Vision Quest: The State of the Redskin Defense and Specialists Pre Draft 2006

Last week we analyzed the Offense and this week it is Gregg Williams turn under the microscope. Indeed many, including this writer, would say the most important move the defense could make was the resigning of Gregg Williams to a 3 year contract extension making him the highest paid assistant in the NFL. Snyder also reached into his checkbook to give raises to his entire staff retaining all but one coach from a staff that has turned in top 10 defenses two years in a row.

How do you replace the defensive backfield coach who left? If you’re Danny Snyder you go out and sign Jerry Gray, the former Defensive Coordinator in Buffalo. Gray joins current Defense Coordinator Greg Blache and Linebacker coach Dale Lindsey as former defensive coordinators willing to serve as position coaches under Gregg Williams in DC. They have everything coaching wise a defense could ever want.

They also return 9 of the 11 starters from last year’s team. 8 of those have been starters for both of Greg Williams years here in DC. The Argument can be made that the defense has more talent on the field this year with Adam Archuleta replacing Ryan Clark in the Safety spot and Adam Carter likely to replace either Wynn or Daniels at Defensive End. However there is one loss that they have yet to recover from.

Lavar Arrington

Now you did not think I could do an Analysis of the Defense without mentioning the former Redskin at least once. He may have been a whiner, he may have been injury prone, he may have been out of shape and he may not have been worth the money he was being paid. The fact remains that the Defense was better with him in the lineup last year then when he was out of it. He stopped the run and prevented the constant 2nd and shorts seen when his replacement Warrick Holdman (often seen on his back while being blocked by a wide receiver) was in the ball game. The redskins also have chosen not to resign Holdman leaving a gaping hole at the weak side linebacker that may or may not be filled from within. Lavar’s locker room leadership will be missed as well and many players will be looking for a leader to step up to the plate.

Enter Marcus Washington.

Washington has been the best defender wearing a Redskin uniform the last two years. He earned the only pro-bowl bid for the Redskins in 2004 and followed it up with an even better 2005 despite being snubbed by the pro-bowl. He recorded 11 tackles in Philadelphia to get us into the playoffs and had an all world game against Tampa (12 tackles, INT, FF, FR) to help us advance. He is the perfect leader for the defense and his teammates respect him. He led our team through Lavar’s injury filled last couple of years with quiet workman like dignity and can be the leader that a whole team can coalesce around.

Let's see what kind of squad Marcus Washington will be leading onto the field on 9-11-06.


Defensive Line
Projected Starters: Andre Carter, Joe Salave’a, Cornelius Griffin, Phillip Daniels
Notable Bench: Renaldo Wynn, Demetric Evans, Nic Clemons, Cedric Killings, Aki Jones, Ryan Boschetti

Analysis: Can one addition make an entire unit into a strength when it was a weakness last year? Maybe. And Maybe Andre Carter is the guy to do that with the Defensive Line. Andre Carter’s insertion at the Right End spot should add the pass rush missing out of the front 4 the last two years. Currently the other end will be manned by Phillip Daniels who improved as the year went on. Cornelius Griffin returns to man one of the middle spots and may be the MVP of the group. His very presence on the field increases the play for the entire line. The biggest head in football, Joe Salave’a will start at the other tackle as well. This means for the first time in his Redskin career Renaldo Wynn, one of the best DE’s against the rush in the NFL, will be on the bench. He will see a lot of time rotating in at both ends and both tackle positions. Also rotating in will be Demetric Evans who returned to the Redskins after failing to secure a starting spot somewhere else. Cedric Killings will provide depth on the inside and Nic Clemons may be used in definite pass situations or could be fighting for a roster spot along with Ryan Boschetti and Aki Jones.

Draft Recommendations: The signing of Carter and the moving of Wynn to the bench upgrades the pass rush and our depth at the same time. Demetric Evans signing gives us even further depth. I can’t see doing anything with this unit, unless a really high rated Defensive Tackle drops into the 5th round. Otherwise we are not only set with the starters, we are deep and should be able to generate a pass rush with our front four.


Linebackers
Projected Starters: Marcus Washington, Lemar Marshall, Chris Clemons
Notable Bench: Khary Campbell, Robert McCune, Jashon Sykes

Analysis: Marcus Washington is the best defensive player on the team and easily mans the strong side Linebacker position. Last year Lemar Marshall converted to MLB and should stay there this year, calling out the plays for the entire defense. Chris Clemons emerges as the front runner to replace Lavar Arrington at weak side linebacker. He has height and speed, but is recovering from an injury that ended his season last year. Khary Campbell is a special team’s stud and will back up Lemar at the Mike. Robert McCune also plays special teams and has converted to the outside linebacker but is too raw to count on for anything more then spot duty. Jashon Sykes used to start at Will for Denver, but spent last year out of football and there may be a reason for that.

Draft Recommendation: If any position is to be targeted in the 2nd round, it is this position. Chris Clemons may or may not be the answer at replacing Lavar. If he is not, then we need a young guy that can come in, learn the system, and compete for the starting job. If he is, then we desperately need depth at the outside linebacker in case Clemons or Washington do down. I seriously think the Redskins will draft the best remaining OLB at their 2nd round pick (#53). It will be the only competition for a starting position anywhere on the team. The Redskins have shown interest in John Alston, Demeco Ryans, and Rob Ninkovich (DE but may convert to LB) in recent days and will probably pick one of those 3 if they are available at #53.


Defensive Backs
Projected Starters: Shawn Springs, Carlos Rogers, Sean Taylor, Adam Archuleta
Notable Bench: Pierson Prioleau, Kenny Wright, Ade Jimoh, Dimitri Patterson, Christian Morton, Curry Burns

Analysis: The possible combination of Adam Archuleta and Sean Taylor at safety should make wide receivers quake anytime a crossing route is called. That is provided that Sean Taylor’s oft delayed assault trial is finally resolved. Archuleta is a bigger faster version of Ryan Clark and will be laying out some punishment as well as being better in run support. Shawn Springs and Carlos Rogers will be our guys on the corners again this year. Roger’s impressive rookie season will serve as a springboard to NFL stardom while Sean Springs continues to resurrect his career with his gutsy play. Pierson Prioleau will back up both safety spots and will start if Sean Taylor can not. Kenny Wright looks to be the prototypical corner for a Greg William’s defense and will be a big upgrade over Walt Harris. Ade Jimoh showed improvement on defense last year as well as excelling in special teams and should easily lock down the 4th corner spot. Dimitri Patterson and Christian Morton came in late last season and more then likely will fight it out for the 5th remaining corner spot along with any draftees or UFAs. Curry Burns spent the entire 2005 season on the team’s practice squad and will try and make it as the team’s 4th safety.

Draft Recommendation: The team is pretty much set at corner, but depth at safety is an issue. With Arch’s injury issues and Taylor’s possible forced relocation to a Florida zip code that lack of depth could be a problem. Taking a combination player, like Texas’ Cedric Griffin would be a great move in the 2nd round. However we are most likely using that pick to address the OLB spot. This probably means that in the later rounds a Safety prospect will be drafted, probably in the 6th. If a talented corner drops into the 2nd day that can compete with Wright for the nickel slot we should look at them also.


Specialists
Projected Starters: John Hall (K), Derrick Frost (P), Ethan Allbright (LS)
Notable Bench: Tyler Jones (K)

Analysis: Is it me or am I the only one who does not know what the hell Danny Smith, special team’s coach for the Redskins, is thinking? Take Punter for example. Sure last year he is stunned by Tupa’s unexpected loss, but Andy Groom seemed to be doing fine. However Smith went out and got Derrick Frost who proceeded to punt balls into the end zone on a regular basis as well as shank them at inopportune time. One of the supposed reasons we went and got Frost is because he could do kickoffs for our injured kicker John Hall, yet Frost only performed this feat in one game. While Hall was injured we signed Nick Novak, who had some big kicks for the Skins in crucial games. Coach Gibbs publicly stated that we would probably keep two kickers the entire year, but again Smith did not like him so he was cut. The reason, Novak could not do kickoffs. Arizona then signed Novak to kickoff exclusively. The team has now said that Frost will handle kickoffs this upcoming year so Hall can perhaps remain injury free. I personally would like to see what Tyler Jones can do, who lighting it up in NFL Europe. The only good thing Smith has done is continue to find a home for Ethan Albright, one of the best long snappers in the league. He does his job so well that you never hear his name called, and that is just fine with me.

Draft Recommendations: I am begging the Redskins to bring in real competition for Derrick Frost this year and take a good look at Tyler Jones at kicker. I am not sure that there is anyone in the draft that can help us out, but if a high rated Punter is still sitting there in the 7th round we should look at giving them a shot. If only Danny Smith will give them a true shot as well. Perhaps we can draft a real special team coach instead.


The Defense has the coaches and leaders to improve on the last two year’s performance. If they can fill what holes are remaining, avoid injury or jail time, and mesh the new parts, they can improve on the feats over the last two years. If not there will be holes for the other teams to exploit, and they will eventually find them.

Next week I plan to look at our recent draft history, including a focus on our 2nd day draft failures and after that I will give my annual Draft Day Strategy for the Redskins targeting a few players in each pick for the Redskins to take.

Until then Hail Redskins!!!