» What is the most important cause for the DEFENSE collapse?

Redskin in Canada · ~~~~~~ Joined: 08 Apr 2004 Posts: 10285 Location: Canada

We have the WORST defense I can recall in my history as a Skins fan since 1969. Skins are on their way to have the WORST pass defense in the history of the NFL with +5,000 yards allowed.

Something or someone has to be MOST responsible for this catastrophe. A combination of several factors may be responsible. I include in the Poll ALL of the reasons in my mind behind this collapse. So, my answer would be a combination of all. But I am interested to hear you all to highlight WHICH is the MOST important. What is your view?

SkinsJock · Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 2:50 pm Post subject:

to me the 2 choices are almost the same

It's not all Haslett but he's in charge

the injuries are a bit of a factor but we should not be this bad

the front 7 are OK but could use some depth - then again, who couldn't

the secondary is inept but they 'look' even worse because IMO Haslett has not devised a way to get even a little pressure from his front 7

any pressure or threat of pressure helps even a bad secondary - offensive play callers on opposing teams are telling the QB that they will have a lot of time - "the Redskins front 7 will not be able to pressure you ..."

Mississippiskinsfan2 · Hog Joined: 18 Jan 2012 Posts: 291

Robert Griffin III

The skins are puting up more points so teams are going to the air to keep up or to stay ahead of the skins. The D is just as bad as it has been and really needs around 5 real starters ovrall to be good

Kilmer72 · Hog Joined: 07 Oct 2008 Posts: 1264 Location: Midland, VA

Out of that list I have to go with Injuries and suspensions.

DarthMonk · DarthMonk Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 3238

I haven't voted yet but I agree with ch1 and the whole notion that going 3-4 was a mistake. It set us back a number of years and most of the league was already there meaning there was more 4-3 talent available as all the 3-4 guys were being used/drafted. The Pats are an example of a team that goes against trends this way.

I'd love to be playing 4-3 with guys like Cofield as part of a tackle/end rotation instead of nose, etc.

Now that we are where we are I think the combo of cap penalty and Haz has us in a bad way. Crazily we have had some good efforts. The really terrible crime is to get beaten deep as often as we do. To me that is coaching. "Keep it in front of you" has to be a "my way or the highway" mantra.

? Can we shore this up in a year and can we do it with Haz?

DarthMonk

cvillehog · Hog Joined: 05 Aug 2004 Posts: 5218 Location: Richmond, VA

I think the cap penalty was a big deal, as it hurt our depth. If we hadn't had the injuries and suspensions we've had though, especially losing Rak and Carriker from the front 7, I think we'd have been OK (that is, just barely competent).

oneman56 · Hog Joined: 16 Jul 2004 Posts: 472 Location: Denver, CO

Lack of a pass rush (so Rak's injury), last year with a similar secondary our defense racked up 40 + plus sacks to aid them. This year, there's no pass rush and the secondary is getting torched.

Bob 0119 · Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 4:55 pm Post subject:

We knew going in that defensive backs were a problem.

Same with O-Line and WR.

My money is on the cap penalty. I think it really restricted some of our moves.

The injuries sure as hell aren't helping.

I also have to agree with the sentiment that RGIII is a contributing factor. Running up the score on Rex Grossman was unnecessary; but with Griffin, you gotta bury him as deep as you can as early as you can. Most of our opponents have been playing from behind, so they have to air it out against the weakest part of our defense.

Kilmer72 · Hog Joined: 07 Oct 2008 Posts: 1264 Location: Midland, VA

Kilmer72 · Hog Joined: 07 Oct 2008 Posts: 1264 Location: Midland, VA

Oops duplicate

PAPDOG67 · Hog Joined: 08 Dec 2008 Posts: 773 Location: Staten Island

You can add stupidly letting Carlos Rogers go. I know he didn't want to be here, but he was the only competent member of our secondary at that time.....and now we get to see what having ZERO competent secondary people looks like.

Red_One43 · Hog Joined: 16 Aug 2008 Posts: 4606 Location: D.C.

John Keim on Simplifying the Defense like the Steelers

Redskin in Canada · ~~~~~~ Joined: 08 Apr 2004 Posts: 10285 Location: Canada

My vote went to:

Poor execution by an inept and incompetent bunch

But I am surprised nobody blames the FO for not grabbing somebody to help in the secondary.

In hindsight ... would I have wanted a good safety or CB instead of Kirk Cousins? In light of the current desperate situation, YES.

It is possible that there were no great safeties or CBs at 4th pick. I do not remember but my goodness ... we are terrible at those positions. Terrible.

CanesSkins26 · Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 11:10 pm Post subject:

It falls on Shanahan and Haslett. Shanahan decided to hire Haslett, switch to the 3-4, and he's in charge of personnel moves. It's basically becoming a repeat of what got him fired in Denver, an unbalanced team with a good offense and a terrible defense. Haslett's in charge of the game plan and getting these guys to understand/execute the defense. Obviously we have some issues with depth and talent, but we should not be this bad.

crazyhorse1 · Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 11:14 pm Post subject: