Redskins defensive lineman Daron Payne ready for breakout second year
When the Redskins drafted defensive tackle Daron Payne in the first round with the13th overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft from the University of Alabama, he was the type of player the team was in desperate need of.
Before his arrival, the Washington Redskins struggled as a defensive line. The team’s defensive line unit before drafting Daron Payne in 2017 primarily consisted of a newly-drafted Jonathan Allen (who played minimally due to a lisfranc injury), Stacy McGee, Ziggy Hood, and Matt Ioannidis.
The addition of Payne to the much-improved duo of Allen and Ioaniddis proved to be undeniably important to the Redskins defense during the 2018 campaign. This was clear to followers of the team specifically from Weeks 6 through 8. The Redskins held Christian McCaffrey, Ezekiel Elliot, and Saquon Barkley to a combined 38 carries for 91 yards rushing… an astounding 2.39 yards per carry. Barkley and Elliot were selected to the Pro Bowl and McCaffrey was named second-team All-Pro. According to Pro Football Reference, the Redskins rush defense went from being ranked 32nd in 2017 to 17th in 2018.
It can be argued that the team’s defense would have been better if the team as a whole wasn’t ravaged by injuries and ineffective quarterback play. The defense appeared worn down as quarterbacks Mark Sanchez and Josh Johnson could not lead enough sustained drives on a consistent basis.
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In addition to the contributions provided by Payne to the rush defense, he provided a surprising ability to rush the quarterback, amassing 5.0 sacks last season. He displayed quickness off the snap and a propensity to collapse the pocket due to his elite strength and size, as well as his defensive intelligence coming out of Alabama, coached by defensive guru Nick Saban. The Redskins defensive line trio had 20.5 sacks out of the team’s 46.0 sack total.
The trio of Payne, Ioannidis, and Allen should only get better with an additional year under defensive line coach Jim Tomsula. In addition to Tomsula, after questionable defensive strategies and the front office interviewing potential replacements, fans should expect defensive coordinator Greg Manusky to be more creative and aggressive in order to keep his job throughout the 2019 season.
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Payne should be primed and ready for a breakout second year with the team. He has switched back to his old college number and will be ready to feast on opposing offensive linemen as he did during his time as a member of the Alabama defense.