Watching the 2013 NFL Combine’s talented young defensive backs brings home how important the move that Washington Redskins’ head coach Mike Shanahan made in acquiring quarterback Robert Griffin, III. Shanahan bit the bullet and did what he had to do and because of it, once some of these young defensive players have gotten on to the field, the Redskins will still have a fighting chance. The fantastic youngster cost the team a lot — picked second overall in last year’s draft — but was well worth it.
Unfortunately, RGIII’s high price tag will keep the Redskins from having a first-round pick in this year’s draft (unless Shanahan works some Draft Day magic… not out of the question) so they will have to sit by and watch their division rival, Dallas Cowboys, use their first-round pick. And the Texas team could end up with a player that could seriously impact the Redskins’ offensive success against them for years to come. With the changes that Dallas has made — and will make — this off-season, the Redskins will have their work cut out for them if they want to make a second consecutive sweep of their enemy in 2013.
After their second consecutive 8-8 season, one of the changes the Cowboys made was to their defense. New D-coordinator Monte Kiffin has replaced Rob Ryan and Kiffin says he is “fired up” about the job. This is good since he’ll need serious energy in his endeavor to transition the team from a 3-4 defense to his 4-3 Tampa Cover-2 scheme in 2013. Kiffin kept most of Ryan’s staff except that former defensive line coach Brian Baker has been replaced with former Chicago Bears’ defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli. Kiffin and Marinelli worked together for years in Tampa Bay, creating a Buccaneers top-10 defense. But they will still have their work cut out for them in making the Cowboys’ transition successful.
Various issues dictate that changes need to be made along the Cowboy’s defense line, making big changes in the defense even bigger. Griffin — or back-up quarterback Kirk Cousins should RGIII not be ready — will be facing an unknown quantity in that Cowboys unit when the first regular season snap against the archenemy finally arrives.
It has been speculated — and in some cases suggested — that one of the guys who should not return to Dallas in 2013 is 31-year old defensive tackle Jay Ratliff. But when asked directly about the veteran’s position on the team, Dallas head coach Jason Garrett recently publicly supported the 31-year-old. He kept it simple, saying only “absolutely,” when asked if Ratliff would remain a Cowboy.
It’s not only age that is an issue, however. Ratliff didn’t have a great 2012, sustaining off-season, preseason and regular season injuries that, in the end, limited him to six games. Additionally, he has recently dealt with a drunk driving arrest and he represents a large salary cap hit (~$7 million total: $5 million owed and $1.3 million if he’s on the roster at the start of free agency) to a team that is dealing with the same penalties that Washington is this year, albeit to a lesser extent.
The 2013 NFL Combine is heavy with talented defensive line players and, while the Cowboys could also use offensive linemen, if they are smart, they will use their first-round pick (18th overall) on a defensive player. D-tackle out of Missouri, Sheldon Richardson (described with elite first-step quickness, change-of-direction skills and range to penetrate and disrupt plays), or Florida’s Sharrif Floyd (good lateral agility to “get skinny” through gaps and shows enough short-area quickness to close when the ball carrier is near) could both cause major problems for the Redskins.
The Cowboys’ 2012 third-round draft pick, defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford, only played in five games last season and logged two tackles against the Redskins in Washington’s 28-18 December win. He will likely see more playing time in 2013 if the Cowboys can’t find a way to keep linebacker Anthony Spencer on the team because he’s well- suited to the 4-3 scheme.
Linebackers Bruce Carter and Sean Lee; and defensive back Gerald Sensabaugh should all be able to make the transition. But bringing in youngsters and starting them right off in the Cover-2 will be easier than trying to retrain older guys. Put current successfully-transitioned players plus talented draft picks alongside Cowboys’ premier rushing linebacker DeMarcus Ware (who can probably play any scheme) and Dallas’ defense would immediately be upgraded. Because of the fact that the Tampa-2 sometimes requires switching linebackers and safeties, it’s conceivable that Dallas could go after one of the talented defensive backs in this year’s draft class. But they should also continue to develop safeties Barry Church and Matt Johnson if they want to stop the Redskins’ prolific offense.
Talented cornerback Morris Claiborne was not a huge a problem for Washington during its Thanksgiving victory over the Cowboys last season, being targeted only three times. He did stop wide out Josh Morgan for a two-yard loss at one point but the Redskins scored on the next play. In the Week 18 win for the Redskins, Claiborne logged four solo tackles and was targeted several times, allowing several completions. There were times he was a nuisance though. While not a sure fit for the 4-3, he is young and coach-able. It would be smart for Kiffin to, in this first year of the transition, tailor the scheme to fit his players.
However successfully Dallas structures its defense in 2013, it is going to impact the Redskins. Combine the changes to the scheme with unfamiliar, younger, fresher, talented players and life likely won’t be the same fun-and-games it was in 2012… for whichever quarterback is calling the signals for Washington in 2013.
Or will it? Fortunately, the Redskins have Morris, wide out Pierre Garçon, tight end Fred Davis (hopefully) and any other number of talented offensive players who are in their second and third years in Shanahan’s scheme. Add Washington’s own off-season changes and perhaps the Cowboys’ will see their troubles amplified by their new defensive system.
Hail.
Diane Chesebrough is Editor-in-Chief, writer and photographer for SportsJourney Broadcast Network. Accredited media with the NFL, she has been a feature writer for several national magazines/periodicals. Follower her on Twitter: @DiChesebrough