The Washington Redskins did not have a good pass defense last year. The team ranked dead last in Football Outsiders' DVOA ratings and surrendered the most passing touchdowns in the NFL (35). They finished the season 24th in passing yards allowed per-game (249.4) and 28th in opposing completion percentage (66.5). That all adds up to a secondary that couldn't stop a nose bleed.
New general manager Scot McCloughan recognized this weakness immediately and made several attempts to address it this offseason. But did he succeed in improving Washington's pass-defense?
"We'll start at safety, where Ryan Clark has retired and Brandon Meriweather was not re-signed after the season," Vince Verhei of Football Outsiders wrote. "Dashod Goldson arrives from Tampa Bay, where according to Football Outsiders game charting he gave up 10.5 yards per target last season, ranking among the bottom 10 safeties in the league. Washington also signed Jeron Johnson, formerly a backup in Seattle. As you're probably aware, backup safeties in Seattle don't get a lot of playing time, and Johnson has only one start in four NFL seasons. He's a complete mystery. All we know for sure is that he's worse than Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas, and while there's no shame in that, you'd like to see him accomplish something before anointing him a starter."
Unfortunately for the Redskins, Johnson will likely enter training camp as the starter. 2013 fourth-rounder Philip Thomas has dealt with injuries that have prevented him from showing anything on the field. Johnson may very well end up being a talented player. But as Verhei points out, you'd like to see him earn a starting gig early on.
"At cornerback, DeAngelo Hall returns from injury, but he turns 32 this season, he's coming off of two Achilles tendon tears, and even in his best years his pass-coverage numbers never lived up to his reputation. The other corner will be Chris Culliver, a free-agent signee from San Francisco. Culliver should be Washington's best defensive back if he can stay on the field, but he has had off-field behavioral issues in the past, and he missed all of 2013 with a torn ACL. There is also talk that Hall will be moved to free safety, opening a starting spot for either Beashaud Breeland (64th in adjusted success rate among cornerbacks last season) or David Amerson (75th)."
Breeland and Amerson are both just 23-years-old. They have each shown glimpses of strong play while also being very inconsistent. The Redskins will view it as a big win if one of them can take a leap forward this year and firmly secure a starting spot.
