Springs at Nickel Back?
 

From the Washington Post:

[QUOTE]Williams, who is known for using multiple cornerbacks in his defensive schemes, doesn't believe in designating a top cornerback. Instead, Williams will generally place Smoot on the left side and Springs on the right side while occasionally basing their matchups against opposing receivers on physical attributes. In third-down passing situations, Springs switches to nickel back and Walt Harris plays right cornerback. [/QUOTE]

Why wouldn't Harris just play nickel back when he comes in?

I've heard that many teams have put their biggest WRs in the slot. Might be why Springs moves inside to the nickelback spot; don't know.

Yeah the size factor is sort of what I was thinking. Or decision making ability. Traffic is different in third and long and maybe Springs works better from the middle in that kind of traffic. More decisions have to be made by guys in the middle and he might be better at decision-making on the field than Harris.

[QUOTE=jermus22]I've heard that many teams have put their biggest WRs in the slot. Might be why Springs moves inside to the nickelback spot; don't know.[/QUOTE]

that does happen a lot (happens in ESPN 2k5 ;)), but i've read that its true to life, Coles does line up in the slot on 3WR formations.

the slot WR is the hardest to cover.
the slot receiver is usually off the line of scrimmage so the DB cant get a jam. they just have to run with the WR.
also, the slot WR can run any route. they are not limited by the sidelines as the others are.

so williams is pretty much saying springs is the better cover corner.

btw, why is W.Harris still on the team? can we count on him playing well enough in the regular season? i know he has a million dollar contract but he hasnt played yet.

[QUOTE=jamf]btw, why is W.Harris still on the team? can we count on him playing well enough in the regular season? i know he has a million dollar contract but he hasnt played yet.[/QUOTE]

Because without him we have Ade Jimoh and Rashad Bauman in the nickel spots.

...yikes.

Springs also has good size, which means that he could cover big tightends better when he's lined up in the middle.

Again, I think this just demonstrates the difference between the current coaches and the past regimes (Marty and Norv included). Instead of being locked into schemes & systems and forcing players to play to the system, Gibbs and co. have an outline of how they will play ball but then modify the outline to the players on hand - maximizing the ability of the player.

I don't know why or what the justification for moving Springs to nickleback on third down is - all of the reasons given seem both credible, thought out and practical (proving once again the knowledge of this board). They may be right or not, only Williams knows.

What seems clear to me, however, is that Williams has a system, analyzed his personnel, thought it through, modified the system to the players, has a plan for putting players in situations where they can excel and is teaching the players how to be disciplined and play to there capabilities every play.

I don't think Spurrier made past step 1 of that analysis, Schotty didn't go past step two, and Norv forgot about that whole discipline thing.

Another thought regarding the use of Springs in the nickel spot is that Williams likes to blitz the nickelback frequently, and considers the bigger, more physical Springs better suited for that role than any of the corners. This is true not just in the sense that Springs may be better able to get to the quarterback, but also in that he could be more adept at escaping blockers to shut down wide running plays before they get outside the slot.

Before everyone gets carried away and nominates Coach Williams for MENSA membership, the defensive coordinators here in Washington in the last five years have been pretty good.

Marvin Lewis has been known to put a good defense on the field.

Mike Nolan is working out pretty well himself albeint not in DC.

Maybe - just maybe - the problem has not been all with the coaching staffs. Maybe some overhyped or over-aged or overly egotistical players made the defenses in prior years unworthy of some fancy nickname.

In fact, now that I think of it, given the age on some of the previous defenses and all the complaining we heard and the predominance of the color burgandy in the uniforms, maybe those defenses should be known collectively as

The Vintage Whiners.

Just a thought...

Don't forget Ray Rhodes.

Curmudgeon, Vintage Whiners, amusing, funny even...

I noticed you left off George Edwards from that list of great defensive coordinators of Redskins lore. The prevailing sentiment I believe on this board, and one I agree with, is that we've had some very good defensive coordinators in the past years. And certainly lack of consistency in keeping the same coordinator is something that has hurt the team as a whole and players such as LaVar.

But Mike Nolan, from an era long ago, was not one of them. Not while he was here at least and George Edwards, well good for him for getting a shot but he looked totally lost. So forgive me, and anyone else, if we're more than a little excited about having a solid, proven defensive coordinator in Gregg Wiliams with talented players such as lavar, washington, and taylor (among others) for hopefully the next several years.

Yeah, I think it's safe to say most of us would be elated to still have the likes of Marvin Lewis or Ray Rhodes here as defensive coordinators, but things didn't work out that way, so we're delighted to have a guy like Gregg Williams instead.

And by the way, though Williams has yet to prove his genius with this particular group of players, I wouldn't rule out that MENSA membership quite yet. This guy's as cerebral as they come. He's the kind of guy I could imagine walking off the practice field and sitting down with Gary Kasparov for an afternoon chess match... just to keep his mind fresh.

Having said that, I'm still not convinced that Williams' intellect, savvy and ingenuity will be enough to overcome the critical deficiencies along the defensive line. Given the situation there, if Williams is able to put this defense in the top 10 this season, go ahead and give him his MENSA card.

If they make top 5, Williams deserves a Nobel Prize or something.

Lewis and Rhodes were both quality DC's but unfortunately the merry go round at the head coach spot didn't let them establish any continuity here. Plus let's face it Lewis was just holding out for the HC spot that he definitely deserved. Nolan wasn't quite the DC that he is now and Edwards, ummm let's not go there.

Williams track record speaks for itself and he can match resumes with the best of the league's defensive coordinators. Yes the d-line is still a concern but can anyone name starters from the Bills d-line last year when they ranked #2 overall?

Williams will have this defense in the top 15.