Washington gets defensive

If things are a little different in Redskins-land this year, there is no doubt that Joe Gibbs is going to be getting all the credit for it.

While Gibbs is a master motivator, one of the greatest coaches of all time, and a proven winner with more different parts than maybe any coach before him, the real test of whether or not the Redskins can turn things around will be behind the whistle of Head Coach-Defense, Gregg Williams.

That's right, he is not the "defensive coordinator," but the Head Coach-Defense.

It's just one of the many examples of how Gibbs is doing things differently with the 2004 Washington Redskins, than the way they were done in the 2001, 2002, and 2003 versions, all of which could be scrapped with probably no real sorrow shown from the fans.

Williams isn't the first defensive "guru" to ride into Washington boasting that his defense will be one of the better ones in the league.

In fact, check that, Williams hasn't boasted they will be one of the best in the league, because honestly, he will be the first to tell you, that remains to be seen.

However, there is no question that Gibbs has put a staff in place on the defensive side of the ball that will enable Williams to make them one of the best.

Williams, a long time coordinator who saw three years as head coach of the Buffalo Bills, has pretty much transformed all the defenses he has coached.

In Tennessee, he oversaw a squad that gave up the third fewest points in league history.

In Buffalo, ho took a defense that was previously 25th in the league and made them one of the better units in the NFL.

Now he has the task of handling a Redskins squad that while it's loaded with potential, has never been able to get it all together.

LaVar Arrington has had five defensive coordinators in five years, while Fred Smoot, who is in his third year, is working on his third coordinator.

Now, somehow, this year, it seems that the defensive players may have their guy.

Williams is a big believer in being no nonsense, and speaking to the players in a straight-forward tone.

Redskins faithful are pretty positive about the offense this season, as Gibbs proved in his first run that the names weren't the big factor.

After all, he did get three rings with three sets of running backs and quarterbacks.

So for once, in Washington, offense doesn't seem to be the concern.

However, that defense, which has been an Achilles heel for the Redskins in the past, seems to finally coming together.

They brought in Shawn Springs, to take the place of Champ Bailey who was traded to Denver for Clinton Portis.

They signed Michael Barrow and Marcus Washington, two lightning quick linebackers, who will go with Arrington quite nicely in the defense, which Williams bases heavily on quickness.

There is Smoot, who is now the senior member of the Redskins secondary, and Shawn Taylor, the fifth pick overall who was an All-American at Miami.

This is a team that has seen some pretty big disappointments defensively over the last few years.

There was the defensive line of Dan Wilkinson and Dana Stubblefield that virtually slept through their four years together.

The linebacking corps of Arrington, Jeremiah Trotter and Jesse Armstead, at the time, looked to be one of the most imposing in the league.

They however, did their share of snoozing through their time together as well.

The retirement of Darrell Green two years ago was expected, but still left a strong leadership voide on the defense, as well as the entire team.

So Redskins fans have their reasons to be skeptical, but this year, things seem to be a little more crisp and tight with the defensive unit.

There is little doubt that Gibbs is the biggest off-season acquisition ever for the Redskins, but as he year goes on, it may become very clear that Williams was one of the most valuable additions in the entire league.