Cornerback Josh Wilson's comfort level in the Redskins' defense is improving steadily each week.
It was apparent in Monday night's game against the Dallas Cowboys. Wilson posted four tackles and a team-high four passes defended.
On two of those passes, Wilson nearly recorded interceptions. A notable near miss came against Cowboys Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten.
"The one with Witten, I actually had caught [the ball] and he just made a great play breaking it up," Wilson said.
Wilson is quietly solidifying a secondary that includes big names such as DeAngelo Hall, LaRon Landry and Oshiomogho Atogwe.
"I thought Josh was excellent," defensive coordinator Jim Haslett said. "He had four pass breakups, tackled well, and covered well. I thought he played really well this game."
Wilson attributed his strong game to getting a better feel of the defense the last few weeks.
"I can say this is the first game that I could actually make some of the calls," he said. "The more comfortable I get, the more opportunities I have to make plays."
It also helped that this was the first time Landry was able to play with the revamped secondary.
"Having [Landry and Atogwe] allows me to be able to open my game up," Wilson said. "I know I am safe up top and I know Landry is going to be a missile coming for the run. I know if I take care of my part of the game, and take care of my guy, we are going to be successful as a defense."
The Maryland native is a graduate of DeMatha High School and the University of Maryland.
He was drafted in the second round (55th overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. After three seasons in Seattle, Wilson was traded to the Baltimore Ravens where he played for one season.
Last July 27, Wilson signed on with the Redskins as an unrestricted free agent.
Unable to pull out a close game in Dallas, the Redskins now must show how they will respond after their first loss of the season.
Wilson expects the team to play well.
"That's where you see the character of a team," he said. "How good you are is how you respond to adversity. We have to go out there and show that we are a team to be reckoned with."
