The Washington Redskins continued to focus on improving the league's third-worst defense by using six of their eight draft choices on defensive players. This off-season has been dedicated almost exclusively to defensive changes, beginning with the hiring of new coordinator Mike Nolan and two other new defensive coaches.

Then came the signing of veteran cornerback Cris Dishman and strong safety Jesse Campbell.

Their strategy didn't change on draft day. For once, there was no talk about the best player available or developing for the future or any of that. The Redskins zeroed in on their problems areas and started firing.

Their first-round draft choice was Miami defensive end Kenard Lang, who is expected to move into the starting lineup at left end his rookie season. Their second-round pick was Colorado outside linebacker Greg Jones, who likely will also be in the starting lineup by opening day.

Perhaps their most intriguing pick came in the fifth round when they swapped a sixth- and seventh-round choice to Atlanta to get Northwestern (St.) Louisiana cornerback Keith Thibodeaux. He'll be given the chance to win the nickel cornerback job in 1997 and is viewed as an eventual replacement for either Darrell Green or Dishman.

The Redskins took only two offensive players and one of those picks addressed another severe need. They used their fourth-round choice on flashy Texas A&M receiver Albert Connell. Given Henry Ellard's age (35) and the problems Michael Westbrook and Leslie Shepherd have had staying healthy, he's also expected to play in 1997.

"We feel real good about what we've done so far,'' general manager Charley Casserly said. "When you look at the big picture, you've added a defensive end, three linebackers, a safety and a corner. You've added some talented players and increased the speed on defense. You've increased the competitive level, which is important.''

Once upon a time, NFL teams talked about being patient with their young players, about giving them the time to develop and about drafting the best available player regardless of position on draft day.

That was before the salary cap thinned depth around the league and before players were allowed to become unrestricted free agents after four years. Perhaps more than ever before, the Redskins used this draft to fill specific needs.

"We've certainly given ourselves some guys who can either start or give us depth in a number of positions,'' Turner said. "You look at the guys we've taken and each of the players has great speed at his position. They can all run. We're certainly going to be more athletic right away. Now, how quickly they come along will tell how much they help us improve.''

ROUND-BY-ROUND ANALYSIS

Round 1/17 -- Kenard Lang, DE, Miami

The Redskins hope Lang's selection brings a significant improvement for the short term and a dramatic one for the long run. Lang is a 6-4, 277-pound fourth year junior who has been compared to everyone from Greg Townsend to Sean Jones.

Casserly said he listened to trade offers from five teams, but apparently never came close to being tempted to move down the ladder to pick up an extra draft choice or two.

"In the end, there wasn't a deal that was attractive enough for us to move back,'' Casserly said. "We'd either have to move back too far or not get enough in return. We had a couple of players targeted at this point and both were there.''

Lang is expected to step in immediately as the starter at left defensive end, at least on running downs. He provides the strength and toughness that should help the NFL's worst run defense, and the Redskins believe he'll eventually be a first-rate pass rusher as well.

At least for the next few seasons, the Redskins still want Ken Harvey and Rich Owens, who combined for 20 sacks last season, to be their defensive ends on passing downs. But Lang's arrival could mean the end of Sterling Palmer's days in Washington. Injuries limited him to just five starts and one sack last season, and with a $950,000 salary in 1997, Palmer probably will be cut or asked to take a pay cut.

Lang, 22, started 29 games in his three-year Miami career. His 11.5 sacks last season was the fourth-highest single season total in Miami history, and Redskins defensive line coach Earl Leggett recalled how much Lang impressed him after twisting an ankle during an individual workout.

"You could tell it was bothering him, but he wouldn't quit,'' Leggett said. "He stayed out there and finished the workout. We all agreed on this guy. You had to be blind not to see it.''

Lang received the news in his hometown of Orlando, Florida. Moments after receiving the news, he learned that Miami's other defensive end, Kenny Holmes, was taken one choice later.

"We're happy for each other,'' Lang said. "We pull for one another.''

He said being drafted by the Redskins had been "a little surprise. They talked to me once or twice, but so did some other teams. ... It's the best feeling in the world. It's like I felt when I got my first sack in college. I still can't believe it.''

Round 2/51 -- Greg Jones, OLB, Colorado

Used as a Ken Harvey-type pass-rusher at Colorado, Jones will play opposite Harvey in the NFL. His acquisition allows Marvcus Patton to move to middle linebacker or will simply give the Redskins a fallback position if Harvey leaves via free agency in 1998.

Jones started at both outside linebacker and defensive end during college. Arrived at Colorado weighing just 198 pounds and gained weight and strength every season. He had 7.5 sacks and 78 tackles last season.

When Jones was introduced at a news conference, he was accompanied by his wife Valerie and three-month-old daughter Avery, which is appropriate in several ways. Turner and his staff met Jones at the Senior Bowl when they coached the North squad. He left at mid-week when Valerie went into labor, then after spending a day with his new daughter, he returned to play in the game.

"His dedication to come back and play really impressed our coaches,'' Casserly said. "It's one of the reasons we thought Greg would be a good Redskin.''

Jones smiled as he recounted that week. "She (Valerie) didn't really want me to go back, but she understood it was for our future,'' he said. "It was hard to concentrate on the game, but I had to try my best because I knew they were back home watching.''

Jones weighed only 198 when he arrived at Colorado and suffered a serious knee injury that sidelined him in the 1993 season. He recovered from the injury, added more than 40 pounds of muscle and arrives at the NFL with the high expectations of someone with his size and 4.78 speed.

"He's a big man that can run and it's a big man's game,'' linebacker coach Dale Lindsey said. "Everyone wants guys with size or foot speed, and he's got both. I'd hope he'd play for us now. That's well within his range.''

Round 3/80 -- Derek Smith, MLB, Arizona State

Smith may be more of a special teams performer in his rookie season, but the Redskins hope he develops into a fulltime performer at middle linebacker. Coaches say it may be the opening of training camp or after before all the pieces are sorted out. Will Patton move to the middle? Will Jones start at outside? Where do Alexander and Smith fit in?

"We've got to shake the bag and see who the best players are and put them on the field,'' Lindsey said.

He was at Arizona State only two years and didn't get invited to the post-season scouting combine in Indianapolis. However, he improved consistently during the season, was a favorite of his college coaching staff and was impressive in individual workouts for NFL teams. Has good quickness. Has made so much progress in two years that several teams project him as a potential starter.

Round 4/115 -- Albert Connell, WR, Texas A&M

Despite never having a first-rate quarterback to throw him the ball, Connell piled up impressive statistics at Texas A&M.

"He's a speed guy,'' Turner said. "He had two plays over 70 yards last season and a number of plays over 30 yards. He made plays.''

Connell spent only two years at Texas A&M, but still managed to put together a highlight reel of acrobatic catches and big plays. After two years at Trinity Valley Junior College, he caught 41 balls and averaged 15.9 yards per catch for the Aggies in 1995. He was even better during his senior season, leading the Aggies with 53 catches and 15.3 yards per catch. He missed a game against Southwestern Louisiana for not attending classes. Has great leaping ability and can run after the catch. Ran a 4.52 40 at the combine.

Round 5/132 -- Jamel Williams, SS, Nebraska

After tearing up both knees in high school, Williams had a hugely successful career at Nebraska playing linebacker. The Redskins believe that at 205 pounds, he's a bit undersized for a linebacker, so they'll try him at strong safety.

He has the luxury of spending a season or two learning the position from newly acquired veteran Jesse Campbell, but defensive coordinator Mike Nolan plans to use him in some nickel situations at the beginning of his career.

Last season, he led the Huskers with 97 tackles, five sacks and three interceptions. He's somewhat comparable to Carnell Lake and Darren Woodson in the long term. For next season, he'll have a chance to compete at safety and play on special teams.

"He's got a linebacker's mentality,'' Nolan said. "He flat punishes some people''

Round 5/140 -- Keith Thibodeaux, CB, Northwestern (St.) Louisiana

He was ignored by most scouting services until this spring when word began to circulate among NFL scouts he was a player worth a look.

The Redskins worked him out early in the spring, did some film work on him and got even more interested. On the eve of the draft, Casserly dispatched secondary coach Tom Hayes and scout Mike Hagen to Natchitoches, Louisiana, for another session.

Their recommendation was high enough that Casserly swapped his sixth- and seventh-round draft choices to Atlanta to get into position to take him in the fifth round.

"He's very quick and athletic,'' Casserly said. "We wanted to try and get a corner that would at least compete for a spot on the team. The reason we traded the sixth and seventh was because we knew a couple of teams were interested in him. We felt it was worth it. If we didn't get him, we weren't as excited about any of the other cornerbacks left on the board. Tom feels he can come in and compete for the nickel job. I thought he was an impressive guy on tape when I watched him.''

Hayes said he was impressed at Thibodeaux's coverage skills and believed he could step in and compete with Darryl Pounds for the role of third cornerback. If he wins the spot, he'll be on the field in many passing situations, especially when offenses use three wide receivers.

Round 5/148 -- Twan Russell, OLB, Miami

Hurricanes coach Butch Davis recommended him as a player who could contribute on special teams in 1997 and perhaps challenge for a nickel linebacker job in the future. Ankle and foot injuries slowed him in 1993 and 1994. But he finished his collegiate career with two solid seasons. Last season, he had 115 tackles and four pass deflections. He suffered a broken jaw early in the season, which forced him to sit out four games. A long-range project, he impressed scouts with a 4.84 time in the 40.

Round 5/162 -- Brad Badger, OG, Stanford

He can play both guard and center, as he proved in starting 34 of his final 35 games at Stanford. Redskins project him as a guard. He was a highly recruited prep athlete who signed with then Cardinal coach Bill Walsh. Has gotten stronger during his career, but is still more a finesse player. The Redskins try to take at least one offensive lineman and one defensive lineman in each draft because they typically take a year or two to develop. Badger may contribute as a long snapper in his rookie season.