Landry, Moore solidify roles in the secondary
ASHBURN – The difference is attitude. LaRon Landry is tired of playing poorly, or at least not up to expectations. He’s trying to erase the memory of last year by doing something unusual at times: asking questions.
The difference is experience. Kareem Moore learned from certain mistakes and now trains his eyes where they need to be, at least most of the time. He trusts himself more; it’s progress.
And the Redskins hope one big difference in their defense is their safeties. Both have given reason for hope with their play in the first part of training camp. The games will reveal where they’re truly at, but for now practices have shown that both have improved.
For Landry, the move to strong safety has helped. He still struggles in coverage at times, particularly in one-on-one situations. But he’s also in a better spot to make plays at or near the line of scrimmage. That’s a strength. Last week, he made a quick read and made an athletic interception on a screen.
“Last year, I don’t even look at it,” said Landry, who has only three interceptions, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in three seasons. “It was a terrible season for me. I hated it. I never even played my third year, basically. I’ve gone from two to four. … At the end of the season, I kept saying, ‘I can’t wait ’til next year. I need to make up.’ Now it’s here so I don’t have to dwell upon what I did last year. I feel comfortable. I’m fine.”
And safeties coach Steve Jackson said he’s changed as well. Landry, entering his fourth season, is taking a new approach. Jackson sums it up in one word: focus.
“Now as opposed to just trying to make plays, he wants to understand what happened on the play,” Jackson said. “When he says he wants to put last year behind him, he’s not just talking. He asks more questions in the meetings than he used to.”
That wasn’t an issue with Moore. He just had to get more experience. In camp, he’s made enough plays to solidify his standing as the No. 1 free safety. He’s usually in the right place. Last week, he intercepted a Rex Grossman pass intended for Roydell Williams in which the receiver tried to give him a double move. But Moore wasn’t fooled.
Unlike last year, Moore knew what to read on the play. He knew once Williams took a wide release, limiting which routes it could be. Then, when Williams didn’t attempt a break and instead tried to press him, Moore knew what was coming.
“Last year I was looking in the backfield, looking at the quarterback or trying to make a tackle instead of an interception,” he said. “It’s just trusting your eyes. Your eyes will never fail you.”
Now all he has to do is play this way during the season. There’s no guarantee that will happen and Moore has had injury issues in the past. But Jackson does know that he’s better entering his third season.
“He’s just playing with confidence and showing everyone his ability,” Jackson said. “He’s just now scratching the surface of what he can do. He has the ball skills and range you’re looking for; now he just has to go out and do them.”
