Redskins.com:Defense Has Pride On the Line

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Defense Has Pride On the Line

11/06/2003

By Gary Fitzgerald

Redskins.com

After finishing in the top 10 in overall defense each of the last three seasons, the Redskins’ defense has slipped to 25th overall in 2003. It’s a ranking that defensive coaches and players have taken to heart.

While everyone recognizes that wins are the ultimate goal, the defense hopes to end the regular season as they started it—as one of the NFL’s best defenses. The Redskins were in the top five in overall defense after Week 3, but the unit has slipped steadily since.

“This year we started out fast as a unit and we had a high ranking at the beginning of the season,” defensive coordinator George Edwards said on Thursday. “Last year we started out about 25th in those rankings and ended up in the top five. So there’s a lot of football left and we just have to take it play by play.”

Said cornerback Fred Smoot: “We usually play a nice bend-but-don’t-break type of defense, but I think the last couple of weeks we’ve been breaking. It’s just at certain portions of the game. At the end of the Cowboy game, I think we could have made a play to stop them before they ran that 47-yard reverse on us to end the game.”

The Redskins have struggled to get a consistent pass rush this season. As a team, they have recorded 11 sacks, with just 5.5 sacks coming from defensive linemen. Pressure has been there at times—Bruce Smith leads the defense with nine hurries, followed by LaVar Arrington with eight and Regan Upshaw with four.

The defense needs to put itself in better position for sacks, Edwards said, by stopping opponents on early downs.

“The big thing is, we have to pick it up in certain situations in games,” he said. “If you can take second down and turn it into a pass-rush down instead of allowing them to just run the ball a short distance for a first down, then you have a better chance for success. I think that has an effect because it increases your chances to get upfield and into a pass rush.”

Edwards refuses to use injuries as an excuse, but he acknowledged that setbacks to starting cornerbacks Champ Bailey (sprained shoulder, wrist injury) and Fred Smoot (bruised sternum)—as well as backup Rashad Baman (sprained ankle)—have altered how he manages the defense on game day.

For example, Edwards might have to shift to a different coverage based on the physical abilities of the cornerbacks.

“I’ve always said a good pass rush goes along with good coverage,” he said. “We’ve had some guys hurt that have put us in some tough coverage situations. We just have to adjust to their abilities and what offenses are trying to do.

“With Fred coming off his injury to play last Sunday, we had to determine what he could and could not do,” Edwards added. “We have a better feel for it now, he’s getting better, and hopefully he can get back to where he was health-wise.”

Smoot and Bailey are listed as probable for Sunday's game against Seattle at FedExField. Bauman is listed as questionable. Safety Todd Franz, whom Edwards uses frequently in dime packages as an extra safety, is also questionable for the game with a sprained ankle.

Against Seattle on Sunday, the Redskins will be faced with a Seattle offense that has talent at every offensive position.

Matt Hasselbeck has developed into a solid quarterback—he is 145-of-248 for 1,774 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions—and has two young, up-and-coming receivers in Koren Robinson and Darrell Jackson. Tailback Shaun Alexander is fifth in the NFC with 631 rushing yards (on 154 carries, a 4.1 yards-per-carry average) and has six touchdowns.

Despite the strengths of the Seahawks, the Redskins are focused more on maximizing their talent and following their assignments on game day.

"We have to do the right thing as far as our assignments are concerned," Smith said. "When the play is called by the coaches, you have play your assignments out to the finish."

Added safety Matt Bowen: “We started out well because of good coaching and good players. We can still finish the season strong because of good coaching and good players. We have the talent, we just have to produce.”