TK Posted November 23, 2003 Share Posted November 23, 2003 http://www.sunspot.net/sports/bal-sp.redskins23nov23,0,3783883.story?coll=bal-sports-more 'Skins seek remedy for ailing defense Once team mainstay, unit slipping in stats, answers By Edward Lee Sun Staff Originally published November 23, 2003 ASHBURN, Va. - Lately, there's been no defense for the Washington Redskins' lack of one. For years, while offensive philosophies in Washington changed as quickly as team owner Daniel Snyder hired new head coaches, the Redskins' defense was an anchor that provided hope to fans starving for even the slightest hint of success. That scenario is fading - fast. Washington, which had been ranked second in yards allowed after the first week of the season, has plummeted to 26th. The unit has collected just 14 sacks (the league's fifth-worst total) and is on pace to surrender 371 points - the franchise's most since 1999. It's part of the reason why the Redskins (4-6) have dropped five of their past six games and are staring at a possible fourth consecutive season without a playoff berth. "We've got the talent, no doubt about it," said cornerback Champ Bailey. "We've got to play better. I don't know what the problem is. We're just not getting it done." While many eyes will be trained on whether Patrick Ramsey or Tim Hasselbeck starts at quarterback at Pro Player Stadium for tonight's contest against the 6-4 Miami Dolphins, a certain amount of scrutiny will shadow the defense. Blessed with one of the best linebacker tandems in Jessie Armstead, LaVar Arrington and Jeremiah Trotter and two suffocating cornerbacks in Bailey and Fred Smoot, the Redskins' defense was supposed to continue a reign of success that includes three consecutive seasons in the league's top 10 in yards allowed. But opposing offenses are averaging 347.8 yards against Washington this season. Only the Atlanta Falcons (406.9 yards), Houston Texans (371.1), San Diego Chargers (369.5), Minnesota Vikings (368.1), Oakland Raiders (363.0) and New York Jets (348.7) are coughing up more yardage. Seven of the Redskins' 10 opponents amassed at least 300 yards of total offense. Three of the team's past four foes (Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, Carolina Panthers) exceeded the 400-yard mark. Washington is allowing opponents to score touchdowns a league-worst 66.7 percent of the time inside the 20-yard line. And Washington has surrendered 206 first downs - a total surpassed only by the Vikings (215), Falcons (210), Chargers (209) and Jets (209). Some media outlets have wondered whether defensive coordinator George Edwards - who inherited the system installed by current Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis - has given his players too much freedom to take risks. Against the New York Giants on Sept. 21, Arrington raced after quarterback Kerry Collins, who dumped the ball off to fullback Jim Finn - Arrington's assignment - en route to the Giants' game-winning field goal in overtime. In last week's 20-17 setback to Carolina, Trotter left running back Stephen Davis, who turned a screen pass into a 25-yard gain on fourth-and-one on the game-winning touchdown drive. Edwards declined several requests for an interview, but defensive end Renaldo Wynn said the players have not lost any faith in Edwards, who was backed by many players after Lewis left. "I think George is doing an excellent job," Wynn said. "We still believe in the system that George has for us. We just have to execute as players. All Coach has to do is coach." Strong safety Ifeanyi Ohalete also dismissed the notion that losing defensive tackles Daryl Gardener and Dan Wilkinson depleted a unit already hampered by a season-ending injury to Brandon Noble, Gardener's replacement. "We lost some key guys from last year, but as far as that goes, I don't know," Ohalete said. "I think we've got to take it on ourselves as players that we're not performing as well as we did last year." The defense has shown flashes of brilliance. Washington is ranked seventh in the league in takeaways with 21, and the unit did a creditable job of containing Davis, who labored for 92 yards on 28 carries. Tonight, the Redskins meet a Miami offense that - though boasting the NFL's 10th-leading rusher in Ricky Williams (802 yards and five touchdowns) - is ranked 27th and will likely be quarterbacked by Brian Griese, who has been ineffective in filling in for a healing Jay Fiedler. "We're disappointed we lost [against Carolina], but we can't dwell on it," Bailey said. "We've got to keep moving. We've got to work to beat Miami." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HapHaszard Posted November 23, 2003 Share Posted November 23, 2003 It seems that the defensive guys are allways saying the same thing but nothing ever changes. Blown assignments, misscommunication, and stupid penelties. Not what you would concider a well coached disciplined team. With Marvin Lewis they had assignments and were expected to stick with them, now they are like the commercial "your free to roam about the country" Don't worry be happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldog Posted November 23, 2003 Share Posted November 23, 2003 The Redskins don't have the front four to allow the back seven to play with confidence and a feeling they have to merely stick to their assignments and the job will get done. And behind the lack of confidence is a rookie DC that is not big enough on the totem pole to sit a guy like Trotter or Arrington for awhile to get his attention. So they muddle through and promise to improve each week, however, nothing about the way they prepare or practice changes so any improvements to come are largely illusory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ignatius J. Posted November 23, 2003 Share Posted November 23, 2003 Over the past few weeks our defense has been fine. We gave up 20 to the panthers who have already put 17 on the vaunted number one dallas defense. The problems are mostly ramsey right now. The defense is playing fine. -DB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldog Posted November 23, 2003 Share Posted November 23, 2003 then I guess that last drive in the Giants overtime game and the last drive last week for the Panthers was somehow the fault of Ramsey rather than a complete collapse of the defense in crunch time, with blown assignments by guys admittedly trying to make the Joe College 'hero' play? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ignatius J. Posted November 23, 2003 Share Posted November 23, 2003 Yes. It was basically ramsey's (and rock's) fault that the touchdown was a go ahead touchdown. -DB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldog Posted November 23, 2003 Share Posted November 23, 2003 oh, I understand now. thanks for explaining it for me. after all these years of watching the NFL I NOW know the truth........when an offense fails for any reason to score a touchdown at any point of the 60 minutes when in the red zone, it remains the QUARTERBACK's fault thereafter, even if the loss comes as the result of a defensive breakdown later on :laugh: :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ignatius J. Posted November 23, 2003 Share Posted November 23, 2003 bulldog, what on earth are you talking about? When a runningback fails to hold onto the ball in the red zone that is his fault. Especially when even the three points from a field goal would have meant overtime. Ramsey was under %50 passing. That is unnacceptable. Ramsey was missing wide open recievers throughout the game. If our D holds opponents to 20 points and gives the ball to our O four times during the game, that is good enough for me. If you want to pretend that games only count during the last four minutes go ahead, but some of us realize that football is a 60 minute game. -DB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldog Posted November 23, 2003 Share Posted November 23, 2003 DB, the Redskins offense scored enough points to give the defense a 17-13 lead with less than 2 minutes left on the clock against Carolina. The defense blew it. They didn't have to fear the threat of the field goal, merely the necessity of keeping the ball out of the end zone. And instead of staying at home and playing together under control, Trotter decided to freelance on a play that if not made to Davis would probably have meant a victory for the Redskins. Instead Davis got 25 yards and the defense then allowed Carolina to complete ANOTHER long pass to Smith and ultimately the touchdown. Do you honestly think that George Allen or Joe Gibbs would look at their respective defenses after blowing a 17-13 lead with that kind of time left on the clock and credit them with solid play? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ignatius J. Posted November 23, 2003 Share Posted November 23, 2003 It depends on what you mean by credit. Of course neither would say "great job" after a loss, but if either was going to stay up all night trying to come up with ways to fix the team, thier thoughts would be on the offense and not the defense. One side of the ball did enough to get the job done. One side didn't live up to thier side of the bargain. -DB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cskin Posted November 23, 2003 Share Posted November 23, 2003 Blown assignments, misscommunication, and stupid penalties. ..... and Champ wonder's what's wrong with the defense. Amazing!!!! How about a bunch of undisciplined...egotistical.... selfish....me first players trying to make the Sportscenter highlight reel.... that's the Effing problem. If it happens tonight..... then someone should be benched... deactivated.... or released. After 10 weeks of the season and incessant film review identifying the problems, if they haven't gotten it by now than it's time to start looking at players who will get it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prosperity Posted November 23, 2003 Share Posted November 23, 2003 Originally posted by bulldog DB, the Redskins offense scored enough points to give the defense a 17-13 lead with less than 2 minutes left on the clock against Carolina. The defense blew it. They didn't have to fear the threat of the field goal, merely the necessity of keeping the ball out of the end zone. And instead of staying at home and playing together under control, Trotter decided to freelance on a play that if not made to Davis would probably have meant a victory for the Redskins. Instead Davis got 25 yards and the defense then allowed Carolina to complete ANOTHER long pass to Smith and ultimately the touchdown. Do you honestly think that George Allen or Joe Gibbs would look at their respective defenses after blowing a 17-13 lead with that kind of time left on the clock and credit them with solid play? Our defense had 4 turnovers we only scored 3 pts off of those that is the offenses fault Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a_good_brotha Posted November 23, 2003 Share Posted November 23, 2003 I agree with Equality. If the offense can capialize on the turnovers the defense forces, they (defense) wouldn't be in a situation to allow game winning last minute drives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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