Defense Aims to Corner Philadelphia

"I think a lot of people get football confused, and they don't really know what we're playing," Smoot said. "They're like, 'Why don't he come up [to the line] on that?' I can't come up and line up on the line on that play. I got to be able to see what if [another route] comes down the seam. So the thing about it is we have to be ready to tackle, and Gregg feels like we'll be able to make most of the tackles before they break them."

Williams has packages for various formations and often switches from play to play -- the Redskins are dropping strong safety LaRon Landry off the line on many third-and-long situations and playing cover-2 with two safeties deep -- but is known for putting corners in challenging situations with his aggressive tendencies. In their defensive backs meetings, players say the coaches have stressed eliminating big plays this season after a horrible deep defense last season, and are comfortable with the trade-off coming in 10- to 15-yard receptions at times.

"We'll make more plays than we give up," Smoot said. "I promise you. I promise you."

The Dolphins also hit a couple of midrange routes over the middle about 20 yards downfield, finding the gap between the linebackers, who were dropping back into coverage, and the deep defensive back. Philadelphia's precision-timing offense is much better suited to exploiting those areas.

"That's some of the things they got right," Rogers said of the Dolphins, "when they go play-action and hit tight ends over the seams and the receivers ran a dig right behind the linebackers and Trent put it in there. We've got some things we've still got to iron out, and get those kinks out."

With the running game stalled -- Washington's rush defense should be tougher this year with an eight-man front -- and no space deep, the Dolphins relied on dump-offs to the running backs. A key to the cover-3 is having the linebackers read the quarterback and not drop too deep -- in theory they should stop dropping back at the moment the quarterback stops his drop -- which opens up too much room in the flat. Dolphins tailbacks Jesse Chatman and Ronnie Brown combined for 12 catches and 88 yards, but they aren't Brian Westbrook, the Pro Bowl tailback the Redskins expect to be a key in the passing game Monday.

"In this defense it's hard for the corners to every single time make a tackle for a two- or three-yard gain," middle linebacker London Fletcher said. "That's asking for a lot, and that's what Miami did to try to loosen some things up. Some teams want to stretch you out from the zone standpoint and get the linebackers, safeties and corners back in coverage, and drop it down. It looks like a check-down, but the check-down is actually the primary route, and they know the running back can get six, seven, eight yards and put them in more manageable situations."

McNabb will provide a challenge whether it's Smoot, Springs or Rogers on the field.

"I wouldn't be stunned if they came out and threw the ball about 50 times," said Springs, who works out with McNabb in the offseason in Arizona. "That's what they do. Donovan texted me last week, and Monday night I know he's going to try to show off."