A closer look at new Redskins safety Dashon Goldson

The Redskins acquired safety Dashon Goldson from the Buccaneers on Friday, giving up a 2016 sixth-round pick and getting a 2016 seventh-round pick and Goldson in return. Goldson has obvious connections with the Redskins, having been drafted by GM Scot McCloughan during his spell in San Francisco with the 49ers. Goldson should fill the hole at free safety, but is more of a short-term than long-term solution. After a promising start to his career with the 49ers, Goldson’s play fell off when he joined Tampa Bay two years ago via free agency.

Goldson still shows signs of solid safety play. The Bucs’ defense has been particularly poor the past few years, and Goldson had little help from his linebackers, who were slow to drop into coverage on play-action passes.

On this play, Goldson is responsible for his deep half of the field. The Panthers run play-action and sneak the tight end out up the seam.

The linebackers get drawn in by the run fake, allowing the tight end to run free up the middle. Goldson quickly identifies the threat and works down to the tight end.

Goldson can’t quite make up the ground before the pass arrives, but he gets the read correct and is in position to make the tackle.

Goldson lands a big hit that stops the tight end and limits his yards after the catch. Goldson’s read and reaction saved what would have been a touchdown.

However, to believe Goldson is the long-term solution to the Redskins’ free safety problems is a mistake. While Goldson is an upgrade over last year’s starter, Ryan Clark, and any other option the Redskins have at free safety, he’s been poor the past two years in Tampa Bay. He’s missed tackles and given up big plays and touchdowns.

Here’s another play-action pass. This time, the Lions send Calvin Johnson down the middle of the field.

The Bucs are in Tampa 2 coverage, meaning the middle linebacker should drop into the hole in the middle of the field. But he is late dropping into coverage because of the play-action. The outside corner peels off Johnson and drops off to his outside zone. Goldson should recognize Johnson as the biggest threat to the defense and work towards the middle of the field to cover him. But instead, he works outside to his landmark.

Goldson is late to realize that Johnson is running wide open down the middle of the field and attempts to recover.

But even on an under-thrown pass from Matthew Stafford, Goldson can’t recover to break up the pass to Johnson.

Giving up big plays occurred too often when I watched Goldson. On that play, he was slow to recognize the main threat. On this next one, he was too quick to bite on an underneath throw.

This time the Bucs are backed up in the red zone. Goldson is once again responsible for his deep half of the field. The Falcons send wide receiver Julio Jones on a post route.

Goldson initially drops to his landmark and reads the quarterback well.

The pass rush forces Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan to move inside the pocket. Goldson reads the crossing route coming underneath and begins to break on it. But that vacates his zone responsibilities, leaving Jones to break inside behind him.

Matt Ryan spots Goldson out of position and finds Jones in the back of the end zone for a touchdown.

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Scot McCloughan and the Redskins will be looking for Goldson to bounce back from his time in Tampa Bay and resemble something similar to his four years in San Francisco. But I wouldn’t be expecting too much from him. His addition shouldn’t change the Redskins draft plans. I expect they would still draft a free safety to develop if they like one in this draft.

Mark Bullock is The Insider’s Outsider, sharing his NFL draft impressions without the benefit of access to the league. For more, click here.

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