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KLMNO PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL Landry makes two huge plays on defense
Safety forces fumble early, intercepts pass in overtime
BY PAUL TENORIO Washington Redskins safety JONATHAN NEWTON/THE WASHINGTON POST LaRon Landry and the Redskins have forced eight turnovers.
LaRon Landry had seen the same play develop countless times dur- ing Sunday’s game against the
Green Bay Packers. Sitting back in a two-high safe-
ty formation with responsibility for half the field, Landry watched it unfold again with just more than 12 minutes remaining in overtime. Packers wideout Greg Jennings ran across his face. When Green Bay quarterback
Aaron Rodgers turned that way, Landry did what he believes this defense allows him to do best — he reacted.
As he broke into a sprint to-
ward Jennings, Landry said he knew one of two things would happen: “He would have either caughttheballandI’dmakeahit,” Landrysaid.“Or[I’dbreak]onthe ball and make an interception.” It was the latter. Landry
reached behind his body to make the key interception that set up the winning field goal in the Red- skins’ 16-13 overtime win. It was yet another play in a
season that has showcased a reju- venated Landry, who has thrived perhaps more than any other player in the new3-4 defense. “Really Idon’teventhinkabout
last year,” said Landry, who was roundly criticized after strug- gling at free safety last season. “Last year is non-existent to me. But as far as this year . . . this defense fits me well, enables me to fly around and playmy style of play, what I like to do.” Landrymadehis firstimpact in
the first quarter, on the second play from scrimmage.He hit tight end Donald Lee after a 17-yard reception, forcing a fumble that was recovered by safety Kareem Moore. It was Moore’s third consecu-
tive game with a takeaway — the first Redskins player to do that since the late Sean Taylor in 2007. “It was a boot and I just read
him,” Landry said. “I saw Aaron Rodgers looking at him the whole time. I had the deep half but I saw the crossing routeandI justbroke on it.”
“I think it’s more maturity than mentality.”
—Chris Wilson, linebacker for the Redskins, on the defense’s new mind-set.
The two turnovers were an in-
dication of Landry’s newfound effectiveness as well as the de- fense’s emphasis on coming up with them, which the team made a priority in the offseason. Defensive players practiced
stripping the ball throughout the offseason. And players said there was a strong emphasis on making the game-changing types of plays the unit had lacked—even when it was among the league’s top defenses. Landry’s interception was the
second time this season the de- fense turned in the key play of the game. In the season opener, DeAngelo Hall’s 32-yard fumble return for a touchdown proved to be the winning score. TheRedskins rankedlast in the
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NFL in takeaways last season with 17 (11 interceptions, six fum- ble recoveries).ThisseasonWash- ington already has eight (four interceptions, four fumble recov- eries). “I think it’smorematurity than mentality,” linebacker Chris Wil- son said of the change. “Because I think everyone wants to make plays, but you got a quarterback likeAaronRodgers,youthinkhe’s going to pass you the ball? He’s not going to do it. You’ve got to find that little half a step. And that’s what Landry did. If you go back and look at the tape he was driving at that ball as hard as he could and the ball was still almost uncatchable. “So it’s just that little bit of knowledge, that little bit of foot- ball intuition,sotospeak,andjust guysmaturing.” Landry said that throughout
the game he believed he was go- ing to make a play that might change the tide of the contest. Sitting in one-on-one coverage in the slot formuchof the afternoon, he hoped Rodgers would test his ability. Instead, Landry said, the effec-
tiveness of Pro Bowler Brian Or- akpo and the Redskins rush pre- vented him from having an op- portunity until overtime,whenhe was back in the deep zone – the same area where he received so much criticism last season. “It feels great, but that’s what
I’m here to do, make turnovers,” Landry said. “And as defenders that’s our job, to make turnovers and make big plays and put the offense in a great position.”
tenoriop@washpost.com
MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2010
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