If you thought the Washington Football Teams’ defense looked a little tentative against the Arizona Cardinals last week, you aren’t alone. Defensive Coordinator Jack Del Rio did as well.
“I just thought we left some things out there in the approach we took and the concern we have and just didn’t cut loose enough,” Del Rio said in a video call with reporters Thursday.
After sacking Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz eight times in week one, the defense recorded just three sacks of Murray last Sunday. The Cardinals second-year signal-caller went 26 for 38 for 286 yards passing. He threw for one touchdown and had one pass intercepted. The former Oklahoma standout ran for another 67 yards and a second score as Arizona won 30-15.
In contrast, Wentz was 24 for 42 for 270 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions back in the season opener.
“We understood the need to not let him get out and run around, he still got out and ran around a little bit,” Del Rio said. “We weren’t quite as aggressive as we need to be and want to be.”
Enter in the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. The Browns will present Del Rio’s defense with a different challenge.
Browns QB Baker Mayfield, while mobile, isn’t a speedster like Murray. What Mayfield does have is an offense with even more weapons than Arizona.
Wideouts Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry are severe threats, and the Browns also signed tight end Austin Hooper in the offseason. They will often line both he and rookie Harrison Bryant up in offensive sets.
The running game is even more potent with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. The duo combined for 205 yards and three touchdowns against the Cincinnati Bengals last week.
“We are going to have to get physical; we’re going to have to play a stout form of defense as well,” Head Coach Ron Rivera said Thursday after practice. “We’re going to have to get downhill and physical with these guys.”
Del Rio’s unit should get some reinforcements this week as Kendall Fuller seems on track to play. Washington’s significant free-agent acquisition has yet to dress out this year because of a knee injury suffered late in training camp. Linebacker Thomas Davis should be available this week as well. Regardless, it seems as though the defense is poised to play much more aggressively this Sunday if for no other reason than the quarterback they face will not be named Kyler Murray. That alone seems to be an oversized item off Jack Del Rio’s plate.
“Not face Kyle Murray.” “I think that was the biggest; I think there were some opportunities to go a little more aggressively in how we tackled him,” Del Rio would mention.
Washington’s defense will face another versatile offense in the Browns on Sunday with different expectations from last week.