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TVFactFan · 09-12-2007, 03:08 PM

Paul Domowitch | 'Skins appear to have a defense this year
Associated Press

Redskins defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin and linebacker Rocky McIntosh pressure Trent Green. ASHBURN, Va. - In the immortal words of Roseanne Roseannadanna, it's always something.
Last week, it was the defense that had Eagles fans gnawing at their fingernails, as they fretted about the new linebackers and Jevon Kearse's Nicole Richie-sized waist and Sean

Considine's tackling ability and Brian Dawkins' fuel tank.

Then, Jim Johnson's boys go out and hold the Packers to a puny 215 yards and zippo offensive touchdowns and, just like that, no one is lighting votive candles for Jeremiah Trotter any longer.

But in the wake of Sunday's 16-13 loss, there's a new Big Worry this week, and no, it's not the punt-return debacle.

It's the Eagles' offense, which stumbled through the Packers game like Lindsay Lohan on one of her bar-hopping excursions. The same unit that finished second in the league in total offense last year managed just 283 total yards and 13 first downs against Green Bay.

This is worrisome because, while the Packers have a very good defense, the team the Eagles will be facing on national television next Monday night, the Redskins, might have an even better one.

That's right, the Redskins. The very same Redskins who finished at or near the bottom of the NFL pile in just about every pertinent defensive category last season. The very same Redskins who gave up 48 points in two losses to the Birds.

After finishing ninth in the league in total defense in 2005 and third in '04, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams' unit crashed and burned last year. It finished 31st in yards allowed and 27th in points allowed. Had a league-low 12 takeaways and 19 sacks.

Those sorry numbers prompted a major offseason renovation that Williams hopes will return the Redskins' defense to '04-05 form. The early returns are promising. Armed with five new defensive starters, the Redskins limited Miami to 273 yards in a 16-13 win on Sunday. Then again, it was the Dolphins.

"We've got a lot to prove," Williams said. "We've got to prove ourselves again. Nobody should feel good about last year. We've got a bitter taste to get out of our mouths. We've got to improve.

"We've got to get big plays on defense to set up our offense. Our offense 2 years ago was the No. 1 offense operating on a short field. [Last year], we didn't give them any short fields. We've got to give them some short fields this year."

The Redskins didn't have a lot of salary-cap space this year. So big-spending owner Dan Snyder and the rest of the D.C. Gang That Can't Scout Straight had to pick their spots. For once, they made some pretty smart decisions.

They signed free-agent middle linebacker London Fletcher, who played for Williams in Buffalo, and brought back cornerback Fred Smoot, who had left Washington 2 years earlier for the bright lights and exciting boat cruises of Minnesota. With the sixth pick in the April draft, they plucked the draft's best safety, LSU's LaRon Landry.

The Redskins' two other new defensive starters - weakside linebacker Rocky McIntosh and right tackle Anthony Montgomery - both are members of their 2006 draft class.

"Gregg sets the standards real high," Smoot said. "He had to go out and get the guys that could get everything back to where he wanted to get it. But I think we have the right group of guys now."

Smoot, 2005 first-round pick Carlos Rogers and veteran Shawn Springs give the Redskins three solid, starting-quality corners. Behind them, they have yet another experienced corner, David Macklin, who has 75 career starts.

Landry is regarded as the best safety to enter the NFL since, well, since the Redskins' other starting safety, Sean Taylor, came out in 2004. At strong

safety, Landry replaces Adam

Archuleta, to whom Snyder gave a free-agent fortune last year only to discover he fit Williams' scheme like Queen Latifah fits a size-4 dress.

"It's a luxury having two safeties like that," Smoot said of

Landry and Taylor. "I don't know if there's anybody else in the league that has the luxury Carlos, Shawn and I have. It frees up the corners to make a lot more plays."

It also makes the middle of the field a potentially unhealthy place for a wide receiver or tight end.

"People just don't want to put anything down the middle of the field with them there," Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said.

Against Miami, Williams had his defense play a lot of Cover-3, splitting the field with Rogers, Smoot and Taylor, and using Landry down in the box quite a bit in run support. The Redskins, who allowed 137.3 rushing yards per game and 4.5 yards per carry last season, held the Dolphins to just 66 yards on 20 carries.

"I'm really proud of our defense," Gibbs said. "We held them to 3.3 yards per carry, which is outstanding.

"From Day 1 of training camp, we started out and played real physical against the run. They did that this game. We did real well on third down [the Dolphins were 4-for-13 on conversions], and got real pressure [on the quarterback]."

There were some raised eyebrows around the league when the Redskins gave the 32-year-old Fletcher a 5-year, $25 million deal, including $10 million in guaranteed bonuses, in March.

But Fletcher quickly has become the leader of the Redskins' defense. He had a team-high 12 tackles Sunday.

"I love Gregg, love playing for him," Fletcher said. "Knowing how he would utilize me and knowing what I could bring to this defense, those things played a big role in me coming here.

"I've been fortunate enough to play on several top-five defenses, on some really good defenses. They've brought me here to help this defense get back to being an upper-echelon defense. That's a little bit of pressure, but I love it." *

Send e-mail to pdomo@aol.com.

mriggles · 09-14-2007, 05:05 AM

no doubt the hogs have a good defense. It is going to be a good game. Most eagles redskins games are like the second game last year down in landover. Great rivalry & i expect a tough battle monday night.

GARFIELDKOOL · 09-14-2007, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mriggles

no doubt the hogs have a good defense. It is going to be a good game. Most eagles redskins games are like the second game last year down in landover. Great rivalry & i expect a tough battle monday night.

May the best team win. We have a good run defense which should be able to contain Westbrook. We need to become a blitzing team again and get McNabb. We better make this a game.

mriggles · 09-14-2007, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GARFIELDKOOL

May the best team win. We have a good run defense which should be able to contain Westbrook. We need to become a blitzing team again and get McNabb. We better make this a game.

Good luck to you as well!!!!!!! Can't wait to get to that stadium mon afternoon..... FOOTBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TVFactFan · 09-14-2007, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mriggles

Good luck to you as well!!!!!!! Can't wait to get to that stadium mon afternoon..... FOOTBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will have bragging rights this tuesday because the Eagles play on Monday-lol

mriggles · 09-15-2007, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingofTVResearch

I will have bragging rights this tuesday because the Eagles play on Monday-lol

We shall see my friend...

Brian Damage · 09-15-2007, 04:26 PM

Hail to the Redskins!...

Mr. Television · 09-15-2007, 04:30 PM

can I root for a tie?

Brian Damage · 09-15-2007, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walking Tall

can I root for a tie?

I'll take that too.

TVFactFan · 09-15-2007, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walking Tall

can I root for a tie?

No sonny, we been over this-lol The Eagles are the NFC East Defending champs, not Washington

mriggles · 09-15-2007, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Hail to the Redskins!...

Even hail to the redskins is better than hail to the chief

TVFactFan · 09-15-2007, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mriggles

Even hail to the redskins is better than hail to the chief

They lose on Monday and people will be doing back strokes in the Delaware River-lol

mriggles · 09-15-2007, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingofTVResearch

They lose on Monday and people will be doing back strokes in the Delaware River-lol

I am staying over in center city in a hotel after the game monday but i may alter that & spend the night hanging from the walt whitman bridge if they lose

mriggles · 09-15-2007, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

I'll take that too.

you worry about your team

TVFactFan · 09-15-2007, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mriggles

I am staying over in center city in a hotel after the game monday but i may alter that & spend the night hanging from the walt whitman bridge if they lose

Angelo won't be jumping off the walt whitman until the Eagles go 0-5-lol

09-12-2007, 03:08 PM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,137	NFL News for MrIggles and Garfieldkool Paul Domowitch \| 'Skins appear to have a defense this year Associated Press Redskins defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin and linebacker Rocky McIntosh pressure Trent Green. ASHBURN, Va. - In the immortal words of Roseanne Roseannadanna, it's always something. Last week, it was the defense that had Eagles fans gnawing at their fingernails, as they fretted about the new linebackers and Jevon Kearse's Nicole Richie-sized waist and Sean Considine's tackling ability and Brian Dawkins' fuel tank. Then, Jim Johnson's boys go out and hold the Packers to a puny 215 yards and zippo offensive touchdowns and, just like that, no one is lighting votive candles for Jeremiah Trotter any longer. But in the wake of Sunday's 16-13 loss, there's a new Big Worry this week, and no, it's not the punt-return debacle. It's the Eagles' offense, which stumbled through the Packers game like Lindsay Lohan on one of her bar-hopping excursions. The same unit that finished second in the league in total offense last year managed just 283 total yards and 13 first downs against Green Bay. This is worrisome because, while the Packers have a very good defense, the team the Eagles will be facing on national television next Monday night, the Redskins, might have an even better one. That's right, the Redskins. The very same Redskins who finished at or near the bottom of the NFL pile in just about every pertinent defensive category last season. The very same Redskins who gave up 48 points in two losses to the Birds. After finishing ninth in the league in total defense in 2005 and third in '04, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams' unit crashed and burned last year. It finished 31st in yards allowed and 27th in points allowed. Had a league-low 12 takeaways and 19 sacks. Those sorry numbers prompted a major offseason renovation that Williams hopes will return the Redskins' defense to '04-05 form. The early returns are promising. Armed with five new defensive starters, the Redskins limited Miami to 273 yards in a 16-13 win on Sunday. Then again, it was the Dolphins. "We've got a lot to prove," Williams said. "We've got to prove ourselves again. Nobody should feel good about last year. We've got a bitter taste to get out of our mouths. We've got to improve. "We've got to get big plays on defense to set up our offense. Our offense 2 years ago was the No. 1 offense operating on a short field. [Last year], we didn't give them any short fields. We've got to give them some short fields this year." The Redskins didn't have a lot of salary-cap space this year. So big-spending owner Dan Snyder and the rest of the D.C. Gang That Can't Scout Straight had to pick their spots. For once, they made some pretty smart decisions. They signed free-agent middle linebacker London Fletcher, who played for Williams in Buffalo, and brought back cornerback Fred Smoot, who had left Washington 2 years earlier for the bright lights and exciting boat cruises of Minnesota. With the sixth pick in the April draft, they plucked the draft's best safety, LSU's LaRon Landry. The Redskins' two other new defensive starters - weakside linebacker Rocky McIntosh and right tackle Anthony Montgomery - both are members of their 2006 draft class. "Gregg sets the standards real high," Smoot said. "He had to go out and get the guys that could get everything back to where he wanted to get it. But I think we have the right group of guys now." Smoot, 2005 first-round pick Carlos Rogers and veteran Shawn Springs give the Redskins three solid, starting-quality corners. Behind them, they have yet another experienced corner, David Macklin, who has 75 career starts. Landry is regarded as the best safety to enter the NFL since, well, since the Redskins' other starting safety, Sean Taylor, came out in 2004. At strong safety, Landry replaces Adam Archuleta, to whom Snyder gave a free-agent fortune last year only to discover he fit Williams' scheme like Queen Latifah fits a size-4 dress. "It's a luxury having two safeties like that," Smoot said of Landry and Taylor. "I don't know if there's anybody else in the league that has the luxury Carlos, Shawn and I have. It frees up the corners to make a lot more plays." It also makes the middle of the field a potentially unhealthy place for a wide receiver or tight end. "People just don't want to put anything down the middle of the field with them there," Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said. Against Miami, Williams had his defense play a lot of Cover-3, splitting the field with Rogers, Smoot and Taylor, and using Landry down in the box quite a bit in run support. The Redskins, who allowed 137.3 rushing yards per game and 4.5 yards per carry last season, held the Dolphins to just 66 yards on 20 carries. "I'm really proud of our defense," Gibbs said. "We held them to 3.3 yards per carry, which is outstanding. "From Day 1 of training camp, we started out and played real physical against the run. They did that this game. We did real well on third down [the Dolphins were 4-for-13 on conversions], and got real pressure [on the quarterback]." There were some raised eyebrows around the league when the Redskins gave the 32-year-old Fletcher a 5-year, $25 million deal, including $10 million in guaranteed bonuses, in March. But Fletcher quickly has become the leader of the Redskins' defense. He had a team-high 12 tackles Sunday. "I love Gregg, love playing for him," Fletcher said. "Knowing how he would utilize me and knowing what I could bring to this defense, those things played a big role in me coming here. "I've been fortunate enough to play on several top-five defenses, on some really good defenses. They've brought me here to help this defense get back to being an upper-echelon defense. That's a little bit of pressure, but I love it." * Send e-mail to pdomo@aol.com.
	Last edited by TVFactFan; 09-12-2007 at 04:03 PM.

09-15-2007, 04:26 PM	#7
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Hail to the Redskins!...
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

09-15-2007, 04:30 PM	#8
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	can I root for a tie?
	__________________ Sonny

09-14-2007, 05:05 AM	#2
mriggles Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 25, 2005 Location: JERSEY Posts: 3,627	no doubt the hogs have a good defense. It is going to be a good game. Most eagles redskins games are like the second game last year down in landover. Great rivalry & i expect a tough battle monday night.