How to fix the Skins' Defense

Can the Redskins defense be fixed at this point? Is it personnel, is it scheme, is it both? I was completely frustrated yesterday, as I have been for the past few weeks with the run stopping and overall effort on defense. This was supposed to be the strength of the team. To give up close to 200 yds rushing over the past 4 games is crazy!

The Patriots were out of O lineman and had in their 3rd string TE as a lineman, yet out d line was still gashed for 9 to 10 runs at will.

How can we fix this? This is after all the team that was stout against the run at the beginning of the year.

You can't have a good defense if your offense doesn't do shit.

We had TWO turnovers yesterday and managed to come up with 3 points. We don't have a defense that can carry an inept offense. I don't get why this is so hard for people to understand.

Even teams with elite defenses like Seattle and the Jets must have some type of decent offensive output to keep them in games.

We need an in impact pass rusher in the worst way.

We need help at the safety positions and need a replacement for Riley at LB.

Joe Barry DC has been average at best...

One thing that was a glaring issue yesterday and it was really pissing me off is Jason Hatcher. His health (bad knees) is starting to severely effect his play. It looked like he was playing on skates yesterday. Even when it was one on one with an OL. He was doing the old grab the OL in front of him and not shed him.
He plays a lot of snaps (bad coaching decision) and he laid a big goose egg yesterday, NO TACKLES...NO Sacks. Not acceptable.
In his prime and when he was healthy he was a good player.....NOT anymore.
When they watch the film they will see it.
But I am surprised during the game they did not do anything about it. I could see it clearly and it was driving me nuts! More frustrating was when they brought Francios, Paea and Goldston, they were doing a good job. WTF!
I know Hatcher is a big, intimidating team leader, but there reaches a point in an older players career to accept a backup role or a specialized role Like Pass Rush specialist, like Jumpy Geathers did late in his career.
33 year old Jason Hatcher an dhis 40 year old knees (is) not an every down DL. Please get him the fuck off the starting line up. Getting a younger, healthy DL in his place will help immensely.

You can't have a good defense if your offense doesn't do shit.

We had TWO turnovers yesterday and managed to come up with 3 points. We don't have a defense that can carry an inept offense. I don't get why this is so hard for people to understand.

Even teams with elite defenses like Seattle and the Jets must have some type of decent offensive output to keep them in games.

Did you read the title of the thread? It's about the defense. The offense obviously has issues too. Maybe you can start a thread about that. lol.

To me it's more of a talent issue that can't be fixed until the offseason. These guys are not real good players. And leading the way is Hatcher, C. Golston, Riley, Murphy, Robinson and Ricky Jean. They're not getting the job done. And Kerrigan has been garbage in pass rush. If he's injured then get him off the field.

Hatcher plays one good game a year and that's it. What a waste of salary cap space. And Preston Smith needs to start making more plays.

The only guy on the front 7 that looks like a legit NFL player is Baker.

I would draft a corner, another ILB and two more guys on the line.

Injuries have played a big part, even now that we have a couple guys back, they aren't at 100%. We need a linebacker that can cover RBs out of the back field. I think the loss of Junior Galette has been huge. I think if we add a couple key pieces in the offseason and are able to stay healthy, this defense has the potential to be a top 10 D. No reason to blow it up or talk about firing the coordinator or anything silly like that.

1. re-examine our D line approach. Should Knighton, Hatcher, Paea, Baker be trying to penetrate the gaps or should they try and eat up the blockers to allow Robinson/Riley shoot the gaps?

It seems like every week we switch, which im sure is intentional based on our opponent but the front 7 is broken. No run D and no pressure for the past 4-5 games in a row.

2. better ILB - we can all see it. on run plays, the ILB are not shooting the gaps and are not coming off blocks to make plays. Poor angles, poor decisions. Ive seen Robinson and Riley hesitate to commit to a gap, waiting for the running back to decide and by that point you have O line guys coming up to make second level blocks.

Robinson and Riley need to be more aggressive and play on the other side of the LOS. They cant wait behind the line and hope the runner runs into them.

3. pass rusher - we need gallette and another stud pass rusher.

4. setting the edge on run plays - have to contain the outside runs to turn runners back inside. kerrigan and murphy/smith have to have outside leverage on the end blockers and trust Robinson/riley will fill the C gaps.

good news - all of this is fixable. We have money next offseason and can move on from hatcher and riley. We need to add 4 starters on D next year. OLB, DE, ILB, CB3.

Assuming we resign knighton, who i kinda think doesnt like the vibe here compared to denver but he wont really be missed.

Keenan Robinson is playing hurt, and he gets hurt too much. We really need alot of linebackers.

At least give credit for Robinson for playing hurt.