Only one team had a worse defense than Washington in 2006. The Redskins were last in sacks per pass, forced the fewest turnovers in a 16-game season and were 27th against the run.
In response, the Redskins have changed two of their linebackers — free agent London Fletcher and 2006 rookie Rocky McIntosh replace the benched Lemar Marshall and the departed Warrick Holdman — and have a new strong safety — likely rookie LaRon Landry — and signed three veteran corners — Fred Smoot, David Macklin and Jerametrius Butler.
And yet, the defense's weakest unit, the line, returns intact.
Starters Phillip Daniels (34) and Cornelius Griffin (30) and former starters Renaldo Wynn (33 in September) and Joe Salave'a (32) are all aging. Left end Daniels had surgery on both ankles and a wrist in January. Wynn had an elbow repaired. And neither left tackle Griffin nor Salave'a stayed healthy in either of the past two seasons.
The other starters, right end Andre Carter and right tackle Kedric Golston, can't be totally relied on either. Carter, signed from San Francisco to replace Wynn last March, had a rocky first three months before producing solidly in December. And even coach Joe Gibbs admits that Golston, a sixth-round draft choice who replaced Salave'a for good last November, is more a product of work ethic than athleticism.
Incredibly, the Redskins not only haven't signed a free agent lineman of consequence, they didn't draft one either.
"(Assistant head coach/defense Gregg) Williams said he had faith in us and he lived up to that," Griffin said. "When I first came here (in 2004) I had a chip on my shoulder. Maybe after being the No. 3 defense in 2004) and then No. 9 (in 2005), we didn't have the same chip on our shoulders. This year we have a different mentality. We have a chip on our shoulders because we've been to the bottom."
The line has a better supporting cast in the back seven and is in better shape physically, although Daniels and Wynn will be limited until training camp. But is this group (not counting Carter, Golston and backups Demetric Evans and Anthony Montgomery) simply over-the-hill?
"I can't answer that," Carter said. "It's like in the business world. If you know the guy can do the job and he's accountable, then that's the guy you rely on. I believe these guys have a lot more football left."
NOTES, QUOTES
—Right guard Randy Thomas had his right knee scoped on June 13. Thomas, who missed the last two games of 2005 with a broken right leg, is expected to be ready for the start of training camp. Thomas, 31, hasn't missed a game with a knee injury during his eight NFL seasons.
—While linebackers Marcus Washington (back) and Lemar Marshall (knee) and receiver Brandon Lloyd (leg) were expected on the field for the June 15-17 minicamp, receivers Santana Moss (hip flexor) and Dan Melendez (hamstring), running back Clinton Portis (knee) and rookie defensive end Justin Hickman (knee) joined Thomas on the sidelines.
—Casey Bramlet, a candidate for Washington's No. 3 quarterback job this summer, continues to tear up NFL Europa. Bramlet finished off a fine day (21 of 33, 267 yards two touchdowns, 109.0 rating) with a 50-yard bomb for the winning touchdown in the final minute as Hamburg beat Frankfurt 36-31 on June 9.
—The Redskins signed former Dolphins and Seahawks receiver Jason Willis on June 15. Willis, who joined the Seahawks as a rookie free agent out of Oregon in 2003, spent most of 2004 and 2005 on the practice squads of Seattle and Miami, respectively. He was out of the NFL last season.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "The coaches have all the faith in the world that we'll get the job done, but this is a production business. If you don't produce, the next thing you know, you'll be out of here. I have all the confidence in the world that we will produce." — Right end Andre Carter on the Redskins' sagging defensive line.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers)
—TE Brian Kozlowski (not tendered as UFA).
—LB Jeff Posey (not tendered as UFA).
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS
—PK Shaun Suisham might have finally stopped the revolving door for kickers in Washington which has been humming since former coach Norv Turner cut mainstay Chip Lohmiller in the summer of 1995.
—CB Leigh Torrence is expected to be brought back for an extended look.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
—DE Ryan Boschetti: Not tendered as RFA; $510,000/1 yr.
—P Derrick Frost: RFA; terms unknown.
—CB Ade Jimoh: UFA; 3 yrs, terms unknown.
—G/C Mike Pucillo: UFA; $595,000/1 yr.
—S Vernon Fox: UFA; $2.245M/3 yrs, $300,000 SB; 2007 cap: $695,000.
—OT Todd Wade: UFA; $6/2M/2 yrs. $3.5M guaranteed.
—TE Todd Yoder: UFA; $2.545M/3 yrs, SB unknown.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
—RB Derrick Blaylock: FA Jets; terms unknown.
—CB Jerametrius Butler: FA Rams; 1 yr, terms unknown.
—LB London Fletcher: UFA Bills; $25M/5 yrs, $10.5M guaranteed.
—CB David Macklin: UFA Cardinals; $760,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB.
—CB Fred Smoot: FA Vikings; $21M/5 yrs, $7M SB.
—SS Omar Stoutmire: UFA Saints; $720,000/1 yr.
PLAYERS LOST
—S Adam Archuleta (traded Bears).
—OG Derrick Dockery: UFA Bills; $49M/7 yrs, $8M SB/$18.5M guaranteed.
—RB T.J. Duckett: FA Lions; $1.5M/1 yr.
—TE Christian Fauria (released/failed physical).
—PK John Hall (released).
—LB Warrick Holdman: UFA Broncos; terms unknown.
—OL Jim Molinaro: Not tendered as RFA/Cowboys; terms unknown.
—WR David Patten (released; post-June 1 designation).
—S Troy Vincent (released).
—CB Kenny Wright: UFA Browns; $625,000 SB, other terms unknown.
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