SOW: Redskins Front Seven Ready to Take the Next Step - ALSO new episode of SOWPodcast

[rskin72]

Well, the D was the dominant part of our team IMHO last season....many times they would come into awful situations that the offense had placed them in (most often a Grossman mistake) and more often than not....especially in the first half before they would be worn down....they would limit the damage the other team was able to inflict.

I think our D is good, but don't really consider them a dominant defense. Hopefully they will get better due to a couple of reasons:

1. Player additions, especially in the secondary

2. An offense that may finally be able to score more easily...thus providing the defense a cushion as other teams will need to play from behind and thus become more predictable in play calling.

Looking forward to a big year from Kerrigan and Orakpo....and hope Jenkins comes back and is able to resist further injury.

[steve09ru]

In my last piece I was asking a question really is this the time for Rak to jump to elite or is this as good as it gets.

I am a HUGE Rak fan and I do feel like he has been a huge part of the improving defense. He has not however made the jump to elite IMO. When he was drafted I figured by year three he would be one of the top most feared defensive players in the league. Though he's dangerous he's not been a consistant game changer yet. So in that sense yea I am a little disappointed that he's not getting 15 sacks a season.

Maybe my expectations for him are too high? Or maybe he is adjusting to standing up? I do believe he needs to polish and refine his moves at the point of attack because if his hands were better he would destroy everyone and be what I expected.

Ah, that's understandable. And i think everyone was expecting a bit more but it's also good to note that the defense went through pretty much a whole rebuilding process in a matter of 1 offseason with clearing out players and switching schemes. I look for them to really gel and communicate well in year 2 together

[TheGreek1973]

no question last year our D was put in difficult situations by both our QB throwing INTs and getting sacked left and right. if our Offense is just a little better, make a few more 1st downs etc, it will go a long way to helping out the D.

Personally I can't wait to see how Kerrigan improves from his rookie year. If he does man oh man he can be a difference maker which will also help Rak.

[SkinsFTW]

With the 2012 schedule taken into consideration I think the defense will be worse than last year, unless the offense never gets going and we score 17 a game. I wouldn't be surprised if Griffen is a sack/fumble machine his first year, especially if the OL doesn't stay healthy, which it never seems to do.

[rskin72]

SkinsFTW.....disagree with your analysis, and hope that events prove you wrong. Our strength of schedule is ranked 25th on RED ZONE web site....W/L record of our competition next season was 125-131 in 2011. And, while every season is different......with teams like Bungles, Brownies, Vikings, Rams, Bucs, Panthers on the non-conference schedule there is hope.......and in conference, with exception of the Beagles, we were competitive with the Cowgirls last season, and beat the SB Champs twice. I know we lost to the Carolina Cams and Vikings last season, but results this season could be different.

If RGIII is indeed our QB....with his mobility, and accuracy, I do not think that he will be the turnover maching that Grossman was this past season. All in all, I have hope that we can at least break even this season.....and be competitive in our games....no Monday Night Massacre type blow outs.

[The Rook]

the front 7 have to be great, especially in putting pressure on the QBs because I am afraid our secondary will be suspect.

I agree. They may as well be Byrne, Polleck, Spacey and Baldwin.








The Rook

[Ashburn Dave]

We need turnovers for this defense to be effective which is the main reason for playing a 3-4.

We ranked 22nd last year in interceptions and 24th in fumbles recovered so this is were we need to improve the most. We did rank 7th in forced fumbles but for whatever reason we didn't recover enough of them.

We ranked 10th in sacks last year so our front seven is getting pressure.

I like the direction our defense is going and with one more year in the 3-4, a healthy Jenkins, and some better bounces when we do force some fumbles we are going to be feared.

[DarrellsMyHero28]

Cannot wait to see what Jenkins can do.

Defensive line should be phenomenal this year, and Rak/Kerrigan are very effective. Worried a little about the ILB spot with Fletch unsigned but I think we'll be ok.

They will NEED to put lots of pressure on the QB, I think 'suspect' will be an understatement for our secondary.

[pjfootballer]

In my last piece I was asking a question really is this the time for Rak to jump to elite or is this as good as it gets.

I am a HUGE Rak fan and I do feel like he has been a huge part of the improving defense. He has not however made the jump to elite IMO. When he was drafted I figured by year three he would be one of the top most feared defensive players in the league. Though he's dangerous he's not been a consistant game changer yet. So in that sense yea I am a little disappointed that he's not getting 15 sacks a season.

Maybe my expectations for him are too high? Or maybe he is adjusting to standing up? I do believe he needs to polish and refine his moves at the point of attack because if his hands were better he would destroy everyone and be what I expected.

I agree with this. I was hoping he'd have better stats after his 3rd season and maybe this year he will shine with Jenkins coming back and being in this defense for a 3rd season.

[Koolblue13]

I'm more excited about seeing what the core of the front 7 can do without having to think about a new scheme, than I am about a player who hasn't played a snap yet and is coming off a major injure that usually takes two years to recover from.

I am very hopeful he returns to form and I wish him the best, but it's not realistic.