Redskins D-line will Surpass Expectations

Competition will spark Better Performance

At a glance and before the pads get put on in training camp, the home team appears like it will keep one NT (Golston or Powe).  Chris Baker and Stephen Paea will occupy the DT positions when they use the 4-3, and Ricky Jean-Francois will start at one DE position with a rotation of players coming in to keep the pass rush fresh.

The other DE appears to be up for grabs.  Trent Murphy, Kendall Reyes, Corey Crawford, Lynden Trail and Ziggy Hood will all compete for one starting job and back-up roles that are part of a rotation.

Here’s my eight:  Golston or Powe, Baker, Paea, Jean-Francois, Reyes, Murphy, Ioannidis and Crawford.  Anthony Lanier will probably replace Crawford on the practice squad.  That leaves Lynden Trail and Ziggy Hood in a position of having to put together very good training camps to make the roster.

I’m not discounting either of them.  As I said, Trail is 6’7″ tall and Hood a former first round pick.  Scot McCloughan promised competition across the board in training camp and he’s delivered it on the defensive line.

For now Chris Baker is the one proven impact player on the D-line.  However, the line as a whole will be helped by a deeper linebacking unit and a much improved secondary with the addition of Josh Norman.

Next: Kirk Cousins will prove 2015 was No Fluke

So while the Skins didn’t make a splash move in free agency and didn’t use a high round draft pick on the defensive line, it doesn’t mean their plan for 2016 won’t work.  They are more versatile and have a lot more depth.  Year two of Joe Barry’s system will lead to a much more productive season for the Redskins defensive line under Akey’s tutelage.