Greg Blache enters his second season as Washington Redskins defensive coordinator after four seasons directing the defensive line. Blache was named defensive coordinator on January 26, 2008.
Under Blache’s leadership, the Redskins finished fourth in overall defense, the fourth time in his five seasons with Washington (3rd in 2004; 9th in 2005 and 8th in 2007) it finished in the top 10 in the NFL.
Blache’s 2008 squad was forced to overcome a myriad of injuries to starters on both the defensive line and secondary, yet still finished among the top 10 in rush (eighth overall) and pass (seventh overall) defense, and also allowed the sixth-fewest points in the league per game (18.5).
A veteran of 22 NFL seasons, Blache focuses on the importance of playing strong fundamental football, demonstrated by his unit’s physical play in run defense. Washington limited opponents to just 95.4 rushing yards per game and only three players totaled over 100 yards rushing in a single game. LB London Fletcher anchored the defense and led the Redskins with 146 tackles.
Additionally, Blache’s secondary proved to be the strength of the defense despite the fact that his defensive backfield had 10 different starting lineups in 16 games in 2008. The Redskins defense limited opponents to just 193.4 yards per game and helped force the highest percentage of three-and-outs in the NFL.
Blache’s leadership was also instrumental in developing unheralded seventh-round pick Chris Horton into a starting safety and member of Pro Football Weekly’s All- Rookie Team, and seamlessly integrating cornerback DeAngelo Hall into the defense. Hall, signed during the Redskins’ bye week last November, made an immediate impact, intercepting Tony Romo in his first game as a Redskin.
Perhaps the most impressive streak for the defense came in the middle of the season when--over a five game span--the defense held all five opponents to less than 275 yards of total offense, the first time the Redskins had accomplished a streak of that length since 1989.
This past offseason, the Redskins re-signed Hall and inked the most dominant defensive tackle in the NFL in Albert Haynesworth, who has totaled 14.5 sacks in his past two NFL seasons with the Tennessee Titans (2007 and 2008).
In 2007, Blache was an integral part of helping the Redskins defense improve from a 31st-ranked unit in 2006 to eighth overall.
Blache’s defensive line played a pivotal role as Washington finished fourth in the NFL in rush yardage allowed (91.3 avg.) in 2007--a significant improvement from 2006 in which they finished 27th in the NFL (137.3 avg.) in the same category. Washington improved 23 spots in rushing defense in 2007, trailing only Tennessee, which moved up 25 places (30th overall to 5th overall).
In 2005, Blache’s defensive line helped the Redskins finish ninth overall in total defense for the second consecutive year. In his first season with the Redskins in 2004, Blache made an immediate impact as Washington’s defensive unit finished third overall and second in rush yardage allowed (81.5 avg.)--which represents the best overall ranking since Washington finished atop the league in rushing yards allowed with 80.6 yards per game in 1983.
Prior to joining the Redskins, Blache spent five seasons with the Chicago Bears as defensive coordinator.
During his time in Chicago, the Bears defense saw tremendous improvement. In 2003, his defense finished the season fifth in the NFC in total defense, and 14th in the NFL, the team’s highest league ranking since 1998. Blache’s defenses forced 138 turnovers, including 37 in 2001, the most by a Bears defense since 1990, and accounted for 13 touchdowns (two in 1999, four in 2000, five in 2001, one in 2002, and one in 2003).
In 2002, Blache dealt with numerous injuries to the Bears defense, leading to 11 different starting lineups over the course of 16 games. While juggling personnel, the Bears defense continued their attacking, aggressive. They forced 64 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and reached a league plateau by forcing at least one turnover in 33 consecutive games, the second longest active streak in the NFL at the time.
In 2001, Blache molded the Bears defense into one of the top units in the league, producing the top-ranked scoring defense by allowing only 203 points in 16 games (12.7 points per game). His run defense finished second in the NFL and first in the NFC, allowing just 82.1 yards per game, while allowing only three rushes of 20 yards or more all seasons and only six rushing touchdowns.
Prior to joining the Bears, Blache served as defensive line coach for the Indianapolis Colts for five seasons (1994-98) and held the same position with the Green Bay Packers for six years (1988-93).
In addition to his pro coaching experience, Blache has held positions with several college programs. He began his coaching career as a defensive assistant at his alma mater Notre Dame in 1968 after suffering a leg injury that ended his playing career.
Following his graduation in 1971, he stayed on as a graduate assistant and then as an assistant coach for the Fighting Irish for four more seasons (1972-75). He moved on to join Tulane’s staff in 1976, where he coached the offensive line (1976-77), outside linebackers (1978-79) and defensive backs (1980). He then returned to Notre Dame to coach the running backs (1981), defensive line and outside linebackers (1982-83).
After spending 1984-85 as defensive line coach of the USFL’s Jacksonville Bulls, he returned to the college ranks at Southern University (1986) and Kansas (1987).
He earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s degree in secondary education, both from Notre Dame.
A New Orleans native, Blache and his wife, Lynn, have six children: Greg Jr., Jennifer, Christopher, Sarah, Corrine and Matthew. They live in Leesburg, Va.
