Blache-Under the bus?
by dr WNC on Oct 1, 2009 3:07 PM EDT
49 comments
Larry Weisman is reporting Doughty is starting SS and Horton is out.
Reed Doughty in at SS, Chris Horton out. Horton had a critical 47-yard pass interference penalty in the loss to Detroit. Dougjhty gives the Redskins a better blitzing option and defensive coordinator Greg Blache hinted he would look to bring more pressure against winless Tampa Bay and a QB, Josh Johnson, making his first career start. Blache also said he should be one people blame for the defense's breakdowns and awful record on third downs. When it comes to throwing people under the bus, Blache said, "I should be under the bus." Why? "Because I'm the leader." Said he would gamble more than he is normally comfortable with, too. "I've got to be a little more of a maverick," he said. Doughty, in his 4th season, missed all but three games last year and had back surgery. Surprised to be back as the starter? "You never know what's going to happen," he said. ... My take: Positive move. Redskins cannot stand still. They need to be more aggressive and that's a trait Doughty brings.
It appears Blache maybe changing his tune to be more aggressive, as well as working out of his comfort if the defense is going to be effective.
“I’ve got to be a little more of a maverick,” Blache said.
The Defense the first three games was an issue but if Blache can tweak the system to fit the players the defense can be the Strength of the Team. Still have concerns on offense and head coach, because of the very questionable decisions the defense was poor performance and execution..IMO Full story at TORB Greg Blache Throws Self Under Bus, Implies More Attacking From Defense
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Sounds like good news
I saw shocked that we didn’t blitz the hell out of Stafford last week. Hopefully we put the heat on Johnson early this week and not let him build any confidence.
by liger99 on Oct 1, 2009 4:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hopefully we don't be too aggressive
and play right into the scrambling strengths of Josh Johnson.
by Boo. on Oct 1, 2009 4:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think we will win by containing Johnson and not being overly aggresive like you suggest. But I want to turn this thing around and I think the best way to do that is to get the D pumped up and making plays early. I’m looking for sacks, turnovers, picks6, or short fields for our O. If we get up on the Bucs early and force them to be one-dimentional, then we can blow them out! I will take another ‘soft’ win, but that is not going to get us very far. IMO getting the D going is key to saving this season.
by liger99 on Oct 2, 2009 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is idiotic
You’re gonna take away one of the hardest working guys on defense to blitz a SAFETY? Howabout blitzing some linebackers first? Forget about Orakpo, when’s the last time McIntosh ventured into the backfield. Rather than taking his ineffective DE’s off the field and putting in legit pass rushers, you’re gonna bench one of your best players? Why not bench Carter and Daniels, put B-Rak and Jarmon on the ends, and blitz Wilson from the SLB spot? Oh, I know why – cuz that would be the smart thing to do.
by CJHutch on Oct 1, 2009 5:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
How about not playing
our corners 10 yards off every time?
by VA_Skin on Oct 1, 2009 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
well said and i agree
wtf is he thinking
by skinaholic on Oct 1, 2009 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
+100
Chris Horton is one of my favorite players. He works hard and hits hard, rarely misses a tackle. That interference call was bullsh@t as everyone could plainly see. He had turned around and was trying to make a play on the ball and was between the ball and the receiver. No way the ref or (especially!) Blache should be penalizing him. I also like Doughty, but would rather see 3 safeties (Landry, Horton, and Doughty) in there and take out one of our worthless CBs.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
by Scott E on Oct 2, 2009 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it's hard to fully evaluate the situation without watching coaches film
watching from home we really have no idea who’s missing coverage on which plays
It's all Dan Snyder's Fault
by smutsboy1 on Oct 2, 2009 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think you are right that there coverages being missed. Horton was slow to cover Bennett in the Dallas loss last year, giving up the winning TD. And he ran towards the line on the pass interference call this past week instead of going back or sideways….he did not read the qb at all. There is most likely more to the benching besides the one bad play. I’m guessing that this is just a token benching and that he will play plenty this weekend because we need our playmakers on the field.
by liger99 on Oct 2, 2009 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
sure
Horton has given up a few plays in coverage. But do you remember watching Doughty in coverage? He is terrible. And to prove what a hypocrite Blache is, he points out Horton’s coverage issues, but says Doughty is going in there to blitz. At some point, Doughty WILL have to drop back, and then he won’t be the only one getting burnt. But I’m sure GB will find another scape goat by then.
by CJHutch on Oct 2, 2009 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Or he'll play Horton in coverage
Letting Doughty blitz more.
by dr WNC on Oct 2, 2009 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well
Blache knows way more about defense than all of us combined, so I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. If our defense plays lights out and destroys Tampa’s offense, Blache will look like a genius. However, if this move ends up biting us in the ass, I’ll be the first one to say that Blache has officially lost it and should be let go.
by bigrm18 on Oct 2, 2009 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Reed is a backup, but playing well this year. I think it is just a token benching to tell the entire D that hard work is rewarded and poor play/coverage needs to be improved.
by liger99 on Oct 2, 2009 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
nothing wrong with having competent backups
that’s what everyone was clamoring for this year. but if they wanted to make a statement DHall should be sittin his ass down.
I'm to young to Die Danny...don't make me do it tomorrow....
by Rekka on Oct 2, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dhall sittin
Replaced by whom? Tyron????
by dr WNC on Oct 2, 2009 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
exactly
what would be the difference? DHall ain’t doin nothing. it could show everybody that even the high-priced players get benched when they don’t work.
I'm to young to Die Danny...don't make me do it tomorrow....
by Rekka on Oct 2, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hall
did manage to hold Megatron to 49 yards and 0 TDs last week.
by VA_Skin on Oct 2, 2009 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
that's only
ONE performance. By these “new standards”, if you give up more than ONE bad play, you lose your job. Which means Fletcher should be the only starter left out there. No, scratch that. He whiffed on the Stafford run as well.
by CJHutch on Oct 2, 2009 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
right
but why bench Horton to send that message? Can you honestly say he has been our biggest problem on ‘D’? I can’t. Like I’ve said before, Hall’s been getting burned all year, and Landry’s whiffed on many-a-tackle. But, just look at this game. Yes, Horton gave up the pass interference. But what about the rest of the game? Landry missed the tackle on Stafford’s 3rd down run.(Fletcher did too). In fact, he would’ve gotten a lot further if Horton hadn’t stopped him. Rogers gave up the TD after that, and Landry missed ANOTHER tackle on the running touchdown. Hall gave up at least two big 3rd downs.
So, I ask again, WHY is Horton being singled out? I’ll tell you. It’s about money,. Or rather paychecks. They don’t wanna go down the road of beching a high priced vet. So they pick on the over achiever.
by CJHutch on Oct 2, 2009 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
not sure who you're replying to
but I’ve been agreeing with you the past couple of days about Horton.
I'm to young to Die Danny...don't make me do it tomorrow....
by Rekka on Oct 2, 2009 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hell, I
lost track. This thing has me so goddammed flustered. I guess not everyone sees it the way I do. Everyone keeps saying how they’re “still gonna have the same amount of playing time.” So what? The point is, the team has been struggling, and now the coach publicly calls out Horton while benching him. Meanwhile, Horton is one of the hardest working guys on the defense. They don’t think that will have an affect on a young guys mindset? Hard work DOESN’T pay off if you’re not a high priced veteran? Like I said, this was an idiotic move that has the potential to cause a rift between coaches and players, and even PLAYERS and players.
by CJHutch on Oct 2, 2009 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Blache is even saying it's more about Doughty than Horton
“Reed’s playing as good of football as he’s ever played for us right now,” defensive coordinator Greg Blache said “He’s got experience, he’s very savvy player. So we always thought those guys were 1 and 1. One guy has a little bit better athleticism, another guy’s got a little bit more in experience and recognition, and it was just a decision that we made.”
by dr WNC on Oct 2, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
not really
“and Chris has struggled a little bit,” Blache said. “He had a play last week with bad eyes; we got a big interference call. He had an incident the week before where it was not a good fit.”
To me, that’s calling out Horton. But earlier he said:
“when you stop, when you look in the mirror, you go through all the details — that comes back to coaching. And quite candidly, [I] have no problem accepting that. I’ve talked to the players about it. I’ve told them, ’I’ll do a better job of giving them calls. I’ll do a better job of helping them on third downs [and] put them in situations where they can be successful.’”
Which makes him hypocritical. One one hand he’s saying it’s HIS fault, that he didn’t put the players in the right position. Then right after that he’s saying that Horton has messed up TWICE.
by CJHutch on Oct 2, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And it continued with Horton and Jackson...
And Horton said: “I think we’re both good in-the-box players,” Horton said. “We both cover well out there. He has a little bit more experience; he’s seen a lot more in his four years than I have in my two. That’s the main thing.”
Safties coach Steve Jackson describes the disparity in even simpler terms. “There’s really not much difference between them,” he said today, “it’s just that right now, one of them’s playing at a higher level than the other one.”
Anything specific in Horton’s play?
Here’s Blache, sounding that theme: “It’s not that it was [Horton’s] fault. Trust me.”
Jackson: “Chris is fine as far as playwise. Reed’s playing better. It’s not that Chris is playing worse or less than anybody else. Reed’s just playing at a high level.”
by dr WNC on Oct 2, 2009 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
you have to admit
that without seeing film it’s really impossible to know how much coverage Horton has blown.
watching on tv we only see the tackles Horton makes (or doesn’t)
but there’s almost no way to tell how often he’s out of position on a pass play or if he blows a coverage.
It's all Dan Snyder's Fault
by smutsboy1 on Oct 2, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
you're getting
my overall message confused. I’m not saying that Horton doesn’t blow assignments. Yes, I admit I haven’t seen him do it often. But, ON TV, I HAVE seen Hall, Rogers, and Landry blow assignments. ALL for touchdowns too. Yet none of them are singled out. In fact, considering he’s the only one who got benched, I take Blache’s overall message to be that hi deficiencies excuse the other 3 (first rounders), but not Horton.
And as for Doughty. everyone points out the fact that he was hurt last year. But what about his “other issues”? I guess I have to be Mr. Evil here and point out that the guy is basically handicapped out there. Does anyone remember the comments from players about him not knowing the play calls because he couldn’t hear? Guys said they would be yelling at him and he had no clue what they were saying. I’m sorry if this makes me an ass, but we have too many other problems to overcome without having to worry about our safety being able to communicate with his teammates. Horton was making the defensive calls in the backfield. Is Doughty gonna be able to do that now? I’m not convinced he can.
Now, I’ve said this before, but I think if they wanna get the best BLITZER in at SS, then they should put Landry back there. I’m also pretty sure I know why they don’t. It’s because…drumroll…they plan on moving Horton back into the starting lineup at some point. And that will be harder to do if Landry shines when put back at his natural position. So, if my suspicions are correct, they are basically making this move for the sake of, well, making a move. Which tells me they really have no true plan.
by CJHutch on Oct 2, 2009 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think we agree that Horton is largely a scapegoat here.
But in general, and this isn’t directed at you, there are worse people to scapegoat, and worse players to promote than Reed, who’s looked good to me this year.
Also, there have been numerous times where I watch a replay during an NFL broadcast and it seems obvious to me that a guy blew a coverage, and then a smart announcer like Collinsworth or Jaws points out how it wasn’t that guy’s man to cover, and the DB who should have been there was half way across the field.
Also, as a side note, Reed only had communication issues before the coaches and team really figured out he was partially deaf. It’s my understanding that since then they’ve changed signals and tactics such that he gets everything.
It's all Dan Snyder's Fault
by smutsboy1 on Oct 2, 2009 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
sorry, you lost me at
a smart announcer like Collinsworth
Seriously though, it’s funny you say this:
Jaws points out how it wasn’t that guy’s man to cover,
because when I look at that pass interference play again, I’m pretty sure that was Carlos’ man, and Horton chased him after Rogers let him pass. You can see Rogers making a quick “panic” move once Johnson gets by him.
Now, as far as Reed “looking good this year”. Yes, he has. IN LIMITED DUTY. They haven’t put him in coverage, where he has always struggled. He has basically been utilized as a “situational player.” Now he has to expand his duties. I don’t see it turning out good. He is a good run defender at the safety spot. I have never seen him show more than that. In Horton, you have one of the best open field tacklers on the team. Losing him will further expose the deficiencies our cornerbacks have thus far exhibited.
by CJHutch on Oct 2, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Horton is a big part of the defense, I bet he plays as much as before...
Chris Horton WAS SS 21 14 7 with a forced fumble
Reed Doughty WAS FS 13 11 2 0.0
by dr WNC on Oct 2, 2009 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
sigh
I’m ALMOST ready to give up here. Don’t take this out of context.
I KNOW he will play as much as Doughty. In fact, I think he will play more. My point is that they are using him as an example, when he is the LEAST deserving member of the secondary to be used as such. There is no question in my mind that it is a “class warfare” issue. Or maybe “round warfare.” In other words, the other 3 are 1st rounders. Benching them makes the organization look bad. Horton, being a 7th rounder, is a “longshot” Furthermore, I’m betting they look at him as the one who’s most able to deal with it, since he “wasn’t supposed to be” there to begin with.
by CJHutch on Oct 2, 2009 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And Maybe that's it
They recognize it will do nothing to Horton’s confidence, and he will not be effected
by dr WNC on Oct 2, 2009 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
sure, maybe
they THINK that. But most of what they’ve THOUGHT hasn’t turned out so well this year. I just think it’s a coward move.
by CJHutch on Oct 2, 2009 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Collinsworth has the tone of an a--hole
but IMO he is by far the most intelligent color announcer in the NFL right now.
calls players out when they deserve it. doesn’t go overboard driving home the same point over and over again. knows what he’s talking about, and most importantly, he seems to think before he speaks.
It's all Dan Snyder's Fault
by smutsboy1 on Oct 2, 2009 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I just can't get past
him looking like an anorexic praying mantis, and sounding like an all around douche-bag.
by CJHutch on Oct 2, 2009 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
or maybe
It’s less about Horton being benched and more about Doughty being elevated to the starting role due to his discipline in the defensive scheme and work ethic.
by dr WNC on Oct 2, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
except
A) Horton has been the most solid member of the secondary. I’m pretty sure he’s second on the team in tackles.And B) Blache called out Horton’s pass coverage. Doughty is NOT good at pass coverage. And we will be reminded of that this weekend. Like I’ve said a number of times. Blache said Horton has messed up in coverage, yet Doughty gives them a “solid blitzer.” You don’t notice the disconnect there?
by CJHutch on Oct 2, 2009 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
we'll see what happens when/if he gets torched on a pass play
that was ALWAYS my gripe with him. he can’t be in the box ALL the time
I'm to young to Die Danny...don't make me do it tomorrow....
by Rekka on Oct 2, 2009 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh, and yes
I wish Blache WAS under the bus. He’s such a hypocrite. On one hand, he says it’s his responsibility, but rather than changing his impotent scheme, he throws one of his better players under the bus.
by CJHutch on Oct 1, 2009 5:45 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
only 13 more embarrassing games for Blache
Hang your head high, Horton, you a re one of the few bright spots!!!!!!
by brettpedigo on Oct 1, 2009 6:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
WTF?!?
I though this was a joke (or error) when I read the first sentence. Horton is all over the place and 2nd in tackles. Is he really the problem??
by VA_Skin on Oct 1, 2009 6:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
“i’ve got to be a little more of a maverick”, holy mother Blache it takes 3 games this bad for you to realize this? This old fogey’s mind has the reactive quickness of frozen syrup.
by Grand Tanyon Sturtze on Oct 2, 2009 1:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Ridiculous!
He should bench Landry. Guy can’t cover his own shadow! He will end up being Roy Williams Jr. in 3 years, watch… This coaching staff absolutely sucks!
by tmarine17 on Oct 2, 2009 8:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Why was Horton covering Megatron 1-1 anyways?
Have your SS cover one of the best WR’s in the game 1-1 and then bench him when he get’s a PI? Did I miss something on that play it sure seemed like they just left Horton all alone.
by BayAreaBullet on Oct 2, 2009 8:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
THROW BLACHE UNDER BUS ??? I THINK HE MEANS HORTON !!!
I have never met a person that talks that fast IE (Greg Blache) that was not a crook or con -man !!! His statements make very little sense !! It is amazing he said he was throwing himself under the bus but he took Chris Horton with him!!
Greg Blache is from the old school he will beat a round peg into a square whole until it fits, instead of just finding a square peg !!!
Well at least this will be a another big week for JC 17 he will pass for over 300 yards and 3 -4 touchdowns !! I guess the JC haters will still complain !!
by LETJASONPASS on Oct 3, 2009 8:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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