Okay, since we've been talking about switching to the 3-4, or playing a combo 3-4/4-3 or playing some 4-2-5, I thought I would put together what i think the Skins ideal Defensive alignment should be.
To maximize the talents of the D, you have to look at your best 11 players and try to fit the puzzle together so that they each are put in a position to do what they do best, but not leave any gaping holes against the run or pass.
So, for starters, here's how I think the players' talents stack up:
Haynesworth - most dynamic player on the team. Can stuff the run and collapse the pocket. has quickness to penetrate and get in QB's face. Not a 3-4 NT candidate except in nickel and dime packages.
Orakpo, - canplay 4-3 DE or 3-4 OLB. Has learned coverage but is still best rushing the passer.
Fletcher - Super solid MLB who tackles from sideline to sideline and can cover some
Carter - DE who is really limited to playing 4-3 RDE, but can still turn the corner. Run stopping skills have improved.
McIntosh - Decent speed and tackling skills. Best played as weak side 4-3 LB without having to fight blocks from guards and TE's too often. Clean up man.
Hall - fast with good instincts as a cover guy. Tackling leaves a little to be desired but can take on #1 WR most weeks.
Landry - By far the most talented DB, but has shown poor instincts in coverage and poor tackling instincts against the run. Needs to be moved to SS where he might regain some of his rookie form.
Kemoeatu - If he is healthy, he can be a monster NT playing 2 gap all game long to clog up the middle running lanes. Will force teams to run at Haynesworth and/or double team both he and Haynesworth.
Rogers - Pretty good tackler in run support. Good speed, but bites on PA fakes and double moves too often. Needs to develop better coverage skills and have a better FS backing him up.
Daniels - is old but still may be the strongest guy on the team. Can stuff the run and is good at getting his hands up to bat passes down. Will occasionally collapse the pocket, but is not a sack artist by any means.
To run a defense that maximizes the talent of the above personnel, I think
I'd have to start by putting Haynesworth, Orakpo, Fletcher, Kemo and Carter in position to succeed.
Since
Kemo is a definite 2 gapper and
Fletcher is a tackling machine,
they have to be our NT/MLB combination, anchoring the defense up the middle. Haynesworth has said he prefers one gap, so he has less responsibility to stay home and more freedom to penetrate. So put
Haynesworth next to Kemo on the left side
as more of a one gap 4-3 style DT.
Carter and Orakpo had great success last year rushing the passer. Let's give them similar duties again this year. In some situations, Carter and Orakpo will be the
outside OLB's rushing the passer like 3-4 OLB's while Daniels is the 3rd DL. But since
both of them are strong enough to play some 4-3 DE, this could be a nasty run stuffing 5-2 front too, with Fletcher and McIntosh flowing behind the big guys for tackles.
So what do you call this scheme?? well, it can be a 4-3 with a NT sometimes. Where Kemo plays 2 gap NT, which will force teams to figure out how to block Haynesworth, Carter and Orakpo when one Guard and Center are already tied up by Kemo. It can be a 3-4 with Daniels coming in for Carter. So I'd call it a Redskins hybrid defense. Daniels and Carter would rotate and Orakpo would move around as a LB and DE on either side to give this D a chameleon look. Actually, that's not a bad name for it. Chameleon.
But you want to
free Orakpo to blitz almost like a pass rushing DE, right? But someone needs to have the coverage duties of a SLB to cover TE's and slot WR's while Orakpo is rushing the passer. So, here is where
bringing Landry up as a 3rd safety, in the box, could be perfect. But then
who are the two deep safeties? You have to draft Berry or sign a solid veteran FS. If you do, you allow the team to put the front 7 in the best position to succeed
without having to
draft a 3-4 ILB to play next to Fletcher, without
having to ask Haynesworth to play 3-4 DE and without
having to take Carter out for most of the game.
Haynesworth and Kemo would demand double teams much of the time freeing up Orakpo and Carter to attack the backfield. Fletcher and McIntosh would have to shut down the off tackle runs as teams try to run at Orakpo and Carter. If Hall and Rogers can't step up in runs support on the sweeps, that would be another weak spot. But up the middle we would be very strong. If Landry was inside the box to cover TE's and shut down the edge runs, this defense, in theory, would be awesome.
I can see why Berry would be an attractive option should Okung be gone at #4 and why 4-2-5 (or a 3 safety defense) would be a good fit for the Skins in that case.
Well maybe I won't win THN's worst post of the year this year
