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[SIZE=+2]Commanders must improve on defense
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]03:50 AM CDT on Monday, August 13, 2007
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]By RICK GOSSELIN / The Dallas Morning News
rgosselin@***BANNED-URL*** [/SIZE]
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/columnists/mugs/mug_rgosselin.jpg
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ASHBURN, Va. – Middle linebacker London Fletcher recognized the defensive coordinator, but not the defense.
His Buffalo Bills played games in 2006 against the AFC South. So did the Washington Commanders. When Fletcher prepared to play those AFC South teams, he studied tapes of the Commanders against Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville and Tennessee.
Fletcher played for Commanders defensive coordinator Gregg Williams at Buffalo in 2002-03 and considered him one of the game's finest defensive minds. But he didn't see that defensive genius on tape in 2006.
The Commanders were pitiful, finishing 31st in the NFL in defense. They allowed a 234-yard rushing game to Tiki Barber and six other 100-yard games. Washington allowed a league-high 30 TD passes and 376 points on the way to a 5-11 record. The Commanders managed a league-low 12 takeaways and a franchise-record-low 19 sacks.
"I saw a defense with a lot of issues," Fletcher said.
Now Fletcher has moved to Washington to help Williams address those issues, leaving the Bills for the Commanders in free agency. Cornerback Fred Smoot also returned to Washington after a two-year absence to help out. So did safety Omar Stoutmire, back after a one-year absence.
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"Gregg brought in the right guys – sturdy guys that he's been with before," Smoot said. "Guys who had been with him when he had top-rated defenses. Instead of trying to go out and get people with big names, he went out and got people that fit what he was trying to do – people who can get him back to his style of defense."
His style of defense has been highly successful.
Williams built a defense at Tennessee that led the NFL in 2000 and another at Buffalo that led the AFC in 2003. His units led the NFL in pass defense those same two seasons, and his Washington defense in 2004 led the NFC in run defense. His Titans collected 40 takeaways in 1999 and 55 sacks in 2000.
But his Washington defense in 2006 in no way resembled any of his past success stories. The collapse left Williams shaking his head.
"There were an awful lot of missed opportunities," Williams said. "We came up with those plays in years past. Last year, for whatever reason, we didn't. It was almost like we were allergic to making plays. When we broke down the films we counted up 26 balls that hit us in both hands.
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/08-07/0813nfl.jpg AP
The Commanders' Gregg Williams (right) lured players to Washington to strengthen the defense.
"We need to improve on our ability to catch the football. If we can catch half of those, we'll be right back up there."
Fletcher was brought in to help the run defense – and more. He had the best season of his nine-year NFL career in a Williams-led defense at Buffalo when he posted 209 tackles in 2002.
"They had a need here and Gregg had a background with me," Fletcher said. "He knew me very well. He wants me to do the things I've done the last nine years – be an extension of the defensive coordinator on the field. Get guys lined up, have a presence in the middle of the field, be a leader, be a playmaker, and get us back to where we should be."
Smoot was brought in to help increase takeaways. He intercepted 16 passes in his four seasons with the Commanders before leaving for Minnesota in free agency in 2005. He was eager to return to Washington.
"Gregg is one of the smartest coaches I've ever been around," Smoot said. "I enjoy being around him. He plays my scheme."
Smoot steps in as the nickel cornerback behind two former first-round draft picks, Shawn Springs and Carlos Rogers.
Williams also believed the defense needed more speed. So Washington's top pick in each of the last two drafts – safety LaRon Landry in 2007 and linebacker Rocky McIntosh in 2006 – will move into the starting lineup.
Any resurgence by the Commanders in 2007 must start on defense.
"We have a tremendous amount of talent on this defense," Fletcher said, "and I've seen what this scheme is capable of accomplishing. Now it's a matter of us going out and executing what we've learned and seen on film, converting it to Sundays."
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]03:50 AM CDT on Monday, August 13, 2007
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]By RICK GOSSELIN / The Dallas Morning News
rgosselin@***BANNED-URL*** [/SIZE]
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/columnists/mugs/mug_rgosselin.jpg
• E-mail
ASHBURN, Va. – Middle linebacker London Fletcher recognized the defensive coordinator, but not the defense.
His Buffalo Bills played games in 2006 against the AFC South. So did the Washington Commanders. When Fletcher prepared to play those AFC South teams, he studied tapes of the Commanders against Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville and Tennessee.
Fletcher played for Commanders defensive coordinator Gregg Williams at Buffalo in 2002-03 and considered him one of the game's finest defensive minds. But he didn't see that defensive genius on tape in 2006.
The Commanders were pitiful, finishing 31st in the NFL in defense. They allowed a 234-yard rushing game to Tiki Barber and six other 100-yard games. Washington allowed a league-high 30 TD passes and 376 points on the way to a 5-11 record. The Commanders managed a league-low 12 takeaways and a franchise-record-low 19 sacks.
"I saw a defense with a lot of issues," Fletcher said.
Now Fletcher has moved to Washington to help Williams address those issues, leaving the Bills for the Commanders in free agency. Cornerback Fred Smoot also returned to Washington after a two-year absence to help out. So did safety Omar Stoutmire, back after a one-year absence.
NFL
Commanders roster, info
More NFL
"Gregg brought in the right guys – sturdy guys that he's been with before," Smoot said. "Guys who had been with him when he had top-rated defenses. Instead of trying to go out and get people with big names, he went out and got people that fit what he was trying to do – people who can get him back to his style of defense."
His style of defense has been highly successful.
Williams built a defense at Tennessee that led the NFL in 2000 and another at Buffalo that led the AFC in 2003. His units led the NFL in pass defense those same two seasons, and his Washington defense in 2004 led the NFC in run defense. His Titans collected 40 takeaways in 1999 and 55 sacks in 2000.
But his Washington defense in 2006 in no way resembled any of his past success stories. The collapse left Williams shaking his head.
"There were an awful lot of missed opportunities," Williams said. "We came up with those plays in years past. Last year, for whatever reason, we didn't. It was almost like we were allergic to making plays. When we broke down the films we counted up 26 balls that hit us in both hands.
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/08-07/0813nfl.jpg AP
The Commanders' Gregg Williams (right) lured players to Washington to strengthen the defense.
"We need to improve on our ability to catch the football. If we can catch half of those, we'll be right back up there."
Fletcher was brought in to help the run defense – and more. He had the best season of his nine-year NFL career in a Williams-led defense at Buffalo when he posted 209 tackles in 2002.
"They had a need here and Gregg had a background with me," Fletcher said. "He knew me very well. He wants me to do the things I've done the last nine years – be an extension of the defensive coordinator on the field. Get guys lined up, have a presence in the middle of the field, be a leader, be a playmaker, and get us back to where we should be."
Smoot was brought in to help increase takeaways. He intercepted 16 passes in his four seasons with the Commanders before leaving for Minnesota in free agency in 2005. He was eager to return to Washington.
"Gregg is one of the smartest coaches I've ever been around," Smoot said. "I enjoy being around him. He plays my scheme."
Smoot steps in as the nickel cornerback behind two former first-round draft picks, Shawn Springs and Carlos Rogers.
Williams also believed the defense needed more speed. So Washington's top pick in each of the last two drafts – safety LaRon Landry in 2007 and linebacker Rocky McIntosh in 2006 – will move into the starting lineup.
Any resurgence by the Commanders in 2007 must start on defense.
"We have a tremendous amount of talent on this defense," Fletcher said, "and I've seen what this scheme is capable of accomplishing. Now it's a matter of us going out and executing what we've learned and seen on film, converting it to Sundays."
