RICHMOND – A review of Washington’s defense last season will produce many shortcomings, but the tendency to surrender big plays and an inability to consistently force turnovers are among the reasons for the overhaul of the coaching staff and the line and the additions to the secondary.
As the players continue to familiarize themselves with new defensive coordinator Joe Barry’s system, they have found his main points of emphasis clear.
“We definitely want to be a defense that offenses fear,” inside linebacker Perry Riley said. “Finishing tackles; if a receiver gets 10 or 12 yards at the end of a catch, make him feel 10, 12 yards at the end of the play.