crazyhorse1 wrote:SkinsJock wrote:crazyhorse1 wrote:Redskin struggles to the end zone last season seem to have sparked the myth that last year's defense was excellent. If it was excellent, it was only in comparison to last year's offense, which featured a near total collapse in the second half of the season.
Actually, the defense was only about average in the NFL last season and tailed off at the end of the season in a fashion that alarmed the FO into stocking up densive players throughout the pre-season and draft.
I totally disagree about the thought that last year's defense was regarded as excellent. The NFL stats had the team "ranked" as the #4 defense but I did not think that anybody was saying that this was "excellent"!
Our defense last year was good and the stats "say" they were #4 in the NFL - HOWEVER, there have been concerns about the defensive line and I think that was the reason we did what we did - that and the fact that we could not find the quality we needed at our draft position to help some of the offensive issues we also have - we had to make a choice and the offense will I'm sure be addressed very soon also
I also totally disagree that the Redskins' "stocked up on defensive players" because they were "alarmed" - I do think that the Redskins' thinking about addressing the issues this team has had with the defensive line led them to make some really great additions this past 6 months.
We are going to be a much improved defense this year and I predict that if we do not make the playoffs it will certainly not be because we have any issues with our defensive play
This offseason we needed to improve the defensive line and we have done that- we look like we may have some issues to address offensively next year but that will have to wait until we know where we stand at QB, at WR and with the offensive line
The tough D last year is a Myth, my fellow Skins fan, and this year's a gamble for unlikely success now, rather than an attempt to build for the future. In relation to Danny's dreams, it's more of the same.
I am concerned about how well we will do as far as the record is concerned but I just do not agree with you on why we did things or where we are going but you are certainly entitled to think what you like - we shall see and we will remember to point this out after the season is over
My perception was that other people on this board thought that the D was excellent as a whole. I based that purely on my perception and didn't try to mathmatically evaluate it or rate ran perception because I felt that was impossible or at least beyond me. I felt that the FO would not concur with fan perception based on the FO's own careful analysis of the D, including a good look at the whole. That was my theory, which I have not abandoned. I still think the FO regarded last year's D as only average or slightly above. I still believe the D last year was only average or above and have not abandoned that belief.
What I did abandon was the larger theory I had-- that the FO decided to fortify the D, especially the DL, even before they knew what new talent was available. I have now abandoned that belief and now embraced the position that I believe defeated my own. I am content,
Futher, I have already embraced your position, There's no reason to wait for anything at all to see who has won the argument. I lost. Those posters who understood my post and countered my argument won and converted me. Those posters who did not understand the argument were never in the arguement and will never understand why they were not. Game over.
Final Score:
Smart guys (Your side) : Win
Crazyhorse1: Loss
Idiots (no show)
Change is Standings:
None. Crazyhorse1 still last in popularity on the board. Still leads the board in drawing invectives and using high rhetoric and unintentional lapses to fill seats with irrational boo birds.
That is quite amusing CH1! haha OK. I know I don't come here to win or lose rather I come here to discuss Redskins football. I know I am probably more laid back and moderate than most people on this board and I don't necessarily post a message with the intent of winning any argument. I do, however, like to share similar and dislike points of view with other people without having the need to win kudos from other board members. *I am not talking about anyone else's actions other than my own*
Back to the topic at hand.
There are different ways to evaluate the defense from last year.
1. Look at the stats and it says we gave up the 4th fewest YPG which = Excellent Defense.
2. Look at the number of turnovers caused: relatively poor to poor
a. Interceptions: ranked 17th
b. Forced Fumbles: ranked 26th and recovered 30th
3. Look at the number of sacks: poor
a. ranked 28th
4. Passes defended: excellent
a. ranked 8th
5. Number of touchdowns given up: excellent
a. ranked 6th
I can see how someone's perception (perception is the keyword) could lead them to say that we were just average on defense. If a person perceives that being a good defense involves forcing turnovers, well, by the rankings listed above, we were just an average defense. If a person perceives that being a good defense involves limiting yards and scoring opportunities then we were a good defense.
I stand by my original statement that we were a "solid" defense, but we weren't an "impact" defense. Yes, we did a good job of keeping the other team out of the endzone and didn't give up that many yards. What we didn't do, however, is give our offense the luxury of a short field which is a byproduct of causing turnovers. I can also remember the opposing quarterbacks having a coke and a sandwich while deciding which receiver they were going to throw to.
I think what our off season moves illustrate is the D-Line was a major area of concern. I think we have good linebackers and excellent DB's, but the guys in the trenches just weren't that great. Now, I too remember a few games were it seemed as though our D couldn't get off of the field late in the game. Hopefully Haynesworth can help remedy that problem, because teams won't be able to just run right and left of center for big chunks with a run stuffer like him in there late in the game. The other glaring weakness was pass rush. Anyone with common football sense can realize that with pressure on the quarterback comes opportunity for more turnovers especially if you can do it with four down lineman.
So do I agree with CH1's assessment that the D was just average last year? Not necessarily, but I can see how he could perceive the defense to be just average. I do believe that we were a solid defense and with our off season additions to the D-Line, we might just become the impact defense that I am hoping for.
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... yawn. Are you kidding me... articles from 2002, 2004 and 2005? 
