Washington Redskins: Riggo’s Rag Podcast – Secondary Education
By Ian Cummings
It’s time to pod up.
With the 2018 NFL Draft officially in the rear view mirror, and with the newly-acquired Washington Redskins rookies growing acquainted with their team mates, it’s time to turn the focus to the upcoming 2018 NFL season, and all the fruit that it may or may not bear.
For the Washington Redskins, there’s reason to believe that 2018 will be a good surprise. Many have already counted out the burgundy and gold this offseason, but the roster is shaping up to be a good one, and in his fifth year, with a skilled veteran quarterback that can easily pick up his scheme, and a running back with the talent to be elite, Jay Gruden’s comfort level should be at an all-time high.
The best improvements weren’t even made on the offense, however. That honor went to the defense, where players such as Daron Payne, Jonathan Allen, Matt Ioannidis, Ryan Kerrigan, Preston Smith, Zach Brown, and Mason Foster should combine to form a very dangerous front seven.
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If any questions remain on the Washington Redskins’ roster, they linger in the secondary. Josh Norman is entrenched as the No. 1 cornerback, but beside him, it’s yet to be seen who will line up. The slot also remains unattended, and the development of 2017 fourth-round safety Montae Nicholson will be under the watchful eye of fans who’ve come to expect disappointment from their draft picks over the years.
In 2018, there’s a good chance that disappointment decides to go bother someone else. There is genuine reason to be excited for this season, and that excitement could very well start at the team’s biggest question mark: The secondary.
Last week, we went over position battles all across the Washington Redskins roster. If you didn’t get a chance to listen to those podcasts, you can find the most recent one here! Otherwise, you’ll want to tune into this one. In today’s episode, we were joined by Zach Hicks, a Washington Redskins draft and safety expert, and certified fanboy of Montae Nicholson.
Hicks is excited about Nicholson and the potential he holds in 2018. Nicholson is currently making a transition to full-time free safety, and he’s also learning more about offensive alignments, how to react, and what audibles to make. Hicks says that Nicholson, at just 22 years old, can truly be a star in the NFL. You may be skeptical, but when you listen, it doesn’t sound so far-fetched.
Among other things, we also touched on the Washington Redskins’ safety situation behind Nicholson and D.J. Swearinger, the assumed starters, and we also talked a little bit about the team’s cornerbacks, the upcoming supplemental draft (for which a date has not yet been set), and the team’s secondary as a whole, and what reasonable expectations should be. You can listen to the podcast right here by clicking the play button below!
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If you like what you hear, be sure to comment and give your thoughts! The offseason is for conversation, and it’s only getting started. Also feel free to give us ideas for future topics you’d like us to cover. There are countless subjects to gloss over in the offseason, and we’ll come back every week with new pods! Thanks again for listening! On the surface, it may seem like the Washington Redskins are facing uncertainty in the secondary. But that uncertainty may soon give way to excitement.