Secondary a Primary Concern

Unless the pass rush can bail them out, it's going to be a real long year in the secondary.

Exactly - see the Giants

Josh Wilson started to come on towards the end of the year, and looked like he had grasped hold of the defense.

Yes, Josh Wilson did. I'm hoping he gets pro bowl honors this year.

According to Raheem Morris, Kevin Barnes is having a strong camp. Let's hope it translates on the field during games.

According to Raheem Morris, Kevin Barnes is having a strong camp. Let's hope it translates on the field during games.

he also stated that Barnes is MUCH better playing outside than playing the nickel like he was last year . . . hopefully that is true as it would be nice if Barnes can be at least adequate . . .

From John Keim's weekly email

Q&A with Josh Wilson

Wilson is one of the more insightful Redskins, especially when it comes to talking about his position (cornerback). And with the Redskins’ cornerbacks playing a variety of coverages, I thought it would be interesting to talk to him about playing press coverage and off-man coverage and some of the keys involved in both.

Q: Kevin Barnes was talking about Raheem Morris working with you guys, teaching you some new drills. Has he done anything you haven’t seen before?

A: I’ve seen it all. It’s just different options. A lot of guys who haven’t been to other teams like Kevin have never seen a different option. You play with your head up or you play outside. Fortunately or unfortunately I’ve been on three teams with different mindsets. I’ve played for about six different coordinators. I know a lot of different ways of doing it. It’s not about a scheme or coaches. You have to find out what’s best for you. Everybody can teach inside man, but if you’re not a great inside man, you shouldn’t do it. It’s better suited for you to be a head-up outside guy.

Q: I want to talk about press coverage. Sometimes when you see guys up they jam, and sometimes they don’t. Why is that?

A: You got a lot of different things, and you have to be versatile. If you do the same thing every time the receiver doesn’t have to think about what’s going to happen. You got a quick jam sometimes. Quick jams are one hands. Jump jams are two hands. In mirror technique you back off. Sometimes you stay sturdy and get your hands on, but it’s not a quick fire. You have to mix it up like the receivers mix up their release.

Q: When do you know you’re in trouble?

A: When that receiver stacks you, if that receiver is able to cut you off and has you running right behind him. If I’m behind him (to the side) then I can still catch up, but if he goes (over the top) then you’re in trouble.

Q: What’s the key to playing press?

A: Patience. You have to be patient. Don’t open the gate. Don’t get out of there too fast. Let him show the route.

Q: Sounds simple but is it hard to do?

A: That’s why we’re here and a lot of others are home.

Q: When you’re playing off-man, what’s the key?

A: That’s more of a read. You have to read the quarterback to the receiver. That’s a visual, instinctual thing. Press is man-on-man. You’re in off, you have to do a lot of reading, and your reads can get thrown off. You have to get off the quarterback, and there are different keys when you have to get off the quarterback. It’s a lot more detail work. You can get yourself in trouble real quick if [your eyes] linger too long. You hear people say you got your eyes stuck in the backfield. That can get you in trouble.

Q: If you’re playing off-man, how deep can you let the receiver get into you before you open and run?

A: That’s a personal preference. You have to know what speed you have and what route you think he’ll run. You always know your speed. There’s not any one way to tell anyone to do it. You have to be a player and feel when do you need to get out of there. What kind of speed guy is he? Is he running full speed? Do I know this guy well enough to know he’s running full speed? So you have to study your opponents, too.

Q: How quickly can you narrow what route a receiver is going to run?

A: I can narrow down the routes off the first step. As soon as he does his first step, he only has two choices left. In off, you can narrow it down by what the quarterback does and by how many steps he takes. If he takes a three-step drop, it’s quick. If it’s five steps, it’s a little deeper, and if it’s seven, then it’s a real route. Then you get your eyes back on (the receiver) and see what stem he’s giving you.

Q: Sometimes on a jam I’ll see a cornerback use his outside hand to jam a receiver who is taking an outside release. Can that get you in trouble?

A: You can do that. It depends on what position you have him in. If you still have leverage and say he’s (even), then I can get him outside. But if I’m right here (too far inside), and he can get my outside shoulder. … If he gets his hands on that shoulder, he’s gonna have me beat. It’s all about leverage. … Really it’s all about leverage, and a lot of times you want to show him something. You want to show the quarterback something. So I might show you I’m outside and you think I got this inside route where as soon as you throw it I’m diving at that.

Very good read! I'm more confident with R. Morris as a Secondary coach, but still hate the fact that Haslett is the D coordinator. Never liked him! Bring back G.Williams...................oh,.................. ..wait.........................

We should have kept OJ on board. Id say we should have kept Landry too but i dont feel like arguing wit the dirty 30 haters. Meriweathers ok.. i liked that pickup now that we let both our safetys go.. still scratching my head.. for Josh Morgan??? We just added Garcon, Cooley will be healthy, RG will get the ball to guys like Santana & Fred who suffered because we had Rex/Beck taking snaps. And the only reason i liked the Tanard Jackson pickup because we put ourselves in such a rough spot out there.

We should have kept OJ on board. Id say we should have kept Landry too but i dont feel like arguing wit the dirty 30 haters. Meriweathers ok.. i liked that pickup now that we let both our safetys go.. still scratching my head.. for Josh Morgan??? We just added Garcon, Cooley will be healthy, RG will get the ball to guys like Santana & Fred who suffered because we had Rex/Beck taking snaps. And the only reason i liked the Tanard Jackson pickup because we put ourselves in such a rough spot out there.

Landry would be on the PUP list, just like he is right now in the Jets PUP list.

landry would be on the pup list, just like he is right now in the jets pup list.

ding ding ding.

Landry would be on the PUP list, just like he is right now in the Jets PUP list.NFL.com says he was put back on the active roster on July 26. LINK (http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d82ad2e82/article/laron-landry-activated-off-pup-list-by-new-york-jets)

NFL.com says he was put back on the active roster on July 26. LINK (http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d82ad2e82/article/laron-landry-activated-off-pup-list-by-new-york-jets)

And I guarantee you being back on the active list doesn't mean he will stay there for long.