Advantages of a Depleted Defense

Wow, talk about being given a lemon and turning it into lemonade.

Gregg Williams says that the rash injuries to the defensive backfield (plus Sean Taylor's deactivation for this game) has helped make the unit stronger, according to an article according to the Post's Jason La Canfora. Players have been forced to perform in different spots and that's made the unit more flexible. Safeties have been required to play cornerback and vice versa.

As one would expect on Joe Gibbs' staff, such emergencies are planned for. Williams has designed and the team practices packages that will be used in case of multiple injuries during a game.

"You have to kind of build that flexibility into your system," Williams said. "And this coaching staff does a good job with that. You have emergency packages with your front four, with your linebacker and with your secondary. . . . People aren't real sympathetic when you have injuries. You've got to go out there and find a way to get it done."

He makes this sound as though it's something that everyone does. Somehow, I doubt it.