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Redskins Position Battles – Inside Linebacker

By Maurice Barksdale

Jan 10, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins inside linebacker Will Compton (51) celebrates after a tackle against the Green Bay Packers during the first half in a NFC Wild Card playoff football game at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 10, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins inside linebacker Will Compton (51) celebrates after a tackle against the Green Bay Packers during the first half in a NFC Wild Card playoff football game at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Redskins Position Battles – Inside Linebacker

The Leaders

The Washington Redskins Inside Linebacker position is full of depth with a lot pieces for defensive coordinator Joe Barry to choose from.  Many of these players can be used in several different ways.  Starter, nickel packages, etc. and some players considered backups to start the season might eventually play more than starters.

But I think the first two players to take the field at inside linebacker right now would be Will Compton and Mason Foster.  Those are the two who ended last season as starters and played well together.  This was after the ILB’s who started at the beginning of the season were injured but could not regain their spots because Compton and Foster were playing too well.

However, that doesn’t mean that Compton and Foster can’t be overtaken.  I expect them both to get even better in year two of Joe Barry’s defense.  And the fact is they will have to.  Because other players will be fighting hard to leapfrog them on the depth chart.

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The Competition

Right now there is one clear ILB capable of starting over either Compton and Foster and that’s Perry Riley.  He has been a fixture in the Redskins starting lineup for a while now.  Before he succumbed to injuries last season, Riley was actually playing pretty well.  He still might be their top linebacker against the run and he had improved dramatically in pass coverage.

The question is can he stay healthy enough to mount a serious challenge as a starter.  For his sake he’d better.  Because Riley is being paid like a starter, with a $4 million cap hit in 2016.  It might be start or bust for Riley.  If he should come up short the Redskins could choose to release him to clear some cap room.  If other players further down the depth chart improve, it might happen regardless.

The Wildcard

There’s one player currently at inside linebacker who could shakeup the state of depth chart in a big way and that rookie Su’a Cravens.  Will he end up at inside linebacker or strong safety?  Right now the Redskins have him practicing at inside linebacker.  If he sticks there, then he could vault to the top of the depth chart.

The Redskins didn’t invest a second round pick in him for nothing.  He’s not the biggest inside linebacker you’ll see but he has good quickness and the ability to create turnovers at a rate that the players above him may not possess.

It could take him some time to get the scheme down, so the more experienced players at the position have an advantage.  But at some point Cravens might become too good to keep off the field.  That is if they don’t move him to safety first.

Next: Redskins 2016 Better or Worse: O-line

A few darkhorses could be second year man Martrell Spaight and special teams ace Terence Garvin.  Spaight missed nearly the entire season due to injury but after a year in the system, the 2015 fifth round draft pick could make a move.

Garvin was brought in primarily for his special teams prowess but if given the chance, he might surprise some people.

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