Washington Football Team: Projecting Washington’s starting defense this season

As seen on the previous slide, Washington should run a Nickel 4-2-5 defense, utilizing their speed and range by bringing out an extra DB on the field.

With the strong occurrence of spread offenses rising, and Washington’s weak linebacker room, rather than play a heavy dose of Jon Bostic or Khaleke Hudson, the Football Team should bring out their eleven best players and utilize each of their unique skill sets.

While every defense has its own flaws, by bringing in your eleven best players, you’re giving yourself not only the best chance to win due to the level of talent on display but you’re also bringing in men who all fit well together.

The defensive line’s responsibility is simple, you’ll have Daron Payne playing the 1-tech, Jon Allen playing the 3-tech, with Chase Young and Montez Sweat playing either the 5-tech or the 6i-tech. Rush the passer, clog the gaps, make tackles, get after the quarterbacks. Play downhill football in either an over or under front, depending on the offense’s alignment.

As far as your linebackers, Jamin Davis will play your standard MIKE linebacker role, protecting the A&B gaps, and being the anchor of this defense. From occasionally rushing the passer to dropping back in coverage, Jamin will be placed in a spot where he will have ample responsibility regardless of Washington’s formation.

Cole Holcomb will enjoy his role the most, as I paralleled his job to one like Dylan Moses at Alabama. In a downhill role as the “Space-backer”, a player who can align as a B-gap player or at the “apex”, protecting the A&B gaps as a run-defender Holcomb’s speed and adequate versatility in coverage or against the run will pay dividends in this formation.

Your three corners in William Jackson III, Kendall Fuller, and Benjamin St. Juste all can play manned up on their receivers, something they’re all capable of. In addition, if Washington plays more cover-4, you’ll have guys like Kendall Fuller and Landon Collins who have excelled in that scheme, playing with everything in front of them and relying on instincts to make plays in the passing game.

This brings us to Landon Collins, who fits the “jack” role, someone who can play the flats in coverage and be a thumper in run support. This is the ideal role for a guy like Collins who struggles immensely as a man defender or a split deep-half safety. Collins has a knack for laying the lumber with great pursuit, he can be a force in this role.

Finally, while Kamren Curl may not have true single-high safety range, Washington should use him as their free safety. If need be, Washington can move plenty of parts around like moving Curl inside the Landon Collins or Kendall Fuller role, moving Fuller to Curl’s position and bringing in a guy like Bobby McCain for Collins, utilizing the entire repertoire of Curl. Nonetheless, Kamren Curl’s arguably the most versatile DB on the roster, with impact ability regardless of what formation Washington is in. Wherever he lines up, Kam Curl has a shot to make a big-time difference.

Concluding, Washington should run a 4-2-5 Nickel defense, with their guys lined up in a formation looking like this:

Split coverage, one half playing quarters while the other plays the flats, and your linebackers will have the hook to curl or the underneath zone depending on what is called. This versatile defense fits a versatile bunch there in Washington, a unit that’s primed for a big-time season.

Should the Washington Football Team trot out these eleven on Sunday afternoon, they’ll be putting themselves in the best position to win going forward. Utilizing their skill sets is key, but running this type of defense fits all of your best player’s capabilities for snaps on end.

Washington Football Team: 12 bold predictions for Washington in 2021

The Washington Football Team is busy as the front office prepares for the 2021 season. Here are 12 bold predictions for 2021.