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Home , Al Saunders, Don Breaux, Earnest Byner, Joe Bugel, Kedric Golston, LaRon Landry

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H7 SPECIALSPT 09-05-07 EZ EE H7 CMYK

The Washington Post Wednesday, September x R 5, 2007 H7 NFL ’07 REDSKINS’ DEFENSE

MIDDLE STRONG SAFETY Special Teams [59] [30] LaRon Landry PLACE KICKER Height: 5-10 | Weight: 258 | Age: 32 | Year: 10th | College: John Carroll Height: 6-0 | Weight: 213 | Age: 22 | Year: Rookie | College: LSU Outlook: Has shined as a leader and tackling demon in this defensive scheme before Outlook: Rare is the rookie to start for these coaches. Must continue to study hard, [6] Shaun Suisham when in Buffalo. Has been incredibly durable, not missing a game in his nine years but has the upper body, and the will, to hurt people. Will be unleashed near the line Height: 6-0 | Weight: 205 in the NFL. Can get downfield and must help fortify a sagging run defense. of scrimmage and has a knack for getting to the passer, but will make mistakes, too. Age: 25 | Year: 5th Backup: Khary Campbell, 6-2, 232, 6th year, Bowling Green, No. 50 Backup: Pierson Prioleau, 5-11, 188, 9th year, Virginia Tech, No. 20 College: Bowling Green Outlook: Suisham showed signs of establishing himself in the NFL in the second half last season, but is far from a sure thing at this point in his career. Plenty of leg strength unlike some of his predecessors, but accuracy under scrutiny. Backup: P Derrick Frost, 6-4, 208, 5th year, Northern Iowa, No. 4

PUNTER [4] Derrick Frost Height: 6-4 | Weight: 208 Age: 26 | Year: 5th College: Northern Iowa Outlook: Found consistency and proficiency in the latter half of 2006; now must keep it up for an entire season. Adjustments to the angle of his release and his follow through paid dividends, and the Redskins cannot afford a relapse of some old habits. Backup: PK Shaun Suisham, 6-0, 205, 5th year, Bowling Green, No. 6

BY JONATHAN NEWTON — THE WASHINGTON POST BY PRESTON KERES — THE WASHINGTON POST Newly acquired linebacker London Fletcher (59), who has registered 582 tackles and Rookie LaRon Landry brings a physical presence to the Redskins’ defensive backfield, 1 27 ⁄2 sacks over his nine-year career, arrives from Buffalo having never missed a game. which could help the team improve on its 12 takeaways from the 2006 season.

LEFT END RIGHT END [93] Phillip Daniels [99] RETURN SPECIALIST Height: 6-4 | Weight: 276 | Age: 34 | Year: 12th Height: 6-4 | Weight: 252 | Age: 28 | Year: 7th College: Georgia College: California [31] Rock Cartwright Outlook: Injures marred his past two seasons and some in Outlook: His strong December almost erased memories Height: 5-8 | Weight: 218 | Age: 27 the NFL believe he can no longer be an effective of the struggles that proceeded it. Seems to have Year: 6th | College: Kansas State every-down player. He should be free to rush the passer adjusted to playing end, and finally is at ease in his Outlook: more in a reworked scheme and could make an surroundings. Lacks weight but has a strong No frills, downhill style endears impact as a tackle in the nickel defense. motor. Must get to the passer with frequency. him to fans and coaches on kickoffs, taking punishment without getting too cute. Won’t Backup: Demetric Evans, 6-3, 275, 6th year, Backup: Demetric Evans, 6-3, 275, 6th year, take too many for a score, but doesn’t lose Georgia, No. 92 Georgia, No. 92 yards, either. WR Antwaan Randle El handles punts.

LEFT TACKLE RIGHT TACKLE [96] [64] Height: 6-3 | Weight: 311 | Age: 30 | Year: 8th Height: 6-4 | Weight: 320 | Age: 24 | Year: 2nd College: Alabama College: Georgia Outlook: Perhaps the most important player on the Outlook: The most pleasant surprise of 2006 faces roster, he elevates those around him when 100 percent. steeper expectations. As eager to learn and work Much stronger than a year ago after shoulder hard as anyone on the team, he must show he surgery, Griffin will play more three technique can improve on passing downs and unleash with the chance to shoot the gap. more aggression. Backup: Anthony Montgomery, 6-6, 315, Backup: Ryan Boschetti, 6-4, 311, 4th year, 2nd year, Minnesota, No. 94 UCLA, No. 73 Coaches

STRONG-SIDE LINEBACKER WEAK-SIDE LINEBACKER [53] Marcus Washington [52] Rocky McIntosh The most successful coach in Height: 6-3 | Weight: 248 | Age: 29 | Year: 8th Height: 6-2 | Weight: 232 | Age: 24 | Year: 2nd team history is College: Auburn College: Miami back for his fourth season in his Outlook: Never fully healthy last season, he needs Outlook: Has an innate sense for the ball and a love of second stint with to return as the heartbeat of this attack. Will play physical contact. Could not grasp intricacies of the the Redskins. He as an end in nickel packages and will shed some of defense — and coverage in particular — a year first coached his heavy coverage duties to rush the passer ago but studied all offseason. Coaches hope he the Redskins more. helps buck the team’s rut of takeaways. from 1981 to Backup: Randall Godfrey, 6-2, 245, 12th year, Backup: Randall Godfrey, 6-2, 245, 12th 1992, winning Georgia, No. 57 year, Georgia, No. 57 three Super Bowls during that span. LEFT RIGHT CORNERBACK [24] Shawn Springs [22] Carlos Rogers Height: 6-0 | Weight: 200 | Age: 32 | Year: 11th Height: 6-0 | Weight: 195 | Age: 26 | Year: 3rd Offensive Assistants College: Ohio State College: Auburn , associate head coach , assistant head coach Outlook: Outlook: Even while recovering from a sports hernia Dropped at least 10 easy last , offensive coordinator made plays in the second half of 2006. With him fit, he season and was beaten too often by the double move. Jack Burns, offensive assistant is an elite shutdown corner, allowing the defense to Has all the physical attributes, but must fully apply Rennie Simmons, tight ends attack with more blitzes. Must prove he can stay himself mentally and will be challenged by , running backs healthy. Fred Smoot for his starting spot all season. , wide receivers Backup: Fred Smoot, 5-11, 190, 7th year, Backup: David Macklin, 5-10, 206, 8th year, Bill Lazor, Mississippi State No. 27 Penn State No. 38 , quality control Defensive Assistants , associate head coach Greg Blache, defensive FREE SAFETY Other Defensive Roster Players coordinator/defensive line [21] , No. Pos. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. School Jerry Gray, secondary/ Height: 6-2 | Weight: 212 | Age: 24 | Year: 4th Steve Jackson, passing game 79 DT 2nd 6-1 300 California College: Miami coordinator/safeties 54 LB H.B. Blades R 5-10 237 Arthur Smith, quality control Outlook: His play has yet to fully match the hype. Must Special Teams be more consistent and control his emotions better. 39 S Vernon Fox 6th 5-10 203 Fresno State Danny Smith May be the most explosive hitter in the game and 29 CB 3rd 6-0 179 Stanford Strength and Conditioning has great closing speed, but needs to force John Hastings more turnovers. 95 DE Chris Wilson R 6-4 240 Northwood Univ. FOX Bobby Crumpler, assistant

Backup: , 6-1, 210, 2nd year, Harrison Bernstein, assistant

Northern Colorado, No. 37

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