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Redskins UDFA Spotlight: Quin Blanding is an elite tackler with a tough roster battle

By Jacob Camenker

ANNAPOLIS, MD - DECEMBER 28: Running back Keoni-Kordell Makekau #36 of the Navy Midshipmen is tackled by safety Quin Blanding #3 of the Virginia Cavaliers in the first half of the Military Bowl at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on December 28, 2017 in Annapolis, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
ANNAPOLIS, MD - DECEMBER 28: Running back Keoni-Kordell Makekau #36 of the Navy Midshipmen is tackled by safety Quin Blanding #3 of the Virginia Cavaliers in the first half of the Military Bowl at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on December 28, 2017 in Annapolis, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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CHAPEL HILL, NC – OCTOBER 24: Quin Blanding #3 and Kelvin Rainey #38 of the Virginia Cavaliers tackle Marquise Williams #12 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Kenan Stadium on October 24, 2015 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC – OCTOBER 24: Quin Blanding #3 and Kelvin Rainey #38 of the Virginia Cavaliers tackle Marquise Williams #12 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Kenan Stadium on October 24, 2015 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

How Blanding fits with the Redskins

If Blanding wants to make the Redskins, he is going to have to find a role as a fourth safety/linebacker hybrid who can make an impact on special teams. The team was looking for a hybrid safety/linebacker player last season when they moved Cravens to the safety spot, but they never found it. If Blanding can do enough in coverage, he could assume that role is certain packages.

However, the biggest place that Blanding could make an impact as a rookie would be on special teams. He obviously has a lot of tackling talent and great instincts when coming downhill to square up his opponents. If Blanding can show enough value as a hard-hitting special teams ace, that might be enough to vault him over Deshazor Everett and some of the other depth players the Redskins carry for special teams purposes.

Also, Blanding has to show versatility. He’s not quite fast enough to be a full-time safety, so he will have to be able to play in the box and stop opposing running backs. He did that at the college level, and now it’s just a question of whether or not he can do it in the NFL.

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Blanding certainly will have a chance to secure a roster spot, but it may be more likely that he will start his career on the practice squad. Either way, he has a very good skill set. The only thing that is hampering his potential is his lack of speed. But if he can overcome that, he will be a solid role player at the pro level.

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