themurf Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 (photo by Brian Murphy) With apologies to defensive lineman Jarvis Jenkins or outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan, the defensive player I’m most excited to see take the field this season for the Washington Redskins is middle linebacker Perry Riley. Why? Because even though he was basically playing on adrenaline and instincts last season, he showed why the team selected him in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Even though he was still learning on the fly, once Riley was able to work his way onto the field, he proved early and often that has one thing you simply cannot teach — a nose for the football. Halfway through the 2011 season, Riley mercifully took over for ineffective linebacker Rocky McIntosh in the starting lineup and almost instantly, the gaping hole in the middle of Washington’s defense vanished. Consider this: during the first half of the season — when Riley was in a reserve role — the LSU product had just one tackle in eight games. Once he became a starter though, Riley responded with 34 tackles in his first three starts and finished the season with 68 tackles on the year (fourth best on the team). The 24-year-old came on so strong during the final eight games of ‘11, that Pro Football Focus has dubbed Riley “a secret superstar.” And they’re not the only ones who are raving about Riley. “I think Perry is going to be a heck of a football player,” said head coach Mike Shanahan. “He’s got natural instincts. He’s obviously a lot more comfortable with the system going into this year. He is a playmaker. He has great speed, great agility and always seems to be around the football. There are some people that are just natural football players and he is one of those guys.” Along with Pro Football Focus, you can go ahead and count Shanahan as someone who is looking forward to seeing what Riley is capable of after a full offseason of preparing to be a starter. “It’s a big plus to be able to be in meetings for eight weeks with your coaches a couple hours a day and just go over the system,” Shanahan said. “But actually to get a chance to go on the field and work on a number of the little nuances that you have to go through and learn the new system especially when he’s starting from the first year at least a whole season, but he enjoyed meeting. He’s really starting to become a student of the game. Being around a guy like London Fletcher I think really helps him and you can see that he’s getting better and better.” Speaking of Fletcher, he too is a fan of Riley and has already seen growth from the youngster during his limited time in the lineup. “Just formation recognition, being able to react quicker as far as knowing, ‘Okay, what my responsibility is,’ and so when something happens being able to react just half a step faster because he’s more comfortable in what his responsibility is,” Fletcher said. “When you can come break the huddle, recognize formations, knowing, ‘Okay, the team likes to do this in that certain situation.’ His experience in the game last year is going to be so much … and he’ll be light years ahead of where he was just because of that.” Because I truly feel like the 2012 season could be a memorable one for Riley, I caught up with him after practice earlier this week. Here’s what he had to say: At the end of last season, every time I looked up, you were closing in on whoever had the football. Am I wrong or do you have a nose for the football? “I guess you could call it that,” he said. “I just try to execute my assignment. In this defensive scheme we run, the middle linebackers pretty much run around free. The defensive front does a great job of keeping the O-linemen off of us, so it’s my job to run around and get to the ball.” When you first starting getting solid reps, you really seemed like you were making it up as you went along to a certain degree. How much more comfortable do you feel in this defense now that you’ve gotten solid playing time? “I most definitely know my assignments better,” Riley said. “I know where I’m supposed to be. I know my gaps. I’m definitely where I’m supposed to be at all times now. Like you said earlier, last year it was mostly instincts — seeing the ball and getting to it. Now, it’s more taking care of my assignment and then after my assignment is done, then go find the ball.” Could you eventually see yourself taking over for a guy like London Fletcher, where you’d ultimately be the guy quarterbacking this defense? “Yeah, I feel like if I had to run the “mike” and call the plays one day, I definitely feel like I could do it,” he said. So now that you’ve had an entire offseason to get more comfortable in this system, what can we expect from you this season? “I have high expectations for myself,” Riley said. “I don’t like to predict stats or whatever, but I have high expectations for myself. I’ve worked extremely hard this offseason, I know the defense, so I don’t see why I can’t make the Pro Bowl or whatever else is out there for linebackers to get.” From where I’m sitting, the front seven of this defense is the strength of this year’s team. What say you? Click here for the full article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skins island connection Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Ah, the 'life of Riley'. He has the chance to become a force to be reckoned with, provided he keeps his poise and doesn't get caught up in the hoopla of the media spotlight. From my perspective, I hope he can be a Monte Coleman type player; gritty, hard-nosed, hard hitting, smart player. Last season he showed alot of people, including myself, he has skills, and he has the chance to be one of the top 3 players on the team, with no disrespect to RGIII Orakpo, Fletch, Moss, or anyone else for that matter. Definitely one of my hopeful players to really make a statement this season and be an important piece of the puzzle of future dominance... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston2Taylor2Landry Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 The way Riley played last year was similar to the way Vontaze Burfict played at ASU 2 years ago. Just playing like a wildman on pure instinct. Unfortunately, Vontaze became a lazy bum. Fortunately, Riley picked right up where he left off. I am ecstatic for Riley to become my new favorite Redskin and apart of one of the best LB cores in the league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWFLSkins Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Nice job as usual Brian and thanks for sharing. I think he is indeed in position to break out. I think the entire front seven is ready for a big step this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roanoker Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 “I have high expectations for myself,” Riley said. “I don’t like to predict stats or whatever, but I have high expectations for myself. I’ve worked extremely hard this offseason, I know the defense, so I don’t see why I can’t make the Pro Bowl or whatever else is out there for linebackers to get.” I like his attitude. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LetThePointsSoar Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 I'm getting effing giddy for this season. Nice work, murf. This front 7, and specifically the LB core has the potential to be #1 in the league. Now, go realize that potential boys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
authentic Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 I actullly have Hank as my breakout player of the year.. but Riley is a close 2nd... i love his energy, and glad that he was able to finally push Rocky out of the starting line up last yr. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acuratl1984 Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 I hope we have more then 2 breakout players. Trent, Hankerson, Royster/Helu, Riley, and even Kerrigan/Orakpo (double digit sacks) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redskindan07 Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 If Keenan Robinson can evolve and grow into a nice LB we might be OK when Fletch decides to hang em up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TK Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Could you eventually see yourself taking over for a guy like London Fletcher, where you’d ultimately be the guy quarterbacking this defense?“Yeah, I feel like if I had to run the “mike” and call the plays one day, I definitely feel like I could do it,” he said. Why does that sound soooo familiar? Nice job getting him to talk Murf, as it's something he's not real big on doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewEraofSkins08 Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Riley is a beast. Looking forward to him becoming a household name this year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsCrushCowboys Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Nice read.....excited to see him develop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-Dog Night Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Just commented on your site, but yeah, this is the missing piece to maybe the best linebacker corps in the NFL. Maybe. Damn close if not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themurf Posted August 2, 2012 Author Share Posted August 2, 2012 Why does that sound soooo familiar? Nice job getting him to talk Murf, as it's something he's not real big on doing. My best guess is that maybe with him growing more comfortable on the field these days, maybe he's beginning to feel more at ease speaking with media types. Or maybe I'm just awesome. It's probably one or the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAIL Freezes Ova Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 On Madden 12 his Hit Power is like 93 and Tackling is about the same... Maybe a 95 -- For those unfamiliar, that's really good. That means somebody else notices that he is a baller... Now excuses me while I giggle like a Hello Kitty character. *Tee-Hee* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TK Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 My best guess is that maybe with him growing more comfortable on the field these days, maybe he's beginning to feel more at ease speaking with media types. Or maybe I'm just awesome. It's probably one or the other. Hopefully it's the first because we tried to line him up for the podcast & said he wasn't really comfortable when it came to fielding questions or talking to folks in general. The second, well that's a given. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skins island connection Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 You can tell he is definitely not inverted on himself; he would rather let his skills do the talking, and thats a good thing! He will be known by me as the 'PR Man', introducing ball carriers to Fed Ex field, the hard way... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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