WASHINGTON (AP) — Missed tackles. Missed assignments. Missed communication. with the Washington Redskins‘ defense lately.A unit that was a big reason for the team’s strong start to the season is also now a big reason for the Redskins’ rapid descent to 6-6 and a three-game losing streak heading into Sunday’s matchup against the visiting New York Giants.“We’ve just got to get off the field Christian Wilkins Jersey ,” Redskins cornerback Josh Norman said. “Got to find a way to get off the field.”Only 12 of the league’s 32 teams have given up more yards per game than the 367.4 the Redskins are allowing this season. That’s bad enough as it is.But narrow the scope to the past five outings, and Washington’s average balloons to more than 420 yards. Over the past three games, Washington’s opponents have averaged 27.3 points.“Defensively, we have to play better. We have to play better. These 430-yard games are too much for the defensive personnel that we do have. We have no excuses there,” coach Jay Gruden said. “So the challenge will be, ‘Hey, if we have to win 7-6, let’s do it.'”To Norman’s point, the third-down conversion numbers are the most staggering of all.For the season, the Redskins are letting foes get the first down 44 percent of the time; only three clubs are worse. Over just the most recent five games, it gets worse, rising to a 54 percent success rate on third downs.It’s probably not a coincidence that Washington is 1-4 in those games Michael Deiter Jersey , dropping from first place to third in the NFC East.And now comes the challenge of dealing with the Giants and their two offensive stars: rookie running back Saquon Barkley, third in the NFL in rushing yards, and wideout Odell Beckham Jr., who threw one TD pass and caught another last week.“We’ll work on things that maybe have hurt us in the past and we’ve got to work on those and get better at them,” Redskins defensive coordinator Greg Manusky said, “and just got to make sure we make tackles in the open field.”Unlike all of the injury issues on offense — Mark Sanchez is Washington’s third starting QB in less than a month, and the team is on to its third pair of starting guards — the defense has been relatively healthy.Plus, it was supposed to be getting help when the Redskins acquired Green Bay Packers safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix at the trade deadline. Things only have been getting worse lately, though.“It’s frustrating,” Norman said, “but we’ll find it.”Notes: LB Ryan Anderson (hamstring) and G Tony Bergstrom (knee, ankle) were ruled out for Sunday Daniel Jones Jersey , while LB Zach Brown (illness), C Chase Roullier (knee), DL Matt Ioannidis (bruised shin) and WR Josh Doctson (strained hip) were listed as questionable. … With all the injuries along the offensive line, Gruden said the team hadn’t yet decided who will start at the two guard spots and that the team might do some rotating of players during the game. TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay’s bid to lure Bruce Arians out of retirement and back to the NFL included a pitch from baseball manager Joe Maddon.The 66-year-old coach grew up in York, Pennsylvania, not far from Maddon’s hometown of Hazelton. He and the Chicago Cubs skipper have grown close since Buccaneers general Jason Licht introduced them several years ago.Maddon, 64, managed the Tampa Bay Rays for nine years before moving on to the Cubs in 2015. He lives in Florida during the offseason and owns a popular South Tampa restaurant where he and Arians dined last weekend.“I had already convinced myself. But we’re old friends,” Arians said Thursday, when he formally was introduced as Tampa Bay’s fifth new coach in a decade.“It was more break bread, have fun. I didn’t need any convincing.”Arians coached the Arizona Cardinals for five years Dexter Lawrence Jersey , compiling a 49-30-1 record and making the playoffs twice before retiring after the 2017 season.He cited health concerns and a desire to spend more time with family for walking away, but was unable to fill the void working in a broadcast booth the past year.“There’s something about growing up in the locker room, the bonds and relationships you build in building a football team,” Arians said. “The ups the downs, and all the things that go in between, is probably what I love most about the game. I missed the arena.”The Bucs, who haven’t made the playoffs since 2007, fired former coach Dirk Koetter on Dec. 30. Armed with a checklist of what the club wanted in a replacement, Licht interviewed Arians, as well as Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator George Edwards and Dallas Cowboys defensive backs coach Kris Richard.Licht knew Arians from the GM’s days as vice president of player personnel in Arizona, but stressed he also was everything the Bucs were looking for — a coach with a commanding presence and proven track record for winning and developing players and assistant coaches Deandre Baker Jersey , as well as someone who would bring some swagger to the team.“He wants to put a (Super Bowl) ring on everyone’s hand in this organization,” Licht said.“He has a fire and passion for this game that burns very deep inside,” Bucs owner/co-chairman Bryan Glazer said, adding Arians is a “confident, proven leader and has a clear vision and plan for getting our franchise back to playing winning football.”And Arians, who inherits Jameis Winston as his starting quarterback, doesn’t believe it’ll take long to transform the Bucs into a championship contender.“I think we have the core here to win quickly,” Arians said. “I’m not about building, I’m about reloading.”When Arians was hired in Arizona, he took over a team that finished 5-11 the year before his arrival and went 10-6 in his first season in 2013.“This one’s much easier, I believe,” he said. “When I walked into Arizona we had no quarterbacks.”However Oshane Ximines Jersey , the Cardinals quickly filled that void by trading for Carson Palmer.Arians has known Winston since the 25-year-old quarterback was a high school player attending one of the coach’s football camps in Birmingham, Alabama.Winston is 21-33 as a starter over the past four seasons and only one quarterback — Jacksonville’s Blake Bortles — has more turnovers than Winston’s 75 since he entered the league as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft.Winston is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Arians said there’s no added on pressure on former Heisman Trophy winner to prove he’s Tampa Bay’s long-term solution at quarterback.“No pressure. No pressure whatsoever. I want him to relax and play the game. Talent’s no issue. It’s just (playing) a little smarter,” said Arians, who’s hiring former Cardinals assistant Byron Leftwich as his offensive coordinator.“With Clyde Christenson as his quarterback coach and Byron, he’s going to be coached as well as he’s ever been and more prepared than he’s ever been fundamentally and mentally,” Arians added. “It’s his team. I’ll tell our players in the first meeting. This isn’t my team, it’s your team. We’ll be as good as you want to be.”
