Washington Football Team: Don’t overlook Jimmy Moreland as impact player

The Washington Football Team has a rather deep secondary unit. This is a stark change of pace from previous years, where injuries to the unit caused massive dysfunction.

When analyzing the Football Team’s secondary, Jimmy Moreland is not one of the players you immediately think about. Players like Landon Collins, Kendall Fuller, and William Jackson III come to mind first. Rightfully so, as they are the highest-paid players in the secondary, as well as some of the teams leaders.

But before a fan were to think of the 2019 seventh-round pick, fans think of the 2020 seventh-round pick Kam Curl. Again, understandably so. But in the midst of the new talent, some players in  the Football Team’s secondary have become underrated.

One of the teams third-round selections in 2021, Benjamin St-Juste, has mailed in a solid camp. His length and physicality are noticeable. Especially when you pair him with Jackson, who is well noted for his prowess as a press-man corner, the potential shows.

So that has recently brought up the idea that the new cornerback tandem should be St-Juste and Jackson III on the outside, and move Fuller to the nickel where he has played before. If in the preseason, St-Juste proves he is ready for early playing time, then great.

However, amidst this conversation, many forget how solid of a corner Jimmy Moreland is in his own right. In his first two years in the NFL, he has well exceeded the expectations of a seventh-round selection.

Today, I will explain why you shouldn’t forget about Moreland.

Here’s why you shouldn’t forget about Jimmy Moreland.

Kam Curl gets most of the talk as a seventh-round value selection for the Washington Football Team. But Moreland should get that same respect too. The all-time interceptions leader at James Madison had an up and down rookie season.

However, when he filled in as the full time slot in year two, Moreland showed significant improvement. He allowed 1.01 yards per snap in the slot. That was good for third amongst slot corners, according to Pro Football Focus. He also did not allow a touchdown in 419 defensive snaps, a good rate for any defensive back.

Moreland also is a capable tackler. He has proven that, despite his smaller frame, he is not afraid to get into the mix as a willing tackler. His missed tackle percentage was 15.4%, which was the same as Kam Curl’s.

Each of Moreland’s key stats, including allowed yardage, QBR allowed and completion percentage allowed improved. Moreland was one of the NFL’s better slot corners in 2020.

This is to say, do not write off Moreland just yet. If St-Juste gets early playing time, he will have seriously earned it as Moreland is very capable in his own right. And the coaching staff may not want to move Fuller back to the slot, given how good he was as a boundary corner, in 2020.

Having a capable slot corner, provides Washington with a lot of flexibility. It won’t force St-Juste onto the field early, merely out of necessity. The best three players will get the most playing time.

And to be quite frank, it is reasonable to expect that both St-Juste and Moreland’s snap counts will look similar in number. Moreland’s will just be mostly from the slot and St-Juste’s will be on the boundary. Washington has a good problem to deal with in the secondary, as they have plenty of depth to choose from.