ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -It took four days after a loss to the Detroit Lions for a member of the reeling Washington Redskins to step forward with a strong acceptance of blame and the most outward acknowledgment that change of some sort is needed.
Defensive coordinator Greg Blache’s mea culpa Thursday included an offer to throw himself “under the bus,” a vow to no longer be “handcuffed” in his calls, and the announcement of a switch at starting strong safety from Chris Horton to Reed Doughty.
“I’ve got to just be a little bit more of a maverick,” Blache said, “not necessarily a ‘McCain-Palin maverick,’ but a Bret or Bart kind of Maverick, and be a little bit more of a riverboat gambler.”
ntirely clear.
And it was even less apparent about 2 1/2 hours later, when Blache’s comments were relayed to head coach Jim Zorn, who played down the “maverick” comment – made light of it, even.
“He’s not going to dress up, is he?” Zorn asked with a chuckle.
While Blache spoke about altering Washington’s lineup and attitude heading into Sunday’s game against visiting Tampa Bay (0-3), Zorn stuck to his philosophy that wholesale changes aren’t necessary, even after last weekend’s 19-14 setback against the Lions.
That allowed Detroit to end its 19-game losing streak and followed Washington’s 9-7 boo-inciting home victory over the hapless St. Louis Rams.
“We’re making fine-tune adjustments,” Zorn said. “We’re not going to have a bunch of new and exciting things. We’re not going to reinvent the wheel.”
Asked what was discussed during a particularly lengthy group huddle on the field at the end of Thursday’s practice, Zorn replied: “We talk about taking care of the details. Basically that’s what I was talking about. And then we recommit to take care of the details. And then we recommit to recommit to take care of the details.”
Got that?
Earlier, Blache pointed at himself when it comes to his D’s deficiencies.
somebody won’t throw me,” Blache said. “It goes back to coaching. It goes back to calls. We need better calls on third down. … There is a problem. There’s no ifs ands or buts.”
But Zorn wouldn’t let Blache take the heat.
“It’s my responsibility. I mean, I’m in charge of offense, defense and special teams. So Greg doesn’t need to do that,” Zorn said. “It’s hard to say we’re on our way, because it’s my responsibility and we had a big ‘L,’ which stands for ‘Loser.”’
What Zorn would concede is that the Redskins need to be better at stopping opponents on third down. Washington ranks last in the NFL in that vital category, having allowed teams to convert 51 percent of the time (22 of 43).
That is only part of what’s been a generally mediocre showing by a unit that expected to be quite good – and said so during training camp – after adding defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and first-round draft pick Brian Orakpo.
The Redskins rank 15th in the 32-team league in yards allowed, giving up 325.7 per game, and are tied for 23rd with only three takeaways.
But third down is the most glaring issue. Horton’s demotion could be, in part, a result of the 47-yard pass interference penalty against him on a third-down play that put Detroit at Washington’s 1 in the fourth quarter; the Lions scored a touchdown two plays later.
Detroit converted on nine of its first 11 third downs. That included a 21-yard scramble by rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford on third-and-13 during a 99-yard TD drive that came immediately after the Redskins were stopped on fourth-and-goal at Detroit’s 1.
Zorn said Sunday he decided to go for it there because he figured “there was no way a team could drive 99 yards on us.”
So much for that.
Trying to find solutions, the Redskins have spent time this week examining every third-down defensive play of 2009, cornerback Carlos Rogers said.
“We’re aware of it,” he said. “We know what’s at stake.”
NOTES: Players missing practice Thursday included Haynesworth (hip), RB Clinton Portis (ankles), FB Mike Sellers (thigh bruise), DT Anthony Montgomery (knee). Zorn said Haynesworth “probably will participate more and more as we go along tomorrow” and Portis is “coming along.” … CB Carlos Rogers (ankle) returned to practice after missing Wednesday.
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