Sean Taylor struggling???

I was thinking the same thing, which makes me want to take a DT even more.

I think the only way we pass on the kid Branch or someone better, is if and only if, Calvin Johnson is still there.

Yes, I would take him over a pressing need at defensive tackle.

I watched C.Griff closely the last few games, and he was getting man handled by opposing guards, then they would put a body on either Marshall or Holdman, and like that you had a five yard gain.

No way we can suffer through another season of Taylor running across the field trying to stop a guy running full speed. Unfortunately, he was caught in that position all too often this year.

I was thinking the same thing, which makes me want to take a DT even more.

Amen brother. Alan Branch, Alan Branch, Alan Branch.

I think there's a reason the LBs looked average this year. The DT play was atrocious and blockers were getting to the LB level. Griffin was mediocre, and Golston was poor. Golston had nice pass rush moves, and he could be quick at times, but he's only 290 pounds. He gets moved out of the way very easily in run situations.

If we can't stop the run on first down, we can't get into the 2nd and 3rd and longs we need in order to blitz the QB. A strong DT is a must.

The other must is strengthening the secondary so you can actually cover on those 2nd and 3rd and longs when you're sending blitzers. Which brings us back to Archuleta: cut his ass. Sign Nate Clements, and rotate Springs around the field as a hybrid safety/nickel CB.

The way this class is starting to shape up, I can't imagine Branch not being there at number six. But is there any other DT that are projected to be as good or better?

Many of the previous posts have identified what I see as the overall problem. Our defense as a whole was bad. Although when I say bad, I mean schematically bad, most of the guys out there I thought fought like warriors. If you will let me elaborate for a moment:

Example 1: D Line
It is the fundamental root of football and starts with the O line beating the D line. This happened all year long. Everybody ran on us, and ran big....

Example 2: Linebackers
When the O line breaks thru to the second level our backers were getting blown out of position. I can't remember how many times I saw this.

Example 3: Secondary
When the run works the secondary is forced to come up for run support. The article I saw in the WP when GW said he thought offenses figured out the cover 2 I almost crapped. That is still a good D as long as you play it correctly. It has is weaknesses like everything.

Summary: In my opinion it all starts up front. It's kind of like a house, if the foundation is bad the house will fall in upon itself.

Agreed 100%. Our entire defense seemed to collapse. AA was not the reason we went from 9th to 31st. This was supposed to be about ST so lets get back to him. He should be our defensive team Captin in 2007. The guy is still one of the best in the business at what he does. But our broken "foundation" never enabled him to roam free and make impact plays. He was always chasing a running back or reciever down the field after our defense gave up a huge play.......

Amen brother. Alan Branch, Alan Branch, Alan Branch.

I think there's a reason the LBs looked average this year. The DT play was atrocious and blockers were getting to the LB level. Griffin was mediocre, and Golston was poor. Golston had nice pass rush moves, and he could be quick at times, but he's only 290 pounds. He gets moved out of the way very easily in run situations.

If we can't stop the run on first down, we can't get into the 2nd and 3rd and longs we need in order to blitz the QB. A strong DT is a must.

The other must is strengthening the secondary so you can actually cover on those 2nd and 3rd and longs when you're sending blitzers. Which brings us back to Archuleta: cut his ass. Sign Nate Clements, and rotate Springs around the field as a hybrid safety/nickel CB.
Another thing which hurt the skins is that our D had too much time on the field and our O did not help them much with long drives through out the game. Yes, we did have some long drives but we need a few each game that takes alot of time off the clock to give the D a rest. Our D also seemed to have good 1st & 2nd downs then would let the other tem convert a 9 yard first down keeping them on the field.

Agreed 100%. Our entire defense seemed to collapse. AA was not the reason we went from 9th to 31st. This was supposed to be about ST so lets get back to him. He should be our defensive team Captin in 2007. The guy is still one of the best in the business at what he does. But our broken "foundation" never enabled him to roam free and make impact plays. He was always chasing a running back or reciever down the field after our defense gave up a huge play.......
I do not think ST is a team captin type of guy.

I do not think ST is a team captin type of guy.


Why would you say that. He's one of the hardest working Redskins at practice. He can be a leader by example not speaches. Who hits harder than Sean? He's a dynamic play maker that has not been used properly in my opinion. Giving him the C on his chest will only help his career and ultimately help the SKINS!

Gaines Adams from Clemson played DE most of the time but also played inside once in a while. I saw him twice this year and he's pretty damned good. He's definitely a DE in the NFL but with all the weaknesses on the DL this year, the Skins cannot afford to ignore him.


If you recall, Sean Taylor was the guy who couldn't find the time to answer Joe Gibbs phone calls for an entire off season. That was two years ago. That's the behavior of a team captain? I don't think so.


If you also recall, the "problem" with Taylor's coverage this year was ascribed to the fact that he didn't have Ryan Clark next to him out there explaining the coverages to him after the calls amd in from the sidelines. Don't know if that's true, but it might explain why he was so out of position so many times. But if so, is that your defensive captain? If not, then do you reward someone with a captaincy after such a poor season?

i wish everyone would stop blaming the substandard season that taylor had on everything but his play

Dmek, I agree with you...Taylor tends to get a pass for his poor play for some reason. I know I'm guilty as anyone on this site. Can't really tell you why to tell you the truth.

I think my reasoning is Taylor is such an 'on field commodity' that you just feel like he's Gilbert Arenas in his own way; He can go 0 for 10, and then make the one play that changes or wins the game.