New Look Defense

According to CSN's mock draft, this would be our new NT.

CSN Mock has Redskins going all-defense in first two rounds (http://was.247sports.com/Bolt/CSN-Mock-has-Redskins-going-all-defense-in-first-two-rounds-52152782)

Two good picks...both look like they can help & get a lot of playing time this year.

Two good picks...both look like they can help & get a lot of playing time this year.

I agree. Definite upgrades that would noticeably improve our defense.

CB.
DL. (NT especially)
Edge rusher.

I gotta believe this ads some chutzpa to using picking a D linesman in the first round.

Redskins' Trent Murphy banned four games for PEDs (http://www.theredzone.org/BlogDescription/tabid/61/EntryId/62904/Redskins--Trent-Murphy-banned-four-games-for-PEDs/Default.aspx)

I gotta believe this ads some chutzpa to using picking a D linesman in the first round.

Redskins' Trent Murphy banned four games for PEDs (http://www.theredzone.org/BlogDescription/tabid/61/EntryId/62904/Redskins--Trent-Murphy-banned-four-games-for-PEDs/Default.aspx)

Yeah, sort of figured he'd get a few weeks for the PED's. If there is any good news in this, he can still practice and play in pre season games, so maybe he doesn't fall too far behind.

We seem to have quite a few question marks at that position now...Murphy & Gallete. Plus, Preston Smith & Houston Bates didn't exactly flash last year either.

Yeah, sort of figured he'd get a few weeks for the PED's. If there is any good news in this, he can still practice and play in pre season games, so maybe he doesn't fall too far behind.

We seem to have quite a few question marks at that position now...Murphy & Gallete. Plus, Preston Smith & Houston Bates didn't exactly flash last year either.

Way off topic, but I really liked Bates at FB in short yardage. He reminded me of the big full back Seattle used during their SB runs.

I'm interested to see who becomes the starting NT.

Tandler says that Ziggy (6'3, 305) & Ioannidis (6' 3, 308) weren't effective at NT last year because they weren't big enough.

But, Joey Mbu (6' 3, 310) is only talked about as NT (not DE). Stacy McGee (6' 3, 310) has also played NT. Both are listed heavily right now in the NT discussion.

Seems a little weird to me that 2-5 pounds can really swing the balance in being "big enough" to play the position.

I read that Tomsula preferred big NT's, not the Jay Ratliff type that shoots the gaps???
If that's the case, then we're probably down to
Phil Taylor (335 lbs)
AJ Francis (325 lbs)
Ondre Pipkins (330 lbs)

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

I'm interested to see who becomes the starting NT.

Tandler says that Ziggy (6'3, 305) & Ioannidis (6' 3, 308) weren't effective at NT last year because they weren't big enough.

But, Joey Mbu (6' 3, 310) is only talked about as NT (not DE). Stacy McGee (6' 3, 310) has also played NT. Both are listed heavily right now in the NT discussion.

Seems a little weird to me that 2-5 pounds can really swing the balance in being "big enough" to play the position.

I read that Tomsula preferred big NT's, not the Jay Ratliff type that shoots the gaps???
If that's the case, then we're probably down to
Phil Taylor (335 lbs)
AJ Francis (325 lbs)
Ondre Pipkins (330 lbs)

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

If Tandler and Tomsula are right, then I'd say we still don't have a serviceable NT. Phil Taylor having a comeback season is probably our best bet but I don't recall hearing any encouraging comments about Phil from Redskins coaches.

Not sure I get the NT concern, seems like a lot of fretting over a guy who's probably going to play 15-20 snaps at best.

Not sure I get the NT concern, seems like a lot of fretting over a guy who's probably going to play 15-20 snaps at best.

I respectfully disagree. I think there is a huge NT concern if the defense stays at 3-4.

The narrative goes that the defense is only in base 3-4 fifteen to twenty snaps a game, or 15 to 20 percent of snaps; I have seen the amount referenced both ways in print and heard it both ways on espn980.

Without a true NT, we have sub standard personnel on the field for that percentage of snaps.

What other position could we use sub-standard personnel as a band aid for 15-2- snaps a game? What if we used a really fast safety or LB for 15-20 snaps a game as a nickle corner?

The argument wouldn't be that we are using him for a limited number of snaps so we should not fret about it. The safety or LB would be exploited.

The two scenarios aren't analogous but similar. The main difference would be the ability of the couch potato to see the personnel weakness. With the safety or LB in coverage, we would all see the glaring weakness. With an end trying to play nose, it would take a knowledgeable fan to see the guard, who should be tied up with a mountain of a NT, killing the ILB on a run.

The point is, why play a scheme we don't have the personnel for, for any number of snaps?

Would it be good coaching to go heavy personnel last season with DJax and Crowder playing two of the TE positions as long as it was just for a few snaps?

How many snaps per game is it ok to have sub-standard personnel on the field?