Washington Redskins 2018 season edge rusher grades
By Ian Cummings
Preston Smith
For whatever reason, Redskins outside linebackers are big fans of the stat sheet. McPhee logged consistent pressure, but didn’t earn a single sack on the year. Ryan Anderson nearly matched McPhee’s pressure rate, and yet, he only grabbed two sacks on the season.
Preston Smith is the same kind of player. His style simply doesn’t equate to as much sack production as other outside linebackers. Brandon Graham is a solid example of this type of edge rusher; a workmanlike, all-around proficient edge defender who makes his mark on the play, even if the stats don’t show it.
Smith had no trouble making his mark on the play in 2018. Per Pro Football Focus, Smith logged a pass rush productivity rating of 11.3, a solid number, even though it’s lowest among Redskins edge rushers. It represents the most productive year, from a pure pressure perspective, for Smith to date, however. In 2017, Smith had a rating of 10.6. In 2016? 11.0. His rookie season? 10.5.
Washington Commanders
That said, while this year’s pass rush productivity rating was the best of Smith’s career, it wasn’t outside the realm of his other numbers. Thus, when taking in natural fluctuations, the difference doesn’t mean all that much. What does mean more, however, is Smith’s run defense production.
Smith logged his best run defense grade yet in 2018 (73.2), accounting for 27 run stops on 315 run defense snaps. Smith is solid at setting the edge and cutting off running lanes, and he showed that in 2018. Add in his athletic interception versus the Texans, and Smith has a diverse skill set that proves moderately beneficial no matter what the other team is doing.
But moderately beneficial might not be what the Redskins were looking for from the former second-round pick in 2018. Thus, it’s unclear whether or not he’s re-signed. Smith was adequate in 2018. But in the draft, there are countless options in Rounds 1 and 2; players who could combine pressure and productivity, something Smith was never quite able to do in his first four years. Smith grades out decently, but from Kerrigan’s running mate, the Redskins might want more.