Redskins take a close look at Tennessee safety Eric Berry

New Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan, along with defensive coordinator Jim Haslett, are installing a new 3-4 hybrid defense in Washington.

The hope is that the Redskins will be able to force more turnovers during the 2010-11 season. Washington had a top ten defense last year, but ranked a pathetic 28th in turnover differential — only behind the Cleveland Browns, St. Louis Rams, Oakland Raiders and Detroit Lions.

Washington drafted safety LaRon Landry with the sixth overall pick in 2007. The hope was to line him up with the late Sean Taylor and create one of the best and most dynamic safety pairings in the league. When Taylor was murdered during the 2007 season, Landry was forced to move from strong safety to free safety.

Landry is a little behind in development, but bringing in a guy like Berry could bump Landry — who consistently gets beat deep — back to strong safety and provide a spark in the secondary.

In his three seasons at Tennessee, Berry totaled 14 interceptions. His best year with the Volunteers he picked up seven passes and took two back for a score. The Jim Thorpe Award winner is also an electric return man.

Reports indicate Shanahan prefers to take a quarterback to develop into “his guy,” but if Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford goes number one overall as expected, the Redskins fourth pick may be too high for the next highest rated quarterback, Jimmy Clausen. In that case, look for Washington to take the top safety in this year’s draft class in hopes of creating a new energy and using the Ed Reed clone to create more turnovers.