Chocolate Lab;1599924 said:
A ton is going to ride on the quarterback, as it always does. And Campbell hasn't done anything. IMO he won't be horrible, but he won't be that good, either. It'll be interesting to see how he responds to getting pressured and seeing game plans run specifically to confuse him.
And the Skins are still starting some scrub at guard. I mean, Todd Wade? He or whoever beats him out is going to get worked all year. And we all know how bad Jansen has looked. Can't wait to get Ware isolated on him.
Sure, they have some pretty decent players. But what should make them so much better than last year? Fletcher and a rookie safety... That's it, right?
Add McIntosh(who has probably been the MVP of our defense thus far) in there and YES.
These three players along with a healthy Salavea and Griffin and a much improved Golston and Montgomery are a HUGE upgrade over last year. Our defense is flying around with reckless abandon thus far. Hopefully they keep it up.
As far as Landry goes...for a rooke the kid has been straight up PHENOMINAL!!
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/Commanders/2007-08-22-laron-landry_N.htm
Click link for full article
Commanders rookie Landry drawing rave early reviews
By Jonah Schuman, USA TODAY
LANDOVER, Md. — Less than one month into training camp, it has become clear to the Washington Commanders that safety LaRon Landry thinks more like a veteran than a 22-year-old rookie.
Never was his maturity more evident than on a first-quarter, first-down play in last week's preseason loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Right before the snap, Landry crept to the line of scrimmage and slid to the right. It left him in perfect position to challenge oncoming Steelers ballcarrier Willie Parker. Landry took down Parker's lead blocker at the knees, and the tailback disappeared behind a tidal wave of Commanders.
It was almost as if Landry had been in the Steelers' huddle.
And while his teammates celebrated the one-yard loss, Landry, as if he had made the play a thousand times before, hopped up and walked directly over to fellow safety Sean Taylor for a brief post-play critique.
"All those guys really helped me out with formation recognition," Landry said of the teammates encouraging his development. "They coach me up after every play. Cornerbacks too. The whole secondary took me in with open arms."
Landry, a 6-0, 213-pound safety out of LSU with a reputation as a playmaker and a big hitter, has taken an all-business approach to his first NFL season, and it's paying dividends.
"My whole attitude is 'take it one day at a time,' " he said. "Working on the little things, whether it's technique, communication, formation recognition. I work on every little thing."
Despite a three-day holdout at the start of training camp, the sixth-overall pick in this year's draft has had little trouble adapting to the speed of the pro game.
Landry has started both of the Commanders' preseason games, and has helped solidify a defense that has yet to give up a touchdown. His rapid adjustment has caught the eye of his coaches.
"It would be hard for anybody to do better than LaRon's done since he's been here," Commanders coach Joe Gibbs said. "In the offseason he was all professional. He is dead serious about football. He's very, very conscientious. I think he's worked extremely hard."
Perhaps the most meaningful praise Landry has earned in his month-long career came from Commanders assistant head coach-defense Gregg Williams, who said the safety has had little problem making pre-snap calls and adjustments — something with which rookies at all positions struggle.
"He is more than sharp enough, more than vocal enough," Williams told reporters last week. "He has had to do that in his career, anyway. He was the guy that was looked upon to do that [at LSU] so he can surely handle it."
The coaching staff has also been impressed with how Landry has handled the pressure of being thrust into the preseason starting lineup.
"We threw him right in there," said Gibbs. "I think he's getting a real battle test here. He's only a rookie, but I can sure tell you this: I like everything that we know about him and that we're seeing him do."
Williams attributes much of the rookie's smooth transition to his work ethic. Landry attended every OTA practice and meeting in the offseason, and the results are apparent on the field.
