Every you need to know about the Redskins’ defensive line heading into the 2016 regular season.
Key Departures:
1. Jason Hatcher – released on March 7, announced his retirement on April 15 via his agent
2. Terrance “Pot Roast” Knighton – joined New England in a free-agent signing announced on April 4, though he was cut by the Patriots on Aug. 29
Key Additions:
1. Kendall Reyes – free-agent signing announced on March 11
2. Ziggy Hood –reserve/future contract signing announced on Feb. 3
3. Matt Ioannidis – fifth-round draft pick out of Temple
4. Cullen Jenkins – free-agent signing announced on Aug. 29
5. Jerrell Powe – reserve/future contract signing announced on Jan. 4
Key Re-Signing:
1. Kedric Golston (March 9) – the current longest tenured Redskin, the 2006 sixth-round pick is returning for an 11th season with the team
What Went Well In 2015:
1. The goal-line defense was excellent – As big a of problem as the Redskins’ overall run defense was (see below), they ranked no. 1 in the NFL in Football Outsiders’ Power Success, which is the percentage of runs on third and fourth downs, two yards or less to go, that achieve a first down or touchdown and also includes runs on first-and-goal and second-and-goal from the two-yard line and closer. The Redskins allowed a mere 49-percent success rate on such runs in 2015 as time and again the defensive line came up big, especially near goal lines.
2. Chris Baker had a breakout season – Big Swaggy had a career-high six sacks, was easily the Redskins’ best defensive lineman in 2015 and is set up for a big payday should he repeat the performance in what is a contract season in 2016.
3. Ricky Jean Francois was the best value buy of Scot McCloughan’s first free-agent class with the Redskins – The Redskins signed Ricky Jean to a reported three-year contract that includes just $4 million guaranteed in Feb. 2015 just four days after being released by Indianapolis. He was surprisingly productive, registering a two-sack total that would have been higher had he converted on some other opportunities. Ricky Jean played in all 16 regular-season games but on just 386 defensive snaps, the 15th-highest total on the team. You can say him not playing more helped to keep him fresh. You can also say he should have played more, as more than a few were saying during the first half of the season.
What Went Poorly In 2015:
1. The run defense was a major problem – The Redskins ranked 22nd in the NFL in Football Outsiders’ Rushing Defense DVOA (Defense-Adjusted Value Over Average) and tied for 30th in the NFL in fewest yards allowed per carry (4.8). It’s hard to forget some of the gaudy rushing performances given up by the Redskins last season.
Over a four-game stretch, Atlanta’s Devonta Freeman, the Jets’ Chris Ivory, Tampa Bay’s Doug Martin and New England’s LeGarrette Blount combined for 564 yards on 95 carries (5.9 yards per carry).
Additionally, you had woeful tackling in the Week 11 blowout loss at Carolina, which included Jonathan Stewart rushing for 102 yards on 21 carries.
And you had what went down in the playoff loss to Green Bay: Eddie Lacy, James Starks and Randall Cobb totaling 20 carries for 123 yards and two touchdowns in just the second half.
2. Stephen Paea was essentially a non-factor – The Redskins signed him to a reported four-year contract that included $15 million guaranteed in March 2015, but he had just 1.5 sacks and way too often was unnoticeable in playing in just 11 games. He was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 11 due to a toe injury suffered in the Week 13 loss to Dallas on Monday Night Football.
3. The Redskins got way too little quality pass rush from their defensive linemen – Big Swaggy and Ricky Jean had good seasons. But those two players accounted for eight of the mere 14 sacks produced by Redskins defensive linemen. Quality pass-rushing teams get sacks from both their defensive linemen and linebackers, no matter the base alignment.
Those who made the 53-man roster (six): Baker, Golston, Hood, Jean Francois, Anthony Lanier and Reyes
Notable cuts: Paea (Aug. 30), Ioannidis (Sept. 3; was signed to the 10-man practice squad on Sept. 4), Jenkins (Sept. 3), Powe (Sept. 3)
Confidence rating (scale of 1-10): 4
This is a contract season for Baker, so you know he wants to do as he did last season.
Reyes was very underwhelming during training camp and the preseason, but the team obviously likes him. Keep in mind, his time with San Diego coincided with Joe Barry’s tenure as Chargers linebackers coach.
Ricky Jean was a pleasant surprise last season. The Redskins need at least two more from this group this season. Might one be Lanier? He’s an undrafted rookie out of Alabama A&M who is listed as being 6-6. Lanier flashed a bunch in camp and during the preseason.
The Redskins don’t have a set nose tackle with Pot Roast’s departure, but that isn’t a big deal primarily because they’re only in that base 3-4 alignment about 25 percent of the time (and it’s not like Pot Roast was Vince Wilfork last season).
The Redskins rotate their defensive linemen a bunch, so the actual “starters” for this unit don’t matter as much as with others.
Paea getting cut wasn’t exactly expected but wasn’t shocking. The Jenkins cut probably was the most surprising from final cuts. He lasted for just five days with the team and seemed to play well in the preseason-ending win at Tampa Bay. What exactly did the Redskins see that they didn’t see on film?
There isn’t a lot of sex appeal with this group, and it being “solid” is my realistic best-case scenario.
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