The Pen Is Mightier Than Gregg Williams' Playbook

Now that was Redskins football: A grind-it-out, smashmouth offense with a ball-hawking, aggressive unit on the other side. Ladell Betts ran hard, Jason Campbell looked sharp and Carlos Rogers played like a guy who was picked #8 in the NFL Draft. It's just too bad it all happened the Sunday after Thanksgiving instead of the Sunday after Labor Day.
Who knows if Tom Friend's critical look at the real reason behind the 'Skins 2006 woes played any part, but there's little doubt that the unit that took the field today beared no resemblence to the poor tackling, out-of-position, undisciplined team that has been masquerading as a defense since week 1.
Read all of Friend's piece from ESPN: The Magazine and the recently-added sidebar. In it, he confirms what I've been suggesting all year; the mess at Redskins Park begins and ends with Gregg Williams. My conjecture had been that Williams' schemes were not suited to the types of players he had in certain positions. Too often Lemar Marshall would be covering a Jason Witten-type player 30 yards downfield. Sean Taylor biting on play-action would leave Carlos Rogers on an island, when he can barely swim.
Friend's analysis goes deeper, exploring why Williams' beloved Cover 2 has come back to haunt him this season and why the defensive coordinator's ego is a main reason why. The article is a fascinating look at the politics, petulance and ego-coaxing involved in NFL coaching. Read it, even if you're not a 'Skins fan. I'd like to hear some takes from others about their thoughts on Williams and Gibbs and Snyder in the comments section.
Oh, and about that "anonymous player who wouldn't go on record" as he was dropping the hammer on his coach? I have it on pretty good authority that it was Shawn Springs.
Either way, the Redskins defense gave their best effort today since the playoffs. They hit hard, wrapped-up, were in the right spot and made plays on passes, instead of simply tackling the receiver.
Whatever sort of reaction Tom Friend's article got in Redskins Park, it worked. Now let's just hope he has five more up his sleeve for the rest of the Fridays during the regular season.