The Redskins' defensive newcomers are here, and so far they're spectacular.
"That's the identity as a great defense," Swearinger said. "You've got to stop the run, first and foremost,Wholesale Jerseys USA, and make teams one-dimensional and that's what we're going to try to continue to do."
It has only been three games, but after allowing almost 378 yards a game last season as the fourth-worst team in the league, the Redskins are surrendering 272 a game. Opponents' 62.3 yards a game on the ground are the second-fewest in the league.
Defensive coordinator Greg Manusky has been able to mix and match all over as the unit has coalesced earlier than expected. Playing the high-octane Raiders so early had a silver lining.
After adding safety D.J. Swearinger, linebacker Zach Brown and defensive linemen Stacy McGee and Terrell McClain in free agency,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, drafting lineman Jonathan Allen, linebacker Ryan Anderson, safety Montae Nicholson and cornerback Fabian Moreau and welcoming linebacker Junior Galette back from injury, Washington's defense is ranked fifth in the NFL going into a Week 4 showdown at the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night.
Swearinger has helped Nicholson along, and the rookie out of Michigan State each week is trying to prove he deserves to start.
"It says they trust me a lot," Nicholson said. "Now it's on me to make them realize that they made the right decision and go out there and play like I am grateful, play like I'm appreciative and just have fun with it."
"Everything is coordinated, you can just tell," Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith said. "You can tell they're well-coached. You can tell they're disciplined, play hard, play physical."
"You're never quite sure until they get here," Gruden said.
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — When the Washington Redskins turned over almost half their starting defense from last season, coach Jay Gruden didn't know how it would go.
Brown,Cristopher Toselli Chile Jersey, who made the Pro Bowl last year with the Buffalo Bills, has been as advertised as a fundamentally sound tackler and has the second-most tackles in the league. Cornerback Josh Norman said Brown reminds him of Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly.
"ZB, he's an awesome guy in the middle," Norman said. "It makes a world of difference if you've got a linebacker."
NOTES: QB Kirk Cousins missed practice Friday with his wife, Julie, in labor with the couple's first child. Gruden said Cousins attended a meeting via FaceTime. ... TE Jordan Reed (chest/rib) and RB Rob Kelley (rib) were limited in practice.

Making as big an impact as Brown is Swearinger, who quickly became the emotional leader of the defense and the entire team, assuming the role of giving pre-practice speeches in the huddle and serving as a captain. Swearinger is part of the upgraded safety play that has made a substantial difference for the Redskins,
The Redskins' defense is having a lot of fun right now, and opponents can see it on film.
"When you talk about why we're better,Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys, we have better players,Wholesale NFL Jerseys," Gruden said. "Guys are buying in, but most importantly they're playing hard, they're playing fast and they're playing physical."
Kansas City's Kareem Hunt, who's averaging 8.5 yards a carry and has four rushing touchdowns, is the next challenge for this defense, which is dealing with a hamstring injury to Swearinger and shoulder injuries to Allen and linebacker Mason Foster. Of course Washington has already dealt with missing pieces on defense after second-year safety Su'a Cravens left the team to contemplate retirement and Foster missed its Week 3 game against Oakland.
The Redskins' free-agent signings have also delivered, and Gruden thinks there's a common theme.
"With the perfect preparation, anything can happen," Swearinger said. "I think with the stakes, with us having to play a big game so early, I think it was mandatory that it came early."
Gruden hoped Allen, a first-round pick, would be able to contribute right away, though Moreau (third round) and Nicholson (fourth) have exceeded expectations. Second-year defensive lineman Matt Ioannidis, a 2016 fifth-round pick, has also made impressive strides.
"The good thing is that they all played," Gruden said about McGee, McClain, Brown and Swearinger. "Those guys aren't like they are brand-new guys who haven't played a lot of football. These guys have played a lot of football. It is just a matter of getting together with