LANDOVER, Md. -- Five observations on the Washington Redskins' defense after the 31-20 win against the Cleveland Browns:
The Redskins' defense knows this: If they don’t start playing better, it’ll be a long season. As end Ricky Jean Francois said, if they don’t start stopping the run, "It will get irritating." Actually, it’s already at that point for many. The numbers are bad all over: They allow 4.92 yards per carry on first- or second-down runs. They allow 2.85 yards before first contact (26th in the NFL) and 2.03 yards after contact (30th). That’s a bad combination, but it also speaks to the need for better gang tackling. The problem here is that not enough players in the front seven are getting off blocks.
And one issue up front: They lack big-bodied guys to eat up double teams or to withstand the punishment those bring. Ziggy Hood is taking one for the team, but he’d be more effective at end than nose. The Redskins will have to get serious about adding more talent to the front seven this offseason. But the safeties must improve their tackling, too -- not just David Bruton Jr., but all of them. Sometimes guys miss, but it’s happening way too often. There were a couple times the line did its job, but a defensive back missed a tackle in the hole and what should have been a two-yard gain turned into a much longer one. You can blame scheme and coaching all you like, but every scheme calls for this: tackling.
The real culprit continues to be third downs, where the Redskins have allowed 57.4 percent to be converted into first downs. That’s a staggering amount, especially when you consider the next worst team, Detroit, is at 47.1 percent. But, wait, it gets worse. Third and long should be favorable to the Redskins, right? Wrong. When it’s third and 7 or longer, the opposition has converted 60 percent of the time (15 of 25). The league average in that situation is 29.2 percent. When you stay on the field, you get sloppy. When you get sloppy, you miss tackles. Thanks to turnovers, though, the Redskins are only tied for 21st in the NFL in defensive snaps (262). They are tied for last in number of first downs allowed (101).
The turnovers continue to be huge for the Redskins, and it certainly has prevented a very bad start. In the past two weeks, the Redskins have forced six turnovers. That has only led to 14 points, but, it’s also led to preventing points (obviously). Cornerback Josh Norman is very good at trying to punch the ball free, and the Redskins have forced eight fumbles as a team -- it often happens in swarming situations when more than one guy is around the ball. For now, these turnovers are allowing the defense to overcome all ills, from injuries to performance. There are a lot of new players on this group, so there are sometimes communication mishaps that don’t help. That certainly doesn’t explain everything, but it’s among the issues. But for those of you who love "second-half adjustment" talk, the Redskins have allowed just nine points while forcing five turnovers. Opposing quarterbacks have a 13.1 quarterback rating out of 100 in that time (average: 50.1). Sometimes it’s about guys making plays at the right time.
More on Norman’s day. Browns receiver Terrelle Pryor created separation from him a couple times by being physical (including, yes, at least once by pushing off; but it evened out as Norman made contact with him on the interception play at the top of the route. Nothing egregious). Pryor probably could have been targeted more than nine times (he did drop one ball, too). Anyway, on an inside route earlier in the game, Norman played him in press and was aligned head up over him. Pryor was able to gain position early in the route by being physical, causing Norman to be a few yards behind him. That’s why, on the interception, Norman showed press, then dropped off and shaded him outside. Pryor never tried to create separation, and this enabled Norman to stay close and cut inside for the pick.
