Redskins hopeful new defensive mix will bring better results
ASHBURN, Va. — The new edition of the Washington Redskins defense comes with experience, fresh potential and new leadership.
This offseason brought the hiring of former San Diego Chargers linebackers coach Joe Barry as the coordinator, the arrival of four defenders in the draft and acquisition of multiple players with Super Bowl experience. All are linked by a desire to improve one of the worst units in the league last year.
Defensive back DeAngelo Hall (the most experienced player on Washington's roster) is one of the key holdovers, along with outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan — arguably the club's best player coming off a 13½-sack season.
But Hall is ready to lead a resurgence after Washington allowed the third-most points in the NFL in 2014.
"They're all poised to have a good season, so we're just going to continue to keep working, trying to get better, myself included," Hall told USA Today Sports during last week's minicamp.
"I'm just trying to help these guys."
Hall, who's heading into his 12th season, derives confidence from the new teammates who have recently played on championship-caliber defenses. Cornerback Chris Culliver and safety Dashon Goldson played together when the San Francisco 49ers reached Super Bowl XLVII two years ago. Washington also signed safety Jeron Johnson, formerly of the Seattle Seahawks' famed Legion of Boom secondary.
"Hopefully what they had success with, they can teach us," Hall said. "Some of the stuff we've done successfully, we can rub off on them, and we're just trying to jell right now, learn off each other and play off each other. But any time you get good players like that, man, it gives you a chance to be good."
Coming off a season in which he played just three games because of a torn Achilles' tendon, Hall is still not back to 100%. Yet that was hard to believe during minicamp, given how active he was while cheering on not just the newly acquired veterans but also the rookies. After undrafted cornerback Tajh Hasson snagged his second interception in one practice, Hall dashed off the sideline yelling, "That's how we do it out here."
"Anytime somebody makes a play, we want to pat him on the back and tell him they did a good job," said Hall, who's taking on a more vocal role after defensive leaders London Fletcher and Ryan Clark retired in successive offseasons. "All of this is new to everybody, so it's nice to see someone succeed on defense."
Linebacker Keenan Robinson, last year's leading tackler, is also making it his responsibility to lead and has identified areas in need of improvement: creating turnovers and solidifying the red-zone defense.
The Redskins ranked 30th last season in turnover differential at minus-12. They were better in the red zone, finishing 13th among 32 teams by allowing teams to score touchdowns 52% of the time.
But Robinson's sights are set higher.
"The teams that make the playoffs are probably top 10, top five in the league," Robinson told Paste BN Sports when referring to red-zone defensive proficiency. "So in order for us to make the playoffs, we have to do better."
Though pass rusher Preston Smith, a second-round pick from Mississippi State, comes in with the highest expectations among the defensive draftees, Hall said the rookie who has impressed him most is fellow Virginia Tech product Kyshoen Jarrett, a sixth rounder.
"He came in from the jump and just immediately looked like he could come out and play with us," Hall said. "As long as we can get him mentally prepared and ready to learn this playbook, the sky's the limit for this kid."
Coach Jay Gruden has also been impressed with Jarrett, a safety who could vie for playing time now that Clark is gone.
But first things first.
"He's fast. He's flying around" Gruden said. "I mentioned that the late-round picks (are) going to have to make their mark on special teams, and Kyshoen has done that."
However, until the pads are on in training camp and preseason, it's hard to determine how good this group can be. But Barry is optimistic.
"You want good football players, but you want good people, and we've done that," said Barry, a longtime assistant who also previous served as defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions.
"The character on this team is outstanding. There are going to be ups and downs in a season, and that's when you really need those character guys."
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Follow Zolan Kanno-Youngs on Twitter @kannoyoungs
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