4 burning questions the Redskins must answer before Week 1
The loss of Sean Taylor in 2007 is still felt by the Redskins, who have failed to find a solid piece to secure the back end of the defense.
One after another, failed projects and horrendous signings have stung the Redskins at the safety spot, and in a pass happy NFL, they no longer have the luxury of time.
Washington has had major safety questions since Sean Taylor was murdered in 2007, and for maybe the first time since then, they may not have a single option at the position going into the offseason. Failed midseason acquisition Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was embarrassing at times, missing tackles, and allowing huge plays to opponents over the course of his half season audition with Washington. He earned himself a one-way ticket to free agency, as Washington should have no business trying to re-up with the former Green Bay castoff.
Clinton-Dix sparked excitement when he was acquired for a fourth-round pick at the NFL’s trade deadline, even earning Washington praise amongst fans and analysts for winning the trade by a landslide, on paper. Fans even debated on Twitter, and many were fine with the idea of allowing Ha Ha, a huge Sean Taylor fan, to be the first payer to don the No. 21 since the Redskins great’s passing.
Insert blinking in disbelief gif here.
Clinton-Dix quickly became the point of frustration for fans as he whiffed on play after play, allowing chunk plays against the defense. Clinton-Dix will more than likely find a new home on a prove-it deal, in hopes to resurrect what was a promising career.
Opposite Ha Ha, both position wise and efficiency wise, journeyman D.J. Swearinger was shown the door prior to the team’s Week 17 game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Swearinger, who had been one of the only defensive bright spots for the Redskins over the past two seasons, was openly critical of defense coordinator Greg Manusky after losses. Using his postgame interviews in the locker room to rip Manusky’s play calling, Gruden’s coaching style, and even calling out teammates at times, Swearinger had been warned by Gruden about his comments, but never disciplined.
Following the team’s loss to the Titians, led by first-round bust Blaine Gabbert, Swearinger sounded off about the poor play calling and defensive scheme called, and found himself in hot water come the next day. Gruden called the safety into a private meeting and informed him he was going to be released.
During an interview on 106.7 the Fan’s Grant and Danny, where Swearinger himself broke the news of his release, he claimed that when he asked for a reason about his release, Gruden didn’t give him one; just that his time in Washington was over. The full interview can be found in the link above. Swearinger, who was selected to the Pro Bowl as an alternate, was the best safety to come into Washington in years, and lasted only two seasons with the team. With his release, only 2017 mid-round pick Montae Nicholson, who was recently arrested for assault and battery following a brawl in Ashburn, and has since been placed on the team’s reserve non-football injury list, remains as a starting option.
Nicholson has shown flashes in his two seasons in Washington, but injuries and inconsistent play have prevented him from truly developing into a player the Redskins can build around in the secondary. His development was stunted further by the trade for Ha Ha Clinton-Dix midseason. Nicholson, who will most likely face NFL punishment for his incident, leaves the Redskins with a gigantic hole in the secondary going into the 2019 offseason, and could cause the team to have to spend an early pick on the safety position when the draft rolls around.
There are other options the team could look at in free agency, as well as potentially moving an aging Josh Norman to safety and hope for a Charles Woodson-type renaissance for the high priced corner. Either way, addressing the back of the secondary is a must for Washington going into 2019. The Redskins can no longer afford band-aid solutions at safety. It’s time to get a true building block to replace Sean Taylor.