Former LSU safety LaRon Landry, the sixth overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, is naturally a strong safety. He began his NFL career last year at strong safety, while the late Sean Taylor dominated receivers at free safety.
For the record, the free safety is more involved with defending against the pass, while the strong safety is closer to the line of scrimmage and is more involved in defending against the run.
When Taylor lost his life in late November, Landry just HAD to move to free safety. Allowing deep balls to fly freely down the field could not happen if the Redskins planned on being successful without Taylor.
So Landry was moved, and that's when he really started to shine. That was when Landry became my favorite player and is probably where he got the nickname, "Dirty Thirty."
But, for some reason, even though backup Reed Doughty was solid at strong safety, defensive coordinator Greg Blache was unsure whether he would put Landry back at free safety in 2008.
And, with addition of free safety Stuart Schweigert from Oakland, it even seemed likely that Landry would play strong safety.
In the eyes of most fans, this would be a bad move. Landry really showed his range and speed at free safety.
Fortunately, Greg Blache now seems to agree. Yesterday, after the Redskins' second day of Training Camp, Blache was interviewed by the media.
When asked if he likes Landry at free safety, Blache responded: "I just think he brings so much to the table for us at the free safety spot. He's such a force back there, being able to play the ball from sideline to sideline that I like...to have him back there, and until I can come up with something better or different, we're not fooling with it."
Full interview on Redskins.com
1 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
Jack Anderson 11 months ago
Good to hear Tanner. This was a move the Skins had to make. Reports are that Schweigert is struggling and so it only makes sense to keep Laron at FS.
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