New Look Defense

[That Guy]

houston also runs a defense that'll be close to what we'll be trying out next year.

[EARTHQUAKE2689]

Originally Posted by 30gut

I took a screen cap with my phone (shown below) of Will Wink Strong Free a Cover-1 type of defense played by the Chargers.

C1-Chris Culliver
C2-Breeland/Amerson/Hall
FS-Dashon Goldson
SS-Ihenacho/Jeron Johnson

S-Trent Murphy
E-Stephen Paea
N-Pot Roast
E-Hatcher
W-Kerrigan

M-Riley
Mo-Keenan

This defense is one of many concepts found in the Chargers/Barry's or any defense. The Chargers website took down the video on Barry explaining this defense but here is a quick re-cap:

Will Wink Strong Free is the chargers version of a common Cover 1 Man defense often called "Robber"

Cover 1 has a single high post safety playing deep in the middle of the field or "hole".
The underneath defenders are in man to man. In the "robber" defense another defender 'plugs' the void underneath the FS.

A more detailed breakdown of Cover 1:NFL 101: Introducing the Basics of Cover 1 | Bleacher Report

4-Man pressure with the Kerrigan (1-gap DL)

Ihenacho moves down creating an 8 man box
Corners are in man

Trent has TE man to man
Dashson plays single high deep FS

Ihenacho-Riley-Robinson are responsible for the 2 backs out of the backfield and 'plugging' the underneath hole
IF both running backs flow to the right then Ihenacho is the plugger
IF the backs split then Ihenacho has the back to his side, Robinson has the back to his side and Riley is the plugger etc...

I wish the video was still up, but one thing Barry mentioned he likes this defense because its good vs the run and the pass.
I never did a breakdown or kept track of how often Haslett played with a 2-gap front on 1st down.
But imho one of the downfalls of playing Okie (2-gap) base on 1st down is the lack of pressure compared to playing 1-gap when/if teams pass on 1st down. Sure Okie is stout against the run but in the modern NFL more and more offenses pass on 1st down.
So playing in a 1-gap front with Pot roast clogging the middle and Hatcher and Paea on the Ends getting upfield and Kerrigan coming from the Edge they should have a good rush going if its pass.

Thoughts?

I would think that Jeron Johnson would be starting over Duke, but I like the scheme look right now, the only thing that gives me pause right now is Trent Murphy guarding a TE 1 on 1 when it is a TE who is a pass catcher first but like everyone said it might be Trent underneath and Jeron over the top

[JoeRedskin]

Stopping TE's from gashing us down the middle is imperative. I don't think this is the particular D to stop such an attack. To me, the problem is at ILB - Riley is generally okay but, it seems to me he is a liability in coverage. Hopefully, Robinson progresses and they figure out how to use him in coverage, I think he has the size, speed and quickness to cover TE's. Not sure, never really studied his tape, but just seemed like he was always where he needed to be before he was needed there.

For teams without a good receiving TE, this is a pretty solid usage of our personnel and seems to play to the strengths of Goldson in particular - play deep, keep everything in front of him so he can take appropriate angles. A

s Schneed said, this alignment places a lot of stress on the back four and, hopefully, we have improved ourselves at least a little back there.

[drew54]

Film Breakdown: The Redskins New 3-4 Under Defense

I found this to be a great write-up .

[skinsfan69]

I'm sure every 3-4 team in the NFL runs this, as well as many other 3-4 fronts. For Barry it's going to come down to can he get the defense to be middle of the pack? Can he get this defense to stop blowing a basic coverage? Can he get someone to cover a TE?

[30gut]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

...For Barry it's going to come down to can he get the defense to be middle of the pack? Can he get this defense to stop blowing a basic coverage? Can he get someone to cover a TE?

Improving on the backend is gonna be a major factor in the quality of defense. I am not sure how much of a role coaching played in some of the breakdowns in coverage last year. They blew some basic coverages that highschool defenses call. So I think upgrading the personnel goes a long, long way to fixing the blown coverages from last year. Having enough depth that Amerson knows that he can't miss a meeting, blow a coverage and start/play the next week. Heck, Amerson is gonna have to compete for his job. Perry Fewel has a some talent to work with, I'm gonna watch how he handles and brings along Amerson and the rest of the secondary.

In regards to guarding TEs that's gonna fall alot on scheme imo. Many modern TEs are mismatches against LBs. One aspect of both Fewell and the Chargers (from an article I read that I didn't save) but it said that they like to use a lot of subpackage personnel and we know Fewel does from watching the Giants play 'big nickel' and sub out a LB to get another S on the field. In know passing down I think putting a S on a TE is a good move, and maybe based on the coaching staff's background we'll see it more then we under Haslett who stayed in base personnel vs 3 wides often which created some glaring mismatches WRs/TEs vs LBs.

When I first posted this breakdown it was in another forum and its interesting to see how much better it seems know then when I first posted based on the personnel additions Scott has made.

Imo the DL has been greatly upgraded with Knighton and Paea joining Jason Hatcher. Knighton is a force in the middle that still provides some inside pressure and Paea finally adds another pass rushing DL to finally create a pair of DL that can penetrate. We only saw that a few times in the past regime (and only once last year when Hatcher and Cofield were both healthy vs the Jags).

But you are right I think this defense has enough talent to move out of the cellar.

There are many metrics I look when it comes to defense (and I'll post them later) but 2 quick ones that imo give a good look into the quality of defense being played are DVOA (Football Outsiders) and QB rating against.

The defense was dead dog last in QB rating against at 108.3DVOA on defense was 30th

[53Fan]

Just throwing this in here.Defensive line additions excite Keenan Robinson

[budw38]

Originally Posted by 53Fan

Just throwing this in here.Defensive line additions excite Keenan Robinson

I actually believe part of the reason for inconsistent play at LB is all of the injuries at DL , Carriker , Cofield , Bowens , Jenkins , Hatcher and Neild . Not to mention at Safety and CB . Lets hope we have good luck with injuries this year .

[53Fan]

Originally Posted by budw38

I actually believe part of the reason for inconsistent play at LB is all of the injuries at DL , Carriker , Cofield , Bowens , Jenkins , Hatcher and Neild . Not to mention at Safety and CB . Lets hope we have good luck with injuries this year .

Agreed Bud. The D-Line makes a world of difference for LB's. With the D-Line creating havoc in the backfield as KR alludes to, we should see more gaps to the QB and hurried passes. I've seen too many plays where a safety blew his coverage and a LB ended up alone covering a TE 40-50 yards downfield because the QB had time to do a crossword puzzle before releasing the ball. I'm right there with you man.

[budw38]

Originally Posted by 53Fan

Agreed Bud. The D-Line makes a world of difference for LB's. With the D-Line creating havoc in the backfield as KR alludes to, we should see more gaps to the QB and hurried passes. I've seen too many plays where a safety blew his coverage and a LB ended up alone covering a TE 40-50 yards downfield because the QB had time to do a crossword puzzle before releasing the ball. I'm right there with you man.

Hope that Pot Roast can turn up the heat in the middle , and our new ends control their gaps as well as get into the backfield . I want a Dominating defense , hoping to see it start to take shape this year .

[30gut]

Originally Posted by budw38

Hope that Pot Roast can turn up the heat in the middle , and our new ends control their gaps as well as get into the backfield . I want a Dominating defense , hoping to see it start to take shape this year .

Agreed.

Upgrading the DL is a great place to start building a dominating defense.

Knighton helps stop the run; and I'm one of those guys that believes playing good defense still starts with stopping the run. You stop the run and you create 'known passing situations' which gives your defense the opportunity to rush the passer (attack).

But for me the next steps to creating a dominating are pass rush and coverage. Knighton and Paea both add to the interior pass rush which makes the outside pass rush more effective.

So we've improved there too.

Adding Culliver, Goldson, Jeron Johnson and a healthy Ihenacho improves our coverage in the seconday a lot.

Culliver is instantly our best corner which bumps all our other corners down a spot which makes them better. We still need a slot/nickel CB to emerge in addition to improved played from any one of our other CBs. Everyone loves Breshard, myself included, but he's got some things to clean up to take the next step and Amerson has all the talent in the world but he's needs to play better.

I think Scott as already done a great job improving the defense with this off-season moves. If he can add another difference maker we're gonna be well on our way to creating an above average defense (talent-wise) then with coaching we can start talking about dominance.

[Hog1]

Heard an interview with Fowler and John Clayton. The kid is fairly well spoken. I personally liked what he had to say. A lot of PC stuff, but he talked much about kickin' it on practice days and study to make game day go well....etc

[53Fan]

Originally Posted by Hog1

Heard an interview with Fowler and John Clayton. The kid is fairly well spoken. I personally liked what he had to say. A lot of PC stuff, but he talked much about kickin' it on practice days and study to make game day go well....etc

I've read he has a motor like Kerrigan. I'd LOVE to see him in B&G. What a great pair of bookends at LB that would be!

[Hog1]

Originally Posted by 53Fan

I've read he has a motor like Kerrigan. I'd LOVE to see him in B&G. What a great pair of bookends at LB that would be!

I would as well. All these moves we are making are going to help Kerrigan a bunch. Will be fun to see some changes that should be improvement and will last for a while

[30gut]

Post Draft:

Pass Rushing Situation DL:

Kerrigan-Hatcher-Paea-Preston Smith

or

Kerrigan-Smith-Hatcher-Murphy/Trev Williams