Washington Commanders

Redskins FS Dashon Goldson: 'You can leave Culliver on an island'

Published Jun. 11, 2015 4:13 p.m. ET

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The Washington Redskins needed to make a concerted effort to upgrade their secondary this offseason after finishing as one of the league's worst pass defenses in 2014. Although the safety situation was also a mess, no position group was more detrimental to the Redskins' success stopping the pass than the cornerbacks. Starters David Amerson and Bashaud Breeland made Football Outisders' "worst cornerback list" and they finished as Pro Football Focus' worst and ninth-worst cornerback overall in 2014. The Redskins addressed the issue by signing cornerback Chris Culliver to a lucrative four-year, $32 million contract.

Culliver finished as Pro Football Focus' 15th-best cornerback in 2014 out of 108 qualifiers. Although he wasn't strong against the run, he earned PFF's 13th-best pass coverage grade. Opposing quarterbacks had just a 66.5 passer rating when targeting Culliver, per Pro Football Focus.

According to teammate Dashon Goldson, the Redskins' defense is counting on Culliver to take over a major responsibility in Joe Barry's new defensive scheme.

“You can leave Culliver on an island; he’ll get it done,” Goldson said, per The Washington Post.

If Goldson is correct, and Culliver can still perform at a high level without safety help, the Redskins' pass defense should take a major step forward in 2015. Culliver overtaking this role will allow Goldson and whoever starts next to him at safety to freelance and make more plays away from Culliver's side of the field, in both the run and pass game.

(h/t Washington Post)

Photo Credit: Geoff Burke/USA TODAY Sports