Can Washington Redskins NT Phil Taylor mount a second comeback?

The Washington Redskins have more talent on the defensive line than what they had three years ago. But there’s still room for more.

If nothing else, 2018 showed that the Washington Redskins are lacking in depth in the trenches, on both sides of the ball. Not only that, but the team lacks a true nose tackle to use in their base 3-4 defensive scheme.

More often than not, the Washington Redskins shift out of their base scheme, using nickel and dime packages that use two defensive tackles and two defensive ends instead. But when they opt to remain in 3-4, they lack a true nose tackle, a true one-gap warrior to anchor the middle of the line.

In the past, the team has had Ziggy Hood and Stacy McGee fill that need, both of whom saw little to no success out of their niche. In 2018, the team could benefit from finding a player who can better assume that role. Or they can bring one back.

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Phil Taylor was the forgotten man of the Washington Redskins last year, and this year, due to his status, that appears to be true again. The former first-round pick was essentially out of the league when the Washington Redskins called him in early 2017. He appeared to be well on his way to a comeback. He entered preseason as the starting nose tackle, and he flourished under the tutelage of Jim Tomsula. For some time, it appeared as if the Redskins had their answer. A very big answer, standing at 6-foot-3, 335.

When Taylor suffered a season-ending quad injury in preseason, however, that changed. He disappeared again, and when he was mentioned during the season, he was only a name; one name on a long list of casualties.

The veteran, set to turn 30 years old in April, hasn’t yet retired. But as far as a comeback goes, things have been quiet. Before his supposed 2017 comeback, Taylor hadn’t played a regular season snap since 2014. The odds were already great. But he was so close to playing, one has to think he’s not done yet.

Taylor had surgery to repair the torn quad, but for now, his future is unknown to us. The loss of a fully-expected season, after such a long hiatus, had to have taken a mental toll on him. If he were to come back, however, it would be cheap. Before his injury, he was playing on a one-year, $775,000 deal. To prove himself again, he’d likely ask for something similar.

Next: Assessing Redskins first-round options: LB Roquan Smith

For the Washington Redskins, it might be an investment worth making, if he’s stuck with the comeback script for the past seven months. Can Phil Taylor make another comeback? If he’s remained committed to such a goal, even through recurring adversity, then one would think that he can. Do not forget Phil Taylor.

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