Defense at Raiders by Kiem, ESPN

[TomE]

Raiders' less than stellar O-line w/statuesque QB is acknowledged but still some good stuff played out.

Redskins Film Review: Defense - ESPN

*Safety Brandon Meriweather played an excellent game, certainly his best of the season (which means it's the best of his Redskins' tenure since he never played a full game in 2012). He covered his area well -- he was not always deep middle. At times he was part of disguised coverage, showing a two-deep look that rotated into a cover-3. What I liked: his tackle on Rashad Jennings on the third-and-2 pass in the second quarter. For a guy who has been maligned for the way he tackles, it was a perfect hit. Meriweather ran through Jennings and prevented a first down. Just a nice hit. He tackled well all game.

*It's hard to imagine any nose tackles playing better than Barry Cofield the past two weeks (minus the club). The guy gets double teamed quite a bit, yet beats them and also turns and makes plays downfield. Like this one: He beat a double team only to have Matt Flynn pass to a back (still behind the line). Cofield immediately turned and ran and jumped in on the tackle seven yards downfield. Another time he was being driven to his right when another blocker tried to cut him. Without even looking, Cofield hopped over the cut attempt, then shed the block to get in on the stop.

*Flynn definitely held the ball a long time, but there was a reason: The Raiders, with a bad line and a pocket quarterback, opted for numerous long routes. On most of the Redskins' sacks, there typically was at most one receiver looking back at the quarterback. It wasn't just because the Raiders were suddenly throwing long; they did some of the same concepts earlier in the game. Also, only three sacks occurred when the Redskins led.

Maybe just maybe, things might perk up a bit on D.

Jenks n' Jacks return, youngin's getting confident with experience, Meriweather and Rak 'healthy' and Haz dialing up some new stuff with all the bodies in place.

 

[Fear The Spear]

The Raiders go-to play was often a pass to a guy Rak was responsible for in coverage.

Rob Jackson should help us improve in that area.

You're suggesting that Jackson will replace Rak in passing downs ?
I realize Jackson is probably better than Rak in pass coverage, but wouldn't that take away Rak's primary strength, of rushing the passer ? Or does Jackson only come in on passing downs when they don't plan on rushing Rak ? If so, that would kind of be a giveaway to the offense, once they see who's playing the position before the play starts, huh ?

 

[TomE]

Wouldn't surprise me to see Jackson and Rak both in for that fast pass rush group that Haz puts together on obvious passing situations.

 

[Fear The Spear]

I pity the QB that has to face Kerrigan, Orkapo, and Jackson, all on the same play.

 

[Cycleans]

If the Defense can go from "the worst of all time" to a slightly less than mediocre one this season I'm good. Its not like they could get any worse in the first 3 games

 

[SilentThreat]

You're suggesting that Jackson will replace Rak in passing downs ?
I realize Jackson is probably better than Rak in pass coverage, but wouldn't that take away Rak's primary strength, of rushing the passer ? Or does Jackson only come in on passing downs when they don't plan on rushing Rak ? If so, that would kind of be a giveaway to the offense, once they see who's playing the position before the play starts, huh ?

My thought is that on obvious passing downs, Kerrigan moves inside to the end spot, him and Jenkins at 'end' w/ Cofield at NT. Jackson and Rak on the outside, Burnett and Riley as interior LB.... that would scare me as an opposing qb cuz ANY LB has the speed to blitz.

 

[TomE]

Redskins ready to roll out new-look defense to stymie Eagles

The Swift Package showed up in preseason

Defensive coordinator Jim Haslett has deployed a new defensive scheme — the Swift Package — which was unveiled in Washington's 30-7 preseason rout of the Buffalo Bills last week. The six-linebacker front wreaked havoc and netted two sacks and plenty of confusion in that game

 

[Fear The Spear]

The Swift Package showed up in preseason

And apparently it stayed in preseason, because it sure didn't "stymie" the Eagles or anyone else, as the title suggests

Did they decide not to use it with Brandon Jenkins and Tapp, but to postpone it until Jackson came back ?

 

[TomE]

it sure didn't "stymie" the Eagles or anyone else, as the title suggests

Did they decide not to use it with Brandon Jenkins and Tapp, but to postpone it until Jackson came back ?

Heh, probably didn't have time to sub in the package in against the Eagles let alone who would be in it.

If it was the plan, I assume that they did use it 'cause they knew Jackson wouldn't be available for the first few, who was put in and how often they went 'swift' don't know.

It might be something to look for now that he is back, maybe it'll be effective if he rocks like he did late last year.

 

[TomE]

Slow week, a little more on the Swift package.

The “speed package” we heard a decent amount about in the preseason with Ryan Kerrigan, Brian Orakpo, Brandon Jenkins and (now off suspension) Rob Jackson all on the field together: Is this something that you have heard anything further about recently? Is Haslett thinking of using this or was it just an idea he bandied about but never really intended on using come real games?

For now, the Redskins seem to have gone away from that package, which at times even had Darryl Tapp on the field along with Kerrigan, Orakpo and Jenkins as well as inside linebackers London Fletcher and Perry Riley Jr. Although that six-linebacker package puts all of the team’s top pass-rushers on the field. The problem with that package was it also meant that the Redskins were without their top run-stoppers. Washington, in its first two games – which was when we saw that package, gave up an average of 201 rushing yards per outing. Jim Haslett has instead gone with his base package (three defensive linemen, two outside linebackers, two inside linebackers), and the Redskins have had much better success against the run, limiting the Lions and Raiders to an average of 83.5 rushing yards per game. I still think there could be times where Haslett breaks the package out for a different look, but for right now, he realizes that his defense isn’t at its best in this look for extended stretches.

Mailbag: Trade possibilities, safeties and defensive packages

Can additionally checkout a take on the early run defense problems and protecting Rambo

Locally the media has been espousing the 'it's a passing league' mantra.... questioning the relevance of the Skins stop-the-run-first attitude
with some incredulity. There is merit to this but there ain't much sense in being less than stellar against both the run and pass.