Defensive coordinator blames himself for woes
ASHBURN – His players haven’t won enough one-on-one battles, leading to protected quarterbacks and completed passes. They’ve missed their gap on some occasions; jumped offsides on others.
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Other issues: tackling; coverage in the secondary and few big plays.
Naturally, Redskins defensive coordinator Greg Blache knows who to blame.
Doughty will start at strong safety ahead of Horton vs. Tampa Bay on Sunday. However, Horton will still play as the Redskins often use three-safety sets.
This is not a shocking move. Late in the season opener vs. the New York Giants, Doughty played more than Horton. And he spent more time on the field on some long drives vs. Detroit than Horton. Also, Horton was flagged for a pass interference penalty late that set up the Lions’ clinching touchdown.
“Reed has played better the last couple of weeks,” Redskins defensive coordinator Greg Blache said. “Reed is playing as good of football as he ever played. He’s a very savvy player. I always thought they were [even]. One guy has better athleticism; one guy has better recognition … It’s not that we’re down on [Horton], but the fact that we have a guy who is so close to him, it gives Chris a chance to catch his breath.”
Doughty missed 12 games after undergoing back surgery in 2008.
“A lot of people didn’t expect me to play or to ever really come back at a level I could compete,” Doughty said, “not only on special teams but on defense. So to come back healthy and 100 percent, I’m excited to play.”
Said Horton, “I was disappointed. … I don’t even know the reason. It’s probably just one of those things where I made a mistake here or there, maybe. It wasn’t my call. I’ve got to go off whatever they say. I’m just here to play football.”» Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth (hip), defensive tackle Anthony Montgomery (knee), fullback Mike Sellers (thigh) and running back Clinton Portis (calf) did not practice. Redskins coach Jim Zorn said he’s most concerned about Montgomery for Sunday.
Himself.
“When things go bad, someone has to go under the bus,” Blache said. “Being the leader of this defense, I should be under the bus and I’ll dive under.”
And he knows what he must do: change his thinking.
“I’ll be a little more of a maverick, not necessarily a McCain/Palin maverick, but a Bret or Bart kind of Maverick,” Blache said. “You help [players] by giving them better calls and putting them in better situations and not worrying about a lot of the things I worried about. I was calling it handcuffed and I can’t do that. I have to be more of a riverboat gambler.”
Regardless of who’s at fault, the Redskins’ defense has underperformed. They finished ranked fourth overall last season but are 16th this season. And that comes after playing two of the NFL’s worst offenses in consecutive weeks. St. Louis is ranked 28th; Detroit is 27th. The Redskins only allowed a combined 27 points in those games, but the Lions held the ball for 36 minutes, 48 seconds and gained 381 yards.
“We are being aggressive so I don’t see much of a change,” head coach Jim Zorn said. “We just can’t allow a 99-yard drive [as happened vs. Detroit].”
Also, Washington ranks last in third-down defense, allowing 51.2 percent to be converted.
So, yes, it’s a bad start.
Blache prefers to pressure with his front four, though he will blitz on occasion. However, the blitzes haven’t worked; once against Detroit they blitzed three and quarterback Matthew Stafford still had four seconds to complete a long pass.
“If I’m putting them in one-on-one situations and they can’t win, that’s not good coaching,” Blache said. “What I need to do is not put them in one-on-ones.”
That could mean more overloads to a side, trying to free up the blitzer.
“You can’t sit back and let things happen to you,” Redskins safeties coach Steve Jackson said. “Sometimes you have to make things happen. It’s just an attitude. We’re not playing bad, but we could all be playing a lot better.”
But not everyone buys that Blache deserves the blame. Like his players and the head coach.
“I watch the film, I know the calls,” linebacker London Fletcher said. “I know what everyone’s responsibility is within the call. When I don’t see the call executed the way it’s supposed to be … We all have a part in this.”
Said Zorn, “I wouldn’t give it to Greg. It’s my responsibility. I’m in charge of the offense, defense and special teams. It’s hard to say we’re on our way. It’s my responsibility and we have a big L, which stands for loser.”
