Shortly before the draft, Redskins defensive end Phillip Daniels voiced his opinion to his defensive boss. And it sounded like one shared by experts and fans.
“Draft the best available guy,” Daniels told assistant head coach/defense Gregg Williams. “Even if it’s a defensive lineman.”
Or, as numerous outsiders had said, especially if it’s a defensive lineman.
But the Redskins did not get a lineman, opting for safety LaRon Landry instead — nor have they addressed their line this offseason. Instead, they’re banking on changes in the scheme, and health, to help improve the pass rush and, consequently, the defense.
With Sean Taylor lining up more at free safety as a ballhawker, they could become more aggressive.
“All I know is we are attacking more as far as our line,” Redskins end Renaldo Wynn said of his early impressions from the organized team activities. “I notice a difference in how we’re playing more aggressive and keeping more guys on the field to rush.”
Last season, Washington’s defense ranked 31st overall, last in sacks (19) and last in interceptions (six). The defensive line accounted for 13 of those sacks.
But the Redskins hope that Cornelius Griffin and Phillip Daniels will be fully healthy. However, considering both have played with injuries the past couple years and are 30 and 34, respectively, that’s not a given. They hope second-year tackles Kedric Golston and Anthony Montgomery make enough progress. That’s also not a given.
“We’re still in the market if people become available,” Williams said. “But we did a good job of bringing in young guys last year.”
“I want to win a ring,” Daniels said. “I know I can still start and create havoc up front, but I’m late in my career and don’t have a ring. That’s the most important thing to me; it doesn’t matter who’s out there.”
Also, end Andre Carter finished strong with three sacks in the final three games.
“Now it’s all about building on it,” Carter said.
But the coaches have also told the linemen they will be freed up to rush more. The players have said that Williams almost apologized to them for how they were used last year.
“We needed to play more to our strengths,” Wynn said. “Last year we had a lot of injuries [on defense] and it was costly for us — we didn’t change too much.”
But they will this season, at least that’s the rallying cry in May.
“It’s establishing more one-on-one matchups,” Carter said, “and having the four-man front get after it and let it loose. We’re excited knowing that’s what they’re gonna do; now it’s our time to shine.”
Defensive talk
» Corner Shawn Springs and safety Sean Taylor missed a second straight day of the organized team activities at Redskins Park. It’s long-been believed that Taylor did not like his six-year, $18 million rookie contract and would like to redo the deal.
» The Redskins’ numbers in sacks and interceptions has decreased each of the past three seasons. In Williams’ first year, they recorded 40 sacks and picked off 18 passes; it fell to 35 and 16 in his second year and then plummeted significantly last year to 19 and six, respectively.
