Redskins: Who will be the quarterback of the defense in 2019?

The Redskins defense has exciting potential in 2019, but they’ll need to alleviate some intangible concerns to reach their peak.

From a talent standpoint, the Washington Redskins defense is one of the better, higher-potential units in the NFL, even considering the loss of former Alabama standout Reuben Foster. Still, a good defense alone doesn’t cut it in the modern NFL. Efficient, opportunistic offenses have an inherent advantage, and the only defenses that can carry their teams to the playoffs are top-tier, elite units.

The Redskins defense doesn’t have elite potential yet, but there are ways for them to maximize their upside, and increase their chances of competing in the 2019 season. The proven talent is there in pockets, and where it isn’t, there is athletic potential. The defensive front can be considered borderline elite, while the linebacking core and secondary are lesser units, but still flush with upside.

That said, the Redskins upside on defense won’t matter if communication can’t be fixed in 2019. Communication mishaps on both the second and third levels unraveled the team’s defensive attack down the stretch in the 2018 regular season. Too often, players were out of position, assignments were unclear, and compensation for mistakes led to big plays by opposing offenses.

Organization and communication are two essential characteristics of any defense, and in 2019, the Redskins have the tools to improve there. They recently hired defensive backs coach Ray Horton, who has much more NFL experience than Torrian Gray did. While Gray was a top-notch developer of talent, Horton could put his defensive backs in better position. Rob Ryan also brings experience to the linebacking core, and Greg Manusky, in his third season as head coach, has, at the very least, a good foundation to build off of.

But the Redskins’ coaches alone can’t get the job done. The players on the field have to execute, and make quick adjustments on the fly when they see other players out of position. This role, often defined as the “quarterback of the defense” might not fall to one specific player, but it is a role that needs to be filled, if the Redskins want the changes on defense to translate on the field, and if they want to have a shot at competing.

As for who that quarterback of the defense might be, there are options. Shaun Dion Hamilton assumed the role while with the Alabama Crimson Tide, and while the NFL moves at a quicker pace, he showed promise in 2018. Landon Collins is widely regarded as a vocal leader on defense, and back at safety, he has an excellent view of each situational play. There’s also Jon Bostic, who, for all his unsatisfactory tape, has shown himself to have the experience to supplement communication efforts. Mason Foster has that going for him as well, though his performance last year was also below par.

Whatever the case, the Redskins defensive players need to be on the same page this season, because too often in 2018, they weren’t. And if the Redskins aim to truly compete in 2019, then they don’t have any other options. The offense has potential, but is too uncertain to be relied upon. If the team wins, it will be on the shoulders of the defense. And communication will be a tenet of victory.