LaRon Landry has finally become late sidekick Sean Taylor’s successor.
The Washington Redskins safety is having a breakout year. Not just Pro Bowl, but All-Pro as one of the NFL’s more feared defenders. Try crossing the middle against him. For that matter, try crossing the line of scrimmage and risking one of his hits that start as a blur in the corner of your eye and ends with Landry knocking the sense out of the ball carrier.
“[Landry’s] been all over the field,” cornerback Carlos Rogers said. “A guy like that, you can put him in the middle of the field because he can run from sideline to sideline. Look at him, you know he wants to hit, be in the box, blitz and get an opportunity to drop back in coverage. He can play coverage too. This defense fits him perfect. Anytime we can get him on a blitz we know there’s going to be pressure and the ball is going to come out quick. That guy is taking on linemen, running backs, whoever is in his face. He is ready to go.”
Actually, Landry’s ready to go around midnight before games when lifting weights. He has that inner rage that fuels great athletes. Mike Tyson standing next to you is intimidating, but nothing like George Foreman. Tyson’s not so big that you run in terror. But, Tyson became a warrior in the ring as a heavyweight champion.
Pat Fischer was like that when roaming the Redskins’ secondary from 1968-77. He barely broke a buck-fifty on the scale, but Fischer scared teammates when literally foaming at the mouth in huddles.
Now throw in amazing speed. Taylor was a rocket out of the secondary when tackling. So were Wilber Marshall and LaVar Arrington as Redskins. They closed the gap like a panther running down prey.
“He amazes me, to be honest with you,” coach Mike Shanahan said. “I’ve been around a lot of football players in my career, and to watch a guy play that hard and that consistent week after week. It’s only the fifth game of the season, but he’s fast, he’s a hitter and he loves to play.”
Taylor peaked for 1? seasons before he was murdered in 2007. He was becoming a super star while Landry played eight games alongside him as a rookie. Now Landry is finally fulfilling expectations as the sixth overall pick.
Landry appeared on the brink of stardom in 2008, but moving to free safety last year when the team didn’t have one was like a lost season. Fortunately, the Redskins returned him to his more natural spot at strong safety.
“Really, I don’t think about last year,” Landry said. “Last year is nonexistent to me. As far as this year, this defense fits me well and allows me to be a star player. It enables me to be close to the line of scrimmage and play physical. I don’t have too many reads, just fly around and make tackles, break on the ball and be instinctive.”
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
