The Washington Redskins were in trouble again.
They had blown a lead late in the game the previous Sunday and lost to the winless St. Louis Rams. Now, there they were: on their own 1-yard line, trying to hold the Cleveland Browns offense out of the end zone in the fourth quarter of a tight game.
Enter London Fletcher, the Redskins’ defensive captain.
On first down, the 5-foot-10, 245-pound middle linebacker soared over the line to stop running back Jamal Lewis cold.
On second down, Fletcher snuffed out a pass to fullback Charles Ali for a 2-yard loss. Two incomplete passes later, the Redskins had the ball back and ultimately survived for a tough 14-11 victory.
“London knows what’s going to happen a lot of times before it happens because he studies,” defensive coordinator Greg Blache said. “It looks like deja vu for him as the ball’s snapped because he’s been through it on tape, he’s been studying it. London plays the mental game. He knows where to fit so he doesn’t have to expend as much energy getting in the proper position.”
It’s not just Fletcher’s knowledge that makes him special, though. As genial as they come with the pads off, the one-time Division I point guard is a bulldog on the field.
“London was jacked up on those goal-line stands,” strongside linebacker Marcus Washington said. “Guys were a little tired, but London stood up and said, ’We can stop these guys.’ And we got ’em stopped.”
Not much stops Fletcher.
He grew up in Cleveland, made a switch from St. Francis (Pa.) basketball to Division III John Carroll football, earned a spot on the Rams as a rookie free agent in 1998 and the next season became the defensive captain of the Super Bowl champions.
Fletcher now has started 126 straight games, the sixth-longest active streak. He also has led his teams in tackles nine seasons running.
“London’s a rare bird,” Blache said. “The leadership he brings to our team is exceptional. He’s our quarterback on the field, gets everybody lined up and, more important, keeps guys settled down when they need to be settled down and gets them fired up when they need to be fired up. That’s something that you don’t learn. It’s something that’s innate.”
Those qualities are what then-assistant head coach Gregg Williams, Fletcher’s coach in Buffalo, wanted when the Redskins signed him in March 2007.
The Redskins defense ranked ninth in 2005 but crashed to 31st the next season. The arrival of Fletcher helped the Redskins rocket back to eighth last season, and they currently rank sixth.
“I’ve been in leadership positions since I was in elementary school,” Fletcher said. “Guys would ask me, ’What do you want to do? Where do you want to go?’ I loved watching Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Isiah Thomas - guys that were leaders. You could just see it in their passion, the way they approached the game, how their teammates responded to them.”
A nine-year veteran, Washington can attest to that.
“London’s the best leader I’ve played with,” he said. “He’s the closest thing to having a quarterback at linebacker. He knows everyone’s assignment.”
Linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti said preparation is the key to Fletcher’s success - that and holding his teammates accountable.
“As a leader, you have to, first of all, make sure you’re doing what you’re supposed to do,” Fletcher said. “You can’t expect somebody else to do something when you’re not doing it. I take a great deal of responsibility Wednesday to Saturday, making sure that we’re doing what we’re supposed to do and how we’re preparing. Win or lose, if we don’t play up to our standards defensively, I’m sick for two or three days. I replay plays over and over in my mind to think about what we need to do to continue to get better.”
At 33, Fletcher should be slowing down. Instead, thanks in part to a rigorous conditioning program, Fletcher has made 62 tackles this season - 15 more than his nearest teammate. He’s tied for the team lead in forced fumbles and tackles for losses and ranks second in quarterback hurries.
“I have a hard time envisioning London playing any better,” Blache said.
Washington might have summed up Fletcher best.
“Gregg always said the best compliment you can get in football is that you’re a real pro,” Washington said. “London’s a real pro.”
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