The Defense Only Thread

Maybe they shouldn't have split up half the team for the last preaseason game, whatever idiot made that decision...

My only thoughts are.....


We bypassed on Wade Phillips for this bum of a defensive coach Joe Barry?
Who the fuck thought going into the season with having Golston as your starting NT was a good idea? He's a career backup.
We currently have a practice squad guy who'll be seeing a lot of time on the DL this season. I question our defensive off-season moves.


I agree with all of this. I never understood the Joe Barry hire, unless nobody else wanted the job.
What frustrates the shit out me so far in 2016 is the lack of doing the basics right. Our zone defense is the perfect example and we suck at it. You play zone up to a certain point in the play,then cover a man. I am seeing receivers get released, left wide open, at the worst time so the defender can cover an empty part of the field. Releasing your zone to cover a receiver right before the qb throws it is basic football. On a pass play the goal is to cover players, not form a pretty pattern of defenders on the field. That is shitty coaching.

I know last year we blitzed less than any team in the league? Is that still true?

PFF for last year has the following:

11th ranking for highest percent of blitz per drop back (32.57%)
3rd ranking for creating pressure off a blitz (seattle and car were 1 and 2)
22nd ranking for pressure with out blitzing

https://www.profootballfocus.com/team-blitzing/

I dont know about this year's stats to date. I was surprised we had such a high and effective blitz number for last year.

Next year I'd want our defensive starters to be:

CB - Norman and Breeland
S - Hall and Cravens
OLB - Smith and Kerrigan
MLB - Draft Pick/FA and Draft Pick/FA
DE - Murphy and Baker
NT - Draft Pick/FA

We will also need players for depth in the front 7 and work on finding a replacement for Hall. I'd say this year or next is his last here. So that's 3 new starters plus depth guys. There is a lot of work to do on D still. Hopefully we have 1 hell of an off season and draft.

I know it may suck right now but gotta keep the focus on the long run. SM didn't come here to do a quick reload. He's trying to build for long term success.

This. I think most of us under exaggerated, myself included, how many holes were on this team when he got here. It takes time to build a great 53 man roster and get them to play well together.

I will say, At least our defense has yet to completely run away from a rookie receiver the way Dallas ran away from Doctson.

Anyone hear how Spaight is doing? He had concussion symptoms and was out Sunday. I really hope the guy can be healthy and see the field (in that order). I have high hopes for him, but the health concern seems very real.

I'd be curious for the assessment of our safety play. I don't have much of a feel for whether DHall has taken command of the position or how Bruton is doing.

Anyone hear how Spaight is doing? He had concussion symptoms and was out Sunday. I really hope the guy can be healthy and see the field (in that order). I have high hopes for him, but the health concern seems very real.

Responding to my own post -- love this kid, and I hope he bounces back quickly:

Martrell Spaight Remaining Patient Before Full-Go Return (http://www.redskins.com/news/article-1/Martrell-Spaight-Remaining-Patient-Before-Full-Go-Return/177f2d71-42e2-4d65-9775-34662a202881)

Anyone hear how Spaight is doing? He had concussion symptoms and was out Sunday. I really hope the guy can be healthy and see the field (in that order). I have high hopes for him, but the health concern seems very real.

From Tandler:

Martrell Spaight said that stress and other factors may have triggered concussion like symptoms. Has been cleared for contact.
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