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No more 15 yard cushions??
Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 2:36 pm
by PulpExposure
One thing that irritated me to no end with Gregg Williams' defense (though I fully know we were blessed to have a guy as good as he was as our defensive coordinator), was how he'd have our corners line up 10-15 yards off the receiver.
According to
the Redskins Insider:
The Redskins have been playing a lot of press-man coverage with their corners early in camp, more than what seemed to be the norm. Playing man is nothing new around here, but there was no cushion being given at all. Fred Smoot and Shawn Springs, the starting corners, have loved it, 'cuz now they're even closer to the WRs to beat them up a bit and also to ensure all of their smack talk is audible.
Smoot said he expects the team to play a ton of it this season, and that CB Coach Jerry Gray is stressing press technique. I asked Jim Zorn if the prevalence of the coverage was just to give the offense that look in practice, and he said, no, that he figured the Redskins would be a pressing team. Not 100 percent of the time, of course, but given the size and skills of their corner, the enhanced pass rush with Jason Taylor and the presence of a ball-hawk, head-hunter like LaRon Landry behind the corners at safety, it makes a lot of sense.
The CBs have to get a solid jam on the WRs and derail them from their route - within the ever-shrinking legal limits of doing so - and it's definitely a high-gamble tactic (if the corner whiffs you've got a streaking WR going deep all alone), but it can be smothering if done properly. Makes for some fun battles during 11-on-11s as well, especially when the kid WRs are out there
I can live with the occasional burning. Though it may be smarter from a football sense to play with the cushion, it just killed me to see a receiver get a release from the line without being bumped.
Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 2:53 pm
by GSPODS
I've always been in favor of using both press-man and cushion coverage, although no more than 7 yard cushions. Too much of one or the other makes for a relatively easy adjustment. A combination of both means the QB never knows who will or will not be in position, making him hold the ball longer. Jason Taylor & Andre Carter happiness.
Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 3:36 pm
by Countertrey
Excellent!
Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 3:39 pm
by Skinna Mob
So glad to see, that at least the corners will not be so predictable. Hopefully 3rd downs will not cause me high blood pressure this year!!!
Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 3:58 pm
by skins2357
with the redskins new found pass rush, it would not be smart to give them a cushion. If you give them a cushion the qb can simply dump the pass off to the WR who is still on the line without interference due to the cushion he was given.
Now if you press the WR, the QB has no "safety valve" to dump the ball off to on the line. And if they do force it the CB has a chance at a poorly thrown ball.
Yes there will be plays where we get burned but I think that this is a smart move. I am really getting excited this year and cant wait to see some turnovers (for the 1st time in a while)
Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 4:02 pm
by Bob 0119
Oh man that drove me crazy too. I know the defense was just trying to keep the plays in front of them, but seeing Smoot and Springs 12 yards off the line of scrimmage and Landry and Taylor so far back they could be fielding kick returns always drove me crazy.
I don't know how we managed to be ranked 9th in total defense because it sure seemed like we gave up the short passes over the middle all day long.
Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 4:13 pm
by GSPODS
Bob 0119 wrote:Oh man that drove me crazy too. I know the defense was just trying to keep the plays in front of them, but seeing Smoot and Springs 12 yards off the line of scrimmage and Landry and Taylor so far back they could be fielding kick returns always drove me crazy.
I don't know how we managed to be ranked 9th in total defense because it sure seemed like we gave up the short passes over the middle all day long.
Simple. The rushing defense was #4. We're going to miss Phillip Daniels.
The passing defense was #16. We're going to miss Sean Taylor.
The two stats together put the Redskins at #9 in total defense.
I'm surprised the Skins were even in the middle of the pack in passing defense after that Patriots game. Take that one away and they might have been #9 in pass defense, too. (Not sure, I'd have to look, but I think everyone gets my point. At least I hope so. I really suck at internet communication
)
Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 11:14 pm
by HEROHAMO
Thank goodness! Let our corners earn there money. Laron should be able to pick up the slack if one of them gets burnt on his side. Jason Taylor , Andre Carter and Erasmus James hey that is not a bad defensive end group. Big griff should be able to hold up in the middle as well.
Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 6:51 am
by JansenFan
I didn't really mind the cushion on first and second, but when it was third and 5 and our corner was 10 yards off the ball, I wanted to puke.
Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:29 am
by SkinsFreak
JansenFan wrote:I didn't really mind the cushion on first and second, but when it was third and 5 and our corner was 10 yards off the ball, I wanted to puke.
Me too. Also when Williams had the safeties 30 yards back from the line of scrimmage. I hated that. It was like we were in a prevent defense the entire game.
Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:58 am
by Bob 0119
SkinsFreak wrote:JansenFan wrote:I didn't really mind the cushion on first and second, but when it was third and 5 and our corner was 10 yards off the ball, I wanted to puke.
Me too. Also when Williams had the safeties 30 yards back from the line of scrimmage. I hated that. It was like we were in a prevent defense the entire game.
We were, it complimented our "prevent offense" nicely.
Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 11:46 am
by fleetus
I like the idea of mixing in more bump and run, but this could just be a training camp technique because we have two rookie WR who need to learn how to get off the line in the NFL. Wouldn't surprise me if Zorn asked Blache to move his corners up during drills.
Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:56 pm
by BnGhog
Bob 0119 wrote:SkinsFreak wrote:JansenFan wrote:I didn't really mind the cushion on first and second, but when it was third and 5 and our corner was 10 yards off the ball, I wanted to puke.
Me too. Also when Williams had the safeties 30 yards back from the line of scrimmage. I hated that. It was like we were in a prevent defense the entire game.
We were, it complimented our "prevent offense" nicely.
I hated that on third and shorts. But if its third and 15, some cushion would be good. I will never forget the Third and long 2 years ago with the game on the line, and Williams blitzed everyone, they scored a touchdown on us. Man, that left a mark.
Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 10:17 am
by gholmesbm
Mix it up (press and cushion) and change it - keep 'em guessing! It's always good when you have the skills to do that.
Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 10:27 am
by SKINFAN
I thought we got away with it with #21 in the backfield, but after losing #21 I never could understand why we never pressed last year. We were just waiting to get beat last year, on our corners...
Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 1:51 pm
by Smithian
SkinsFreak wrote:JansenFan wrote:I didn't really mind the cushion on first and second, but when it was third and 5 and our corner was 10 yards off the ball, I wanted to puke.
Me too. Also when Williams had the safeties 30 yards back from the line of scrimmage. I hated that. It was like we were in a prevent defense the entire game.
Actually I understood that. With Sean and LaRon, our safeties could cover more ground faster than any other duo in the league.
Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 3:40 pm
by MDSKINSFAN
thank god i got so sick of williams playingprevent defense on every play. laron and sean taylor would both had better years last year if he hadnt. sean had a good year anyway but if we couldve laid off the cushions and prevent defense our defense wouldve been much better
Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 4:44 pm
by yupchagee
Smithian wrote:SkinsFreak wrote:JansenFan wrote:I didn't really mind the cushion on first and second, but when it was third and 5 and our corner was 10 yards off the ball, I wanted to puke.
Me too. Also when Williams had the safeties 30 yards back from the line of scrimmage. I hated that. It was like we were in a prevent defense the entire game.
Actually I understood that. With Sean and LaRon, our safeties could cover more ground faster than any other duo in the league.
Having such good safeties should have enabled the CB's to jam WR's.
Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 4:54 pm
by 1niksder
yupchagee wrote:Smithian wrote:SkinsFreak wrote:JansenFan wrote:I didn't really mind the cushion on first and second, but when it was third and 5 and our corner was 10 yards off the ball, I wanted to puke.
Me too. Also when Williams had the safeties 30 yards back from the line of scrimmage. I hated that. It was like we were in a prevent defense the entire game.
Actually I understood that. With Sean and LaRon, our safeties could cover more ground faster than any other duo in the league.
Having such good safeties should have enabled the CB's to jam WR's.
Not without a pass rush
Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 5:47 pm
by Smithian
yupchagee wrote:Smithian wrote:SkinsFreak wrote:JansenFan wrote:I didn't really mind the cushion on first and second, but when it was third and 5 and our corner was 10 yards off the ball, I wanted to puke.
Me too. Also when Williams had the safeties 30 yards back from the line of scrimmage. I hated that. It was like we were in a prevent defense the entire game.
Actually I understood that. With Sean and LaRon, our safeties could cover more ground faster than any other duo in the league.
Having such good safeties should have enabled the CB's to jam WR's.
I was commenting just on the safety depth. I agree completely that the 15 yard cushions were irritating especially when teams only needed half that or a third of it for a first down on third down.
Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 7:37 am
by VetSkinsFan
Remember we were worst (or close to) giving up 30+ yd passes in '06. I believe this is why we had the cushion in '07. As long as they stay in front of you, you can't get smoked on the long ball.
Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 10:13 am
by MDSKINSFAN
VetSkinsFan wrote:Remember we were worst (or close to) giving up 30+ yd passes in '06. I believe this is why we had the cushion in '07. As long as they stay in front of you, you can't get smoked on the long ball.
yea except the opponent could drive down the field throwing 10 yard routes the whole time
Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 10:13 am
by MDSKINSFAN
VetSkinsFan wrote:Remember we were worst (or close to) giving up 30+ yd passes in '06. I believe this is why we had the cushion in '07. As long as they stay in front of you, you can't get smoked on the long ball.
yea except the opponent could drive down the field throwing 10 yard routes the whole time. that was the negative
Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 10:55 am
by VetSkinsFan
MDSKINSFAN wrote:VetSkinsFan wrote:Remember we were worst (or close to) giving up 30+ yd passes in '06. I believe this is why we had the cushion in '07. As long as they stay in front of you, you can't get smoked on the long ball.
yea except the opponent could drive down the field throwing 10 yard routes the whole time. that was the negative
I think they '07 choice was the lesser of the two evils.
Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 1:24 pm
by yupchagee
VetSkinsFan wrote:Remember we were worst (or close to) giving up 30+ yd passes in '06. I believe this is why we had the cushion in '07. As long as they stay in front of you, you can't get smoked on the long ball.
We were also last in the league in sacks. The 2 go together.