Why the 2007 defense will be in the top 10

If I'm gameplanning against Washington, I run right at Carter using a double team scrape technique with my TE and T. A double team scrape is simply line lingo for the T and TE hitting the DE at the same time, and one guy slides over or "scrapes" to the outside linebacker. I run this play early and often because I know the Redskins won't be able to stop it.



The difference is that Lemar Marshall will be behind Carter this year instead of Holdman. The Redskins were stout against the run when they lined up with Marshall, Pierce, and Washington, or Arrington, Marshall, and Washington for that matter. (that might be the first nice thing I've said about Lavar on this site). Marshall's better instincts should put him in position at the point of attack before the TE can release the DE. At the worse he pops the TE a good one and forces the play back to persuit (Fletcher).

Also, I think they need to just put a bigger body in at DE on 1st Down. Wynn, as old as he is, can't be worse against the run than Carter. (I know, I know, he really came on those last five games). Or, they need to make sure that Carter isn't freelancing. He has to provide some resistance. You can't let blockers get to the second level so easily.

The first line of defense still poses a concern for me. Some say the additions to the secondary will offset the lack of a consistent pass rush, since that concept goes against conventional wisdom we'll have to wait and see.

However, barring injury, the defense should perform at a higher level this year. I shy away from making predictions because too many things can go wrong, but if our offense can do a better job of sustaining drives, and finish them off with points allowing the defense an opportunity to collect itself we should be better overall. Changes, injuries and mindset had a profound affect on last years performers, they will play better this year...........Good post, good to see some optimism flowing.

Seriously though, something tells me that Landry is going to be the player we all THOUGHT ST was supposed to be. That's unfortunate, but we COULD do worse than to have an awesome safety and a great one.

Could someone please explain to me when Sean Taylor all of a sudden became this average player. Im so sick of hearing people bash this guy, he was stuck by himself in the Defensive backfield last year, our depth was horrible and for christ sakes we had Vernon Fox, Mike Rumph and Kenny Wright in our backfield at one point. Nor Brian Dawkins or Ed Reed could make up for that poor of talent surrounding him, stop bashing the best player on our defense, and he is probably the most talented player we have had in years. "The player we all thought ST was supposed to be" some times I wonder about Redskins fans, because im sure by the start of the season you will be arguing with some cowboys fan about how awesome Sean Taylor is.

Could someone please explain to me when Sean Taylor all of a sudden became this average player. Im so sick of hearing people bash this guy, he was stuck by himself in the Defensive backfield last year, our depth was horrible and for christ sakes we had Vernon Fox, Mike Rumph and Kenny Wright in our backfield at one point. Nor Brian Dawkins or Ed Reed could make up for that poor of talent surrounding him, stop bashing the best player on our defense, and he is probably the most talented player we have had in years. "The player we all thought ST was supposed to be" some times I wonder about Redskins fans, because im sure by the start of the season you will be arguing with some cowboys fan about how awesome Sean Taylor is.

I think 90 days sounds right. See you in 3 months... ;)

Could someone please explain to me when Sean Taylor all of a sudden became this average player. Im so sick of hearing people bash this guy, he was stuck by himself in the Defensive backfield last year, our depth was horrible and for christ sakes we had Vernon Fox, Mike Rumph and Kenny Wright in our backfield at one point. Nor Brian Dawkins or Ed Reed could make up for that poor of talent surrounding him, stop bashing the best player on our defense, and he is probably the most talented player we have had in years. "The player we all thought ST was supposed to be" some times I wonder about Redskins fans, because im sure by the start of the season you will be arguing with some cowboys fan about how awesome Sean Taylor is.


On a team that finished the season with a 5-11 record, and the defense bearing the brunt of the critisizm for it's failures, the bashing is bound to begin and it seems no one is exempt. With so few talented players in the secondary last year, Taylor found himself trying to do too much, and in so doing, there were aspects of his game that suffered.

Comparing last years defense to the previous two years when we were ranked in the top ten can be misleading. We did not get the individual effort from players counted on to make plays, and the overall team tackling was not very good, the games against the Giants, and the one against the Rams stand out the most when I think of "team tackling". Improvement in that one area alone will go a long way towards the overall success of the defense.

I think it needs to be pointed out that playing defense in the NFL oftentimes comes down to a battle of wills. Because we had slipped out of contention very early, last year could be a case of our guys losing a bit of the sheer determination it takes to stop opponents. Obviously, it had a lot to do with strategy, tackling and personnel, and we were in that hole to begin with because of the fact that we were playing poorly on defense. However, if you look at Gibbs' success over his career in December, I think a lot of that has to do with his teams, who were almost always in contention, taking advantage of teams with the running attack who simply could not match the desire his teams had to win the war of attrition. Honestly, that was always one of the most amazing things about Gibbs' teams during his first go around. They weren't necessarily the most talented teams, they oftentimes just wanted it more than their opponents. I am not making excuses, because last year was an embarrassment, but at the same time, I doubt that we would have finished as low as we did if we were in position to play for more than pride. Playing defense is also a matter of attitude and players must pay a steep price physically to get the job done. I imagine it is harder to do that when you know your offseason is going to start after week 17. I really do wonder if that had a drastic effect on our season stats. Hopefully, we can start off well coming out of the gate. Any moral boost should really motivate these players to give up their bodies, because that is what it takes to win in the NFL. Regardless of personnel issues, and we obviously have our fair share of those, if this team has the right attitude, if they are willing to do whatever it takes to stop the other guy, I think we could see marked improvement.

Could someone please explain to me when Sean Taylor all of a sudden became this average player. Im so sick of hearing people bash this guy, he was stuck by himself in the Defensive backfield last year, our depth was horrible and for christ sakes we had Vernon Fox, Mike Rumph and Kenny Wright in our backfield at one point. Nor Brian Dawkins or Ed Reed could make up for that poor of talent surrounding him, stop bashing the best player on our defense, and he is probably the most talented player we have had in years. "The player we all thought ST was supposed to be" some times I wonder about Redskins fans, because im sure by the start of the season you will be arguing with some cowboys fan about how awesome Sean Taylor is.Brian Dawkins and Ed Reed would both do their jobs even if the rest of the team sucked around them and you know it.

Failure of those around you does not explain failure for yourself. If the team was losing and Sean Taylor had been playing well, we'd cut him slack. But one of the big reasons for the losing was that he wasn't playing well. Like, at all.

I think it needs to be pointed out that playing defense in the NFL oftentimes comes down to a battle of wills. Because we had slipped out of contention very early, last year could be a case of our guys losing a bit of the sheer determination it takes to stop opponents. Obviously, it had a lot to do with strategy, tackling and personnel, and we were in that hole to begin with because of the fact that we were playing poorly on defense. However, if you look at Gibbs' success over his career in December, I think a lot of that has to do with his teams, who were almost always in contention, taking advantage of teams with the running attack who simply could not match the desire his teams had to win the war of attrition. Honestly, that was always one of the most amazing things about Gibbs' teams during his first go around. They weren't necessarily the most talented teams, they oftentimes just wanted it more than their opponents. I am not making excuses, because last year was an embarrassment, but at the same time, I doubt that we would have finished as low as we did if we were in position to play for more than pride. Playing defense is also a matter of attitude and players must pay a steep price physically to get the job done. I imagine it is harder to do that when you know your offseason is going to start after week 17. I really do wonder if that had a drastic effect on our season stats. Hopefully, we can start off well coming out of the gate. Any moral boost should really motivate these players to give up their bodies, because that is what it takes to win in the NFL. Regardless of personnel issues, and we obviously have our fair share of those, if this team has the right attitude, if they are willing to do whatever it takes to stop the other guy, I think we could see marked improvement.

I understand what you're saying here. But I doubt they quit or even let up. Playing for pride means a lot in a sport that is so full of huge egos. I mean look at the Raiders! They were 3rd in the NFL in overall D despite the worst record in the league. Those guys played with heart and determination despite being paired with one of the worst offenses ever. Our defense just simply wasn't talented enough. Wright, Rumph, Fox, Holdman, Marshall, the entire D-line, they just weren't good. You know that saying the simplest explanation tends to be the best one? I think we stunk because we stunk.

Brian Dawkins and Ed Reed would both do their jobs even if the rest of the team sucked around them and you know it.

Failure of those around you does not explain failure for yourself. If the team was losing and Sean Taylor had been playing well, we'd cut him slack. But one of the big reasons for the losing was that he wasn't playing well. Like, at all.


so wat ur saying is if we traded every defensive player form the redskins to the ravens and eagles with the exception of taylor reed and dawkins they would outperform him i doubt in his rookie season he had 4 picks great year and we were 3rd in the league dont say it is all him

so wat ur saying is if we traded every defensive player form the redskins to the ravens and eagles with the exception of taylor reed and dawkins they would outperform him i doubt in his rookie season he had 4 picks great year and we were 3rd in the league dont say it is all him

You don't like to use punctuation, do you?