Washington Redskins represented well by Jim Tomsula at NFL Combine

The defensive linemen are next up at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis today, and the Washington Redskins will be watching.

This year’s class is an incredibly deep one. Quality players can be found up until the fourth round. Those players were under close watch today, and arguably no coach was closer to the prospects than Washington Redskins defensive line coach Jim Tomsula.

Tomsula got the gig last year as well, directing defensive line prospects at the NFL Combine through field drills. This year, he was back at it again, with the same intensity and furor with which he’s come to be known for.

Tomsula is far from the only Washington Redskins official at the NFL Combine. Jay Gruden was there on day one, and he spoke on a number of issues. But with Tomsula’s experience on the field with the prospects, he has a unique perspective, one that few others have. He knows what to look for in these drills, as well as on the tape, and on draft night, when it comes to defensive linemen, the Washington Redskins should be very well-informed.

This hands-on approach observed from Tomsula is the same approach that molded Jonathan Allen, Matt Ioannidis, and Anthony Lanier all into starters last year. Ioannidis and Allen had an impressive chemistry earlier in the year, and when injuries took hold of the unit, it was Lanier that caught fire late in the season, nabbing five sacks in the final seven games of the 2017 campaign.

The Washington Redskins, with the help of Tomsula, have built a somewhat respectable front seven. But there is still a need for depth, and in the NFL Draft and free agency, the team will look to solve that problem efficiently and effectively. With Tomsula on board, knowing what to look for, and what he can work with, things could be looking up.

Prospects that performed well in the defensive line group include Da’Ron Payne, Nathan Shephard, Harrison Phillips, and Derrick Nnadi. Payne flashed dominant traits in both exercises and field drills, while Phillips logged 42 bench reps, and Nnadi showcased his all-around exceptional qualities as well. Those four are notable, but in truth, no prospect should go unwatched.

Next: Redskins: 3 defensive linemen to watch at the combine

The combine wraps up tomorrow with the combine workouts of the defensive backs. Be sure to stay with us here at Riggo’s Rag as the NFL Combine progresses.