Thus far in the preseason, the Redskins have employed both zone and man-to-man defenses. Anyone who has watched the 'Skins for the past year knows which one the 'Skins should embrace.
Man-to-man allows the 'Skins to get physical with wideouts and prevent them from running free through seams. It gives free safety LaRon Landry the freedom to roam the field and use his excellent football smarts to break up plays, while Reed Doughty can play closer to the line of scrimmage where he has shown himself to be much more comfortable.
The man-to-man-press scheme benefits Shawn Springs, who became a shutdown corner by the end of the year. After the first game against Dallas last season (in which T.O. torched us for four TDs while the 'Skins were using the cover-two scheme), Gregg Williams admitted that he should have put Springs on T.O.
Once the playoff push began, Springs came into his own, as Williams went at it with reckless abandon in a press coverage that mugged receivers all the way down the field.
Springs is a year older, but hasn't seemed to be a step slower. He is a viable option to shut down all challengers, and this luxury enables the 'Skins to focus on one less player on offense.
When T.O. comes to town, Springs can handle him with very little help. This leaves Landry and the others in the secondary with the task of stopping Jason Witten. When the Bengals host us, Springs will be able to single-handedly contain T.J. or C.J. With Springs, the defense has less to worry about.
Man-to-man also allows the linebacking corps to play up on the line of scrimmage. They played much of the year in zone, allowing receivers to sneak in underneath. The 'Skins were so afraid of the big play last year that they gave up a lot of big drives instead.
Overall, man coverage is the best option for the 'Skins defense. They have guys on the line that will get pressure on the quarterback, enabling the secondary to press the receivers and throw off the timing.
Cover two is not meant for this team. The scheme demands perfection and great athletes. The Redskins don't have the athletes to run the system perfectly. One breakdown and everything collapses.
Here's why the 'Skins are not suited to run this defense.
Firstly, Reed Doughty does not have the speed or cover skills to play in it. Last year, he was the reason T.O. had his way with us. Safeties are the last line of defense in the cover two, they are responsible for everything outside the hash marks, more than 10 yards down the field. Doughty can't handle that.
Next, it's a waste of cornerback talent. Corners play 10 yards downfield and then everything falls to the safeties. You do not have to possess great corners to be effective in the cover two (the Colts had Jason David and Nick Harper).
The 'Skins have a shutdown corner who can hold his own, while Landry helps out the rest. So why not use them?
Thirdly, the linebackers are at their best when swarming to the ball and playing the run. London Fletcher shouldn't be eight to 10 yards back. He is a run stopper who doesn't have the speed to play in a cover-two scheme.
Rocky McIntosh and Marcus Washington can cover, but I just don't like the linebackers playing so far off the ball. It opens up seams underneath, something the 'Skins were burned by many times last year.
Also, it fails to allow Landry to roam. Being a FREE safety was Landry's strong suit as he blossomed late last year.
The cover two doesn't bring out the best in these Redskins, so I don't understand why the coaching staff even bothers with it. We did see less of it during Saturday's game, and hopefully the increased man coverage against Buffalo is a sign of things to come in the nation's capital.
5 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
Shaun Ahmad 11 months ago
You're absolutely right about Springs. But don't forget, Carlos Rogers gets abused quite frequently and Smoot makes tons of mistakes when left alone without support. I don't know if I trust Rogers or Smoot enough to leave them out man on man against the types of WR's we'll be facing this season.
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Jack Anderson 11 months ago
That's where Landry comes in. He can cover half a field by himself if Smoot and/or Rogers messes up. Great point btw. Rogers and Smoot have never seemed very good to me.
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Craig Garrison Sr 11 months ago
Rogers was actually playing very well before he got hurt. Remember guys, that the Skins defense had been playing a lot of press until the Patriots game(I think Gibbs' paranoia about getting behind too fast forced Williams into that soft underneath zone he played in that game), our defense was first or second in league going into that game in points allowed and second in total defense. When Rogers went down, Williams pulled all the corners off and moved into a constant cover 2 and cover 3. And in the Cowboys game, when TO went crazy, Williams had Doughty at FREE SAFETY for Sean Taylor who had the bum knee. HUGE mistake, which was why he moved Landry to free and Doughty to strong, they kicked ass after that game. If Blache just plays without Gibbs in his ear about not giving up the big play all the time(it is important though) I expect he will press a lot, especially if someone like Richardson can make the cut, he has shown he can use his size well against second, third and NO teamers, Zorn/Blache need to test him against some starters and see how he handles himself. I like that kid, I hope he makes the cut.
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Jennifer Johnson 11 months ago
Everyone has made keen observations about how to improve our defense. Fundamentally we are strong at rushing defense. The guys improved at getting the push off the line ahead of the opposing offense with ease this week. The mixing of man-to-man and zone packages seemed to confuse the Bills which only leads to more chances to score for Jason and the offense. Preseason or when the games count, if you don't stop somebody you won't win period.
Overall, I was quite pleased with the competitive nature of the Skins. They dictated play, even if the scoreboard didn't show it.
Zorn has the confidence of the players, therefore I have confidence in him. We can gripe all we want about the playcalling and lack of true leadership in our recent history, but its always the responsibility of the players to get the job done.
I think we got a steal in Chad Rinehart. Look for him to start next year.
Bring on BF and all his BS. Gonna put the smackdown on his season real quick.
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chuck this 11 months ago
if you think Doughty is the reason TO had his way with the redskins,you need to go watch that entire game again and watch where doughty was and what his assignments were. He may have had some bad plays but he didn't give up ANYTHING to TO.
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d8044c99e
first play-Spring got beat all by himself
second play-springs beat again by himself
third play-Springs got beat deep again by Owens,catch wasn't even on doughtys side of the field.
fourth play-D is playing a cover 2 and Fletcher VS Owens in coverage isn't a matchup you want to see.catch is made on LANDRYS side of the field
5th play-springs blows his coverage and preilou wiffs on the tackle,and Owens walks in for six
DOUGHTY WAS HARDLY THE REASON THE DEFENSE STUNK!.
only bad play I remember doughty screwing up BADLY is a play where Doughty had good coverage on TO,but failed to find the ball in the air and got called for pass interference.
oh and that video basically craps on your argument that Shawn Springs is a shutdown corner.Springs isn't a shutdown corner anymore,but he's still a pretty good #1 option when healthy.
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