For Redskins Will Compton, every missed tackle is a missed opportunity

Everyone loves an underdog story. And Redskins inside linebacker Will Compton was a seemingly perfect one, until last year.

Undrafted out of Nebraska in 2013, Will Compton slowly worked his way up through the ranks on the Redskins roster. Originally designated to the practice squad after being cut in the preseason of that same year, Compton was brought back later in the season, and he has since remained on the roster. He took the starting job from an injured Keenan Robinson in 2015, and proceeded to run away with the lead role. 2016 featured him starting alongside Mason Foster as the defensive captain. For once, the underdog had made it to the top.

Now, he’s fighting to keep his job once again.

Compton’s 2016 season was a disappointment, to say the least. The then fourth-year veteran led the Redskins in missed tackles, quite possibly the most undesirable defensive stat category. Pro Football Focus gave him a grade of 41.7 for the 2016 season, good (or bad) for 75th in the league among inside linebackers. I don’t need to explain any further. Unless you’ve hit the golf course one too many times in the past week, you know that grade is bad.

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But Compton isn’t completely inept. In fact, he’s far from it. The players noticeably rally behind Compton. Although he had a down year in 2016, his experience and leadership are true commodities to the rest of the defense. His recent play may not reflect his true value. However, it does skew that value. Compton needs to perform if he wants to keep a substantial role on the team.

Recently unseated by Zach Brown as the starter, the underdog must now prove himself again. And it won’t be easy. Brown was voted into the Pro Bowl last year, having the best year of his career in a defensive scheme nearly identical to the Redskins. Compton, meanwhile, had his worst season, exposing his own personal flaws while also weighing down the defense as a whole.

For Compton, every missed tackle is a missed opportunity to earn his spot on the starting lineup back. Compton will stay as a reserve linebacker if he can’t elevate himself. But the underdog craves change. Compton’s play calling ability and leadership, if nothing else, are valuable to the Redskins. But he can’t succeed on those two qualities alone.

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The underdog is back where he started. Now he must prove himself again. On his path back to respect, Compton must be weary. Every missed tackle carries weight. And those missed opportunities seldom come again.