Washington Redskins Unheralded Players: FS Maurice Smith
By Ian Cummings
How Maurice Smith can make the Redskins roster
Everyone has a clean slate under new Redskins head coach Ron Rivera, but Smith is still working at a disadvantage. He’s not as established as any of the current safeties on the roster, which means competing for a starting job might not be in his wheelhouse.
Smith does have a promising profile as a special teams player, and he has a background as a team captain which Rivera will likely value. But Smith isn’t the only Redskins player gunning for a special teams job, and other candidates, such as Troy Apke and Deshazor Everett, have far superior athletic profiles.
There simply isn’t a lot of upside with Smith, who turns 25 years old in just a few days. Hale Hentges flashed late in the 2019 season, and both Emanuel Hall and Cameron Malveaux have the athleticism to potentially rise through the ranks. Smith has neither the athletic ability nor the track record. Which is why he’ll have to work hard to carve out his own niche.
dark. Next. Analyzing Ken Zampese's history of QB development
Whether it’s as a special teams player, or as a backup strong safety to Landon Collins, Smith will have to find a role where his toughness and experience will be maximized, and where his athletic mitigations will be limited. That may be a tough ask, especially in a league where so many talented athletes are competing against one another. But a change of scenery led to Smith breaking out once before. Perhaps the 2019 Redskins will provide the environment he needs to reach his full potential.