By virtually any metric you use in 2019, the Washington Redskins’ defense underachieved. After being projected by some to finish as a top-5 or top-10 defense in the NFL, they wrapped up the season with the following stats:
- Yards per game — 385.1 (27th)
- Points per game — 27.2 (27th)
- 3rd down conversion % — 49 (32nd)
- 1st downs per game — 22.1 (28th)
Like we said…any metric. This is one of the reasons why Ron Rivera and Jack Del Rio have been brought into the organization to help shore up the defense and turn around the losing ways in Washington. In order to do so, the two highly-respected defensive coaches plan to change from a 3-4 defensive scheme to a 4-3, hoping that it will better fit their personnel, and allow them to do one thing above all else;
Rush the quarterback.
“It just makes sense to have them covering less and rushing more,” Del Rio said, via Redskins.com. “I’ll keep it as simple as that.”
When you take a look at the defensive depth chart for the Redskins, one of the position groups that stands out is the defensive line. Just look at this group of players that Del Rio will likely be able to work with next year.
- Ryan Kerrigan
- Montez Sweat
- Chase Young
- Matt Ioannidis
- Daron Payne
- Jonathan Allen
- Ryan Anderson
Are you going to try to tell me that this unit will have a tough time getting to the quarterback snap after snap? That seems like a stretch. In the years past, Washington has tried to focus on the changing of the guard in the NFL, and scheme their defense to be more fit to cover the pass and focus less on getting to the QB. That mentality is no longer, under the new leadership, where both coaches want to stress the importance of putting pressure on the opposing backfield via the edges.
“I’ve spoken to a couple of players thus far, and their mentality is that they want to make it right,” Del Rio said. “They want to work, and that’s what it’s going to take.”
For any team to succeed, the best thing a coach can do is look at his personnel and scheme his gameplan in order to fit his roster. In Washington, the defensive line is stout, and the rush on the edge is downright dangerous. You want to win? You take advantage of that. Look for those sack numbers to go up next year, and with them, the defensive rankings as well.
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