Andre Looks Completely Lost At LB.

[KingGibbs]

I think some of you guys are jumping the gun. The Skins came out Friday night, overly aggressive. And this led to players not playing their gaps. That can be fixed. But what I liked about the defense is that the pressure they put on Trent Edwards, causing him too throw early. We got a glimpse of the 3-4 defense. And we haven't seen the defensive players moving around before the snap yet.

Just relax.

Umm. I think you are the one that needs to relax grasshopper. It's been a great conversation thus far and this is what Monday morning QB's do. I don't see anything indicating panic.

Have you let the fact that his previous stint at LB was one that led to him being moved to DE slip your mind? Have you forgotten that it has been well documented that even Andre has voiced his concerns playing LB.

I pointed out that there were a lot of positives from the game and just because I pointed out a reasonable concern doesn't mean I think we are doomed. K?

[maskedsuperstar]

The Redskins probably lead the league in playing people out of their position. I don't like seeing Orakpo as a LB either. I do believe that most of his sacks, if not all, came when he was playing the DE position. This whole experiment is going to bite the skins in the ass soon.

Look, stop being the coach. Haslett will let Orakpo go after the QB. What you see in preseason, is not what you will see in the regular season. Relax.

[maskedsuperstar]

Umm. I think you are the one that needs to relax grasshopper. It's been a great conversation thus far and this is what Monday morning QB's do. I don't see anything indicating panic.

Have you let the fact that his previous stint at LB was one that led to him being moved to DE slip your mind? Have you forgotten that it has been well documented that even Andre has voiced his concerns playing LB.

I pointed out that there were a lot of positives from the game and just because I pointed out a reasonable concern doesn't mean I think we are doomed. K?

[z0eboy]

Some said the same about Green Bay and Denver. But they finished in the top 10 in defense. "this team does not have the personnel to run the 3-4" is simply ridiculous. The problem is that we don't like change. And if you think the Skins had championship defense last year, you are wrong.

3-4 defense does what a 4-3 defense can't. Keep the QB guessing.

It's sad ... we now have a REAL NFL COACHING STAFF ... ES members continue to regress and start negative vibes ... this thread is negative imo and its just preseaon ... thats when real coaches want to fine tune things ... not show the league how big ur chest is ...

[SkinsCrushCowboys]

he was trapped several times and struggled with the 3-4....he will be exploited in the future.

[KingGibbs]

Some said the same about Green Bay and Denver. But they finished in the top 10 in defense. "this team does not have the personnel to run the 3-4" is simply ridiculous. The problem is that we don't like change. And if you think the Skins had championship defense last year, you are wrong.

3-4 defense does what a 4-3 defense can't. Keep the QB guessing.

I started this thread because of my concern with one position on defense and not the defense as a whole. I also listed why I was concerned about the position. I'm not that concerned about the defense as a whole, but when you have a guy that is unsure as Andre seemed to be, it can lead to big gains, thus making the whole defense look bad.

BTW. I'm pretty certain that most knowledgeable football fans realize that teams run basic formations in the preseason and don't show much. (See vanilla)

[KDawg]

It's sad ... we now have a REAL NFL COACHING STAFF ... ES members continue to regress and start negative vibes ... this thread is negative imo and its just preseaon ... thats when real coaches want to fine tune things ... not show the league how big ur chest is ...

To be honest, it's okay to have doubts. Chances are that our coaching staff already knows this is an issue at the moment. They are definitely going to try to fix it, but they aren't blind, either.

Their conversations behind closed doors aren't all rosey colored. I'm sure they have all sorts of issues/dilemmas, but they aren't going to voice that publicly.

[KingGibbs]

It's sad ... we now have a REAL NFL COACHING STAFF ... ES members continue to regress and start negative vibes ... this thread is negative imo and its just preseaon ... thats when real coaches want to fine tune things ... not show the league how big ur chest is ...

Oh I'm sorry. Hey guys! We have future Hall of Famers at every postition and we are going 19-0! Is that better?

It's fans like you that show a total lack of knowledge of the game and God forbid if we are addressing CONCERNS because we want the 'skins to succeed.

If you don't have anything to add to this topic then I suggest you find the uniform thread. That seems right up your alley,

[Hogisme]

I think the thread started as concern and digressed to Doom and Gloom...Its human nature to do this because we always expect the worse and hope for the best. I was certainly concerned about being gashed in the running game and the confusion which appeared with first team. It seems though, it is gap responsibility and being instinctive playing this defence is the problem, not the inability of a player to physically execute his responsibilities. We are reactive right now as a group but that is understandable. Cause for concern, yes! You could see it in Haslett"s face on the sideline...Two weeks from now after studying video tape, watching individuals perform in various roles, and putting in more packages we should be able to get a real sense of where we are headed. Cautiously optomistic...we will see:dallasuck

[KDawg]

I don't see this thread as doom and gloom at all. I see one or two posters who suggest that we can't adjust to the 3-4 and we're screwed. The rest seem to be having a good conversation about the OLB spot and possible ways to fix it.

That doesn't seem too doom and gloomish to me, but what do I know?

[z0eboy]

wow ... act ur age bro ...

[KingGibbs]

wow ... act ur age bro ...

Okay wise guy. Either you leave the thread or I'll ask the MODS to remove you.

[z0eboy]

I think the thread started as concern and digressed to Doom and Gloom...Its human nature to do this because we always expect the worse and hope for the best. I was certainly concerned about being gashed in the running game and the confusion which appeared with first team. It seems though, it is gap responsibility and being instinctive playing this defence is the problem, not the inability of a player to physically execute his responsibilities. We are reactive right now as a group but that is understandable. Cause for concern, yes! You could see it in Haslett"s face on the sideline...Two weeks from now after studying video tape, watching individuals perform in various roles, and putting in more packages we should be able to get a real sense of where we are headed. Cautiously optomistic...we will see:dallasuck

I SECOND THIS LOGICAL FOOTBALL REFERENCE (for the record I know for a FACT i z0eboy bring ALOT more football knowledge and credibility ... check NE AND ALL my threads)

[Fletch_Lives59]

1 game???............

[wrecker]

Let's remember everyone that this is the first live action of the preseason. This the first time our defense was allowed to tackle. Of course there were some growing pains. As long as we improve over the next 3 weeks we should be ok. Besides, our high powered offense will make up for some OLB mistakes until they catch on. :koolaid:

[panel]

We should have left the defense alone. The 3-4 is only valuable if you are one of only a few teams running it. Now there are too many team running it, it has lost it's "surprise" or "mystery" element.

[HBnotBlades]

I don't see this thread as doom and gloom at all. I see one or two posters who suggest that we can't adjust to the 3-4 and we're screwed. The rest seem to be having a good conversation about the OLB spot and possible ways to fix it.

That doesn't seem too doom and gloomish to me, but what do I know?

Agreed. Nobody labels people concerned about durability on the Oline as "doom and gloomers", I don't see what's different about this.

Anyway, this thread should get back on track. Did anyone notice how Gatewood looked on friday? He's more of a natural linebacker than Carter or Alexander, but he doesn't seem to have the ability to stick anywhere having been on five teams in the last three years.

Maybe we could get by with a mix of Carter, Alexander, McIntosh, Landry, Blades and Riley if the first two don't show improvement?

[The Rook]

Although I was struck by AC being caught in "no mans land" at the begining of the game, the rest of the LB's pretty much seemed to be confused also. The more it happened, the madder I got, until I fnally accepted that this was their first game-type situations. There is a big learning curve in responsibility - this is going to have growing pains.

It will be a learning curve for me also. I really want to see Rak, PD, Big Al and AC in a classic 4-3 Dline.

:helmet:The Rook

[wrecker]

From the WP:

"Our confidence level is pretty good right now," said defensive end Phillip Daniels.

Starters weren't happy that Buffalo was able to move the ball on its opening possession, but they also say the Redskins weren't pulling all their tricks out of their hat either.

"We just showed a little bit of stuff. Very vanilla," said Hall. "But we're happy about the success we had."

[zoony]

It's sad ... we now have a REAL NFL COACHING STAFF ... ES members continue to regress and start negative vibes ... this thread is negative imo and its just preseaon ... thats when real coaches want to fine tune things ... not show the league how big ur chest is ...

Zoeboy, what part of discussion forum is especially difficult?

It is fine for you to think everything is fine. It is also fine for others to think otherwise. That's where the discussion part comes in, and hence, the relevance of sites such as this one.

I thought maskedsuperstar, for instance, did a good job of laying out his disagreement with the OP.

I promise this internet stuff isn't that big a deal.

[JGordon_3]

We should have left the defense alone. The 3-4 is only valuable if you are one of only a few teams running it. Now there are too many team running it, it has lost it's "surprise" or "mystery" element.

So the 4-3 will "surprise" people? Has it "surprised" people the last 6-7 yrs when we are perennially in the bottom 10 of the league in turnovers forced?

I'm lost on the logic.

[redshirtguy#45]

So the 4-3 will "surprise" people? Has it "surprised people the last 6-7 yrs when we are perennially in the bottom 10 of the league in turnovers forced?

I'm lost on the logic.

you still need guys to make plays whatever the d alignment is. if guys drop picks, cant pick up forced fumbles, does it matter the style played? the hope i assume is getting more guys in position to make plays... strictly in ref to the turnover statement.

[December90]

My take with Andre Carter and Brian Orakpo at LB that the team was really running a 5-2 not a 3-4.

Both Carter and Orakpo are pass rushing DE's. Neither of them belongs covering anyone downfield.

That said my "coaching experience" is exactly 0 days while Shanahan and Haslett have been doing this for a while. Perhaps they know more about this than me:)

[KingGibbs]

We should have left the defense alone. The 3-4 is only valuable if you are one of only a few teams running it. Now there are too many team running it, it has lost it's "surprise" or "mystery" element.

Not sure where you are going with this one. If what you said were true the likes of the Ravens and Steelers wouldn't be a top 5-7 defense year in and year out. Why do you think that more teams are going with the 3-4? Because of the multitude of looks you can give and confuse the offense with.

[RFK Lives]

I am witholding judgement a little longer.

I can certainly appreciate the concerns brought up from Friday's contest but was encouraged since it was the first with live bullets. No scrimmage this year and only one intense practice a day without full pads.

If linebackers in coverage and biting on fakes continue into the 3rd week of preseason, then I might start to wring my hands a little bit. The Ravens have a pretty good tight end in Heap so we might get some hope or confirmation that there is a problem.