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Washington football: Six essential players the team can least afford to lose

By Jonathan Eig

LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 24: Terry McLaurin #17 of the Washington Redskins celebrates after a play during the first half of the game against the Detroit Lions at FedExField on November 24, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 24: Terry McLaurin #17 of the Washington Redskins celebrates after a play during the first half of the game against the Detroit Lions at FedExField on November 24, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – NOVEMBER 30: Chase Young #2 the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on during the first half of a college football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Ann Arbor, MI. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – NOVEMBER 30: Chase Young #2 the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on during the first half of a college football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Ann Arbor, MI. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images) /

No. 2 – DE Chase Young

If the Washington football team is to step up to around .500 in 2020, it will be counting on improved play from the quarterback position and an overall improvement in discipline and attitude coming from the new coaching staff. But the one place that it will improve the most is on defense. And the one place on defense where it will need to be truly outstanding is the pass rush.

Great things are expected of Chase Young. He was universally recognized as the best football player in the 2020 draft. He proved to be excellent against the run playing in the Big Ten last year. And he was even better as a pass rusher. With the shift to a 4-3 front this year, Young and his counterpart Montez Sweat will be expected to be dynamic playmakers. They will make plays behind the line of scrimmage. They will force fumbles. They will make opposing quarterbacks’ lives miserable.

We have gotten a brief glimpse of what Sweat can do in this regard. And more is expected of Young. This single best way for a team like the Redskins to go from three wins to playoff contention is to become dominant either throwing the football, or preventing the other team from doing so. Chase Young is the single biggest factor in developing a dominant pass rush which would make up for a lot of questions on the offensive side of the ball. He has to not only stay healthy. He has to be great.

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