How does our defense work?

[gabe1984]

I'm not sure how it works, but at least we are going to make people bleed.

i like that

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by gabe1984

I'm not sure how it works, but at least we are going to make people bleed.

i like that

Oh yeah...when we drafted Landry, I immediately pictured Dallas WRs running throught the middle of the field and getting crushed to a fine powder by Taylor and Landry. It's going to be REALLY run to watch with our TWO Ronnie Lott Jr.s locked and loaded to destroy.
:smashfrea


I can't wait to see them in action. It's going to be a LONG 5 months and 2 weeks until September 9th at FedEx.

[SC Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by Dirtbag359

This is a question that I think that needs to be put out into the open. I mean we keep on hearing all these things about how we need D-Line help then Gibbs gives the line a vote of confidence saying that the line isn't even the main source of pressure when it comes to getting after the quarterback.

Then the Redskins draft a safety whos going to be a hell of a player but when its all said and done I still don't know exactly how our defense work or what Landry's role is going to be.

Anyway heres what I do know.

- It has been described to me as a hybrid cover 2 scheme.

- We love to blitz from everywhere wether it be linebacker, safety, or corner the fact is we love to blitz.

- Greg Williams is our defensive coordinator

But heres what I don't know.

- Who gets everyone lined up, do the Mike and SS share the responibility (I keep on hearing praises about the abilities of Pierce and Clark to do this while they here)?

- Are the DL playing one gap or two and are they expected to get penetration or hold their ground?

- How often do we get our DL to drop into coverage?

- How often do we play man-to-man compared to zone?

- Do we use zone-blitzes?

- Do we count on M. Washington as our main pass rush threat?

- Who will win American Idol?

The answers to any of these questions will be greatly appreciated otherwise I wouldn't have created the thread in the first place.

Very good questions, too bad no one has any answers (including myself). How someone can answer intelligently b/c you raise good issues. Some should go more or less point by point with some answers.

[jermus22]

Two personal impressions of our defensive scheme:

1. Despite all the talk about how G. Williams likes to bring the blitz, I tend to think that he doesn't employ it enough. I especially remember it being a big problem in the first half of 2005 when we were not getting a pass rush (actually, last year may have been worse although I didn't see as many games). The lack of a pass rush has consequently resulted in a lack of turnovers.

2. We seem to employ our linebackers and safeties in a lot of zone coverage. Our Mike in particular takes a lot of deep drops. I've heard it mentioned that we employ a cover two, but it seems like our safeties have struggled particularly in coverage (we have been especially vulnerable to the deep pass). Our reliance on the front four to generate a pass rush strongly suggests a cover two scheme, which relies heavily on the d-line to put pressure while the LBs and secondary sit back in zone. However, a scheme like that is supposed to be solid against the deep pass since both safeties are used to cover that area.

Overall, are tendency to go after physical, hard-hitting safeties instead of cover guys seems to buck against the cover 2 defense, even though John Lynch certainly flourished in that defense and happens to be an awesome hitter. Additionally, our lack of attention to defensive line needs combined with an emphasis on getting guys for the secondary (we drafted high for Rogers, Taylor, and Landry and are still trying to keep Springs) could signal a reliance more on the secondary while LBs are sent after the QB. I personally would like to see more blitzes using Washington, Fletcher, Marshall, and McIntosh.

[jbcjr14]

Actually last year it didn't work! It's currently broken! Hopefully with Landry and 2nd yr McIntosh it will be fixed this season and get back to 2005 form.

[70Chip]

Here's my take. I know more about offense than defense but FWIW:


- Who gets everyone lined up, do the Mike and SS share the responibility (I keep on hearing praises about the abilities of Pierce and Clark to do this while they here)?

The Mike has responsibility for calling the play in the huddle and for the pre snap allignment of the front seven. The communication among the secondary is less clearly defined and if Tom Friend is to be believed - non existent.

- Are the DL playing one gap or two and are they expected to get penetration or hold their ground?

Good question. I think they are suppossed to get penetration but often end up holding their ground (on a good day).

- How often do we get our DL to drop into coverage?

We use some zone blitz. I didn't see it that often last year. I think Phil Daniels had a pickle against Jax. Williams went conservative after it became ovvious that Arch was a joke. We will see more next year.

- How often do we play man-to-man compared to zone?

Someone may have the percentages exactly but I would guess about 75% zone last season. I think Williams would like to play more man or more combinations but he was having to protect the cornerbacks. He had to play a lot more Cover 2 than he would have liked.

- Do we use zone-blitzes?

See above.

- Do we count on M. Washington as our main pass rush threat?

He has been our most effective blitzer. I think they would like to see 4 or 5 sacks from just about every player on the defense. The idea is that you can't predict where the pressure comes from. Last year opposing teams seemed to know exactly where the blitz was coming from.


I have some questions of my own:

1. In that NYT article last season, Parcells talked about the Redskins "diamond point" defense. He said that was the Redskin's best look. Does anyone know what it is?

2. How close are Williams' scemes to those employed by Buddy Ryan in Chicago and Philadelphia? I think they've added some things from Dick Lebeau and even Jack Pardee but can someone explain the Ryan influence? What exactly was a 46 defense beyond the fact that he seemed to always have eight guys right up on the line of scrimmage? I've never seen a decent explanation of it, even when the Bears were winning their SB.