Redskins: With Shaun Dion Hamilton, plans might not have to change

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 03: Shaun Dion Hamilton #20 of the Alabama Crimson Tide returns an interception in the first quarter against the Florida Gators during the SEC Championship game at the Georgia Dome on December 3, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 03: Shaun Dion Hamilton #20 of the Alabama Crimson Tide returns an interception in the first quarter against the Florida Gators during the SEC Championship game at the Georgia Dome on December 3, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Former Alabama and current Redskins LB Shaun Dion Hamilton
ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 03: Shaun Dion Hamilton #20 of the Alabama Crimson Tide returns an interception in the first quarter against the Florida Gators during the SEC Championship game at the Georgia Dome on December 3, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Traits displayed in college by Redskins LB Shaun Dion Hamilton

Shaun Dion Hamilton‘s sixth-round status doesn’t look good on the surface, but there’s a reason he went so late, and it doesn’t have to do with his play. Hamilton suffered two severe injuries, both in his right knee, in 2016 and 2017. First, he tore his ACL in the 2016 SEC Championship, and then, in 2017, his season ended early when he broke his kneecap.

Hamilton’s injuries prevented him from putting up any NFL Combine numbers, and the frequency of the injuries cast doubt on his ability to stay healthy. It’s because of these injuries that Hamilton went so late. Had they not occurred, there’s no telling how far his stock could have risen. At 6-foot-0, 235, Hamilton has the stocky build to maintain a degree of durability in the NFL. But freak knee injuries can still occur, and so there’s at least an air of trepidation surrounding Hamilton’s history.

One thing is for certain; if Hamilton hadn’t been injured, he’d have had more time to make his presence felt in the middle of the Alabama defense, and he also would have been able to quantify his athletic traits for teams at the NFL Combine. Those two factors surely would have buoyed his stock. Now, the Redskins will have to guess, as to what Hamilton’s athletic ceiling is. But I’ll tell you this: He’s got the physical traits.

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Watching the limited tape there is on Hamilton, he clearly has the speed to cover from sideline to sideline, and while he’s not blazing fast like Devin Bush, he’s more than competent in that area. He’s rarely turned around for simply being slow; sometimes, his tackling angles can be inconsistent, but he improved in that area from 2015 to 2017. Hamilton’s speed, on tape, looks to be in the 4.5-4.6 range. When he has time to build up momentum, he can be dangerous. When blitzing, he’s especially disruptive, able to quickly hone in on his target and diagnose the best angle, with searing quickness.

Hamilton also has the acceleration and closing speed to pair with his range, and this helps him in the short range, against check down routes. The Redskins know this to be of great importance to them, as their linebackers too often gave up yards up the middle of the field last season. Hamilton has the physical traits, and the ability to read the quarterback’s eyes in coverage, which bodes well for him in an increased role.

Hamilton’s physical traits also allow him to track the ball carrier in pursuit in the backfield, and his closing speed supplements his tackling ability. He’s a sure tackler, who knows how to grapple the carrier to ensure the takedown. He’s adept at squaring his shoulders and using his lateral quickness to make adjustments with his tackling angle, and this is something he showed progress with over the course of his career.

That said, Hamilton isn’t perfect. He can get caught in the lurch by double moves, and he can also be too easily redirected by blocks; although his overall physicality and play strength was at its best in the 2017 film, he still gave up too much ground to blocks on run plays. That said, Hamilton is a player who’s trending up. His developmental curve isn’t perfectly linear, but when he’s healthy, his traits flash easily.

It’s exciting when Hamilton’s physical traits flash, because he’s already a very smart player. Per SB Nation’s Alex Kirshner, the coaches at Alabama trusted Hamilton to receive calls from the sideline and align the defense accordingly. He was the defense’s leader, and his mental prowess shows up on tape. While there are hiccups, as there always are with young players, he’s very quick to diagnose momentum shifts in a play, and this allows him to quickly flip his hips and start pursuit. He’s a team player who always displays very solid communication skills and effort on the field, and if he can stay healthy in the NFL, he can easily exceed his draft status.

Tape Watched

Shaun Dion Hamilton vs. Michigan State (2015)

Shaun Dion Hamilton vs. USC (2016)

Shaun Dion Hamilton vs. Florida State (2017)