Been Hitting the Sauce or Is This Ok?

A ritual, they can't help themselves

Aftger two solid preseason games for the defense, the Washington Examiner's Rick Snider is the first out of the gate to drop the 'p' word: playoffs. Is this for real, is it ok to start thinkng of this defense as definitively better, or is this annual local media navel-gazing, trying really hard to see something positive no matter what the facts?

The narrative goes like this: it doesn't matter how/what the Redskins offense does as long as the defense checks in like it did in 2004 and 2005. Al Saunders can tinker, open it up, get untracked, shuffle the line and move receivers but if the defense is attacking the ball and no one can get in the end zone the Redskins will play a lot of 17-13 games, which is exactly what Redskins fans love to see, games where nothing happens. Boring = exciting in Washington.

Through two preseason games, the Redskins defense is 9th fewest in rushing yards allowed and second only to the Ravens for fewest points allowed.

But they are also at 16 in the middle of the pack on passing yards allowed and I think have one takeaway, cornerback Byron Westbrook falling on a Tim Rattay fumble in the 4th quarter of the Titans preseason game.

Yes LaRon Landry is a hoss and London Fletcher seems to be everything advertised, Rocky McIntosh appears improved, Sean Taylor is growing, Carlos Rogers has a pep in his step and Shawn Springs can take a step.

But there will be an all-new 34 year old strongside linebacker and the defensive line will only get better if it plays better because the team did not upgrade it. That's an invitation for opposing teams to run the ball, a lot and force the linebackers and safeties up to help out which in turn puts them in a tough position for pass coverage and forces the corners to play man to man where they got torched or hosed last year depending on your preferred metaphor.

Time to start drinking the kool-aid, or irrational exuberance?



Howling at the moon from here.