We’ve taken a look at some of the concerns still apparent on the Washington Redskins offense as they get ready to open their 2015 regular season. Today, we’ll take a look at the defense and special teams.
The franchise made a lot of moves this offseason, investing especially in the defense. They bolstered the front line when they signed two new starting defensive linemen: nose tackle Terrance “Pot Roast” Knighton, fifth year defensive end out of Oregon State Stephen Paea and a veteran rotational lineman, former LSU Tiger Ricky Jean Francois.
The Redskins’ brass not only added beef to the front end of this 3-4 defensive scheme but it also made the units deep. The quality depth at this position allows for these guys to keep the pressure pouring on the opposing team’s offense.
“We’re very deep,” Knighton said recently. “I think what makes us unique… that everyone brings something different to the group.”
With the savviness of the veteran guys that were already on this roster like Chris Baker, Kedric Golston, Jason Hatcher and Frank Kearse; opposing offensive lines will have to fight to stay ahead of the game once they understand what’s coming at them .
Washington also shored up a secondary that has consistently been a sore spot for this team. The depth proved to be shaky anyway and losing safety Duke Ihenacho last year to a season-ending foot injury only three weeks into the season didn’t help matters. The team also added veteran cornerback Chris Culliver and traded for a starting free safety Dashon Goldson. They drafted outside linebacker Preston Smith to replace the departed Brian Orakpo and, just before the start of training camp, re-signed pass-rusher Ryan Kerrigan to a new five-year deal.
None of these new heavy-hitters or depth on the defense will matter if they do not live up to defensive coordinator Joe Barry’s three keys which are “compete,” “be physical” and “finish.”
There has been some concern in a couple of areas with the first unit: getting a consistent pass rush from the front seven and physicality in the defensive backfield at the point of attack with the wide receivers. The issues stem from this Redskins defense losing too many one-on-one battles last season and often not being physical enough.
Of these three keys pushed by Barry, being physical and finishing are this things this unit needs to improve upon the most from last year.
The defense must impose their will and dictate the tone of the day. It must dominate the line of scrimmage. A disciplined and physical front forces opposing quarterbacks to make quicker decisions with the football and improves the play of your secondary.
In 2014 the Redskins ranked 29th in the NFL and many close games were lost, in large part, because of poor special teams play. Not only did opposing special teams’ units make big plays but many times Washington’s offense had to deal with horrible field position suffered after poor kickoff (21.8 yard avg. which was 25th in NFL) and punt returns (7.2 yard avg. = 21st). Their average starting field position on offense was on the 25.1-yard-line. That, ladies and gentlemen, was the second-worst average starting field position in the NFL.
During this past 2015 preseason, the Redskins got off to a rocky start. They allowed one 103-yard kickoff return to the Ravens’ Asa Jackson just before halftime during the third preseason matchup. Gruden, however, did have an explanation for that miscue.
“Unfortunately, the kickoff was supposed to go on the other side of the field,” he said. “[Place kicker] Kai [Forbath] just pulled it. So everybody was thinking they were covering the right corner and it went to the left corner. It was a line drive and there was no hang time there either. It was just a poor kick by Kai. Then we just didn’t adjust very good.”
What goes overlooked in all of this is the loss of reliable special teamers Adam Hayward, Niles Paul, and Logan Paulsen. These three guys played a combined 642 special teams snaps last year. More than in any other unit of this team, whatever players try to fill the large shoes left by these three guys must be sound and aggressive in their play.
Good physical play on special teams can really feed a defense and pump up an offense. It can be an amazing tone-setter in any game and can swing momentum heavily in a team’s favor. One thing is for sure… this team has a ton of talented guys and the ones on special teams must hold their job in high regard and give 100% effort 100% of the time.
There are a few things that would have been nice to see in the preseason we but one has to remember that it was the preseason. Now there are no more excuses. The bullets are live come Sunday at 1:00 p.m. and, for all that will be watching, the unseen must become the seen if the Washington Redskins want to start of the 2015 season with a win.