Should the Redskins follow the Peyton Manning Colts' Blueprint

[Burgold]

Where did I say Cofield was a bad nose tackle?

Sorry, just have been hearing this undercurrent for a while. People have been wanting to replace him and complaining about him, but I don't think he's been the problem.

I asked you because I thought you might be able to explain his weaknesses better.

[CTskins]

Not having first round picks completely changes the landscape.

Our priorities at the moment go like this;

#1 Safety
#2 MLB (to replace Fletch when he retires)
#3 CB

Regarding #2, Is there any possiblity of reverting back to a base 4-3? Perry Riley is a more than competent MLB. Rak and Kerrigan can revert back to their DE spots on rush downs and RJax can stay on the outside. At that point the Skins can focus their picks for which they are meant...Depth.

[authentic]

People seem to be neglecting the need for a classic 3-4 nose. That would allow Cofield to shift to an end, and have a decent rotation with Cofield between nose (to spell the new guy), Carriker, Bowen, Jenkins and Golston (who has played fairly well, from what I've seen). Or, if Neild is healthy and shows growth, Cofield could become a full time end in rotations with the others. That will take care of how plodding and slow the DL looks from time to time. They're on the field way too long.

IMO, Cofield isn't a natural nose, though he's been servicable. I would prefer him rotate @ DE and at DT in some 4-3 formations. I would like Baker to get the majority of snaps @ NT from here on out.

[Bacon]

With that said, you don't need 2 grade A units to win a Super Bowl. You can get away with a grade C defense, like the Giants or the Rams when they won.

Rams had a 4th ranked D in terms of points allowed, just saying. People forget they were basically invincible that year. They were 7th in 2001 as well, it was 2000 where they were absolutely terrible (31st).

[KDawg]

Sorry, just have been hearing this undercurrent for a while. People have been wanting to replace him and complaining about him, but I don't think he's been the problem.

I asked you because I thought you might be able to explain his weaknesses better.

He does okay at neutralizing the LOS, but he rarely establishes the line of scrimmage in the offense's backfield. A great nose tackle will drive the blocker back into the backfield and control both gaps. Cofield isn't too bad at controlling the gaps, but he either neutralizes or gets moved back, he doesn't establish a new LOS. That's his issue. He's a bit small, and that's part of the reason he doesn't get that extra push.

Given his size, he's done well. But we need a natural nose so that we can use Cofield in a role that's better suited for him.

[CTskins]

He does okay at neutralizing the LOS, but he rarely establishes the line of scrimmage in the offense's backfield. A great nose tackle will drive the blocker back into the backfield and control both gaps. Cofield isn't too bad at controlling the gaps, but he either neutralizes or gets moved back, he doesn't establish a new LOS. That's his issue. He's a bit small, and that's part of the reason he doesn't get that extra push.

Given his size, he's done well. But we need a natural nose so that we can use Cofield in a role that's better suited for him.

Good nose tackles occupy both gaps by requiring the opponent to double team them(i.e. overpower one-on-one matchups regularly) in order to free up the middle linebackers for plays. Cofield seems to be better suited as a 4-3 DL. I doubt Haslett is dismissed this year considering what he's done with a bunch of back-ups and misfitting players, but maybe they should consider a reversion to the 4-3...

[KDawg]

Good nose tackles occupy both gaps by requiring the opponent to double team them(i.e. overpower one-on-one matchups regularly)

I thought that went without saying.

[Darth Tater]

Remember when Peyton Manning was drafted by the Colts? The next few years of drafts were dedicated to getting all of the offensive weapons Peyton needed to be successful. they did this almost ignoring the defense. should the redskins do the same and build the defense through free agency?

When Manning was drafted, most of the offensive parts were already in place. Mora did decide that he could upgrade those parts with varying degrees of success. It was a weak defense that held back the Mora teams. The 1999 draft, with the exception of James (primarily due to the Faulk trade) and a guard who didn't even make the team, was focused on defense. All of Mora's drafts were primarily focused on the defense and the only high pick spent on the offensive side of the ball during Mora was Wayne which was a no-brainer. Dungy also focused on the defense in the draft. Some people seem to beg for linemen here but from 1998 to 2012, the Colts drafted exactly 2 OL with a pick higher than a 3.

[CTskins]

I thought that went without saying.

But It has to be said in order for the rest of my post to make sense...You took the first part of my post out of context, thereby making it a "Duh" statement.

What do you think of the rest?

[KDawg]

But It has to be said in order for the rest of my post to make sense...You took the first part of my post out of context, thereby making it a "Duh" statement.

What do you think of the rest?

I don't disagree that Cofield would have success at a 3-tech type of defender. I'm not sure of how effective he'd be in a 1 (although I think he could play there decently, much like he does as a nose). I think he'd see a ton of success as a 3-4 defensive end. The key cog to any 3-4 defense is your nose tackle. A decent one can allow for a decent defense. A strong one can allow for a strong one. An elite one can allow for an elite one. Right now, our defense's maximum potential, in my opinion, is "decent" with Cofield as the nose. You move him to end and put a more traditional nose in who is skilled and I believe you have completely upgraded the defense's ability and gave the team additional room for growth.

[Darth Tater]

Not having first round picks completely changes the landscape.

Our priorities at the moment go like this;

#1 Safety
#2 MLB (to replace Fletch when he retires)
#3 CB

From 1999 to 2011, the Colts only drafted offense in the first round half the time. Given that they had just traded Faulk, going with a RB in 1999 (might argue the back actually taken) was an obvious choice. The others were all mid or late first round picks.

[CTskins]

I don't disagree that Cofield would have success at a 3-tech type of defender. I'm not sure of how effective he'd be in a 1 (although I think he could play there decently, much like he does as a nose). I think he'd see a ton of success as a 3-4 defensive end. The key cog to any 3-4 defense is your nose tackle. A decent one can allow for a decent defense. A strong one can allow for a strong one. An elite one can allow for an elite one. Right now, our defense's maximum potential, in my opinion, is "decent" with Cofield as the nose. You move him to end and put a more traditional nose in who is skilled and I believe you have completely upgraded the defense's ability and gave the team additional room for growth.

Great. Now all we have to do is find an elite NT (How's that for a "duh" statement?)!!!

I absolutely agree with your potential comment. The one thing that Haslett is not getting nearly enough credit for is making the whole of the defense be worth more than the sum of their parts as the season goes on.

[Farbod21]

A healthy Garcon will be huge. The guy is a stud. We really need secondary help. Our secondary is downright horrendous. Its hard to watch.

[FanboyOf91]

I just hope Cobra Kai doesn't turn out to be our Mike Vanderjagt in the playoffs.

[Darth Tater]

Agreed, that he's a hybrid, but what makes Cofield a bad nose tackle. He seems to hold the center pretty well, the run defense is stout, and nose tackles generally aren't considered pass rushers. Last year, Cofield and Nield seemed to create a pretty good tandem. I always thought we were lacking more depth than talent at the position.

I suspect that a lot of that had to do with having Orkpo and Carriker teaming up with Kerrigan (without those guys, we are now missing 14-20 sacks). On passes, this often meant the pocket would be collapsing on both sides while you needed two chips in the interior. This year, I've often seen the pocket collapses from one side so the QB runs the opposite direction to buy time or knows the interior chip block will give him a place to climb the ladder in the pocket. So much of our secondary problem stems directly from not getting fast pressure on the QB.