Redskins trade for Free Safety Dashon Goldson

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by Defensewins

D. Hall is a pretty smart and experienced veteran DB. There ain't much he has not seen or cannot handle scheme wise, other then having to be extremely physical. In terms of a solution, I meant it just for next season until we draft/develop a young FS center fielder. Depending on what Goldson can do in our scheme, we may not have a legit ball hawk FS at this time. I have a feeling our new GM will address this need of a young FS somewhere. We just need a quick, cheap, temporary plug at FS at this season, even if it is two or three guys (Goldson & D. Hall) for the short term.
We are miles ahead talent wise to where we have been the last few years, where we were devoid of talent.

I absolutely agree that he is a smart and experienced as a corner. As Goldson demonstrates, and as FRPLG indicates, safety is very scheme/skill specific and Hall may or may not be capable of being the last line of defense. Hall may recognize all sorts things, but his ability to recognize where he - as the safety - should provide help is a very different type of scheme experience.

Look, I like Hall - a lot. I think he is a rock solid CB even as he slows down. Hell, he may actually improve as a CB as he relies less on his physical abilities and perfects his technique. In the past, he has taken a lot of risks b/c he had the physical ability to recover. Not so much anymore. Watching him the last couple years, it seemed to me he became more technically sound in both on and off man coverage. Still, he has the instincts and mentality of a CB and being on the island. I just think asking him to be the ball-hawking, last line of defense, centerfielder - even w/out expecting physicality - is not something he is either familiar with or likely to be successful doing except in spot duty.

I think you have nailed the perfect time to use D. Hall as a spot-safety, to provide deep cover. At the same time, not sure you play Goldson close to the line in any situation which may require him to drop into coverage - if you do, then you are scheming failure as T.Bay did.