Jump to content
Washington Football Team Logo
Extremeskins
Forum Rules and Guidelines

BLOG: Is The Swagger Back?

Om

By Om
in The Stadium

Recommended Posts

Om

Om

Posted
Posted

BLOG: Is the Swagger Back?

Mark Steven

8/23/07

Preseason: Game #2

Steelers 12

Redskins 10

Don't look now, but the swagger may be back.

You remember the swagger. It's what defined the Washington Redskins, through an elite, attacking defense, in the "Hi, my name is--" year of 2004 and the "Did they really just come within a couple plays of the NFC title game?" year of 2005. And which went AWOL in the "What the [heck] happened?" year of 2006.

Well, it's early, but for those watching carefully, it's hard not to look at what the defense has done in 2007 and be, at the very least, intrigued.

I'm not a numbers guy generally (particularly in preseason), but I thought I'd take a quick look to see if anything jumped out. It did. Enough so that I then took a look back at the 2006 preseason, to try to put this year's early returns in context with a little comparison shopping:

1) In going 0-4 in the 2006 preseason, the Redskins scored a grand total of 27 points (6.75 avg.) and allowed 104 (26 avg.). The minus-77 differential was by far the worst in the NFL (N.O. Saints, -34). The Redskins weren't just losing, they were getting manhandled. Through the first two weeks of the 2007 preseason, Washington's point differential is +6; scoring 12 per game and allowing nine.

2) Visions of opposing running backs romping through the Redskin secondary last year still haunt you? Turns out the 2006 preseason offered an indication of what was to come. Washington finished 30th against the run, allowing 149 ypg. (4.3 avg.). Halfway through the 2007 preseason, they rank 9th, allowing 92.5 ypg. (2.8 avg.)

3) When the dust finally cleared at the end of the 2006 preseason, Washington ranked 31st in the league in the only defensive statistical category that matters at the end of the day--scoring. Halfway through the 2007 preseason, they stand 2nd. The 18 they've allowed are second only to the 16 conceded by this week's opponent, the Baltimore Ravens.

4) In the opening halves of the first two games this year, with primarily first-teamers playing, the 2007 Redskins have allowed 6 points (two field goals) through two games. Last year at this time, the first unit had surrendered 29.

Not into stats? Don't blame you--as noted, I'm generally not either. But I am into keeping old game tapes around, even some from preseason (a quality my wife finds particularly endearing).

Seeking out further confirmation of what I thought I was seeing in 2007, I dug out a tape of last year's 41-0 obliteration at the hands of the Patriots in Week 3, the "dress rehearsal" week of preseason, where starters tend to play the longest and teams supposedly take opponent-based preparation the most seriously.

I wanted to see if the dramatic shift in the "feel" I think I'm seeing in this defense was real or wishful thinking.

It's real.

The stats were bad enough that day. 464 yards allowed (294 passing, 170 rushing). In the first half alone, the starters were rolled for 228, giving up drives of 11 plays for 42 yards and a field goal, 4 plays for 80 yards and a touchdown, 9 plays for 67 yards and a touchdown, 8 plays for 24 yards and another field goal.

Worse was how they gave them up. They looked slow. They looked disorganized. They blew assignments, missed tackles and committed penalties that extended drives. Most damning, at times they just looked plain disinterested. Remember?

Contrast that with what we have seen this year. If last year's enduring preseason mental image is of Tom Brady scanning the defense, making adjustments and repeatedly burning a slow-reacting, arm-tackling, often bewildered-looking collection of guys, this year it's of the swarming, gang-tackling, fist-pumping unit that turned Pittsburgh away in the red zone Saturday night, time and time again, once again dictating play instead of reacting to it.

This group looks like they're having fun again. Like they know where they're supposed to be and will bust a gut getting there. Like they've bought into the coach, the system and one another. And they're playing with an edge.

A swagger, if you will.

Does any of this guarantee the 2007 defense will return to its 2004-05 form? Unfortunately, no--the real world doesn't work that way. It does, however, strongly suggest that somebody, somewhere, flipped the proverbial light-switch back on.

If this continues a couple more weeks, and the defense faces off against the Miami Dolphins at FedExField on September 9 playing with the kind of hunger they've exhibited so far, things are going to get interesting around here in a hurry .......

CLICK HERE to read the rest of this update.

:helmet:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
SkinsGuy

SkinsGuy

Posted
Posted
Definately a better start!

Now the offense needs to catch up and show some enthusiasm! :thumbsup:

The offense is usually behind the defense in preseason, but I think our 'O' will be fine once all the pieces are together.

We haven't had Portis or Samuels in the preseason.

Betts hasn't played much. Nor has Moss.

Lloyd missed a week. Wade is sitting. Campbell left early last week.

These guys should all be ready for the regular season start against Miami.

NIce article, OM. :cheers:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
JRAB

JRAB

Posted
Posted

Nice read. It's nice to hear someone at least say that preseason means something. That's what I kept saying last year and it was like talking to a wall.

Scores don't really matter... but how they look, the continuity, etc., does.

I think this week will tell us a lot. Our offense hasn't looked that good and like someone already said, offeses are behind defenses usually at this point in preseason. What that means to me is that Pittsburgh might have been off a little on offense, particularly with a new staff for the first time in years. Our stopping them might be more smoke and mirrors than anything else. Maybe not though.

Either way, this week against the Ravens should let us know a little about where we are... not because of the score... but because of how we look in the third week, unit against unit, with one of the better teams in the NFL.

I hope our defense still looks stout. It really could against the ravens. If our offense looks good against that defense... that will really tell us we're improving offensively.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
PapaDRoc

PapaDRoc

Posted
Posted

"Finally--and I say this quietly since you never know when Fate might be listening--could Jason Campbell's avoiding what appeared to be a season-ending knee injury, with all that would have meant to this team and its fans, mean that the gridiron gods have finally tired of toying with the Washington Redskins? Could it be, at long last, that we have served our time? "

This is so funny because the same thought went through my head Sunday morning. Could it be destiny that Campbell plays this season, that it isn't meant for him to get hurt and for the Skins to be (yet again) devestated with a huge season ending injury before the season has even started?

:whoknows:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Oldfan

Oldfan

Posted
Posted
This group looks like they're having fun again. Like they know where they're supposed to be and will bust a gut getting there. Like they've bought into the coach, the system and one another. And they're playing with an edge.

A swagger, if you will.

Unlike the offense, where players must stay under control in order to be precise, a defense is better when the players' emotions are stoked and they're flying to the football.

It's fun to watch too, isn't it?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
TheLongshot

TheLongshot

Posted
Posted

Actually, your last comment is something I was thinking of talking about. With all the teeth gnashing going on over the O-Line, when you get down to the bottom of things, the only player we have lost for a significant amount of time is a guy who was, at best, going to be the #5 WR. We've been very fortunate that the injuries to Samuels, Campbell and Washington are all relatively minor and probably won't stop any of them from starting in the opener. It could have been far worse and rather than assigning blame, we should thank the football Gods.

Jason

Link to comment
Share on other sites
CalSkinsFan

CalSkinsFan

Posted
Posted

Good read, as always.

So far so good in the "luck" department as far as injuries are concerned ... it appears all starters are good to go for week 1 (knock on wood).

Last year was just about as bad as it gets, here's praying for some good fortune this season :fingersx: .

HTTR.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
cuchip703

cuchip703

Posted
Posted

A very good read. Its nice to know, or have a feeling that the defense will be the same one I was used to and not that crap that we saw last year. Will keep us in a lot more games this year and hopefully back to the post season. A Swagger is always a nice thing to have

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Lombardi's_kid_brother

Lombardi's_kid_brother

Posted
Posted

Last year the Redskins ranked 26th in Adjusted Swagger + at .751. The Ravens led the league with 1.21. *

Surprisingly, the Redskins were 9th in Confidence Factor at .455. The Patriots were tops at .601. **

Where we really suffered though was Ball Flyingness Equivalent by coming in 31st at .332. Only Cleveland was worse. ***

* These numbers are fake.

** These too

*** I made these up as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
fnkdctr(007)

fnkdctr(007)

Posted
Posted

True the D is back baby. Capitol Punishment is back.

The Grim Reaper is collecting recievers and putting them to rest.

Rocky is knockin fools out like Russian boxers.

Carter is bringing the pressure

Dbs got it covered

the d tackles are absorbing blockers

Fletchers running the whole thing

hELL THE WHOLE UNIT IS DOING THEIR THING. iNJURIES ASIDE

WE WILL KICK SOME PROBERBIAL booooooooty

The Good Dr. prescribes two refreshers every 4-6 hours or as needed.

Remember to always seek the advice of a pro before changing doses or stopping the sweet meds.

:cheers:

?****tails Anyone?

Cause I've already drank the COOL-AID (kool aid)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
gortiz

gortiz

Posted
Posted

just a precaution,

in our 2005 preseason, Mark Bulger and Torry Holt put on an offensive display that was, well, from another world. Our defense looked TOOTHLESS.

I remember thinking we were in for a long, long, year. I don't have to restate how we did once the games counted, especially on D. So, if we happen to take a step back in the Ravens game on defense, don't jump just yet, keep your cool, and wait for Miami.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Ellis

Ellis

Posted
Posted

Yes, what I've been able to smile about more than anything else concerning this defense is the fact that they're only allowing Field Goals. No TD's so far. The Red Zone defense has been great... even by the guys who most likely will NEVER get on the team.

One drive in particular that stands out in my mind was the 4th quarter Steelers drive. They must have had at least 8 tries to get that ball in the endzone from inside the 5 yard line and they just couldn't get it done.

This defense is back. The Skins defense of 2004 and 2005 is back. And I'm so happy.

Now that Oline...? man... a lot can happen between now and the start of the season so let's look forward to the Skins snagging a guy or two.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...