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Defense cringes over big plays
Redskins notebook
Date published: 11/20/2009
BY RICH CAMPBELL ASHBURN --You won't hear any member of the Washington Redskins' defense bragging about the unit's fifth-overall ranking or its top ranking against the pass. Surrendering six touchdowns of 30 yards or longer in the last three games has a humbling effect.The Redskins understand that preventing the big play recently has been a crippling weakness, and they are on high alert entering Sunday's game because the Dallas Cowboys have several explosive players on offense. "Because they have so many weapons at the skill positions, you have to be disciplined in what you're doing and understand that, at any point in time, the guy you're covering could be the guy they try to get the ball to for a big-play opportunity," linebacker London Fletcher said. "It's all about being disciplined." Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has completed a pass for at least 36 yards in seven of their nine games. Running back Felix Jones has a 56-yard run this season, and Tashard Choice has a 36-yard touchdown run. Top running back Marion Barber is averaging 4.6 yards per carry for the NFL's fourth-ranked offense. Secondary coach Jerry Gray believes the Redskins are giving up big plays because they have been undisciplined at times. Last Sunday against Denver, for example, cornerback Carlos Rogers peeked into the backfield and allowed receiver Brandon Marshall to beat him for a 40-yard touchdown catch. Later in that quarter, safety LaRon Landry relinquished his deep responsibilities to pursue a receiver running a shorter decoy route, and Marshall burned the defense for a 75-yard touchdown. "The first thing you've got to do is play the design of the defense," Gray said. Fletcher expects Romo and the Cowboys to test the Redskins with some deep throws because other teams have been successful doing that. Philadelphia hit a 57-yard touchdown pass three games ago. "The league is kind of what we call 'copy-cat,'" he said. "If teams see something that has affected you in the past, that's what you're going to get the next week and the next week until you show the ability to stop it more than once." HAYNESWORTH LOW-KEY
Date published: 11/20/2009
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