Shweigert signed by Redskins (1 Viewer)

[Biabreakable]

ASHBURN, Va. -- The Washington Redskins signed free agent Stuart Schweigert on Monday, giving the team an extra option in the defensive backfield as it contemplates moving LaRon Landry from free safety to strong safety.Stuart Schweigert SafetyWashington RedskinsProfile2007 Season Stats Tot Solo Ast FF Sack Int 68 56 12 0 0 2 Schweigert is a free safety, having started 42 games in four seasons with the Oakland Raiders. He lost his starting job late last season and was released by the Raiders last month."It feels like a thousand-pound bear's been lifted off my chest. It's time for a fresh start," Schweigert said. "In Oakland, I felt as if my time was up there. It was a deal where I wasn't in their future. I feel like I'm in the Redskins' future."Schweigert said he's been told that Landry is the projected starter at strong safety. Landry finished last season at free safety after the death of Sean Taylor, with Reed Doughty starting at strong safety.Defensive coordinate Greg Blache said it was too early to say where Landry will line up."He could start as a free safety or a strong safety," Blache said. "Right now, there's no need to rush into that."Landry was one of two players -- along with cornerback Shawn Springs -- unexpectedly absent Monday as the Redskins began another set of offseason practices. Coach Jim Zorn said he had not heard from either player. Although the practices are technically voluntary, unexcused absences do not sit well."They had the opportunity to be here," Zorn said. "They just didn't show."

SS gets another chance. It remains to be seen if Landry will start at SS with SS at FS or else SS could compete with Doughty for the SS spot.

 

[bcr8f]

I would think Landry stays at SS, but TC may show otherwise. They may try them at different positions. Versatility could be a huge advantage.

 

[J Giles Band]

Didn't they move Landry to FS at the end of last season? I've just assumed he was going to take over Taylor's deep middle role.

 

[T Bell]

Didn't they move Landry to FS at the end of last season? I've just assumed he was going to take over Taylor's deep middle role.

That's what's a bit confusing about the stated plan to have Landry play SS. When Landry was drafted, he was projected to play more in the box with the taller and a bit more athletic and probably faster Taylor playing the deep centerfield FS role (still pisses me off as a fan that I won't be able to watch the two of them together). When they lost Taylor, the only guy on the roster with anything remotely like Taylor's range and athleticism was Landry, so rather than either leaving the deep coverage exposed with a lesser player or having to retool the defensive scheme in the middle of the season, they shifted Landry back there, and he played well, even very well, in that deep coverage role.

The reason they wanted Landry to play a pronounced SS rather role than playing interchangeably with Taylor, or having Taylor play SS (aside from Taylor's own attributes) was that Landry has better blitzing ability than Taylor did. Taylor wasn't bad, but Landry was a stud at this in college.

IMHO the team is likely more or less indifferent to which position Landry plays given the versatility and overall skill he showed last year, so long as it's satisfied that the requirements of the other safety position are adequately filled by his teammates. That means that Doughty, Schweigert and to a much lesser extent Fox are probably going to determine the alignment. Doughty is probably no good as a FS and likewise Fox. They're just not athletic enough. Schweigert is only a bit better in that regard, though I know less about him.

If I had to predict right now, I'd say that Landry will likely be playing the FS position and they'll put the less athletic guys at SS in the box more to cut down the range that they have to have to play the position.

 

[J Giles Band]

Interestingly, in a similar situation with Michael Huff in Oakland, Schweigert manned the FS spot. Although I think their roles were interchangeable as well. I thought Schweigert was pretty good two years ago but he seemed to fall off last year.

My guess is the Skins use Landry much as they did Taylor before Landry got there. They put their best S where ever they need him most. And it could change from play to play.