The strength of Washington’s defense last season was the secondary, covering up enough sins with the pass rush to become the NFL’s fourth-ranked defense. Can they repeat that performance? Not everyone is certain.
Nobody is doubting there’s talent in the secondary. But there are some questions:
1. Carlos Rogers’ health. Nobody knows if his calf injury will nag him during the season, but why wouldn’t it? Rogers has nursed this injury most of the preaesason and they still don’t know if he’ll be able to play Thursday. This isn’t one of those if-there-was-a-game-today type of injuries. The problem with this is, it could restrict or lessen his ability to push off and drive back to the receiver. Watching him run in practice Monday, he did not look as fluid as you’d like. How will this impact him playing the ball? One NFL evaluator said he didn’t like how Rogers did this in the past. Will it hurt him this year? Obviously if Rogers can’t play it puts Fred Smoot as a starter and Justin Tryon in the slot.
2. Off the ball coverage. Anyone who watched them vs. the Patriots knows this was an issue. It did not help to be facing Tom Brady and Randy Moss. There’s little doubt this group is better in press coverage. Considering many teams will probably use a lot of three-step drops and quick throws, that’s a good thing. But they can’t play only press. They’ll disguise looks, as they did in the final two drives vs. New England Friday with success. You can’t disguise looks and disrupt timing by using just one style.
“A lot of times when you [play a lot of press] you’re masking your corners,” one NFL source said. “I’m not sure how good they are in off coverage and if they have to react to moves. That’s something I would follow.”
3. DeAngelo Hall is exhibit A for the above statement. He fared better in press than playing off. When you play off, you rely as much on technique and reading keys, etc. When you play press, it’s a one-on-one battle in which instincts also take over. There’s reading, obviously. And Hall is said to be studying much more these days. Still, Hall is considered an undisciplined technician by others around the league. When not playing press, that becomes a bigger issue.
4. Will LaRon Landry become a playmaker? At one point I wondered if playing so deep prevents him from making plays. It should help him; Ed Reed also plays a deep safety as did Sean Taylor. It allows the safeties to see more of the field and make better reads. But does it fit Landry? After all, one weak spot this summer has been completions over the top of the linebacker and just in front of the safety. Remember, the Redskins have not intercepted a starting quarterback yet this preseason.
For the Redskins to become an elite defense, they need more playmakers in the back seven. Hall is one. Name another? Rogers hasn’t proven that he can be. Landry has the talent to become one.
“He has a lot of ability; this guy in college could do everything Sean could do and he’s a better athlete,” the evaluator said.
So maybe it will happen. However, his instincts typically are still more about crushing the receiver than getting the pick. Taylor’s was the opposite, even if he would provide big hits as well. Landry is still learning to play free safety, especially in taking angles to the ball. Better angles will result in more interceptions; that’s one of the primary things they’ve talked about with Landry since last season. And more interceptions will result in a Pro Bowl trip and a better defense.
This group should still be sound. And in the first six games the schedule does not include a lot of high-powered passing teams; even the Giants might not generate much through the air early. But for the Redskins to contend, these issues can’t become anything other than preseason worries.
