Coming off Sunday's 43-21 blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills (2-1), the Washington Football Team (1-2) appears to have "the most overrated defense in the history of football," according to The Sports Junkies, who reacted to the game on Monday morning.
"I mean the fact of the matter is, right now through three games, it looks like the most overrated defense in the history of football," said Eric 'EB' Bickel. "That's honestly what it looks like."
Quarterback Josh Allen and the Bills offense seemed capable of scoring at will, racking up 481 total yards while converting 60 percent of its third downs. Washington's vaunted defense, among the best in the league last year and touted to be even better in 2021, once again struggled to generate a pass rush, recording zero sacks against the Bills.
After three games, Washington's defense ranks: 31st in yards allowed per game (432), 29th in points allowed (30.7), 29th in pass defense (307 yards/game), and 26th in run defense (125 yards/game). As a whole, Washington is 29th in turnover differential at -3.
"And that's the thing," said John-Paul 'JP' Flaim. "You expected this defensive line to create problems for opposing quarterbacks, to create turnovers, to deflect passes, to force fumbles, to have pick-sixes."
"Well I can tell you what I'm gonna do, and I told Cakes this," said Jason 'Bish' Bishop. "I'm looking at a fantasy roster I have in one of my leagues and I have Washington as my defense... they got minus-five points yesterday and guess what I'm doing today: CUT! Bickel, they're getting cut and I'm not picking them up again."
"You had them against the Bills," JP asked. "What were you thinking?"
"You know what? I was thinking due theory," Bish said.
"He was going due theory. He was praying," EB said. "It was a bad call."
One caller pointed out that while the defense as a unit was bad, Jon Bostic is consistently slowing down the linebacking corps and shouldn't be on the field. "I definitely think the coaching staff deserves a lot of blame," he said. "The main thing that stands out to me, it's not even the defensive line, it's why is Jon Bostic on the field? Because if you look at almost ever big play from opposing teams, Jon Bostic is trailing in the picture somewhere. He's super slow."
Another caller said it's time for Washington head coach Ron Rivera to rattle his team's cage by calling them out publicly, forcing them to face the music through public humiliation.
"I think whatever he says to the team, it's generally meaningless," JP retorted. "The players have to play to their capabilities. The biggest problem in my mind, particularly on the defensive side, is Chase Young and Montez Sweat. There's a lot of expectations. They were talking about breaking sack records, 39 sacks. They're not winning their one-on-one matchups and getting to the quarterback and creating any problems. Quarterbacks are comfortable."
"Justin Herbert looked great in Week 1. Even if they only scored 20 points, he did. They converted all those third downs. It was absurd," he continued. "Daniel Jones, he owns the Washington Football Team. But he looked great against the Washington Football Team and so did Josh Allen. Three quarterbacks have faced this defense. How do you stop them? Yes, the corners can play better and the linebackers can play better. But the defensive ends have got to make some plays! I don't care what the coach says."
Bickel turned the conversation to Chase Young, who combined for three tackles in the game and had one hit on the quarterback.
EB: Chase Young is supposed to be a transformational player, and I keep pointing it out.
Bish: Remember, he was defensive rookie of the year last year.
EB: I know, but he had, what, 7.5 sacks?
Bish: Okay, but I'm just saying, he did more than just...
"Like you said, his best game was Week 1 [in 2020]," EB said. "Myles Garrett yesterday had 4.5 sacks. Okay, it was against Justin Fields. He had 4.5 in one day. Khalil Mack had two yesterday. Jadeveon Clowney, been around forever, he had two yesterday. Chase has zero so far. He's got to get home. He's got to be the leader. And not just waving the flag and being animated on the sideline. He's got to be a leader on the field."
Chase Young was asked after the game to describe what he's feeling after the first three games, specifically if he's frustrated by the defense's performance.
"Man, I ain't frustrated," Young told reporters. "I feel good running around out there. We've just got to play together. We're not doing that right now. The D-line, we're not the only people on the field. It's the linebackers, the DBs, so we all have to play as one."
EB took that latter portion of Young's response as a slight towards the rest of his defensive teammates.
"And there's a little hint, a little hint of throwing his teammates under the bus there that I don't love," EB said. "Now maybe I'm misinterpreting it and I'm over-analyzing the words, but when you talk about how I can't help what's happening behind me and we all have to play together, that kind of sounds like you're throwing the other guys under the bus."
"He should step to the podium and say, 'I expect more of myself. I have to be a better player.' That's all he has to say," said John 'Cakes' Auville.
"Yes. That's all we want to hear," EB agreed. "I need to do more. And yes I am frustrated."
Cakes: He doesn't have to say, 'Well the linebackers, they're not doing their job. And I can't help what the secondary's doing. I'm running around.'
EB: How can he not be frustrated?
Bish: He is frustrated.
EB: No, but Jason, maybe he's not.
Bish: I think he is.
EB: He said 'I'm not frustrated'! It doesn't look like he's frustrated!
Bish: I think he's frustrated. Because, you know why? Because he hears the criticism. He knows that people are saying, 'What's going on with this No. 1 ranked defense? The four No. 1 picks on the line?' He hears it.
EB: Yeah, but maybe he doesn't care.
Bish: I'd be surprised if he doesn't care.
JP: He's got six tackles this season. Three assists, zero sacks, zero forced fumbles. I've been trying to verify this the whole show, but I can't find the stat. Somebody tweeted us that he has one quarterback hurry. One!
EB: That's unbelievable.
