Something to hope for

After reading that last link posted by Joe Crisp(regarding DE Daniels), I was excited to see the amount of sacks under Gibbs' defenses.

"Bear in mind that during Gibbs' first tenure as Redskins head coach, getting to the quarterback was vital. The 1984 Redskins defense produced a team-record 66 sacks; in six of Gibbs' 12 seasons, Washington's defense came up with at least 50 sacks per year."

66 sacks again would be sweet. Don't see it happening with this D though. But we can hope.

I think that Ritchie Pettibone had a lot to do with the first Gibbs era. Hopefully, Williams can do the same.

I think Williams is a much better coach to have then Pettibone. We'll have to wait and see though.

Williams will make pressure happen, unlike that bum, Edwards.

Pettibone was an excellent D-coordinator. You can't win championships without a great D. I always thought he kinda got a bum rap when Turner was brought in...

I alway's thought Pettitbone was good, but not great, I felt that Gibb's ability to call a game, and control the ball, really helped Pettitbone, although I think he's better than anyone we have had since he left, I am expecting great thing's out of Williams this year, I believe there is only 1 way to play defense, and that's attack from every direction, and every angle possible, pressure is imperative to a defenses success, and I believe that's what William's will bring.

Painfully short memories. Pettibone was a great D-coordinator. You don't win 3 Super Bowls without great defensive coaching. I hope Williams ends up being just as good, but the proof is in the pudding. There is no need to put down one of the best Skins coaches ever just to build up the guy in the present.

It's hard to argue with you Celts considering the team's overall success w/ Petibon as D-Coordinator, but I will -

Even though the Redskins won with Petibon as coordinator, I think (and thought at the time) that he benefited greatly from having Gibbs as head coach. Petibon was a good coordinator; at times, he was a very good coordinator. But, truth be told, his defenses never led the Skins to championships. No, they weren't just along for the ride; they were good defenses that accomplished what needed to be done with the talent at hand, but I never saw them as stifling or overwhelming - even with all the sacks. Under Petibon, the defense held its own against any offense it faced and then the offense pounded the opposing team into submission.

If Williams can accomplish that same feat, it will be good enough for me. I hope that Williams can make use of the talent at hand and force some 3 and outs on a regular basis. Based on his past, I think Williams has the potential to be the best D-Coach the Skins have had since Petibon.

I agree! I take nothing away from Petitbone. I remember John Madden talking about how Petitbone used to be referred to as the "Mastermind" of the defense. Richie definitely knew what he was doing on the defensive side of the ball. It also helped that he had some good quality players. I think the key though is having a head coach that is just as invovled with the defense as he is with the offense. Gibbs has tried to make sure that we have the players we need on both offense and defense, other than Spurrier worrying about offense and letting the defense go or not being involved with the decision making on that side of the ball.

I would be surprised if we don't do well this year.

Petitbone is the best d-coordinator the redskins have ever had...period. I think most of guys forget that in 1987 the defense held down the fort, while Gibbs offense under QB Jay Schroeder played very inconsistently. Petitbone's defense won us games we would have lost if our D was not as good as it was. It was not until Gibbs gave up on Schroeder and put in QB Doug Williams more than 2/3 into the season, that the Offense took off and we won the SB.
In 1991-92 season the defense posted three very impressive shut outs of 45-0, 34-0 and 23-0. The last one being against the Eagles.
His gambling style of defense is very respected by most NFL coaches. John Madden and Pat Summeral loved Petitbone.
I remember Petitbon playing every type of defense known to man. He actually in one game played a five man d-line (5 down lineman) on every first down against a an opponent that had a great running game but below average passing game. He mixed in 4-3, 3-4 and 4-6 defenses into his arsenal. In 1991-91 season, on third and long he played a very succesfull version of the 46 defense with Charles Mann at Nose Guard, Jumpy Geathers next to him at DT and Wilbur Marshall and Monte Coleman playing LB together on one side of the D line. We racked up so many sacks it was awesome.