2007 Previews: Redskins defense

The second part of my two part series previewing the Redskins, here are 3 keys on the defensive side of the ball that will need to take place if Washington is going to head back the playoffs.

1. LaRon Landry needs to prove he was worth the pick. Washington set franchise lows in sacks and with fans clamoring for the addition of a(nother) pass rusher, the Skins used their first pick on Landry. Washington also had a tough time forcing turnovers and the thought process here has to be that adding Landry will help force more turnovers, which in turn will aid the pass rush. The normal thought process is usually the other way around but then again, when have the Skins gone with the traditional way of thinking? Gregg Williams always has a unique way to use his personnel and he should have a lot of fun adding Landry skills to a defensive backfield that already includes heavy-hitting Sean Taylor.

2. Speaking of a pass rush. With no major changes to the defensive line, Andre Carter and company have to prove that they can get to the QB this season. Carter was last year's high priced pickup and other than recording a sack in each of the last 3 games, he was mediocre at best. Aging vets Phillip Daniels and Renaldo Wynn probably don't have much left either and with the DT's used more as run stuffers, the DE's will need to give it everything they have left to help this defense get back to being one of the best in the league.

3. Please stay healthy. Losing pro bowlers Marcus Washington, Shawn Springs and Cornelius Griffin at different points last year obviously hurt the performance of this unit and Washington is hoping that the additions it made and the maturation of young players will compensate for the loss of any players to injury this year but the Skins cannot afford to lose its stars on defense again this year. Every team has certain losses it can overcome and certain losses it can't and obviously last year's losses were ones Washington couldn't absorb. If these guys go down again, it is quite possible the defense will stall again.

Think McFly, think

Did Joe Gibbs pay attention to his team last year or to who he was bringing back this season? The one GLARING, OBVIOUS (insert choice of adjective here) need on this team was to bolster the pass rush. And after not addressing the situation in free agency, it was obvious the Redskins would draft some defensive linemen here, wasn't it?

Apparently not. Already working with a depleted talent pool to select from in the fifth, sixth and seventh rounds, Washington added two linebackers, a quarterback and a tight end to go with yesterday's only choice - LaRon Landry.

Nothing against Bennie Blades linebacker son H.B. Blades or Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer's brother Jordan Palmer - but WE NEED LINEMEN. Blades may actually be of some benefit as he can provide depth for a potential problem spot at inside linebacker, but did we really need to take a QB we will never use over a lineman who may have had a shot at the team?

I said yesterday that I don't want to question Gibbs, especially since he three Super Bowl titles should give him a free pass at judgment with moves this time of the year, but I sure hope he knows something we don't otherwise our LBs and DBs will be in for a REALLY long season.

I think the only team who was more confused than the Skins this weekend was the Miami Dolphins - who passes on Brady Quinn in Round 1 for Ted Ginn in Round 1 and John Beck in Round 2? In fact I think Mel Kiper summed up Miami's first day perfectly:
"The Miami Dolphins taking Ted Ginn Jr. was ridiculous. Not only did they have QB Quinn staring them in the face, but they weren't going to have to trade up to get him. I understand Miami took QB John Beck in the second round, but Beck is not better than Quinn. Those two QBs will be measured against one another as time goes on."

Since I am too frustrated to talk about this mockery of a draft, here is Sports Illustrated's breakdown on the Skins thought process. And here are Kiper's grades for each team, and what he specifically said about the Skins:
"GRADE: C-
Washington had only one pick in the first four rounds and made the most of it, getting Laron Landry. (You could argue Landry was the best defensive player in the draft). Drafting Landry will allow Sean Taylor to play center field and roam the middle of the field. Landry will be in the box, and that will negate his weakness, which is playing judging the deep ball. In the fifth round, the Redskins took an average linebacker in Dallas Sartz; linebacker HB Blades was decent sixth-round pick although a bit undersized; and QB Jordan Palmer never really emerged as potential starter."

Slow Day One

With all of the talk about moving up or down, the Redskins decided to stay put and take what many consider to be the "best defensive player in the draft." The problem is, Washington had more pressing needs than at safety. With only 19 sacks last year and only one pick where you will be able to get someone who can contribute right away (the team failed to trade down and get more first day picks), why wouldn't you use the No. 6 pick on an impact defensive lineman?

I hate to disagree with Joe Gibbs, winning three Super Bowls should earn unquestioned loyalty, but the team did have a hole or two that could have been plugged through the draft. The one bright side, no one will want to get caught going over the middle, especially with Sean Taylor roaming in the secondary with Landry. Brian Moorman should be very afraid.

But enough rambling, here's what you need to know about LaRon Landry, the team's only pick on day one.

LaRon Landry - S from LSU
6'0", 215, 4.35 40-yard dash time according to espn.com
74 tackles, 3.5 for loss, 1 sack, 3 interceptions, 4 break-ups, 1 forced fumble, 1 blocked kick

For a full breakdown about what happened when the Redskins finally went on the clock, check out this article in the Washington Post by Jason La Canfora.

Here's to hoping we actually draft someone we need when the Redskins finally return to action in the fifth round.