Defense: Biggest Questions Going into Camp

[Chico23231]

Lets talk a completely rebuilt defense with multiple new starters and coaches.
What questions do you have, what will you be watching in camp/preseason?

1. Position battles: ILB, CB opposite Norman, NT, 3-4 OLB opposite Kerrigan. WOW!!!!! certainly the drama in camp will be the defense. IMO, I think starting CB opposite Norman will be the most important because we got effing crushed there last year. I also think it is crucial for the defense, Zach Brown and Mason Foster find a way to start and play along side one another.

2. Can we get off the field on 3rd down? Pathetic last year...we were league worst. I'm looking at nickel defense strategy from the new coaching staff because we must adjust in order to improve overall as a team.

3. Did we get better up the middle of the defense with our new talent? On paper, yes. We must be a better tackling team, we must be better against the run at point of attack, we must get better penetration within our interior d-line.


I could list at least 5 more topics of...(can we finally take a step at Safety with 2 new starters? can Junior Gallette finally deliver?, bigger impact from Alabama Allen or Anderson?, New coaching staff? etc.)

What are you watching?

[GridIron26]

Good thread! I actually think our defense will be improved, even with all those questions.. Of course it all depends on chemistry the defense have, if all click together then I can see the defense becoming top 15 in NFL, we still have ways to go before becoming top 10.

I honestly believe (or hope?) Breeland will perform well this season, he had bad season last year. But with new coach in Gray, a year of learning from Norman, better focus and this is contract year for him - I think Breeland will perform well. I am more curious to see how safeties will play this season. Out of all positions, I am not concerned about CBs. Our middle LBs and D-Line are questionable, although I imagine most if not all will be answered in preseason.

[Schneed10]

Yeah Chico these are awesome threads. Gets us focused on 2017 and away from the Cousins saga. Time to move on and think about the present.

My eyes are on all things pass rush. If you want to get off the field on 3rd down you have to bother the QB, basic tenet of football. So I'm watching Jonathan Allen, because if we get the interior penetration then we improve by leaps and bounds. We already had decent edge play, and it could be better. But the interior penetration is where we'd really be adding something we didn't have before.

And I'm watching Junior Galette, Ryan Anderson, and Preston Smith. You know what you get from Kerrigan. The question is can you get a consistent threat from the other side? I think my eyes are on Galette the most, because everybody else is a power rusher. Ryan Anderson, Preston Smith, Trent Murphy; they have good hands, solid length, and the strength to get to the QB. But it doesn't happen very quickly. Even Kerrigan wins with power more than he does speed. We need somebody that can get there in an instant. Win off the edge so quickly that the QB never has a chance. That would be new for us.

After all this time the player with the potential to make the biggest impact for us is still Junior Galette. I will be scanning reports every day to find out how Galette looks vs Trent.

[Chico23231]

Would be a great story..bit of a redemption story for JG if he can come in and make an impact. Im really hoping they focus on building strength with the leg, foot right now. I think technique will come around. I like what I heard from Keim the other week, that JG is right now a pass rushing specialist. Its good to give him a role and a limited workload to build upon....slowly let him come along. Who knows, by end of November he could be full blown starter, playing all downs. Our depth at OLB is solid.

[hilker09]

Interesting side note...I always see JG and my initial thought is Joe Gibbs, not Junior Galette or Jon Gruden. Old habits die hard...

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[MTK]

There's no doubt the D should be improved this year, if only for the fact the bar is set so low coming off last year. How all the new pieces come together will be the biggest question.

[CRedskinsRule]

If the D can come together as a unit, not a bunch of individuals we should be much better. I'm not thrilled with the DC, but I think the talent is a lot better than they played last year.

[Schneed10]

Have to mention safety, too. Swearinger should be a definite upgrade, he's got some range and has played well of late. The big question is Cravens. If he plays well too then the secondary becomes quite a bit better. Can he stay healthy?

[over the mountain]

Excited. Excited to see the top 3 draft picks, Cravens, Swearinger and Galette. Another year of Josh Norman. I think Bree has a bounce back year. See what Zach Brown brings. Kerrigan may benefit the most by having more weapons and looks now.

Pts against I could see us middle of the pack but I expect to be top 10 in turnovers forced and scoring.



I'm going to be honest with you: This shit is going to get really ugly. Because I do have a safety that don't give a fuck and I definitely don't.

Josh Norman, the NFL's Last True Warrior, Is Ready to Let 'All Hell Break Loose' | Bleacher Report

[metalskins]

I'm very excited about the defense this year. I think it is vastly improved and I hope we see this on third down. Any improvement on that down is a vast improvement from last year.

I also want to see some run stopping on a consistent basis. I don't want to see 5 or 6 yard runs at will. I want 3 yards to be the hardest yards the opposing offense has ever been able to get. I'm expecting the defense to be a lot more aggressive as well.

[sdskinsfan2001]

Will Breeland ball out in his contract season? That will be awesome for us this year.

[sdskinsfan2001]

Will Mason Foster and/or Zach Brown learn to call plays, so our 2 best ILBs start week 1?

[FrenchSkin]

Originally Posted by sdskinsfan2001

Will Mason Foster and/or Zach Brown learn to call plays, so our 2 best ILBs start week 1?

That to me is a huge question.

I'm expecting a lot from our improved secondary.

I'm also expecting defensive coaching to be a lot better.
Not talking about play calling, just coaches doing what it takes to make player buy into their defense and play it 100%, do their job, know their playbook and do what they're supposed to do!

Hope Manusky and his staff can do that! Blown assignments were a pain in the ass last year!

[Chico23231]

Originally Posted by FrenchSkin

That to me is a huge question.

I'm expecting a lot from our improved secondary.

I'm also expecting defensive coaching to be a lot better.
Not talking about play calling, just coaches doing what it takes to make player buy into their defense and play it 100%, do their job, know their playbook and do what they're supposed to do!

Hope Manusky and his staff can do that! Blown assignments were a pain in the ass last year!

Blown assignments seemed like part of the Barry strategy last year. How else do you explain constantly giving up 3rd and 15 1st downs? It happened time and time again.

[FrenchSkin]

Originally Posted by Chico23231

Blown assignments seemed like part of the Barry strategy last year. How else do you explain constantly giving up 3rd and 15 1st downs? It happened time and time again.

We also have to acknowledge Whitner's contribution to our impressive blown assignments achievement. He brought a LOT to the table in terms of having absolutely no idea what he was supposed to do on the field!