead the nfc in total defense and give up fewer points than the bears. and will have the number 1 defense against the run this year. thats my extremely bold prediction.

Re: The Pass Rush... & turnovers...
 

our lb corp should be a billion times better this year. you can't overstate the improvement from holdman -> fletcher/godfrey/mcintosh. that guy was beyond bad.

our dbs are much better now, since we're 4 deep with starters at cb and 3 deep at safety. our nickel/dime/quarter packages will be beast.

our dline still sucks though. griffin is amazing, if he's not hurt. the rest are okay, but none of them are above average.

Re: The Pass Rush... & turnovers...
 

[quote=70Chip;346686]I don't anticipate a big rush from our front four but you would like to see some improvement. Not that many teams in the league get great pressure with four , so I don't get into a twist about it. The key is you have to be able to lock down the receivers with the other seven. This is the area where we failed last year and where we need to improve the most. We must get better secondary play. Springs being healthy is the biggest help there

Also, I anticipate a better yield from our blitzes because of better, healthier personell. Landry blitzes well. Ditto Godfrey. And Washington and Pray-Low will both be healthy(soon) and they are fantastic blitzers.

Turnovers are something that happen because you are doing other things well. I think once we break the seal in that regard, it will be Katey bar the door as the great Ken Beatrice used to say.[/quote]
Well said 70chip. I think that a front four that can apply preasure and cause mad havoc with assorted bodies flying all over, will do much to create confusion. And confusion equals turnovers.

Re: The Pass Rush... & turnovers...
 

Hope for a much better pass rush and many more turnovers:

[URL="http://www.postgameheroes.com/?p=424#more-424"]The Cover 3 | postgameheroes.com[/URL]

Here is an analysis of the new Cover 3 scheme that the Redskins are employing this season. The author suggests it fits the personnel of the Redskins very well. He's got a personal problem with Carlos Rogers, and probably exaggerates about him unfairly. (Where he talks about "Rogers' patented cushion" it was 2nd and 16 and you would think he would give him a substantial cushion). However, it is overall an informative piece to me.

Re: The Pass Rush... & turnovers...
 

Nice link, Red. I don't know how much we showed in terms of variation out of that formation yet--that's always been a strength of GW. That will help. Plus, they say they are having the DL attack more rather than just occupy blockers.

But whatever happens, we need pressure. If you don't get pressure, even a mediocre QB can pick you apart. And given enough time, almost any WR will get open. We'll see.

As for TOs, I think they will come. I feel like we're kind of jinxed on that right now--people dropping easy picks (not just Carlos), and fumbles bouncing back to the other team, etc. That will even out one of these days!

Re: The Pass Rush... & turnovers...
 

[quote=Oakland Red;346730]Hope for a much better pass rush and many more turnovers:

[URL="http://www.postgameheroes.com/?p=424#more-424"]The Cover 3 | postgameheroes.com[/URL]

Here is an analysis of the new Cover 3 scheme that the Redskins are employing this season. The author suggests it fits the personnel of the Redskins very well. He's got a personal problem with Carlos Rogers, and probably exaggerates about him unfairly. (Where he talks about "Rogers' patented cushion" it was 2nd and 16 and you would think he would give him a substantial cushion). However, it is overall an informative piece to me.[/quote]


Fantastic link, Oakland.

My hope is that they mix the cover 3 with cover 1. In both defenses Taylor is Centerfield and Landry is near the line. They can be used interchangably. I actually prefer cover 1 because you can bring extra blitzers and the CBs aren't backed way off. I think we need to make our corners challenge the opposing WR rather than giving cushion. I hate that cushion. I think we are a better man to man defense than we are a zone defense. This includes LBers and secondary.

Also,in obvious passing situatiuons you can bring in Pray-Low and Fox to play deep with Taylor and have the CBs play man underneath. This is the 3 Man Under as you Maddenites are aware.

If I have one worry going ino the season about our defense it is their ability to play zone. Early on (and especially against a wiley vet like Green), I would rather blitz a ton and challenge my corners to step up to the plate in single coverage. Green will absolutely pick a zone apart if he's not pressured.

Re: The Pass Rush... & turnovers...
 

Thanks Oakland Red, and thanks Dillweed!

Re: The Pass Rush... & turnovers...
 

Call it irony but our Deffense only obtained 19 sacks, meanwhile our O-Line only gave up 19 sacks. Talk about consistancy...

Re: The Pass Rush... & turnovers...
 

[QUOTE=TheMalcolmConnection;346687]I'll make a bold prediction for the year: Landry leads in sacks.

Not that bold, but I bet we'll have quite a few sacks, but Landry will lead the team with 8-9. I think Carter and Daniels will get some pressure, but mostly just to occupy blockers leaving Landry wide-open.[/QUOTE]

I was all set to say that if Landry led us in sacks then we are in trouble, BUT didn't Springs tie for the team lead in '05? My bold prediction is that we have at least five players register 6+ sacks. Which five, well I'm not that bold...

Re: The Pass Rush... & turnovers...
 

IF any DB leads us the Skins in sacks we will be in trouble. IF we blitz Landry or Taylor too often with our weaker than normal secondary look out for giving up a big play, especially if one or both of our starting CBs are out. We need increaded production from our D line. Relying on either Landry or Taylor blitzing all the time will bite us in the butt at times. We are thin at CB, and if one starter goes down we will need ST and Landry to help out the scrub backup CB.

Re: The Pass Rush... & turnovers...
 

I think our defense will be a top 10 this season as long as Taylor and Fletcher stay healthy everyone else will fall into place and I see a double digit sack season from Carter.

Re: The Pass Rush... & turnovers...
 

Great read on the cover three. I've always felt that safeties make the cover 3 so potent. It's usually the deal breaker as to whether or not the system works. Many people were upset about selecting LaRon, and have two very high paid safeties back there.

Most people consider it a waste of money to spend that much on positions usually deemed "unimportant". I've always felt in this scheme, it's exactly the opposite. We need play makers back there if we want to win.

GW got his toys, and we should expect some pretty awesome results.

Re: The Pass Rush... & turnovers...
 

Now that we finally have the right pieces (Fletcher, McIntosh, Landry) to run the Cover 3 defense the way it's supposed to be run, we should be able to get extremely creative with our blitz packages to get more pressure on the QB than just relying on our front 4 to get pressure, and now that Taylor is free to roam out in centerfield, and Springs, and Rogers don't have to worry about getting beat deep we should see a lot more turnovers, and sacks coming our way this year.

Re: The Pass Rush... & turnovers...
 

[quote=memphisskin;346757]I was all set to say that if Landry led us in sacks then we are in trouble, BUT didn't Springs tie for the team lead in '05? My bold prediction is that we have at least five players register 6+ sacks. Which five, well I'm not that bold...[/quote]
That is an extremely bold prediction my friend. I wouldn't take it to the bank if I were you.

Re: The Pass Rush... & turnovers...
 

what it boils down to is, that Williams got what he wanted. so now there are no excuses. i really think the defense will be top 10, maybe better

Re: The Pass Rush... & turnovers...
 

I will name the five:

Andre Carter 11.5
Marcus Washington 8.5
Cornelius Griffin 6
LaRon Landry 6
Kedric Golston 6

Yeah I said it

Re: The Pass Rush... & turnovers...
 

[quote=EARTHQUAKE2689;346816]I will name the five:

Andre Carter 11.5
Marcus Washington 8.5
Cornelius Griffin 6
LaRon Landry 6
Kedric Golston 6

Yeah I said it[/quote]I don't see any team in the league that can produce 12 sacks from their tackles.

Re: The Pass Rush... & turnovers...
 

[quote=gibbsisgod;346817]I don't see any team in the league that can produce 12 sacks from their tackles.[/quote]


If Tommie harris stays healthy the Bears could and Rod Coleman from the Falxons just 2 years ago had 11.5 by himself so it is easily possible.

Re: The Pass Rush... & turnovers...
 

I say our defense will finish 7th in total defense, 4th in pass defense, 8th in rush defense, and 6th in scoring defense.

Re: The Pass Rush... & turnovers...
 

[QUOTE=70Chip;346686]I don't anticipate a big rush from our front four but you would like to see some improvement. [B]Not that many teams in the league get great pressure with four , so I don't get into a twist about it. [/B] The key is you have to be able to lock down the receivers with the other seven. This is the area where we failed last year and where we need to improve the most. We must get better secondary play. Springs being healthy is the biggest help there

Also, I anticipate a better yield from our blitzes because of better, healthier personell. Landry blitzes well. Ditto Godfrey. And Washington and Pray-Low will both be healthy(soon) and they are fantastic blitzers.

Turnovers are something that happen because you are doing other things well. I think once we break the seal in that regard, it will be Katey bar the door as the great Ken Beatrice used to say.[/QUOTE]


You don't "get in a twist" when the opposing quarterback has all day to throw? I sure do. It was infuriating to watch last season.

If you're okay with leaving the pass rush up completely to our blitzing secondary, -- all while [I]hoping[/I] Carlos Rogers, David Macklin and Fred Smoot can hang with guys like Terrell Owens, Randy Moss, and Calvin Johnson man-to-man -- then I wish I had the confidence and trust that you do.

We saw what happened last year when our ability to pressure the quarterback relied solely on blitzing linebackers and corners. Get a key cover man nicked up, and your "pass rush" goes bye-bye. (to the tune of setting an NFL record for fewest number of sacks in a non-strike season).

The pressure from the front four MUST improve this season. That's all there is to it.

Re: The Pass Rush... & turnovers...
 

[quote=Beemnseven;347033]You don't "get in a twist" when the opposing quarterback has all day to throw? I sure do. It was infuriating to watch last season.

If you're okay with leaving the pass rush up completely to our blitzing secondary, -- all while [I]hoping[/I] Carlos Rogers, David Macklin and Fred Smoot can hang with guys like Terrell Owens, Randy Moss, and Calvin Johnson man-to-man -- then I wish I had the confidence and trust that you do.

We saw what happened last year when our ability to pressure the quarterback relied solely on blitzing linebackers and corners. Get a key cover man nicked up, and your "pass rush" goes bye-bye. (to the tune of setting an NFL record for fewest number of sacks in a non-strike season).

The pressure from the front four MUST improve this season. That's all there is to it.[/quote]

Meh, they didn't get any pressure from the front four in 04 or 05. I don't think that's the key to Williams scheme. I think they were let down by poor secondary play last year. At any rate don't look for this DL line group to ever put up huge sack numbers. Not going to happen. As I said, you look for some improvement but better secondary play is much more crucial, IMO.

Re: The Pass Rush... & turnovers...
 

I already posted this thread. I guess no one noticed. Sigh....

[url]http://www.redskinswarpath.com/locker-room/19466-forcing-turnovers-qb-pressure-issue.html[/url]

Re: The Pass Rush... & turnovers...
 

[QUOTE=GMScud;347089]I already posted this thread. I guess no one noticed. Sigh....

[url]http://www.redskinswarpath.com/locker-room/19466-forcing-turnovers-qb-pressure-issue.html[/url][/QUOTE]

Whoops. Sorry :(

Merging the threads

Re: The Pass Rush... & turnovers...
 

[quote=SmootSmack;347090]Whoops. Sorry :(

Merging the threads[/quote]

Thanks!!

On that note, I will reiterate how worried I am about the turnover/sack thing again. I'm more worried about the sacks. With how much we've upgraded the LB's (Rocky playing amazing, Fletcher holding down the middle) and the secondary, I think the turnovers will be much better. But we HAVE to get to the QB more...