The Redskins offensive line has been revered as one of the better units across the league in recent years. To uphold that reputation in 2018, they’ll need help from their new starting center.
Washington Redskins 2017 sixth-round pick Chase Roullier exceeded expectations in his rookie campaign. He began the year as the backup to Spencer Long, but after injuries derailed Long’s season, Roullier was thrown into the fire.
In the ensuing trial, he proved himself to be worthy of the challenge presented at the NFL level. It wasn’t perfect, but no sixth-round rookie should be have such high expectations. That said, Roullier exceeded his expectations by a long shot, showing promise in both run blocking and pass blocking.
Roullier isn’t an elite athlete, but he has the skills of a technician and the diligent hand usage to be a reliable force on the offensive interior. But before he’s hailed as the next big thing at center, he has to show that his current trend of development will continue. Training camp is a good place to start.
What Redskins C Chase Roullier needs to show at camp
Chase Roullier is the Redskins starting center. For now, he isn’t fighting for a job. Behind him, Tony Bergstrom, Casey Dunn, and Demetrius Rhaney are the team’s best centers. As much as I like Bergstrom, from a depth standpoint, I’m only comfortable with Roullier starting, out of that group, and the Redskins likely feel the same way. As long as he comes in and works, nothing regarding his status should change.
Roullier showed quick growth last year, and if that trend continues, Bill Callahan should be able to mold Roullier into a formidable day one starter. Roullier’s in-game experience will bode well for him, as will the confidence and resources from the coaching staff.
That said, Roullier, until further notice, is relatively unproven. While he showed promise in his first season, a season that he shouldn’t have been the starter for, had Spencer Long stayed healthy, Roullier also showed room for improvement. Veteran defensive tackles knew how to beat him, and at times, he was out-muscled, or out-moved on the line of scrimmage.
With another year learning from Callahan, and with one-hundred percent of the first-team snaps coming his way, Roullier, in a perfect world, should be able to continue on his ascending developmental path. That’s what he needs to show in training camp. That things are going as planned, and that he doesn’t plan on relinquishing his starting job anytime soon.
Roullier’s main competition
As explained earlier, from a roster standpoint, Chase Roullier doesn’t have much competition at the center spot. Tony Bergstrom is a decent backup whom the Redskins are confident in as a spot starter. Casey Dunn is an undrafted technician with some promising traits, but no proven ability in the pros. And Demetrius Rhaney was a depth signing midseason last year.
Behind Roullier, the backup slots might be up for grabs. But no one poses a threat to Roullier’s starting job. He’ll be on the top of the depth chart come Week 1, barring unforeseen circumstances.
On the other side of the ball, however, the competition is fierce, from both the Redskins and the Jets. The Redskins’ defensive front is packed to the brim with talent, from Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne to Matt Ioannidis and Anthony Lanier. Roullier will likely go against all of them at some point, when taking snaps against his own team, and that talent should help him hone his game. Iron sharpens iron.
When taking snaps across from the green and white, Roullier won’t have a much easier time. Leonard Williams and Steve McLendon headline an underrated defensive line for the Redskins’ AFC East opponents, and below them, talented rookies such as Nathan Shephard and Folorunso Fatukasi reside. How Roullier fares against these players will help gauge his development over the course of the offseason. If he does well against them, then he could be in for a breakout season as the team’s full-time starter.
2018 outlook for Redskins C Chase Roullier
It’s a little too early to say confidently whether or not Roullier will succeed with an increased amount of reps, but barring injury, there’s no reason he can’t. He has a fairly effective teacher in his midst with Bill Callahan, and most of the line around him is solid; blocking next to Brandon Scherff will help him hold down his own space. And most importantly, Roullier has experience. There won’t be any rookie jitters this time.
Roullier will start the offseason program getting valuable reps against some of the best the other side of the ball has to offer. Preseason offers a mix and match of intriguing opponents on the interior. Danny Shelton brings the Patriots new strength on that front. The Broncos and Jets are strong, as are the Ravens, who boast a deep, withstanding unit behind Brandon Williams.
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Roullier will gain valuable experience in preseason, but it remains to be seen if they’ll opt to play him more than other starters, because of his status as a mere second-year player. Either way, the Redskins will do their best to get Roullier ready for the season, and if his quick results have told us anything, it’s that Roullier will not only match their efforts, but exceed them, to ensure he makes the most out of his rare opportunity.