This article is the sequel to a series in which we take a look at the current state of the Redskins roster as Free Agency winds down, and the draft is on the horizon.
After going over the State of the Offense , it’s time to look at the Defense. The biggest FA move has been the re-signing of Junior Galette , and there’s little doubt that he will cause havoc all season for opposing offense’s. However, the defense on paper looks very similar to last season, and has some concerned that the team did not do enough to improve the unit. There are major red flags at certain positions, that no doubt will be addressed in the draft.
We all know that defense wins championships, so let’s get into it and see how far away the Redskins are from living up to the “Capital Punishment” nickname…
Defensive Line:
Chris Baker
Corey Crawford
Cedric Golston
Ziggy Hood
Ricky Jean Francois
Anthony Johnson
Stephen Paea
Jerrell Powe
Kendall Reyes
Analysis: This list contains both the DE and DT positions, the reason for that is the possibility of guys moving around the line and possibly switching positions. It has also been discussed of the possibility of Trent Murphy bulking up and moving to DE. Overall this is a unit that will be addressed in the upcoming draft, especially at the NT position.
Last season, Chris Baker had himself a very impressive season so expect him to stay put at DE. Opposite of him Stephen Paea and Ricky Jean Francois should battle it out, unless Murphy is thrown into the mix. At NT, look for Pot Roast to hold that position down again this season and likely rotate with a draft pick. Also, Kendall Reyes is a very under the radar signing and could sneak his way into the lineup with a solid camp. Overall, the line lacks depth and still needs help. It’s expected to be a focus on the draft, but guys like Paea and RJF will need to step up. Right now, Baker is the best player on the DL.
Linebacker:
Mason Foster
Carlos Fields
Junior Galette
Terence Garvin
Adam Hayward
Jackson Jeffcoat
Willie Jefferson
Ryan Kerrigan
Derrick Matthews
Trent Murphy
Perry Riley Jr
Preston Smith
Martrell Spaight
Lynden Trail
Analysis: The OLB position is set with Kerrigan, P. Smith, and Galette holding it down. Murphy had a very underrated season last year and could still come in and compete, but I expect Smith to get the job and hold onto it. If Murphy is able to bulk up, he could find himself succeeding at the DE position, and even possibly starting there. Last season, both Compton and Foster came up late but when they started both looked solid. Riley is the forgotten man in all of this, but was having a strong season prior to getting injured. There is still the possibility of the team drafting a MLB early if their guy is there (Ragland?) , but I believe the team will look elsewhere. The team is happy with what Foster and Compton were able to do last year, so look for them to hold down that position.
Cornerback:
Will Blackmon
Baushad Breeland
Chris Culliver
Quinton Dunbar
Deshazor Everett
Jeremy Harris
Dashaun Phillips
Analysis: Culliver is coming off a serious injury and had a roller coaster season. He had moments that showed intensity and others that left you scratching your head. It’s anyone’s guess how he will bounce back from a torn ACL, but the defense will need to improve in his 2nd year with the team. Breeland is a stud and one of the highlights of the defense, as long as he remains consistent, he’s a future Pro Bowl player. Blackmon had a very underrated season last year, but he’s not the long term answer as a CB2. Dunbar was impressive, especially after being a WR in training camp. He has shown flashes, but at the same time you don’t want to bank on him being the future…yet. It’s likely that the team will look at CB early in the draft, even as early as 21 overall.
Safety:
David Bruton Jr
Deangelo Hall
Kyshoen Jarrett
Duke Ihenacho
Analysis: The Safety position is easily one of the biggest needs on the team. Although, Bruton is a very intriguing player, he was signed to be a Special Teams stud. He could find himself sneaking into the lineup at some point, but he’s not the answer. D-Hall played pretty well last season once he got comfortable making the transition, but his injury history is concerning, as well as his age. Hall is a lock to start this season, but the team needs to draft a guy to be ready. Jarrett is the future at this position and could be one of the best in the league, but his injury has everyone concerned. Jay Gruden admitted to being worried about his progress and it’s unclear if he’ll be ready to go this season. Ihenacho was having himself a solid season before he got hurt, but can he stay healthy a full season? Still an unknown. Overall, this is a position that needs to be addressed early in the draft. Look for the Redskins to take a guy to be the future in one of the first 3 rounds.
Biggest Position Needs:
- Safety: 3 of the 4 guys on the roster cause concerns due to their injury history. Bruton is a special teams guy. This is a position the team should really consider addressing in the 1st round, and if not then in the 2nd round. If not, the team is rolling the dice that the squad is able to remain at full health all season…if not then it could backfire.
- Cornerback: Breeland is a lock at CB1, but even with Blackmon at CB2, the team needs to find the future to go along with Breeland in the long run. Up to this point, Cully has been disappointing and banking on Dunbar to keep trending up is a gamble. This is another position that must be addressed early in the draft. There is definite concern that opposing teams will be able to pass over this team at will.
- Nose Tackle: Like we said earlier, our source says that Pot Roast will re-sign. However, last season he looked sluggish and word is the team wanted him to lose weight. The popular pick in a lot of mock drafts is that the team will select a DT with their 1st pick in the draft.
- Middle Linebacker: I don’t view this as a major need, especially if Compton and Foster can continue their success from last season. The big question will be is if Scot McCloughan views them as the long term answers? They are both on short term contracts right now, and will need to prove themselves again this season.
Final Analysis:
It’s no secret that the weakness of this team is it’s defense. The Redskins know that their offense will need to mirror last season to stay competitive. I expect McCloughan to put most of his emphasis on the defensive side of the ball in the draft. CB, S, and DT are all very real possibilities with the 1st pick. My belief is the team will go with BPA that can fill that role there. The secondary is very concerning, especially with depth. The team has to have a contingency plan for when injuries happen. The secondary has not improved from last season so far this offseason, so the draft will be key. DT is a must as well, especially with how bad this unit was at stopping the run last season. Can’t make that same mistake again this year. There is a high possibility that the team could take their future NT with their 1st pick in the draft. The most solid unit on this team is easily the OLB position. With Kerrigan, P. Smith, and Galette rushing the passer…this squad could cause major havoc.
Overall, look for the defense to be the major focus of the draft. Would not surprise me at all if outside of C & WR, the rest of the draft picks are all on the defensive side of the ball.
That’s it for the current state of the Defense. We’ll check back in with the team after the draft and see how much they’ve improved, and how the squad is looking heading into training camp.
As always, be sure to follow RCC for the latest Redskins news and features!
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