Washington Emerges As Leader On 'D'

[hatsOFF2gibbs]

Washington Emerges As Leader On 'D'
By Gary Fitzgerald
Redskins.com
June 18, 2005



Marcus Washington has emerged as one of the Redskins' leaders on defense. During a media session on Saturday morning, he spoke of not becoming complacent despite a Pro Bowl season last year:
Q: Coming off your Pro Bowl year, do you feel any different, as if you've arrived in the NFL?
A: "Not really. You don't ever want to get complacent and feel like you've made it. You just want to keep on doing the little things and keep on doing what you've been doing. I just want to continue to work hard and help my teammates. I want to be a leader, not only verbally but by my actions on the field."


Marcus Washington
Q: What do you feel you can do to improve on your performance last year?
A: "I just keep learning more and more about the game every day. If I can assist the middle linebacker, maybe make some calls and take some of the stress off of him, that'll help."

Q: With LaVar Arrington hurt and the middle linebacker situation uncertain, where are you fitting in Gregg Williams' scheme?
A: "Well, I'm just a piece of the puzzle. We have a bunch of guys out there who can step up and make big plays: Cornelius Griffin, Matt Bowen and Shawn Springs, guys like that. Also, some of our backup linebackers like Lemar Marshall have come in and really performed well. Lemar Marshall is really a starter now. So I'm just a piece of the puzzle."

Q: How do you see the middle linebacker job shaping up?
A: "I don't know. It's kind of up in the air right now. Clifton [Smith] has been doing a great job. Lemar Marshall knows the position. They're all doing a great job. I think once we get into the preseason, someone will solidify the position. Someone will step up. Last year, not only at linebacker but at other positions, when guys went down, someone stepped up. I remember, it was the Minnesota game when Garnell Wilds came in and covered Randy Moss. So we definitely have guys who can step up."

Q: From your view on the outside, how key is the middle linebacker position in Gregg Williams' defense? How much do you have to absorb and know?
A: "It's a tough position. I'm kind of lucky. As a SAM, once I get the call, I just tell the guys, I'm over here, don't bother me, I'm doing my thing.' But the middle linebacker is the quarterback of the defense. Everyone knows that Coach Williams' defense isn't the easiest in the NFL. As middle linebacker, not only do you have to get yourself lined up but you have to get the defensive linemen lined up. Sometimes they don't want to cooperate, so you have to get on them and get going. The game's going so fast and you get out of breath, but you have to keep going. It's tough on the middle linebacker. I definitely take my hat off to Antonio Pierce and other guys who can perform that job."

Q: Do you have any concerns about the secondary, what with some of the changes since last season? A: "Last year, if you asked me that question and told me about all of the injuries we were going to have, I would have said, I don't know.' But I always go back to Garnell Wilds. The guy came in the last game of the season and played against Randy Moss, who's definitely not a slacker at wide receiver. Garnell came in and did a great job. That's the kind of team we want to be known around the league as: if one guy goes down, someone else is going to step up and play just as good or maybe better."

Q: How bad you feel for Mike Barrow as he continues to rehab?
A: "I feel bad for him. I see him working and I know it's tough for him to watch from the sidelines. I know the amount of work at rehab. I think he's going to get back out there. I don't think he's going to give up and he's not going to feel sorry for himself. He's going to continue to work until he gets back with us."

Q: Did you see him working on the field on Friday and how close did he look to coming back?
A: "We were doing punting drills, but I did take the time to look over there and watch him. He looked pretty good. I asked him how he felt and he seemed to be in pretty good spirits. I guess only time will tell."

http://www.redskins.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=7611

[Smithian]

<----Continues annoying bragging over being his first fan.

[Gibbs4Life]

When Washington was asked about who looks good at MLB he had this to say...

Q: How do you see the middle linebacker job shaping up?
A: "I don't know. It's kind of up in the air right now. Clifton [Smith] has been doing a great job. Lemar Marshall knows the position. They're all doing a great job. I think once we get into the preseason, someone will solidify the position. Someone will step up. Last year, not only at linebacker but at other positions, when guys went down, someone stepped up. I remember, it was the Minnesota game when Garnell Wilds came in and covered Randy Moss. So we definitely have guys who can step up."


Wonder why no mention of McCUNE? At that size man that guy has to start!

[hatsOFF2gibbs]

They're keeping him a secret so other teams don't remember about him. He's going to be knocking some bodies down come preseason and hopefully the regular season too!

[gay4pacman]

if clifton smith is our starting middle linebacker i will be shocked.

[ToxicSkin]

It'll probably be McCune or Marshall

[WshSkins22]

I wouldn't mind Clif Smith because I hear hes big like in weight

[hatsOFF2gibbs]

I don't really care who it is as long as they knock out the other players.

[Coachkyle]

Just a note...

Marcus Washington came out of Auburn High School as a Tight End / Wide Receiver

Most recruiting analysts rated him as a 2/5.

In college he got bigger and stronger, while retaining his speed. Washington emerged as a team leader at Auburn University and had a stellar college career as a defensive end. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts, and now we're fortunate to have him here in Washington.

I recently talked to a friend of mine who knew Washington when he was growing up and she had nothing but positive things to say. He was a quality kid, and an excellent team player in high school and college at Auburn. Personally, I was psyched when we landed him and happy that he had such a great first season with the Redskins. I think our defensive unit will be something else when everyone is healthy.

Hail Skins!!!

[JansenFan]

Coach, you don't post often, but when you do, your contribution is top notch and much appreciated.

Every indication is that Washington's pro bowl season last year was no fluke. Even watching him in drills, he is easily the most intense and enthousiastic linebacker on the field. You can see that the younger guys are watching his every move. Hopefully, they will be able to duplicate what he is doing.

[REDEEMEDSKIN]

Coach, you don't post often, but when you do, your contribution is top notch and much appreciated.

I concur with JF on your contribution with the post on Washington above. Not only does it speak volumes about his improvement as a player, his work ethic, and his dedication to his craft, but it also makes me wonder how well he will be able to reach out to fellow alumns Carlos Rodgers and Jason Campbell. I'm sure that helps the young guys out to have something in commmon with others on the team.

Marcus Washington, my favorite Redskins LB.

[ejay183]

Washington and Arrington on the field at the same time will get QB's to **** in their pants. Hopefully that will happen this season.

[SkinsChic]

I like Washington too...he will be even better this season. He also has an awesome smile !

[REDEEMEDSKIN]

He also has an awesome smile !

Indeed! That was among the first things I noticed.

[MarcusBeNimble]

My $$$ is on Lemar Marshall stepping in at middle linebacker, and doing a fine job at that. As far as Marcus Washington goes, i also think his impact on the defense this year will be even more evident then last season

[skinsfan1]

<----Continues annoying bragging over being his first fan.

Followed by a close second.....

[Coachkyle]

Thanks! I swam for Auburn and I'm a swimming coach in VA. I follow AU very closely and will add insight on these guys when I can...

From what I heard, Washington contacted the other AU players as soon as they were drafted, kinda taking them under his wing.

Washington reminds me of another player that came to AU undersized and fast and left an impact defensive player, Dontarius Thomas http://www.vikings.com/player_detail_ob ... homas.html

AU was the only D1 program to offer him a scholarship for football. One of the AU assistants viewed a videotape of him and was impressed with his speed and vertical leap. He grew like 4" in college and developed into a very good linebacker.

[WshSkins22]

He grew 4 inches, so he was 5'10?

[Chris Luva Luva]

Marcus, Arrington, and Barrow would make a heck of a group.

Throw in Taylor, Bown, Springs, Harris/Rogers, Noble, Warner, Griffin, and Daniels..... This is under the greatest of situations. I believe it'll happen.

I must say that we have some very likeable personalities on our defense. We seem to have only one prima donna on our defense and hopefully that will change soon. We have a bunch of young hardworking guys.

[WshSkins22]

^^^ man that would be a sick defense, I pray for that to be our lineup week 1

[ejay183]

^^^ man that would be a sick defense, I pray for that to be our lineup week 1

I second that and I pray for them to make it through the whole season

[Coachkyle]

like 5'11" I think. You never know with recruiting sources, they tend to slant the height upward.