3 Redskins who will be X-factors if they avoid injuries
3. LG Shawn Lauvao
Re-signing Shawn Lauvao was not something that many wanted to see. In fact, some had celebrated the fact that his contract was up, as that would lead Washington to find a new starter, and upgrade, at the left guard position.
However, the Redskins didn’t do what many had expected. They re-signed Lauvao and eschewed the guard position in the draft. They did select an offensive lineman, in Louisville’s Geron Christian, but he is going to be a tackle at the NFL level.
Despite the fans’ distaste for Lauvao, Bill Callahan recently spoke well of him, per Kareem Copeland of the Washington Post. Here’s what Callahan said about the veteran lineman.
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"It’s not what I like [about him], it’s [what] I love. I love him. He’s a warrior, he’s a veteran. He’s well prepared. More than that, in the room, in the locker room, in the weight room, you watch him practice and he’s a very contentious pro. He’s a pro’s pro. He’s a consummate pro in that respect. He does everything you want him to do. He works hard. He studies. He knows the game. He can teach the young guys. We really benefited from him coming back."
Callahan is one of the best offensive line coaches in the NFL. If he loves Lauvao as he claims, then there has to be a reason for it. But one of the problems preventing the Redskins fans from knowing and loving Lauvao is that he hasn’t stayed healthy during his tenure with the team.
In the past three seasons, Lauvao has suited up for just 26 games of a possible 42. Last year, he only played nine games and was largely ineffective when on the field. That could have been because he was dealing with an injury throughout the whole season, or it could have been related to previous injuries. Or, he could just be a mediocre starter. It’s hard to know, given how much he has been hurt.
The reason that Lauvao is so important despite his less than stellar performance is that the Redskins have practically nothing behind him. Arie Kouandjio is on Injured Reserve. Tony Bergstrom is a below average journeyman. Kyle Kalis and Tyler Catalina are young, but they struggled to be effective last season when called upon. In short, there could be a huge drop-off from Lauvao to the next guy if he can’t stay on the field.
Perhaps if Lauvao can stay healthy this season, Callahan will be able to get the most out of him. And if not, the Redskins have no logical replacement for him. His health will be key for the team’s strong-looking offensive line.