Redskins: Anthony Lanier could be a bigger contributor than anticipated in 2018

Jacob Camenker

ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 30: Anthony Lanier II #72 of the Washington Redskins and Josh Harvey-Clemons #40 of the Washington Redskins combine to sack Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys in the first half of a football game at AT&T Stadium on November 30, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

For all the talk about the Washington Redskins improved defensive line, there is one player who doesn’t get enough credit. That is Anthony Lanier.

When Anthony Lanier came to the Washington Redskins following the 2016 NFL Draft, not much was expected of him. The former Alabama A&M product had been an undrafted free agent, and he hadn’t done a lot as a player to warrant hope that he could turn into a contributor. However, what he did have was a 6-foot-6 frame and solid athleticism. That’s what got him his chance with the Redskins, and since that time, he has done well.

During his rookie year in 2016, Lanier earned a spot on the Redskins 53-man roster. He barely played, logging a lot of inactive statuses early on and playing only 4 percent of the defensive snaps, but he did show flashes of solid ability. Unfortunately, an injury prematurely ended his rookie season. And at that time, there were most questions about his ability than there were answers.

Though Lanier possessed a strong and athletic frame, his lack of production and inability to earn a role on a weak defensive line was questioned during the 2017 offseason. It was assumed that he would get a chance to prove himself for another season, but if another defensive prospect pushed him enough, his roster spot could have been in jeopardy. Or so was thought.

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However, Lanier came ready for battle in 2017 and made it clear that he belonged on the defensive line. He outworked veteran free agent signee Terrell McClain and by midway through the season, he had earned a role as the fifth defensive lineman. And is this role, he was often used as a situational pass rusher.

In his new role, Lanier earned nearly 31 percent of the defensive snaps, and that amount of playing time ranked fourth among the defensive linemen. Of course, there were a lot of injuries to other players that had an impact on that number, but still, Lanier put forth a quality season.

As the year went along, Lanier continued to improve, and he earned more playing time. He started to be consistently active in Week 7. From that time through the end of the season, he logged at least 36 percent of the defensive snaps in every game, and even had one performance that saw him serve as a primary starter.

From Weeks 10 to 14, Lanier racked up five sacks in five games. He was an athletic force and was able to use strength and speed to get into the backfield. He did well to disengage from blockers by using strong hand movements, and he also used quick-twitch athleticism to shoot gaps and get into the backfield. And on top of all this, he demonstrated good pursuit and never gave up on plays.

Despite this solid performance in 2018, Lanier has largely fallen under the radar. There is a good reason for that, but it’s not one that should entirely overshadow Lanier.

LANDOVER, MD – OCTOBER 15: Matthew Ioannidis #98 of the Washington Redskins celebrates a sack on quarterback Brian Hoyer #2 of the San Francisco 49ers (not pictured) during the first quarter at FedExField on October 15, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

The Redskins have drastically improved their defensive line for 2018

The 2018 offseason saw the Redskins accomplish many goals. But none were more important than upgrading their defensive line. Since the team switched to the base 3-4 defense, they have lacked a quality starting nose tackle. For the past two seasons, Ziggy Hood was forced to start in that role, and that was a borderline disaster (though that’s not Hood’s fault at all, as he was playing out of position).

With two picks in the 2018 draft, the Redskins ensured that the nose tackle position will be a thing of the past. First, the team selected Daron Payne in the first round of the draft. The Alabama product is a great athlete who could easily become a three-down player. And at the very least, he should be an excellent run stuffer who will pair well with Jonathan Allen. It’s also worth noting that if the Redskins didn’t think Payne was a three-down player, they probably wouldn’t have spent a first round pick on him.

While getting Payne was a huge coup, the team also added Tim Settle in the fifth round. The Virginia Tech product was considered by some to be a Day 2 pick, but he slipped to Washington’s Round 5 selection. They happily scooped him up to be a backup and rotational run defender. His presence will ensure that if Payne struggles or is hurt, the team will have an option to turn to.

Lanier’s fit in the Redskins D-line rotation

One thing that was clear about the Redskins defensive line under Jim Tomsula is that they like to rotate players in and out. Talented players are still going to see a bulk of the playing time. But on the defensive line, where having fresh players is so important to generating pressure, it’s better to be able to play five guys in order to make sure the defense has well-rested players on the field.

Right now, it seems that the Redskins starting front is going to consist of Allen, Payne, and Ioannidis. It’s possible that Stacy McGee could actually start over Ioannidis, given that his strong suit is defending the run, but the point here is that Ioannidis will probably see more snaps given his ability as a pass rusher.

Either way, Ioannidis and McGee will be the primary rotational duo at one end spot. When Payne tires at the nose, Settle will come into the game, if he’s active. If not, McGee will see time there. And when the Redskins need their best pass rushers on the field, that will be where Lanier comes in.

In obvious pass rushing situations, Lanier will likely see the field in conjunction with Allen and possibly Ioannidis, depending on the formation and situation. In this type of rotational role, with these two flanking him and Ryan Kerrigan playing with Preston Smith outside, Lanier is going to be a forgotten man. And that will allow him to break through the line and continue to use his athletic frame to do damage.

Lanier will probably be the freshest defender on the field, and opposing offenses will be scheming more to eliminate the high-level edge guys. Thus, he will have a chance to sneak through often, especially against weaker offensive lines.

Next: Redskins could pursue Adonis Alexander in supplemental draft

Lanier may not be the biggest name on the defensive line. He may not be the flashiest player. But the fact is that he is one of the better interior pass rushers the Redskins have for the 2018 season. It shouldn’t be out of the question for him to notch another five sacks in an interior role, or possibly increase that with more playing time. He’s going to be a player to watch this season, and it’s possible that he could eventually push McGee for playing time.

Jacob Camenker