Cardinals | Big plans for Daryl Washington

[sportznutt]

New DC Ray Horton reportedly has "big things planned" for weak-side ILB Daryl Washington this season.

Washington showed tremendous closing speed as a rookie, and it sounds like Horton envisions him as the desert version of Lawrence Timmons. Incumbent Paris Lenon is still lining up as the starting strong-side ILB, but the more talented Stewart Bradley is expected to displace him before the start of the season.

rotoworld

 

[kerouac9]

He's probably going to be playing safety in Wilson's spot, since he's too small to play ILB in the NFL.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

He's probably going to be playing safety in Wilson's spot, since he's too small to play ILB in the NFL.

So are London Fletcher, Sam Mills, Mike Singletary, Chris Spielman and a long list of successful ILB's.

 

[kerouac9]

London Fletcher played at 227?

 

[187]

He's probably going to be playing safety in Wilson's spot, since he's too small to play ILB in the NFL.

That explains why Lawrence Timmons has been so successful at 234lbs. Did Daryl Washington steal your girl? Your hatred towards him is amusing.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

London Fletcher played at 227?

Probably so as youngster. He's listed at 245 now.He was undrafted and likely gained weight over his 14 year career.

"London Fletcher was not taken in the NFL draft primarily to his small stature. He signed with the Rams as a free agent in 1998 and since then has become the model for undersized linebackers everywhere-The Pigskin Doctors

 

[Unsterblich856]

So are London Fletcher, Sam Mills, Mike Singletary, Chris Spielman and a long list of successful ILB's.

Jonathan Vilma's playing weight is 230lbs, too.

 

[Timm Rosenbach]

Washington is the least of our worries. He will play at ILB and will play well

 

[Cardiac]

London Fletcher played at 227?

DWash is up to 230 lbs.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

He's probably going to be playing safety in Wilson's spot, since he's too small to play ILB in the NFL.

Ludicrous!

 

[TJ]

He's probably going to be playing safety in Wilson's spot, since he's too small to play ILB in the NFL.

 

[1DS]

DWash will get the job done.

 

[BigRedRage]

mmmmm haterade

 

[kerouac9]

That explains why Lawrence Timmons has been so successful at 234lbs. Did Daryl Washington steal your girl? Your hatred towards him is amusing.

Two things about this, since the rest of these posts are largely nonsense jingoism.

First, Timmons is not only 4 pounds heavier than Washington; he's also an inch shorter. Smaller + Heavier = Stronger. The other thing about Timmons is that he has very good instincts to go with his good speed. Washington showed none of those instincts last year.

Thirdly, Timmons is no better than the fifth-best player on the Steelers defense. Polamalu, Harrison, Woodley, and Hampton are without question better and more important to the success of that defense. You could argue that Timmons is even behind Taylor, Clark, Keisel, and maybe Hood and Farrior.

Finally, call me back when Daryl Washington is anywhere close to as productive a player as Lawrence Timmons is.

 

[Shane]

Two things about this, since the rest of these posts are largely nonsense jingoism.

First, Timmons is not only 4 pounds heavier than Washington; he's also an inch shorter. Smaller + Heavier = Stronger. The other thing about Timmons is that he has very good instincts to go with his good speed. Washington showed none of those instincts last year.

Thirdly, Timmons is no better than the fifth-best player on the Steelers defense. Polamalu, Harrison, Woodley, and Hampton are without question better and more important to the success of that defense. You could argue that Timmons is even behind Taylor, Clark, Keisel, and maybe Hood and Farrior.

Finally, call me back when Daryl Washington is anywhere close to as productive
a player as Lawrence Timmons is.

Daryl Washington showed no instincts last year? Wow dude you really are delusional!

 

[TJ]

Two things about this, since the rest of these posts are largely nonsense jingoism.

First, Timmons is not only 4 pounds heavier than Washington; he's also an inch shorter. Smaller + Heavier = Stronger. The other thing about Timmons is that he has very good instincts to go with his good speed. Washington showed none of those instincts last year.

Thirdly, Timmons is no better than the fifth-best player on the Steelers defense. Polamalu, Harrison, Woodley, and Hampton are without question better and more important to the success of that defense. You could argue that Timmons is even behind Taylor, Clark, Keisel, and maybe Hood and Farrior.

Finally, call me back when Daryl Washington is anywhere close to as productive a player as Lawrence Timmons is.

First, smaller + heavier does not necessarily mean stronger. If that's the case, Danny DeVitto would be the best linebacker in the league. And even if one is stronger than the next, what about the other factors, such as technique, speed and instincts. Too many variables go into that oversimplified equation.

Second, you saying D Wash has no instincts is like saying Fitz has bad hands. His instincts are one of his strengths and they only improved as the season progressed.

The only credit you get is saying it's too early to compare him to Timmons, but your analysis of D Wash is, as you said, "nonsense jingoism."

 

[Ed Burmila]

I like how people assume that anyone too small for one position can just slide down to the next one.

Too small for DE? Play LB. Too small for LB? Play DB.

Yep, that's how it works. It's just that easy.

 

[splitsecond]

I think if D Wash manages a pro bowl season K9 should be relegated to having a D Wash avatar again.

 

[kerouac9]

Daryl Washington showed no instincts last year? Wow dude you really are delusional!

It's probably because of Daryl Washington's incredible instincts and productivity that the coaching staff had no compunction about sending him to the bench when Gerald Hayes came back from injury. Because Paris Lenon was such an effective player and Daryl Washington's instinctive play was really making the defense a good unit.

First, smaller + heavier does not necessarily mean stronger. If that's the case, Danny DeVitto would be the best linebacker in the league. And even if one is stronger than the next, what about the other factors, such as technique, speed and instincts. Too many variables go into that oversimplified equation.

Second, you saying D Wash has no instincts is like saying Fitz has bad hands. His instincts are one of his strengths and they only improved as the season progressed.

The only credit you get is saying it's too early to compare him to Timmons, but your analysis of D Wash is, as you said, "nonsense jingoism."

Yes, comparing an NFL player to Danny DiVito is definitely an appropriate case. Thank you for raising the level of discourse here.

And it's probably Daryl Washington's unquestionable instincts that kept him out of the starting lineup at football powerhouse Texas Christian until his third season. Every draft publication questioned Washington's football IQ and instincts.

Daryl Washington has amazing speed. That's what he showed last year. Other than that speed, he didn't show very much else. You same guys were the ones saying that Washington will push for Defensive Rookie of the Year last year. How did that work out?

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Interesting - how it's usually people who are most dismissive of other people's opinions, who most often complain about "levels of discourse".

 

[Garthshort]

I have hopes for DW. Keep in mind that when Gerald Hayes came back and DW was benched and not Parris Lennon, it was in keeping with KW's philosophy of not starting rookies. Seems to me that Ray Horton is a big DW fan. We'll see.

 

[JeffGollin]

Til now, I've always been "old school" when it comes to establishing the prototypical profile for an ILB. i.e.:

- Bigger than average.

- Tougher than average.

- Better than average nose for the ball.

- Hits like a freight.

- Doesn't have to be as fast or athletic if he has all the above other qualities.

But times have changed. The two ILB's in the 3-4, don't seem to need to have as much size or ground to cover (though more recent trends seem to favor more mobile buzz-bomb ILB's than the Dick Butkus prototype).

And maybe pairing a buzz-bomber (like Washington) with a bigger ILB who can hit (like Bradley) is how Horton plans to roll.

Worthy of note - Casey Matthews (not that big, not that fast but very very instinctive and smart) is now listed as starting MLB on the Philly depth chart.

 

[Heucrazy]

I have hopes for DW. Keep in mind that when Gerald Hayes came back and DW was benched and not Parris Lennon, it was in keeping with KW's philosophy of not starting rookies. Seems to me that Ray Horton is a big DW fan. We'll see.

You do realize that you just brought truth and logic into a K9 argument, right?

I'm pretty sure that's against the rules.

 

[Duckjake]

It won't matter who our ILBs are if they have Nick Eason or Vonnie Holliday playing NT in front of them. They won't be effective.

As for CKW and playing rookies he does that because the rooks don't have the experience to start right away. But he has no problem starting them after a few weeks of the season. TH was starting at RB his rookie season by game 8 on a SB team for instance.

In Washington's case it was the exact opposite. DW had started 7 games when he was recalled.

 

[TJ]

Yes, comparing an NFL player to Danny DiVito is definitely an appropriate case. Thank you for raising the level of discourse here.

Even for you, this statement is asinine. Has nothing to do with discourse, but rather a simple, cogent response to an assertion about physical stature as the only true measuring stick of a player's performance. Which any fan with a basic understanding of the game would comprehend.

And it's probably Daryl Washington's unquestionable instincts that kept him out of the starting lineup at football powerhouse Texas Christian until his third season. Every draft publication questioned Washington's football IQ and instincts.

Do you watch games or just read websites and stat sheets? These sort of biased, abhorrent comments are really starting to lose their luster.

Daryl Washington has amazing speed. That's what he showed last year. Other than that speed, he didn't show very much else. You same guys were the ones saying that Washington will push for Defensive Rookie of the Year last year. How did that work out?

I'm not one of the guys who predicted DROY, but thought he would be productive. When he was on the field, he made plays and overcame standard rookie mistakes as the season progressed.

The only issue was the coaching staff being resolute inn getting Hayes back on the field (obvious mistake) and keeping veteran Lenon on the field as well. This is a philosophy that irritates me, but it is what it is. This season, he will be the feature WILB, where he should be playing in the first place. No reason why he won't improve, especially with experience under his belt, a new DC and what seems to be a breath of fresh air for the entire defense.

Put the haterade down and we'll reassess the D Wash situation during the season.