Riggo's Rag
FanSided

Redskins 53-man roster prediction after Redskins vs. Ravens preseason Week 4

By Jacob Camenker

LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 24: Cornerback Josh Norman #24 of the Washington Redskins celebrates with fans after the Redskins defeated the Denver Broncos 27-11 at FedExField on December 24, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 24: Cornerback Josh Norman #24 of the Washington Redskins celebrates with fans after the Redskins defeated the Denver Broncos 27-11 at FedExField on December 24, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
8 of 11
Next
LANDOVER, MD – NOVEMBER 15: Linebacker Mason Foster #54 of the Washington Redskins celebrates with inside linebacker Will Compton #51 of the Washington Redskins after a stop on fourth down in the fourth quarter of a game against the New Orleans Saints at FedExField on November 15, 2015 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Matt Hazlett/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – NOVEMBER 15: Linebacker Mason Foster #54 of the Washington Redskins celebrates with inside linebacker Will Compton #51 of the Washington Redskins after a stop on fourth down in the fourth quarter of a game against the New Orleans Saints at FedExField on November 15, 2015 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Matt Hazlett/Getty Images) /

Inside Linebacker (5)

Keeping: Zach Brown, Mason Foster, Josh Harvey-Clemons, Shaun Dion Hamilton, Martrell Spaight

Notable Cut: Zach Vigil

This was a very difficult decision, but one factor helped to make the decision. Special teams. Spaight has Vigil beat in that aspect of the game and as the fifth linebacker, he just makes more sense for the squad.

So far this preseason, Hamilton has played well and become a primary backup while Harvey-Clemons looks like a coverage linebacker. Those two will back up Brown and Foster, so if a fifth linebacker is to be active on game day, he’ll need to be a special teams ace and a great tackler. That’s exactly the player that Spaight is, as he’s at his best while coming downhill.

Vigil may have Spaight beat in coverage, but the fact is that the team won’t be looking to use their fifth linebacker on defense frequently. So, the special teams ability outweighs that upside.

It’s possible that if the Redskins cut down at another position, like receiver, they could keep six linebackers on their final roster.

Home/Commanders News