Jun 13, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Redskins defensive lineman Jonathan Allen (95) battles defensive lineman defensive lineman A.J. Francis (69) during minicamp at Redskins Park. Photo Credit: Rafael Suanes-USA TODAY Sports
ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Redskins head into 2017 at a crossroad after a chaotic offseason.
They fired former general manager Scot McCloughan in March, but kept stability in the front office by promoting Doug Williams to senior vice president of player personnel and Eric Schaffer to senior vice president of football operations. Williams has been with Washington since 2014 and Schaffer has been the front office’s jack-of-all-trades and primary contract negotiator since 2003.
The Redskins failed to sign quarterback Kirk Cousins to a long-term contract extension, so he will play on the franchise tag ($23.9 million) for a second consecutive season. They also lost two 1,000-yard wide receivers (DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon), which is a first in NFL history in one offseason, but added another one in free agent Terrelle Pryor Sr.
Washington gave head coach Jay Gruden a two-year contract extension, but fired defensive coordinator Joe Barry and saw offensive coordinator Sean McVay leave to become the new coach of the Los Angeles Rams.
That’s a lot for any team to deal with. There are arguments to be made that the Redskins came out of the offseason more stable than anyone had a right to expect, but with so many players on one-year deals, including Cousins and Pryor, it’s hard to look much beyond this season.
With a 17-14-1 record over two seasons and an NFC East title in 2015, Washington still sees itself as a playoff team even after a disappointing end to 2016 when it controlled its own fate before a season-ending loss to the New York Giants.
The offensive line, led by five-time Pro Bowler Trent Williams, returns intact with plenty of depth. The offense still has strong weapons for Cousins even after the departure of Jackson and Garcon — though a lot of stress will be placed on 2016 first-round pick Josh Doctson. But Manusky will have his hands full turning one of the league’s worst defenses around in one season. He was the outside linebackers coach in 2016.
TOP THREE TRAINING CAMP GOALS
–Develop a pass rush. The Redskins haven’t been good enough in this area beyond OLB Ryan Kerrigan’s steady production. OLB Preston Smith took a step back to 4.5 sacks after a nice rookie season. OLB Trent Murphy will miss the first four games after a drug suspension. And OLB Junior Galette is trying to return after missing two years with torn Achilles’ tendons. Rookie OLB Ryan Anderson, a second-round draft pick from Alabama, will get a chance to contribute, too. The Redskins also need more from a defensive line, which has struggled to generate pressure in recent seasons, but that’s a lot of pressure to put on rookie DE Jonathan Allen, another Alabama product.
–Fixing the secondary. Safety is the specific area of need here — though cornerback Bashaud Breeland also must prove he can be a steady, reliable No. 2 to Josh Norman. FS D.J. Swearinger was signed from Arizona as a free agent. Can he hold up in coverage? Second-year pro Su’a Cravens shifts from dime linebacker to strong safety and that brings its own questions. But youth at that position was a must, and Swearinger (25) and Cravens (22) fit the bill.
–Improve the running game. Rob Kelley came out of nowhere as an undrafted free agent to take Matt Jones’ job last fall. He will have competition this time from fourth-round pick Samaje Perine from Oklahoma. Jones remains in the doghouse after skipping voluntary OTAs. Chris Thompson was a legitimate weapon as a third-down back in 2016 and remains a key piece of the offense.
PROJECTED CAMP DEPTH CHART
QUARTERBACKS: Starter — Kirk Cousins. Backups — Colt McCoy, Nate Sudfeld.
RUNNING BACKS: Starter — Rob Kelley. Backups — Samaje Perine, Matt Jones, Chris Thompson, Mack Brown, Keith Marshall.
TIGHT ENDS: Starter — Jordan Reed. Backups — Vernon Davis, Derek Carrier, Niles Paul, Jeremy Sprinkle, Manasseh Garner.
WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters — Terrelle Pryor Sr., Josh Doctson, Jamison Crowder. Backups — Brian Quick, Ryan Grant, Maurice Harris, Robert Davis, Matt Hazel, Lavern Jacobs, Zach Pascal, James Quick, Kendal Thompson.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters — LT Trent Williams, LG Shawn Lauvao, C Spencer Long, RG Brandon Scherff, RT Morgan Moses. Backups — T Ty Nsekhe, G Arie Kouandjio, T Vinston Painter, T Kevin Bowen, T Tyler Catalina, G Kyle Kalis, T John Kling, G Ronald Patrick, C Chase Roullier, T Isaiah Williams.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters — DLE Jonathan Allen, NT Stacy McGee, DRE Terrell McClain. Backups — NT Matt Ioannidis, DE Ziggy Hood, DE A.J. Francis, DE Anthony Lanier, DE Joey Mbu, DE Brandon Banks, DT Ondre Pipkins, DE Phil Taylor.
LINEBACKERS: Starters — WLB Ryan Kerrigan, ILB Will Compton, ILB Mason Foster, SLB Preston Smith. Backups — ILB Zach Brown, ILB Martrell Spaight, OLB Trent Murphy, OLB Lynden Trail, OLB Ryan Anderson, ILB Zach Vigil, SLB Junior Galette, WLB Houston Bates, OLB Chris Carter, ILB Josh Harvey-Clemons, ILB Nico Marley, OLB Pete Robertson.
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starter — LCB Josh Norman, RCB Bashaud Breeland, SS Su’a Cravens, FS D.J. Swearinger. Backups — CB Quinton Dunbar, CB Fabian Moreau, S Deshazor Everett, S DeAngelo Hall, S Josh Evans, CB Kendall Fuller, CB Dashaun Phillips, S Will Blackmon, CB Josh Holsey, CB Tevin Homer, S Montae Nicholson, S Fish Smithson, S Earl Wolff, CB Lou Young.
SPECIAL TEAMS: K Dustin Hopkins, P Tress Way, KOR Chris Thompson, PR Jamison Crowder, LS Nick Sundberg.
