Redskins: Why Stacy McGee starting would make a lot of sense

The Washington Redskins have added a lot to what is now a deep defensive line. The third starter on the unit is unknown for now, but it seems like Stacy McGee might be the best option.

Since the Washington Redskins switched to a 3-4 defense, the unit has been plagued by ineffective play on the defensive line. However, the Redskins look to have changed that prior to the 2018 season by investing in the nose tackle position. By adding Daron Payne and Tim Settle to the rotation at nose tackle, the team has ensured that the biggest problem is solved. Now, the question shifts to who will start on the defensive line.

Right now, it seems that two starters are set. Jonathan Allen and Payne will play next to each other and recreate the dynamic partnership they had at Alabama. But the third down lineman? That’s still a question.

Thus far this offseason, many have been clamoring for Matt Ioannidis to be the starter alongside Allen and Payne. And that would make a lot of sense. Ioannidis is coming off a good year that saw him become an extremely effective pass rusher and show upside as an all-around defensive end. That said, he was a bit weaker against the run, and though that could have been partially due to a hand injury he suffered during the season. So, it could behoove the Redskins to include a bigger run stuffer on the field in early down packages.

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If that does happen, it seems likely that Stacy McGee will get the nod. McGee doesn’t get a lot of love, but last season, he was one of the better run defenders on the Redskins line. He offers almost nothing as a pass rusher, but he is a stout, hard to move force that could really help seal running lanes. Pairing him with Payne and Allen, or even Payne and Settle in some circumstances, could do a lot to improve the Redskins run defense.

Also, it’s worth noting that in this definition, “starter” is a borderline meaningless title. Last season, no defensive lineman played more than 53 percent of the snaps over the course of the season. And that was Ioannidis. Jim Tomsula loves to rotate his guys up front to keep them fresh.

So, while McGee could technically start in obvious run situations, Ioannidis would still see a good chunk of the snaps. But bringing him on as the top backup might make sense just because of how good he is at rushing the passer. He and Anthony Lanier could be a frightening pass rushing threat off the bench.

There’s no questioning that Ioannidis has more talent and upside than McGee does at this point in his career. But this move would be all about what makes most sense for the team. McGee could be the starter and primary run stuffer. That would get him on the field early and force the team to avoid running early on. Then, Ioannidis could come in and put pressure on the quarterback while the run stuffing efforts shift more to Payne.

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It’s possible that Ioannidis could win the starting role away from McGee, especially if he shows improved run defense. But for now, McGee should be the favorite to play alongside Payne and Allen. The Redskins signed McGee to make their run defense stronger. And the way for McGee to achieve that goal will be to start him in 2018.

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