Can Skins fix defense after 59-point disaster?
At times they did their jobs, keeping Michael Vick in the pocket, covering the receivers, making it difficult. And it didn’t matter. Vick would escape to a side, juke a linebacker and score a touchdown.
Other times the coverage was good but the rush was not, and Vick would sit in the pocket for nearly eight seconds before unleashing another touchdown pass.
Other times the rush was good and Vick would run. And other times there was nothing good and Vick — yes — would capitalize.
Add it up and it equals 59 points and a lot of embarrassment, wounded pride and another round of questions. Considering the Redskins’ inconsistent offense, the defense needs to become the stabilizer if playoff dreams are to be realized.
But all Monday’s 59-28 loss to Philadelphia did was lead to more wondering about where this defense is heading — and if this was an indication of who they are.
“I hope not,” Redskins corner DeAngelo Hall said. “If it is, we’ll all be looking for new jobs, myself included.”
There’s one solution.
“What we can’t allow to happen is for this to go into next week,” Redskins linebacker Lorenzo Alexander said.
The problem is, there was sloppy tackling, as on Jerome Harrison’s 50-yard touchdown run when three Redskins — safeties Kareem Moore and LaRon Landry and corner DeAngelo Hall — missed tackles. There was bad play, as on Landry getting beat on the first play of the game for an 88-yard touchdown pass to DeSean Jackson.
Said Landry, “[Michael Vick] rolled away from me and I thought DeSean was jogging and I didn’t think he was coming back to him and he took off and got behind me.”
The Eagles also threw when the Redskins used their base 3-4 defense, which the coaches say has not been as good pressuring the passer or defending the pass. Vick got the defense to overpursue him to a side — rightfully fearing his running ability — only to see him run to the backside, which was not contained, for crucial yards.
And when the Redskins (4-5) went to a dime package in the red zone, the Eagles ran off the defensive backs by overloading the left side and walled off the right side, creating a seam for a Vick shovel pass for a score.
Whatever way the Redskins tried to defend him, the Eagles successfully countered.
So was this game more about Vick or the Redskins’ defense — which has now allowed 80 points the past two games? Of course, the Redskins only allowed 12 points to the Eagles a month ago.
A number of players remain from the 2007 team that lost 52-7 to New England, only to win the following week and eventually reach the playoffs.
“This was just a flurry right from the beginning,” Redskins linebacker London Fletcher said. “In New England, they methodically scored. We didn’t have the personnel to match up with them. This game was a division rival at home [and] we felt good coming into the game. They didn’t do anything that wasn’t expected.”
Except score 59 points, the third-most allowed by the Redskins in franchise history.
“This game was a total butt-whipping,” Redskins corner Carlos Rogers said. “With our offense putting up 28 points, we’ll take that anytime. … We’re still in position to make the playoffs and make a run. We definitely have to handle business.”
