Early Predictions for Washington Redskins' 2015 Training-Camp Battles

Thanks to a deep draft and busy work in free agency, the Washington Redskins have created healthy competition at most of the vital spots on the roster. It's a great environment for any team to rebuild within, but a few training-camp battles stand out more than most.

In particular, vital sub-package roles on both offense and defense will be intensely contested. Finding a quality player for each role is essential for the success of the schemes on both sides of the ball.

Both units also feature a key battle along the front lines. A perennially weak O-line will receive a massive boost if Washington finally identifies a solution for a problematic spot along the interior.

On the other side, revitalizing a weak pass rush will depend on finding the right bookend for star outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan. At least the Redskins will be choosing from a pair of prominent draft picks.

Find out how each of Washington's most intriguing 2015 training-camp battles will play out.

Slot Cornerback

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

No defense in the modern era can survive with a weak link at the nickel cornerback spot. If you want proof, consider the relationship between Washington's woeful pass defense the last two seasons and the lack of a marquee player in the slot.

Fortunately, this is one year when the Redskins are actually overloaded with choices for this vital position. General manager Scot McCloughan's decision to sign Chris Culliver to starter's money in free agency has put as many as four players in the running for nickel work.

The player most directly impacted by Culliver's arrival is David Amerson. A second-round pick in 2013, he has struggled to adapt to pro ball.

He's had trouble tracking the ball deep, and his instincts for the big play—a feature of his game at the collegiate level—have deserted him in the NFL. Now Amerson faces a fight to stay relevant in the minds of his coaches.

It's a battle he intends to wage via improved work habits and a rededication to refining his game, according to Real Redskins blogger Rich Tandler:

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Can it be a surprise if the guy who started 15 games at a position one year starts there again the next season? I think it would qualify in Amerson’s case since many have written him off after a poor 2014 performance and the free agent acquisition of Chris Culliver. But I am hearing talk that Amerson now realizes that he has to spend more time in the film room and take preparation more seriously. If he does that he has the physical talent to be a solid starter. He could push Bashaud Breeland to safety or slot corner and move into his old (?) job on the outside.

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To be honest, Tandler's suggestion that last season's rookie Bashaud Breeland will be moved from the outside doesn't seem too likely. Breeland may have the size and tenacity to play safety or in the slot, but he's also proved adept at locking up receivers near a sideline. He's simply too valuable to move at this stage of his development.

Size is one reason why Amerson may move, though. The 6'1", 205-pounder has the frame to play press but uses it too seldom.

Yet that would change if he were moved to the slot, where coverage is often more physical at closer quarters. It would also help Amerson to keep the game in front of him in the underneath zones, rather than trailing receivers downfield and looking for the ball, which is his major weakness.

But given the increasingly more explosive options teams use from the slot in today's game, Amerson may even be too big a risk at that position. If so, the door will open for returning veteran DeAngelo Hall.

The 31-year-old needs to use training camp to prove he hasn't lost a step, even after tearing the same Achilles twice in 2014. That's a tall order, but Hall does at least have the skills and experience to man the slot.

He played there during the 2012 season and showed a willingness to hit that not many would have credited him with previously. Hall can also scrap with even the most physical wideouts, while a flair for the big play has never left his game.

If Hall doesn't have much left or even somehow manages to play himself back into a spot on the outside, perhaps Tracy Porter can make more of his second year in D.C. than he did in his first.

He appeared in only three games last season. But like Hall, Porter has the right attributes to play nickel corner. Specifically, he's excellent on the blitz, as well as tenacious and opportunistic.

What could hold the brittle 28-year-old back is the $2.25 million base salary he commands under 2015's cap, per Spotrac.com. Porter looks like a classic cap casualty if he does anything short of completely impressing his coaches during training camp.

One dark-horse candidate to watch could be sixth-round draft pick Tevin Mitchel. He spent the team's rookie minicamp undergoing a fairly uneven audition for this role, per ESPN.com's John Keim:

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He lined up mostly in the slot, a role he played last season at Arkansas. It’s how he’ll have to earn a spot here. He was OK here, though Jamison Crowder created separation with one move. Mitchel looks like he stays balanced and patient off the line, but he’ll need time to develop. On one route he allowed too much cushion vs. undrafted free agent Reggie Bell, who ran a short route. After the catch, Mitchel was still several yards off and was unable to tag Bell.

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At 6'0" and 190 pounds, Mitchel has the size to play in the slot, but at the moment he looks too athletically limited and generally raw to be trusted at such an important position.

The smart money here should be on Hall winning this job. Culliver and Breeland can give the defense the type of big-bodied and aggressive press corners McCloughan wants on the outside.

But this secondary still needs Hall's knack for getting his hands on the ball. The wily vet will make a great roving playmaker in the sub-package schemes of first-year coordinator Joe Barry and new secondary coach Perry Fewell.

Slot Receiver

Luis M. Alvarez/Associated Press

When McCloughan took Jamison Crowder off the board in Round 4 of the 2015 NFL draft, it showed the Redskins are serious about finally adding some big plays from the slot.

Andre Roberts was supposed to provide ample amounts of those after arriving from the Arizona Cardinals last offseason. Sadly, though, the veteran who also has the size and speed to win on the outside provided precious little game-breaking ability.

Roberts' hands failed him, and he was rarely a threat after the catch. Still, despite his struggles, it's too soon to write off the talented 27-year-old's career with the burgundy and gold just yet.

But Roberts should be painfully aware of the rave reviews Crowder has already earned during his brief stay. The rookie burner has a real fan in head coach Jay Gruden, who believes Crowder is a natural for the slot, per 247Sports.com's Jamie Oakes: “Obviously we’re not hitting right now so it might be a little skewed, but based on what we saw in college, we know that he’s a tough guy over the middle. He’s got all the traits we you want in slot receiver, and obviously, he’s a heck of a punt returner.”

Crowder has emphasized his preparation and knowledge of offensive alignments, learned during his days at Duke, as assets in his bid to make a quick transition to the pros, according to Press Box D.C.'s Pat Donohue.

Crowder already seems to have the edge in this intriguing race. He's making the team forget about 2014 fifth-rounder Ryan Grant, who entered the NFL seemingly as an ideal fit for the slot.

But Grant simply isn't explosive enough to stretch the seams and get behind coverage with any consistency. That's sure to be the defining factor deciding this battle.

Truthfully, it needn't be rocket science for Gruden and offensive coordinator Sean McVay to settle on the right choice. The Robert Griffin III-led passing game needs reliability and big-play potential from this position.

Crowder has the most upside to consistently provide both. Count on the rookie building on his initial promise to make this position his own ahead of the start of the real action. 

Right Guard

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Right guard has been a serious problem as long as Chris Chester has been in town. That's a harsh statement, but there's simply no other way to judge the veteran's four-year stint as a starter.

The 32-year-old has been routinely tossed around like a rag doll in pass protection. No Redskins fan can avoid wincing at the memory of a then past-it Justin Tuck running over Chester on his way to four sacks for the New York Giants in Week 13 of the 2013 season.

While his run blocking has been better, even that is likely to count against Chester this offseason. He was, after all, originally recruited by Gruden's predecessor Mike Shanahan, a proponent of zone-based blocking.

While that suited Chester's mobility, key changes up front are sure to make him irrelevant ahead of this season. New line coach Bill Callahan has been hired to implement the power schemes adored by both Gruden and McCloughan.

Not only do the new schemes demand a different type of discipline, but they also need bigger road-graders to make them work. A struggling 6'3", 302-pounder carrying a $4.8 million cap hit, per Spotrac.com, certainly doesn't fit the bill.

Perhaps 2014 third-rounder Spencer Long does. Gruden seems to think the 6'5", 311-pound interior behemoth can make this position his own.

He touted both Long's potential, as well as Chester's presence, as reasons to be optimistic about right guard, per ESPN.com's John Keim. The problem with that argument is Long failed to win the job when it was up for grabs last offseason. Why should the expectation be any higher this time?

Perhaps the scheme shift is all it will take to release Long's potential. Keim's article featured one line that not only pinpoints why Long struggled as a rookie but also indicates why he might be better in Year 2: "As for Long, during the season the coaches said Long had to adjust to playing differently on the move. Though he pulled quite often at Nebraska, he had to learn to play in the Redskins’ outside zone."

Pulling guards are a staple of power systems. Long has the experience to handle that and may benefit from getting to use his frame in a more direct manner, specifically one-on-one drive blocking, when he isn't in space.

Of course, both Chester and Long will know they can't ignore 2015 fourth-round pick Arie Kouandjio. He thrived in a power-based game at Alabama.

Kouandjio has the bulk and skills to surprise many if he can produce a strong showing during camp. That won't be easy with Gruden anxious to see how he'll fare against veteran defensive tackles Jason Hatcher and Stephen Paea, per Liz Clarke of the Washington Post.

Kouandjio's history of knee injuries, including two surgeries at Alabama, per Clarke, could ultimately hold him back in an intense competition. But given the pressing need for an infusion of fresh talent, expect Kouandjio to be a strong contender.

It's tough to pick an obvious winner at this stage, but you can feel safer believing Chester won't emerge from camp as the clear starter.

Outside Linebacker

Preston Smith and Trent Murphy—two second-round picks selected by two different general managers—are vying for the right to replace Brian Orakpo at the edge of Washington's 3-4 defense.

This is a fascinating battle likely to be determined by what the Redskins value most from this position. If it's sacks and pressure, Smith may have the edge.

He finished with nine sacks for Mississippi State last season, per CFBStats.com. Granted, that's not a gaudy number, but it's a respectable one in the SEC.

Perhaps more important than Smith's production is his potential. He is blessed with the core physical attributes to become a prolific edge-rusher.

Specifically, he has the long arms needed to hook and push off offensive tackles to help set up dip and rip moves around the outside. ESPN.com's John Keim, Mike Jones of the Washington Post and Bleacher Report analyst Chris Simms have all highlighted how important length will be to Smith's game.

Having played at a variety of positions along the front for the Bulldogs, Smith also boasts the versatility a hybrid play-caller like Barry will cherish. The question is, can he function adequately in space and set a hard enough edge against the run?

Jones stressed Smith did look lost in coverage during the team's rookie minicamp: "He 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."

Meanwhile, Keim noticed some issues standing up to the run: "Once or twice Smith didn’t set the edge as strong as you would like; got a little too bent on one occasion and lost his power."

These issues seem to make Smith a better fit for a situational pass-rush role as a rookie. Given his flexibility, that might be the best way to use him early on.

But coaches will only be convinced by that plan if Murphy takes a step forward. He logged just 2.5 sacks during his debut NFL season.

Yet despite struggling to get to the passer, he did look the part when it came to setting the edge. He also showed the ability to survive in space. Those are base-down assets for a 3-4 outside linebacker.

The best outcome to this battle seems to be a compromise involving Smith working from multiple spots in sub-package and passing situations, while Murphy plays base defense.

ESPN 980's Kevin Sheehan recently told B/R's Stephen Nelson the team may already be envisaging this smart scenario.

Third-Down Running Back

Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

As much as the passing game needs a receiver who can win from the slot, a versatile running back for third downs may be even more important. The struggle is finding one with the speed and hands to produce big plays on the ground or through the air, as well as the recognition skills and physicality to be an asset in pass protection.

So far, it looks as though the Redskins have three candidates, each representing pieces of the ideal third-down back. The first is Matt Jones, the bruising workhorse McCloughan took off the draft board in Round 3.

Despite his formidable 6'2", 231-pound frame and smashmouth running style, Jones also has qualities ideal for football's money down. In particular, he's a better receiver than many think, with Mike Jones of the Washington Post detailing how he showed his catching skills during rookie OTAs:

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He ran crisp pass routes, shaking linebackers frequently and displayed good hands. (It should be noted that Jones is bigger than any of Washington’s wide 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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It's those skills, along with Jones' proficiency as a blocker, that have ESPN.com's John Keim believing the ex-Florida star will be "better as a third-down back in the NFL than in college, where they rarely looked at him."

But while Jones seems to have the ability to be solid in several areas, he won't offer the field-stretching speed that undrafted free agent Trey Williams can. He's the classic, shifty, blink-of-an-eye-fast back that teams usually unleash on third downs.

Williams has been compared to Philadelphia Eagles veteran Darren Sproles, the very model of a modern pocket-edition, third-down sensation, by Sports Illustrated's Ben Glicksman.

During rookie minicamp, Williams provided an indication of the type of matchup nightmare he can be during rookie minicamp, per Keim. Linebacker Martrell Spaight was his hapless victim: "Didn’t see a lot of him in this area, but did see him get juked by running back Trey Williams with a quick inside cut to create several yards of separation."

That's the type of impact Washington needs from this position, an X-factor to drive defensive coordinators crazy. Going undrafted won't hurt Williams' chances if he proves he can play, not after Silas Redd made the team as a first-year free agent last offseason.

Of course, let's not forget about Chris Thompson. He only has to prove his health to make this job his own.

The 2013 fifth-rounder, who's made just six appearances in two years, has all the attributes the Redskins need. He's a shifty and sudden runner with good acceleration and lane recognition. Thompson is also an effective receiver out of the backfield.

But his physical fragility and ball security are major concerns. Yet they are not major enough to prevent Gruden from giving Thompson the "first crack" at earning this spot, per Mike Jones of the Washington Post.

Gruden is still searching for solutions here after bringing Williams on board and drafting Lache Seastrunk a year ago, a move that didn't pay off. Yet he still can't seem to wave goodbye to Thompson.

Expect one of the final draft picks of the Shanahan era to win this job just ahead of Williams. Thompson's challenge will then be a familiar one—staying healthy.

Washington's roster has been refreshed by a solid influx of smartly chosen players. The benefits of increased competition will show in a training camp highlighted by these particularly intense battles.

Ultimately, the winners will all point to one thing—namely, a bigger, stronger and faster Redskins team for 2015.