| Page 2 of 2 < |
Orakpo Impresses; Redskins' Secondary Has Room to Improve
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
Albert Haynesworth, the Redskins' $100 million defensive tackle, was the team's biggest free agent acquisition, but he was listed as a healthy scratch and did not play. It was actually Rogers, though, who may have been missed most. The Redskins' biggest problems defensively were in the secondary, where corners were losing their receivers and biting on quarterback pumps.
In fact, the Ravens can thank the Redskins' defensive backs for both of their touchdowns.
In the second quarter, rookie cornerback Kevin Barnes was fooled by Smith's double-pump. Smith hit a wide open Justin Harper for a 19-yard touchdown. And then in the fourth, safety Michael Grant gambled on a pass from Ravens third-string quarterback John Beck. Grant missed the interception, though, and after Jayson Foster caught the ball, the Ravens rookie got to the Redskins 7 to complete a 64-yard play. On the next play, Cedric Peerman ran for the touchdown.
Last season, the Redskins had the league's seventh-best pass defense, giving up an average of 193.4 yards per game. But Thursday night, all three Baltimore quarterbacks threw for more than 100 yards, and the Ravens totaled 399 yards through the air.
One of the biggest disappointments in the secondary had to be cornerback Justin Tryon. Touted as the team's possible answer in nickel situations, the second-year Tryon was beat badly on at least three occasions for first downs. He finished the game tied for the team-high five tackles, but tackling opponents from behind isn't what Blache wants out of his cornerbacks.
"I can tell right when the play is over whether I played it right or wrong," Tryon said. "There were a couple times tonight that I was wrong, couple times I should've been lined up on the inside. So now you know for next time."
The defense did appear to escape its first preseason game without any major injuries. Defensive tackle Lorenzo Alexander left the game late in the first quarter with an abdominal strain and did not return. Later, cornerback Doug Dutch (Gonzaga High) left the game with a sore hamstring.
Perhaps the biggest bright spot defensively was the team's play in the red zone. The Ravens converted only 2 of 6 tries inside the 20-yard line and had to settle for a field goal on their only attempt against the first-team defense.
"We were on the goal line, and that's when it counts," said cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who knocked down a third-down pass in the end zone. "We are trying to be the No. 1 defense, and it's no secret. We know we have to step it up, especially down there on the goal line."
