By Rich Tandler
This was more of a discussion than a question, but it was still interesting enough to expand on here. Here is a key comment from @Mr_Redskins.
@Rich_Tandler: Reed is a much better in the box safety. Can hide his coverage closer to line & Otogwe practices at FS when Landry is there.
It would be nice if, while LaRon Landry remains sidelines, the Redskins could keep fill-in Reed Doughty up close to the line. He had issues in coverage on two long passes and although defensive coordinator Jim Haslett defended him, Doughty is better suited to playing in the box.
The problem is keeping Doughty or any other safety in the box is just not possible in today’s game. Just like the fullback on the offensive side of the ball, the traditional strong safety is rapidly becoming a dinosaur.
The way today’s offenses spread the field with multiple wide receivers and tight ends who can go deep makes it impossible to commit one of your four defensive backs to staying close to the line of scrimmage, especially when you have four linebackers there already.
It appears that Doughty also was guilty of biting on a double move on the long completion to Hakeem Nicks, but if the defensive front is doing it s job a quarterback should not have enough time to such a pattern to develop. Eli Manning was able to step up in the pocket and he got a full four seconds to launch the pass. As Haslett pointed out, you can’t give the quarterback all day to throw. If you do, any defensive back, including Landry, will get beaten.
The middle of the line was the culprit on the play Reid got burnt on. Kerrigan pushed Eli up but nobody was there so he was able to step way up and launch that deep ball.
Landry isn't a great cover guy either, but has better makeup speed the Doughty.
Posted by: Jason72 | Saturday, September 17, 2011 at 01:34 PM