One game it’s a dash around the end for 61 yards and a score. Or a backup running back squeezes through the middle for solid gains. There’s also the matter of a 23-play drive.
That’s not all. The next game features a 20-point first half against the first unit; 13 plays of 10 yards or more and 41 points overall. There’s little pressure on the opposing quarterback, few turnovers and fewer big plays.
And Gregg Williams isn’t worried by any of this. The Redskins’ assistant head coach/defense said they have focused more on assessing their talent than game planning for the opposition. In fact, he said, they haven’t game planned for either of the last two opponents, the New York Jets or New England. Last year, he said, the game planning was “extensive.”
It’s shown in the results.
Williams also said there’s one thing they need to do.
“We need to get healthy,” he said.
Washington, which has allowed 87 points in three preseason games, played without key starters Cornelius Griffin, Phillip Daniels and Shawn Springs the past two games. Certainly, that changes the complexion of their defense. But the Redskins had a penchant for giving up big plays with those guys in the lineup last year and they’re doing so again.
“We’re just not executing,” Redskins defensive tackle Joe Salave’a said. “When you don’t do that, you’ll be exposed. You can’t help the injury part. Those things come with the game.”
New England had three plays of 30 yards or more – coming against mostly first-team defenders.
A week earlier, against the lowly New York Jets, they allowed 17 first-half points and 177 total yards. They also let career-backup Derrick Blaylock run over them in the first two quarters. They also allowed a 61-yard end around for a touchdown.
“Those things are correctable,” Williams said. “In the last two games we’ve been as generic as we can be. We wanted to see some one-on-one pass rush fromsome guys. We wanted to see one-on-one coverage. We even put some guys in coverage things that they aren’t used to doing.”
They’ve sometimes used rookie defensive tackles Anthony Montgomery and Kedric Golston with the starters, trying to gauge how far along they are, for example. But Williams doesn’t necessarily mind the tough outings.
“Sometimes you have a more receptive audience when you come back,” Williams said. “It has been nice in the meeting room this week with players saying, ‘Hey, coach, what do you think you can do to help me?’ … You just have to keep working. We’ll be ready to roll.”
