Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Washington Redskins Interest in Leonard Little Doesn't Fit 3-4



New Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett has said that he's seriously considering switching to the 3-4 defense. It's worked for other teams over recent years, so it would make sense that Haslett is jumping on the bandwagon.

What doesn't make sense, however, is that the Redskins are now letting it be known that they'd be interested in soon-to-be unrestricted free agent Leonard Little, a 4-3 pass-rushing defensive end.

First off, the 'Skins better put a muzzle on Haslett. If he says much more than he already has, it could constitute tampering. Little is still a Ram until March 5th.

Of course, the 'Skins aren't unfamiliar with tampering as they obviously tampered with Albert Haynesworth a season ago. I mean really, there's no way they got a deal done at 5:30 in the morning, but we're talking before midnight.

But, as the saying goes, it's not what you know, it's what you can prove.

Anyway, Little just doesn't fit a 3-4. He's played in the 4-3 his entire career, and at 36 years old he's probably not too interested in a position switch to outside linebacker.

He's only 260 pounds, so he's not nearly big enough to play defensive end in the 3-4, and has probably lost the speed to play outside linebacker anyway.

Haslett has said he thinks little can still be productive if used properly, but inserting him into the 3-4 is certainly not a proper way of using the 12-year vet.



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