Redskins Lions postgame

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by artmonkforhallofamein07

I noticed more than a few times yesterday ( the announcers alluded to it later in the broadcast ) that the back end of the defense is not working very well together pre snap at all. Miss communication, bad alignment, sometimes guys on the outside look like they have no idea what the play call are or thier assignments, and of course frustration. This is before the ball is even snapped. The Lions two scoring drives in the first half is where this was evident.

That's all on the coaching and the LB getting the calls out to the defense.

Yeah, and a couple times Riley was making the defensive calls with Barnett in for Fletcher. I don't know any way we can evaluate defensive changes made before the snap, but I will say that we got so used to Fletcher getting us in good alignment right before the snap that we simply can't be the same defense if Fletcher isn't on the field.

Fletcher's season to date is an excellent example of why there aren't any historical comparables for a 38 year old linebacker. Typically, they spend the pre-snap phase on a beach somewhere.