The Most Intriguing Rookie Storylines at Washington Redskins OTAs
New Washington Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan's top five draft picks all caught the eyes of coaches and pundits during rookie OTAs. Each impressed in some key areas and proved they will have a vital say in how many games the Burgundy and Gold win in 2015.
Some of what was seen didn't tell fans anything they didn't already know. Top pick Brandon Scherff has plenty of power on the edge of the offensive line, but the aggressive tackle can lose a battle against speed on the edge. His development will be key for a unit desperately in need of help.
Meanwhile, second-rounder Preston Smith is a crackerjack defensive end that is able to strike from anywhere on a formation. But the former Mississippi State front-line wrecking ball has a lot to learn about surviving in space.
Elsewhere, the team's two fourth-round picks generated plenty of buzz after showcasing core skills missing from the offense last season. Each already looks like a good bet to shove aside disappointing incumbents at key positions.
Find out what the most intriguing storylines from rookie OTAs mean for the Redskins ahead of the veterans returning to work.
Brandon Scherff Getting Extra Coaching to Help Improve Pass Protection
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Washington's top pick wasn't lacking for power when he engaged in one-on-one drills. Scherff was particularly effective whenever he worked to collapse things down inside.
But the sailing wasn't so smooth whenever the fifth overall selection in the 2015 NFL draft was forced to deal with speed around the corner. Mike Jones of The Washington Post described how on one occasion "Smith did do a good job of swimming around Scherff."
Meanwhile, ESPN's John Keim recounted how "one player turned the corner on Scherff." Keim felt like this showed one of the limits of Scherff's relatively short arm length for a pro-style tackle.
Issues with reach and lateral steps to mirror and engage edge-rushers is one reason why many, including NFL Network's Mike Mayock (h/t NFL.com's Dan Parr), tabbed Scherff as a guard during the predraft process.
Ironing out the rough spots in Scherff's game and making him the right tackle the Redskins need him to be is why Bill Callahan was brought to town. Washington's new O-line coach spent extra minutes after practice working closely with Scherff. The focus of the additional study session was clear: improving pass protection.
Jones stated Callahan focused on "how to remain engaged with a pass rusher while also forcing him further to the outside and around the quarterback." Scherff stressed that most of the instruction he's received has been technique-based, per CSN Washington's Rich Tandler: "He’s taught us different hand drills, different technique drills, so it’s good."
Learning by rote will also be a big part of how Callahan gets the most out of Scherff, per Tandler: "It’s all just repetition. You’ve got to just keep repping it, repping it. That’s what coach Callahan said. We have a Sunday off tomorrow so he said go to your hotel room and rep your pass set in your hotel room so might as well do that, too."
Callahan has begun in earnest the vital process of ingraining good habits for the pro level in his linemen. Scherff will need the right techniques for handling speed on the edge to become second nature by the time the season starts.
If not, then the plan to play him at right tackle will quickly backfire. Washington begins the season facing off with the Miami Dolphins, followed by hosting the St. Louis Rams.
Those games will match Scherff against Cameron Wake and Chris Long, two of the best and most destructive pass-rushing defensive ends in football.
What's interesting to note here is how closely Callahan is working with Scherff. That a top-five pick needs such close attention shouldn't be taken as cause to sound any alarm bells.
Instead, it's an indicator of how determined the Redskins are to make the most of their first opening-round selection in three years.
More importantly, it shows what Callahan's arrival means for an O-line that's been the weak point of the team since 2010. Blockers are going to receive better teaching, but also be held to a higher standard.
Both of those things can only bode well for a unit that gave up 58 sacks in 2014.
Arie Kouandjio Makes a Great First Impression
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Chris Chester beware, because the Redskins may have finally found a competent option for right guard in the form of fourth-round pick Arie Kouandjio. OK, it's probably too soon for Chester to clean out his locker, but it's certainly welcome news that Kouandjio made a great first impression with coaches.
The ex-Alabama powerhouse guard earned praise from Callahan during pass-blocking drills, according to ESPN's John Keim. He especially highlighted how Kouandjio used an aggressive punch to slow down opponents before showing the ability to anchor from a solid base.
Perhaps more pleasing was the way Kouandjio showed some nuance to his game by being a little more cautious later in the day and waiting for moves to develop before snuffing out the attempted rush.
As much as his physical traits garnered positive attention, Kouandjio's temperament has also been well received. In particular, head coach Jay Gruden was wowed by the rookie road-grader's willingness to learn, according to Real Redskins blogger Rich Tandler: "Kouandjio is a detailed guy. He loves football, man. He practices hard. He wants to hear every ounce of criticism, every ounce of coaching that he can get and he tries to translate that onto the next rep."
A quick start from Kouandjio is excellent news ahead of full-team OTAs. The Redskins need genuine competition at both guard spots.
The need to get better along the interior is most obvious on the right side, where aging and slight Chester has labored through four dismal seasons as a starter. Now 32 and carrying a bloated contract, Chester needs to be pushed aside sooner rather than later.
Gruden has already indicated the underperforming veteran should expect to be pushed by last year's third-rounder Spencer Long. But Long already failed to win the job once, so maybe enthusiasm shouldn't be too high.
As a natural power-style blocker who packs a punch in one-on-one situations and on the move, Kouandjio may represent the best bet to finally supplant Chester. Starting a pair of rookies on the right would certainly be considered a risk, but it's also the type of bold move needed to shake up a line that's been allowed to coast along with mediocrity for far too long.
Callahan's presence can also be a big help. He made his mark getting rookies quickly up to speed with the Dallas Cowboys.
If Kouandjio and Scherff can still hold their own against the team's more established D-linemen, they could make the grade as first-year starters.
Preston Smith Hard to Track as a Pass-Rusher, but Coverage Needs Work
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It's probably no great surprise that Smith needs work in coverage. This is, after all, a fairly bulky defensive end converting to playing in space more often.
Where Smith looked most sluggish is whenever he had to turn, according to ESPN's John Keim. Mike Jones of The Washington Post also noted how the former Bulldogs ace "didn't look nearly as fluid as he needed to be as he went through drills that required him to quickly change directions while also dropping back into coverage."
Of course, it's common for players transitioning from a three-point stance to standing up more often to lack the ideal range for coverage duties. But those concerns are usually overlooked if the ability to create pressure is strong enough. Keim is certainly right when he stresses skill in coverage is "usually third on the list" of job requirements for edge players in a 3-4.
Determining how much of a problem Smith's flaws in coverage might be will depend largely on how often he's asked to drop and track receivers or fill zones. In the base D, that number could be high considering Ryan Kerrigan's talent rushing the passer from the other side.
New coordinator Joe Barry is likely to favor a heavy dose of a four-man rush this season, according to defensive tackle Ricky Jean Francois, per CSN Washington's Tarik El-Bashir.
Given the need to turn Barry loose, the weak-side outside linebacker could be asked to drop more often, much in the same way a "Will" 'backer does in "under-style" versions of the 4-3.
If that's the case, questions will be asked about why the Redskins drafted a thickly built 6'5", 271-pounder to play on the edge. Perhaps that's why Trent Murphy beats Smith to a starting role on base downs; he's more effective operating in space.
Smith's greater value could lie as a versatile rush end in nickel and sub-package sets. The variety of pass-rush moves he displayed during rookie OTAs certainly indicates that's where he can make the biggest impact during his first year.
Jones described exactly how Smith attacked from various angles: "He spent time rushing out of a two- and four-point stance. Several times, Smith ran stunts where he started on the right side of the line and swung all the way around to the left after the snap of the ball."
Smith and Murphy's contrast of styles can make the battle to replace Brian Orakpo a win-win for Barry and Washington's defense. At the moment, Smith seems a good bet to add more pressure potential to a unit that logged a modest 36 sacks a year ago.
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Matt Jones Shows Potential for 3rd-Down Work
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Usually when a team needs a running back with the skills and versatility to make big plays on third downs, a pocket-edition speedster is the order of the day. Few backfield outlets for football's money down are bulldozer-like in both size and style.
But Washington could be one of the few teams who use a battering ram where a hare might usually hold sway. That is if third-round pick Matt Jones continues to impress as a receiver.
A smashmouth bruiser when he's lugging the rock, the 6'2", 231-pounder has instead been catching the eye releasing into space. ESPN's John Keim focused on a few particularly competent examples of the ex-Florida Gators workhorse snaring passes:
"He caught the ball well, reaching up high to grab one over his head. I really think he'll be better as a third-down back in the NFL than in college, where they rarely looked at him. He cut well in the open field, especially for a big guy. Got chastised once for not running his route to the proper depth. Every yard matters. But he ran it again right away and did it right.
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A talent for catching passes is an extra string to the bow for Jones, who will begin his pro career vying to take carries away from three-time 1,000-yard runner Alfred Morris. That's a tall order for any back, so offering skills Morris doesn't possess will certainly help the rookie rusher earn reps, according to Mike Jones of The Washington Post:
"He ran crisp pass routes, shaking linebackers frequently and displayed good hands. (Should be noted that Jones is bigger than any of Washington’s receivers). Couple his pass-catching skill set with his power running style, and Jones certainly could see the field often as a rookie.
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Taking some carries off Morris is a good idea as the lead back is coming off a down year and is one of the most overworked runners in the league. But it's what Jones can bring to the third-down schemes that's most intriguing.
His pass-catching ability, blocking and blitz pickup make him the best all-round candidate for a vital position. Better even than Chris Thompson and undrafted free agent Trey Williams, both of whom have the acceleration and big-play potential usually associated with third-down work.
But Jones offers more to balance the offense. As bad as last season's line was, the group hardly received adequate support from supplemental blockers, such as tight ends and running backs.
With many third-down blitz calls designed to target running backs, Jones' flair for snuffing out pressure will be a major boost to maintaining the integrity of the pocket. When he releases, sure hands can make him the kind of dependable, get-out-of-trouble target a shaky quarterback like Robert Griffin III has missed in pressure situations.
The potential to work as a receiver and blocker in a player most obviously resembling another grinder for the running game was merely seen as a bonus when Jones was drafted. Now it seems as though that bonus could finally translate into the right fit for a niche role currently missing in Washington's otherwise loaded offense.
Jamison Crowder's Big-Play Flair as Good as Advertised
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When McCloughan took pint-sized wideout Jamison Crowder off the board in Round 4, he gave his team a diminutive burner who could be a source of big plays from a variety of positions.
Based on the first glimpses, Crowder has certainly not disappointed in his bid to live up to that billing. ESPN's John Keim called the 5'8", 185-pounder a "personal favorite of the day."
He also detailed one very specific and potentially invaluable aspect of the former Duke star's game:
"I like watching him cut; he does a lot of speed cuts, almost gliding after a quick plant. What you notice is the same thing that was evident in his games: He understands where the pressure is coming from and he turns accordingly.
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That last line is very significant. It's evidence of Crowder's ability to act as the hot read that lets an offense beat the blitz. It's exactly the type of skill all standout slot receivers must possess.
Coaxing quicker reads and smarter, safer decisions from Griffin will be one of the defining themes of this season. The process demands key weapons around the slowly developing quarterback.
One is a pass-catching back who can also block. The other is a slot specialist who can quickly shake coverage underneath and serve as an instant, can't-miss outlet who turns short throws into big gains.
While Jones is taking to the former role well, Crowder is already showing all the qualities needed to thrive in the latter, per Mike Jones of The Washington Post: "We’ll see how he looks against the veterans, but fourth-rounder Jamison Crowder was pretty explosive on Saturday. Coaches describe him as fearless over the middle. He’s got strong hands, and shows good acceleration after the catch."
News of Crowder being explosive out of his breaks and leaving covering defenders trailing should concern Ryan Grant and Andre Roberts. Both are also candidates for work in the slot, but neither is capable of matching the big-play potential Washington hopes to get from Crowder.
Quick development from both Jones and Crowder will be a massive boost to Griffin's own progression this offseason. That progression will determine how successful the Redskins are in 2015.
Of course, Griffin's job will be made easier if every area of the team is stronger. The positive early performances of the five rookies expected to make the most immediate impact is a good indicator Washington will enter the season stronger on McCloughan's watch.
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