Additions key to when defense will improve
ASHBURN – The tug of war begins with the players Washington signed. The names alone suggest the Redskins’ defense should be upgraded. They plugged holes at key spots and should be about the same at others. But reality is holding the other end of that rope.
Yes, the Redskins’ defense added better players. But one of them is a rookie in linebacker Ryan Kerrigan who missed a week of practice and is changing positions. Another holdover, LaRon Landry, has yet to practice. Another key rookie, Jarvis Jenkins, is talented but also needs extra coaching to perfect NFL techniques.
There’s also five new starters. Add it up and, though the Redskins’ defense should be vastly improved, there’s one question that can’t be answered: when?
| Skins notes |
| » Quarterback John Beck remained limited Tuesday because of his sore groin. He participated in everything but the 11-on-11 work, but that’s also when the offense executes bootlegs and rollouts. Beck injured his groin Saturday and his status for Friday’s game vs. Pittsburgh is uncertain. “I was hoping it would be one of those things where I’d take Sunday off and it would be good,” he said. “I’ve never dealt with an injury like this.” Meanwhile, Beck was listed second on the first depth chart behind Rex Grossman. “Everyone knows this is a competition and will last through training camp,” Grossman said. |
| » Wide receiver Brandon Banks left practice midway through and had a large bag of ice on his sore left knee. “It swells up every once in a while. It’s been quite sore for some time,” coach Mike Shanahan said. |
| » The Redskins will attend a workout for Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor on Friday, a team source said. Pryor is still awaiting word about his eligibility for the Aug. 17 supplemental draft. |
| Position Review: Running backs |
| Darrel Young |
| Young has impressed the coaches with his transition to fullback. His development since coach Mike Shanahan arrived is why the Redskins felt comfortable shifting Mike Sellers to tight end. Young had previously played linebacker. “Darrel is a very smart kid, a very dedicated guy,” Shanahan said. “When I looked at him on film I thought he was a great hitter and asked if he would ever [play fullback]. I thought he’d have a good chance at fullback. He’s doing a good job.” |
| Roy Helu |
| It was clear Tuesday morning that Helu needs a lot of work picking up the blitz. Too often Helu kept his head down and failed to move his feet. At one point running backs coach Bobby Turner shouted, “You’ve got to get doggone meaner! That’s terrible!” Another time Turner yelled, “You’ve got to get nasty!” But give Helu credit, though, for picking up London Fletcher on one blitz. Finally, Helu kept his head up. And later Helu picked up a blitz during full-team work. Helu’s progress in this area is important. In order to play a lot, he’ll have to be able to pick up a blitz. |
| Tim Hightower |
| Hightower had a fumbling problem in Arizona (eight lost in the past two years combined), and he’s brought it to Washington. Hightower has fumbled several times since arriving in the offseason from the Cardinals in a trade. “A few of those have been on hand offs and we hand it off differently,” Shanahan said. “And he runs quite hard. We’ll just keep on practicing and have people try to strip the ball and hopefully it will eliminate the problem.” |
“It can [take a while], but it doesn’t have to,” linebacker London Fletcher said.
Kerrigan, nose tackle Barry Cofield, end Stephen Bowen, corner Josh Wilson and safety O.J. Atogwe all are new starters. Each one can be considered an upgrade or, at worst, equal to the player they’re replacing. So improving the NFL’s 31st-ranked defense shouldn’t be difficult.
But losing the offseason prevented the newcomers from learning the system and, just as important, their new teammates before camp. Instead, the first time they were on the field together was nearly a month from their first regular season game.
“It will probably be a situation where you should be sound and we should be ready to go,” Cofield said, “but there’s no way you can reach your peak in Week One. You want to reach your peak in the playoffs.”
For Cofield, he must learn how to run stunts with his linemates. The linebackers need to learn how the players in front of them react to certain looks — do they continue heading to the correct gap or veer off? That comes from many snaps together in games. They also have to learn the nuances of the defense, as left end Adam Carriker did last season.
“After the midpoint of the season it was like, ‘I got this,’?” Carriker said. “I could just go play. I didn’t have to think so much. That was huge.”
But Fletcher already sees an improvement in practice, particularly from the line. Last year, they didn’t have players who could do what the job required: hold up blockers. The inside linebackers are running more freely to the ball.
“[Cofield] is keeping the linemen out of my way,” Fletcher said. “That’s his main job. It won’t be where he has a bunch of tackles. Leave that to me.”
The veterans can minimize their adjustment by tapping into their savvy. Cofield is new to the nose in a 3-4 in the NFL, but he’s played over center in the past. And he’s used to what the job demands, freeing up others. Bowen played in a 3-4 with Dallas and Atogwe has played for defensive coordinator Jim Haslett before.
But Kerrigan and Jenkins are new to everything.
“They all go through growing pains,” Haslett said.
But any transition is helped because of players such as Atogwe and Fletcher, both of whom are vocal and considered coaches on the field.
“The more we communicate,” Fletcher said, “the sooner we’ll be better.”
