10 NFL Combine Participants Washington Redskins Fans Should Know
Scot McCloughan, Jay Gruden and the Washington Redskins have to make the 2017 NFL draft count after laying an egg last year. Making amends will demand getting more immediate value from their 10 selections, a process set to begin in earnest at this year's Scouting Combine.
McCloughan and Gruden should be running the rule of the best interior defensive linemen available, as well as paying close attention to running backs and safeties of note. Identifying an inside linebacker or two with range wouldn't hurt either.
Fortunately for Washington's team-builders, this combine is loaded with participants who should catch the eye. Among them is a mainstay of Notre Dame's defensive front, along with more than one versatile running back who would instantly vie for a starting job in a backfield short on depth and talent.
Here are the 10 combine participants the Redskins should watch closely at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
1. Jeremy McNichols, RB, Boise State
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Washington simply cannot enter another season without a credible rushing attack. To do so would be a criminal waste of a passing attack capable of being among the most dominant in the NFL.
If McCloughan keeps Kirk Cousins at quarterback while bringing back at least one of star wide receivers Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson, the Redskins will remain a force through the air.
However, Cousins and Co. will be even more effective with the balance offered by a reliable workhorse who can move the chains on the ground. It's why McCloughan should keep his peepers glued to the field whenever Boise State's Jeremy McNichols is working out.
Washington's general manager will see a compact and lively athlete, one sturdier than his 5'9", 212-pound dimensions may suggest. What McCloughan should be looking for is the flexibility of movement from a runner capable of dominating north and south as well as on cutback runs.
Jump cuts are a feature of McNichols' rushing style and something the Redskins could use in a ground scheme still tied to the zone-stretch play Gurden's predecessor, Mike Shanahan, brought to D.C. in 2010.
Matt Jones and Robert Kelley won't get it done on the ground in 2017. Or, more precisely, neither back is ever going to scare opposing defenses. McNichols may have the versatility and big-play potential the Burgundy and Gold need in the backfield moving forward.
2. Bryan Cox Jr., DE/OLB, Florida
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McCloughan just seems to love versatile edge-rushers from the SEC. He used a second-round pick on conversion project Preston Smith in 2015 and should take a look at Florida's Bryan Cox Jr. during his time in Indy.
Son of former Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears, New York Jets and New England Patriots linebacker Bryan Cox, the Gators pass-rusher is capable of operating either at outside linebacker or as a traditional defensive end.
In fact, Cox Jr. played both positions in Florida, so he would arrive in Washington already nuanced in the requirements of a hybrid defense. New coordinator Greg Manusky could use as many flexible types as he can get on the edge for his version of the 3-4.
Cox Jr. fits the bill as a potential steal in the later rounds. If McCloughan rolls the dice, he'll get a useful rotational contributor at a position in need of extra bodies.
Ryan Kerrigan, Smith and Trent Murphy currently man the edges, while Junior Galette is expected to return even after missing two seasons with injury. This pass-rush rotation could use more oomph.
3. Dalvin Tomlinson, DT, Alabama
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More than a pass-rusher, the Redskins need a linchpin to fortify a soft defensive line for the 2017 NFL season. Step forward Dalvin Tomlinson, potentially a true sleeper pick for Washington in this year's draft.
Tomlinson has everything the Redskins need in a front-seven anchor. He's got power—make that awesome power, as he tips the scales at 6'3" and 312 pounds.
More than the numbers, Tomlinson possesses the naturally thick base and low centre of gravity all true 0-techniques need to thrive at the pro level.
Speaking of adapting to the pros, Tomlinson will enter the bigs fresh from playing his collegiate football at Alabama under the watchful eye of defensive guru Nick Saban. So you know he's going to be well-schooled in sound fundamentals.
McCloughan and his entourage should pay close attention to how Tomlinson performs in the strength drills. However, gauging his takeoff speed, foot quickness and hand usage during cone work will be just as important.
If he passes the eye test, Tomlinson should go straight on Washington's big board as a player who could solve the nose tackle problem that's plagued the defense for seven seasons.
The Redskins have Kedric Golston, Chris Baker and Ziggy Hood all ticketed for free agency. They can't continue with patchwork solutions at the key spot along the front seven.
Using a second- or third-round pick to snag Tomlinson would be one of the better moves this franchise can make on draft day.
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4. Jarron Jones, DT, Notre Dame
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McCloughan would score points if he came away from this combine having tabbed two or three players capable of slotting into a new-look defensive line this season. He'd be smart to strongly consider how well Notre Dame's Jarron Jones would fit as a 5-technique end.
Jones appears to have been born to play the position. He boasts the upper body bulk to ensure he'll rarely be put on skates in the trenches. In addition, he can unleash go-go gadget arms to lock on to blockers and tie up double teams.
Playing for the Irish means this 6'5", 315-pounder knows what it takes to win along a three-man front. Jones is the kind of player you build a stout run defense around. He's also a dream for those expected to be the playmakers in a linebacker-led scheme thanks to his ability to keep second-level defenders clean.
Similar to Tomlinson, Jones would need to pass the eye test in terms of strength. Checking out his lateral agility and move skills should also be a priority for McCloughan, given how 3-4 ends are often expected to slide across to cover outside gaps or slant between blockers to take away an inside running game.
5. Eddie Jackson, S, Alabama
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It would be a travesty if McCloughan didn't come out of the 2017 draft without at least one safety capable of contributing right away. So the GM needs to particularly focus on the intriguing defensive backs on display at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Among those invited, another Crimson Tide defender ought to be on Washington's radar. Eddie Jackson is a safety with ball skills and a flair for the return game.
He's been asked to attend the combine despite suffering a broken leg midway through the 2016 season. However, Jackson's history at Tuscaloosa should interest the Redskins.
Specifically, the team should warm to Jackson's experience playing cornerback and deep safety. They should also appreciate his natural opportunism, a trait personified by the six interceptions he snatched and one fumble he forced in 2015, per CFBStats.com.
If Jackson's able to work out, McCloughan should zero in on how well that leg has healed. Specifically, what the injury has meant for Jackson's shuffle steps and downhill acceleration.
If nothing else, McCloughan should at least use the opportunity afforded by the combine to speak with Jackson and form a sense of his readiness to play in 2017.
6. Carlos Watkins, DT, Clemson
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A team as short of quality defensive tackles as the Redskins should pay close attention to any prospect from Clemson, a school with a rich history of producing NFL-level D-linemen in recent years.
In fact, Rob Rang of CBS Sports has noted how the Tigers have delivered "nine top 100 draft picks since the 2007 draft, an average of nearly one per year over the past decade." Rang also backed Carlos Watkins, a player whom he compares to versatile San Diego Chargers end Corey Liuget, to continue the tradition.
The Liuget comparison is a good one, but the similarities between Watkins and a former Clemson alumni should appeal more to the Redskins.
Clemson has sent burly road-graders such as Brandon Thompson and D.J. Reader to the pros in recent seasons, but their most explosive front-line graduate has been Grady Jarrett.
It was Atlanta Falcons nose tackle Jarrett who lived in Tom Brady's grid square during Super Bowl LI, sacking No. 12 a record-tying three times. Watkins boasts a similar level of deceptive quickness, nifty hands usage and formidable base power to the player who was a fifth-round steal in 2015.
Watkins proved his playmaking chops by recording 10.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss during his final season on campus with the Tigers, per CFBStats.com. This is a player who would thrive as a shade nose tackle in Manusky's one-gap 3-4 base front, as well as a game-wrecking 3-technique pass-rusher in the nickel.
In other words, Watkins would more than merit second-round consideration from the Redskins, especially if he makes the most of his time in Indianapolis.
7. Marlon Mack, RB, South Florida
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One thing the Redskins didn't get from their running game in 2016 was big plays. To illustrate the point, Washington only managed 44 runs of 10 yards or more all season, putting them 17th in this category, according to Sporting Charts.
The lack of game-breaking contributions on the ground must encourage McCloughan to keep a close watch on South Florida's Marlon Mack in Indianapolis. The GM will surely see the speed that defined Mack's game in 2016.
The player's combine profile noted how "six of his 15 touchdowns this year went for 43-plus yards," per Lance Zierlein of the league's official site, who lauded Mack's acceleration and explosive burst.
Those are qualities Washington hasn't seen from restricted free agent Chris Thompson in a while. McCloughan's attempt to get them from seventh-round pick Keith Marshall didn't work last season either. Using a mid-round pick, likely a fourth-rounder, to secure Mack's change-of-pace talents would make a ton of sense for this run-shy offense.
Mack is an unnuanced runner who would need savvy coaching to refine some of his raw qualities in the pros. However, he boasts core athletic flair you can't teach, specifically the type of speed and agility sure to make him a favorite at the combine.
8. Ethan Pocic, C, LSU
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Ethan Pocic has the massive frame, long arms and core strength to alert a few general managers during this combine. McCloughan is one whose interest should be piqued by a naturally punishing run blocker with the versatility to also line up at every other spot along a front five.
Pocic has been taught well at LSU, making center his most obvious spot entering this year's draft. He'd fit well in Washington alongside Pro Bowl guard Brandon Scherff, the player McCloughan wisely took fifth overall in 2015—still his best decision since joining the Redskins.
Center is an under-the-radar position of need for Washington this offseason after Kory Lichtensteiger announced his retirement. In truth, the 31-year-old had been battling injuries and had begun to lose too many clashes over the ball.
Unfortunately, the cupboard is a little bare without Lichtensteiger. Veteran John Sullivan is a free agent, while Spencer Long isn't the most physically dominant pivot man.
The situation means McCloughan should easily become enamored with any center who bosses drills at the combine. If there's center who is also a savvy and resilient football player, all the better.
Pocic fits the latter description and would be worthy of a second- or third-round choice if it meant finally securing the heart of an O-line steadily developing each season under coach Bill Callahan.
9. Isaiah Ford, WR, Virginia Tech
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As long as Jackson and Garcon remain free agents, any collegiate wide receiver who gets the basics right is sure to interest the Redskins. Fortunately, Virginia Tech's Isaiah Ford doesn't just get the fundamentals of his position right. He's already a master of them.
It's a challenge to find a smoother, more precise and cogent route-runner in this draft class than Ford. He's got a natural grace when shifting out of his breaks and when making adjustments on the fly.
McCloughan should get a sense of those skills from the cone work. He'll also appreciate Ford's height and agility when it comes to the vertical leap. This is a wideout who truly plays bigger than his 6'2", 195-pound frame.
Yet it might be the speed that really stays with McCloughan when he watches Ford. Speed is the "No. 1 attribute that Ford brings to the table", according to Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com.
Campbell praised Ford's vertical threat, something Washington's passing attack would be missing if Jackson is allowed to walk.
More than the speed, though, Ford has added subtlety to his game in 2016. The ex-ACC standout will arrive at Lucas Oil Stadium a more polished playmaker capable of thriving after the catch in the kind of West Coast-style scheme Gruden loves to call.
10. Reuben Foster, ILB, Alabama
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Washington's meagre run defense won't improve without a bruiser at the heart of the linebacker corps for 2017. Enter Reuben Foster, the last Alabama defender on this list—we promise.
As previously noted, Foster makes almost too much sense for the Redskins not to pursue in the first round come draft day. The combine should be for McCloughan to accurately gauge whether such a pursuit would really be worth it.
Unless Foster makes a mess of the drills, it's hard to believe McCloughan won't leave Indy impressed by a smart, instinctive linebacker with the range Washington lacks at the position.
Any linebacker on a Nick Saban-directed defense is going to be versatile, and Foster is no exception. He can play inside or outside, but he makes his bones in the guard-center-guard box.
Foster has the speed and recognition skills to quickly break downhill and shoot gaps to get into the backfield. But there's another side to his game, notably his soft backpedal and keen eye for the ball as a covering defender in space.
The combine's drills may not highlight what makes Foster so special, since his primary asset is an aptitude for the mental side of the game. This is a player whose gifts show up on the field when the pads are popping.
However, there's one big reason why McCloughan and any other general manager interested in Foster should watch him closely at the combine.
Writing for the league's official site, Lance Zierlein quoted an unnamed NFC director of scouting who summed up the issue: "I'm worried about what his medicals will show because he's had some issues with stingers during his career."
Yet, if Foster shows a clean bill of health and passes the eye test, McCloughan should come away from Indianapolis knowing he has his ideal first-round pick in mind.
The combine is a tricky process for talent evaluators, one where it's easy to be wowed by the superficial and lose focus on those athletes who save their best for the field. However, savvy GMs will know who those participants are before arriving at Lucas Oil Stadium.
McCloughan should merely treat the combine as a gentle endorsement or negation of what he already thinks about the player capable of fixing Washington's primary weaknesses ahead of the new season.
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