While most focus on the O, the D is doing just fine.

[@DCGoldPants]

By Mark Maske

Washington Post Staff Writer

Wednesday, August 14, 2002; Page D01

CARLISLE, Pa., Aug. 13 -- Coach Steve Spurrier's offense has garnered most of the attention during the Washington Redskins' first two preseason games, but the fortified starting defense has quietly been equally impressive in very limited action.

"We expect nothing less than greatness, man," middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter said between the club's two training-camp practices today at Dickinson College. "Nothing less.''

The Carolina Panthers totaled only 13 yards in two full series against the starters in a 37-30 loss on Saturday despite the absence of end Bruce Smith and cornerback Champ Bailey and the San Francisco 49ers were held to 35 yards by the starters in a 38-7 loss.

"When we've been in the game for a full series, nobody has scored on us," linebacker LaVar Arrington said today. "That's pretty encouraging to me. The more game conditions we get in, the more reps we take, that's something we'll continue to build on."

The defense most often has gotten the better of the offense during camp, and the Redskins have seen many encouraging signs. Arrington, Trotter and Jessie Armstead appear to be the energetic, potentially dominant linebackers the Redskins envisioned. Now the defense can begin focusing on the play of its reserves, who surrendered two long touchdown plays against Carolina, a 61-yard run by rookie tailback DeShaun Foster and a 74-yard pass from quarterback Randy Fasani to wide receiver Anthony Bright.

"It's disappointing," defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis said. "That's not what you're supposed to do. You can't play defense and give up big plays, explosive plays. Luckily our offense bailed us out. But you can't have that happen very often, give up two explosive plays in an NFL game and win it. You've got to eliminate those things. Generally that's 11 guys doing things. It's not one guy getting broken down or run by. We had some guys not do their jobs correctly, and we've got to eliminate that."

The Panthers' long touchdown pass came when reserve cornerback Mark Washington slipped and fell on a third-quarter play. But some starters were on the field for Foster's long run in the second quarter, as Lewis hurriedly shuttled his first-team defense back into the game Saturday to work on some apparent passing situations.

"Guys were just a little lackadaisical, in my opinion," Arrington said. "We'd been sitting around. There's really no excuse. You get in the game, you have to make a play. We were where we needed to be. We had various opportunities to make the tackle. We just didn't."

At least the reserves vindicated themselves by providing the game-winning play, when Ifeanyi Ohalete deflected a pass by Carolina quarterback Mike Watkins on a safety blitz and defensive end Carl Powell ran 21 yards for a touchdown with the interception.

There are other encouraging signs: Rookie Rashad Bauman looks capable of giving the Redskins a fourth cornerback with fine coverage skills to go with Bailey, Fred Smoot and Darrell Green. Recently signed tackle Daryl Gardener has looked overpowering at times, and he and Dan Wilkinson could make it difficult for opposing offensive lines to block Trotter.

"With those guys up there, that will add about three or four years to my career," Trotter said. "I'm appreciating the front office and those two guys, too."

The depth at linebacker has allowed Lewis to use Arrington differently. In passing situations Saturday, Arrington lined up at left end, Renaldo Wynn shifted from left end to tackle and youngster Ladairis Jackson -- who had four sacks against the 49ers -- rushed from right end, with Smith sidelined. That is part of Lewis's plan to get Arrington more involved in pass-rushing packages, and Arrington said today he believes the alignment will produce sacks for him or for his teammates if opposing blockers focus on him.

"I know guys are going to be gunning for me and they don't want to see me do this and see me do that," said Arrington, who sacked Panthers quarterback Chris Weinke on Carolina's first series. "If they're going to do that, then we're going to have other guys that get open. I'm a team player."

Bailey has returned to practice this week after sitting out Saturday's game because of a dislocated pinkie finger suffered last week. Smith might play in Sunday's preseason home opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FedEx Field after proceeding cautiously in the early stages of camp following two offseason knee surgeries. The Redskins' major concerns now are staying healthy and developing depth. Gardener suffered from back spasms today, and the inevitable injuries that come with life in the NFL mean that the Redskins must be able to rely on backups such as Powell, Jackson, tackle Donovan Arp and Bauman.

"We've got to develop some other guys," Lewis said. "The problem with that is that guys press and do too much to try to make you notice them instead of just doing their jobs. Hopefully we can eliminate that."

© 2002 The Washington Post Company

[Carlito Sway]

Some Skin friendly hacker squash this link.

Let everyone sleep on the real - proven, that is - strength of this team so every other team won't know what hit 'em.

And hit 'em hard, bwoi.

:cool: