Starting DT: Griffin and ?

I think it's a given that Cornelius Griffin will be one of the starting DTs on opening day but who will open the season beside him? Vote.

Is Bernard Holsey still out there? I kinda liked him, he played with a high motor. I wouldn't want him starting but for depth we could do alot worse.

I would say Noble when he comes back 100% unless we would pick up someone like Sam Adams but if not I would say Haley till Noble is 100%, but I would imagine alot of rotation going on.

We really need to sign a top-notch player like Sam Adams to hold down the other DT tackle spot. I also agree with MattyK, we need to re-sign Bernard Holsey. He definitely isn't starter quality, but he does provide solid depth and could be useful on third and long. I doubt Noble is healthy enough to start and Haley probably isn't good enough to start.

Is Bernard Holsey still out there? I kinda liked him, he played with a high motor. I wouldn't want him starting but for depth we could do alot worse.

I didn't see him on the redskins.com roster

Daniels could end up playing alot of DT too, with Upshaw and Wynn at the ends. Regardless of who starts I think we'll see alot of rotating up front.

Adams could be an option, I just don't think he's going to come cheap.

I dont see it beign any of those guys. I think Matty could be right and Daniels plays some DT to give Upshaw playing time. I still think we are going ot pick up another player before to long.

Given Griffin's size (6-3, 300), it seems like they would need to stick a bigger guy in there to cover the 0 and 1-techniques. Haley's size (6-4, 325) would seem to make him a more viable candidate for that role than Noble (6-2, 304) or Salave'a (6-3, 295).

I know that the 1-technique is not entirely about size, but it certainly does help. Noble for instance, is not the biggest DT out there, but he has been known in the past as a guy who can capably fill the 1-gap and take on double-teams. However, Noble's knee injury, combined with his smaller size in comparison to Haley, lead me to believe Haley should be the guy alongside Griffin.

I also expect Williams to keep a steady rotation going along the line, with Wynn and Daniels often lining up at the DT spots, depending on the situation.

I'm pulling for Salave'a to make a name for himself as a key reserve along the D-line. Hopefully, his reunion with Williams will lead to good things for him and the defensive line.

Joe,

Care to educate those of us who aren't exactly sure what the 0 and 1 techniques are all about? It sounds fascinating and I'm always up for learning something new.

Thanks,

--Phin

Joe,

Care to educate those of us who aren't exactly sure what the 0 and 1 techniques are all about? It sounds fascinating and I'm always up for learning something new.

Thanks,

--Phin
Absolutely, Phin. After all, how can this be the home of "Redskins Discussion for the Knowledgeable Fan" unless we share our knowledge?

When coaches explain to their D-linemen where exactly they want them to line up on a given play, they use a numbering system based on the O-linemen and the gaps between the O-linemen.


Using the Center position on the offensive line as the starting point, the Center is "0", the gap between the center and offensive guard is "1," the offensive guard himself is "2," the gap between the offensive guard and offensive tackle is "3," the offensive tackle himself is "4," the gap between the offensive tackle and tight end is "5," and the TE himself is "6". The TE's inside shoulder (or "shade-in") is "7," the gap fully outside the TE is "8," and the TE's outside shoulder (or "shade-out") is "9." It looks something like this:



.....TE...OT...OG...C...OG...OT...TE

8.....6....4......2....0....2.....4......6.....8

....9..7.5....3....1.....1.....3....5.7....9





So when I describe Jermaine Haley as a more ideal "0" or "1" gap player, I mean he is best suited for playing heads-up on the Center, or in the gap between the center and guard (this gap is also referred to as the "A" gap). This is because you generally want a heftier, "roadblock" type of DT in there as an anchor who can occupy two blockers (generally the center and a guard) without getting run-over. A successful "0" or "1" technician will divert blockers from the linebackers and other D-linemen, and make it easier for the linebackers to diagnose and attack the play.

Cornelius Griffin and Joe Salave'a, on the other hand, seem better suited for playing "2" or "3" techniques, where they will try to shoot the gaps between the OG and OT. Often, they attack the vacancy left when a guard double teams the "1" technician with the center, or when an OG double teams a DE with an OT. They are generally quicker and more agile than "1" technicians, but rely on the anchoring effect of the bigger DT to burst through the gaps and into the backfield.