How does our defense work?

[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.

[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.

[Rajmahal33]

Originally Posted by CHIEF CHUCKING MY SPEAR

look griffith has been hurt the last two years, big joe been hurt too, daniels stinks and you can run all over carter. Goldston ok so is montgomery, that why the skins should have tried to get some dline to protect the LB so they can do their job. Our pass rush is horrible and im being nice about that.

Griffin will be healthy and so will big joe at least for the beginning of the season (keeping fingers crossed). If they can hold up for one more year golston and montomery might be far enuff along to step in there next year. Carter can rush well if he maintains his late season form and Daniels doesn't flat out suck, he is just aging. With the LB's that we have i think we could move to a 3-4 scheme, where carter is more naturally fit for. However, I dont think williams is willing to change from a 4-3. I just hope Landry pans out cuz we could have REALLY used a top D-lineman this year!

[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.

[SC Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by Rajmahal33

Griffin will be healthy and so will big joe at least for the beginning of the season (keeping fingers crossed). If they can hold up for one more year golston and montomery might be far enuff along to step in there next year. Carter can rush well if he maintains his late season form and Daniels doesn't flat out suck, he is just aging. With the LB's that we have i think we could move to a 3-4 scheme, where carter is more naturally fit for. However, I dont think williams is willing to change from a 4-3. I just hope Landry pans out cuz we could have REALLY used a top D-lineman this year!

Carter struggled in the 3-4 in San Fran, which is one of the reasons he came to D.C. It isn't so easy to just transition to the 3-4 scheme as it requires specialized players. At this point the Skins would lack many parts (including a big nose tackle, big D Ends, stand up outside backers who excel at rushing the passer). There is a reason it takes a couple of years to transition between schemes, you need specialized pieces, plus Williams does not and to my knowledge has never employed a 3-4. This is an obvious point, I know, but we are not moving to a 3-4 any time soon.

[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.