Washington Redskins: 5 Ways to Improve the Redskins' 3-4 Defense

The Redskins defense has struggled under the burden of having to carry the team in recent weeks.  The weaknesses of a once promising looking unit, are beginning to be routinely exposed.

The defense is becoming alarmingly vulnerable against the run.  While the front seven is generating decent pressure on the quarterback, too many coverage breakdowns in the secondary are leading to big pass plays.

But the Redskins have plenty of talented bodies on defense and can still make their scheme work.  A few carefully selected tweaks are all that is needed to get the unit back on track.

Here are five ways of improving the Redskins 3-4 front.

5. Push London Fletcher and Rocky McIntosh Up into the Gaps More Often

When looking to create a four or a five man front, most 3-4 teams will often bring one or both of their outside linebackers up to the line of scrimmage.

But the Redskins should consider letting inside men Rocky McIntosh and London Fletcher join the front three and threaten the line of scrimmage on a more regular basis.

Allowing one or both of the inside linebackers to cheat up into their respective B or A-gap, would shorten the route to the backfield for the defense's two primary run defenders.

Because of their speed and athleticism, Fletcher and McIntosh often operate some way off the line.  If the front three fails to attract and hold double teams, offenses are then able to overpower Fletcher and McIntosh in space.

The Redskins should frequently bring an inside linebacker up to the line of scrimmage.  The decision of which man to let join the line should be based on matching the perceived strength of the formation and the run tendencies of the offense.

This would give the Redskins an extra man inside and a player quick enough to pursue down the line if necessary.

4. Let Barry Cofield Operate as a 1-Gap Rusher More Often

The Redskins need to maximise the strong pass rush capability of their front three.  Nose tackle Barry Cofield should be allowed to slide down into the center-guard gap and rush the pocket on a regular basis.

The former 4-3 protagonist showcased his pass rush potential last season with the New York Giants and Cofield could provide a big threat for the Redskins, if he were given more license to attack the A-gaps.

Placing another linebacker on the line of scrimmage will help take away blockers from Cofield and create some promising one on one matchups.

Defensive ends Stephen Bowen and Adam Carriker have combined for eight sacks this season.  But a number of those takedowns have come out of sub-packages and the nickel front.

The Redskins must find new ways of generating additional pressure from their base front and turning Cofield loose is an ideal solution.

3. Use Rocky McIntosh as a Blitzer off the Edge More Often

Jim Haslett has to find more ways to take advantage of the skill set of Rocky McIntosh.  The Redskins inside linebacker has struggled to make a completely successful transition to a 3-4, but needs to be put in better positions to be a playmaker.

McIntosh has the quickness and timing to be an excellent blitzer.  His speed and athleticism would make him a dangerous threat as an edge rusher.

The Redskins should move their linebackers around more often.  Brian Orakpo could rush up the middle from a central position, while McIntosh attacks the perimeter of a pass protection scheme.

The two could even create confusion and havoc by running some twists from these alignments.  McIntosh should be utilised similar to the way the Pittsburgh Steelers use Lawrence Timmons.

2. Run More Stunts and Twists Between Linemen and Linebackers

With four players aligned in a 2-point stance, the 3-4 presents numerous possibilities for a variety of stunts, twists and games.

The Redskins should run more of these games between their linemen and linebackers.  These line movements and linebacker shifts are an alternative way to generate pressure out of the base front and take advantage of the 3-4's moving parts.

A basic stunt in a 3-4 involves the defensive end taking an outside move, while the outside linebacker twists inside.

Another option is to have a defensive end crash down inside, allowing an inside linebacker to loop around the edge.  This stunt would be particularly effective with McIntosh.

Sliding Cofield into a 1-gap alignment more often, would increase the numbers of stunts and games that the front three would be able to run.

Haslett should also consider tucking Orakpo and Kerrigan into the B-gap and allowing them to take a straight-line rush to the quarterback.

These basic schemes represent a safer way to create pressure than some of the heavy blitz packages favoured at times this season.

Safer ways of getting pressure from the front seven may help to cover some of the gaps in the often under manned secondary. 

1. Adopt a Swarming Cover-2 Shell as the Base Coverage

Washington's defense needs to settle on a definite coverage scheme.  Mixture is an important part of defense, but any unit needs to have a coverage they know and can rely on.

The Redskins have alternated too freely between zone and man coverage looks this season, without playing either one particularly well.

The defensive coaching staff should seriously consider moving to an aggressive cover-2 shell.  This would better protect the defense against the long pass play.

More bump and run concepts should be added to the cornerbacks responsibilities.  Both DeAngelo Hall and Josh Wilson excel more in press coverage.

Tight, man to man techniques are slowly making becoming more prevalent once again amongst NFL defenses.

The insurance provided by the presence of two deep safeties would give the Redskins corners license to try and plaster the opposition wideouts.

It may seem strange to call for the removal of the eighth man from the box, given Washington's troubles repelling the run.

But Landry's famed closing speed and athletic range means he should be able to compensate for his deeper positioning and still quickly step up to meet a ball carrier.

These are just a few suggestions that this author believes would improve a defense that has the ability to rank amongst the very best in the league, but continues to flatter to deceive.