Riggo's Rag
FanSided

Report: Redskins working on new contract for DL coach Jim Tomsula

By Jacob Camenker

SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 22: San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Tomsula watches warmup before the football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Seattle Seahawks on at CenturyLink Field on November 22, 2015 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks won the game 29-13. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 22: San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Tomsula watches warmup before the football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Seattle Seahawks on at CenturyLink Field on November 22, 2015 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks won the game 29-13. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Jim Tomsula is one of the most important coaches on the Washington Redskins staff. They now appear to be working on an extension with him.

It seems that the Redskins are content to keep their coaching staff mostly status quo this offseason. Though the team looked at some other defensive coordinator candidates to replace Greg Manusky (in an embarrassing display where Manusky was still on the team), they haven’t made any big-time changes. They will need a new special teams coordinator, but aside from a couple of switches among the team’s position coaches, there won’t be many changes.

One of the big names that the Redskins faithful have been watching closely is Jim Tomsula. The respected defensive line coach saw his contract expire at season’s end, and it was reported that he might be leaving Washington. However, it’s now seeming possible that he could return in 2019.

According to Les Carpenter of The Washington Post, the Redskins are currently working on a new contract for Tomsula. This doesn’t guarantee that he will return, but it certainly is a positive development.

More from Riggo's Rag

Over the course of the past two seasons, Tomsula has worked to turn the Redskins’ defensive line into a strength. In 2016, the unit was a major weakness but by 2018, the three-man front of Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, and Matt Ioannidis looked like one of the league’s best. Of course, it is worth noting that Allen and Payne were first-round picks, but still, they have both played at a high level since joining the team.

One of Tomsula’s biggest successes was helping to develop Ioannidis into one of the team’s better defensive players. The former fifth-round pick had spent most of his rookie season on the practice squad but when Tomsula arrived, he really became an impact player and pass rusher for the team. The trio of talented defensive linemen should continue to be one of the best, young units in the NFL, but keeping Tomsula on to help continue to mentor them would certainly be a smart move.

Tomsula will be a hot commodity across the league, but if he is willing to return, the Redskins should do everything necessary to keep him in the fold. He’s one of the best in the business at developing talented players on defensive fronts, and he also comes with a year of head coaching experience from his time with the 49ers. That can prove to be invaluable when making decisions on the defensive side of the ball, so that has to be taken into account.

dark. Next. Grading the Redskins edge rushers for 2018

It’s good that the Redskins are reportedly working on an extension for Tomsula. Hopefully, they will be able to stay together for the long-term, but this will certainly be something to watch in the coming weeks.

Home/Commanders Rumors