ASHBURN, Va. -- Washington Redskins coach Jay Gruden didn’t stress over finding a true nose tackle, in the offseason or the draft. He consistently pointed to players on the roster, as well as the arrival of line coach Jim Tomsula.
So it wasn’t a huge surprise they didn’t draft one this weekend. In short, they liked the players on their roster more than they did those who were available later in the draft. If they don’t feel they’ll have a chance to make the roster, they wouldn’t take them. They already have guys who are at the same level -- or can be viewed as developmental guys.
And they weren’t going to take someone considered just a two-down player higher in the draft.
The problem is, they applied a similar strategy last season and did not fix the position. They opted not to re-sign Terrance Knighton and instead hoped Kedric Golston, primarily a backup in his career, could handle the position. Golston lasted two games before he suffered a season-ending injury. They waited until the fifth round to even select a defensive lineman in 2016.
It wasn’t the best plan. But their issues up front extended beyond nose tackle.
The Redskins feel much better about their line overall, having added free agents Stacy McGee and Terrell McClain and drafted rookie Jonathan Allen. They lost Chris Baker to free agency -- without much of a fight, which should be telling. And they cut Ricky Jean Francois. Long before season’s end, the Redskins knew they had to change their front.
But the question remains: Who will play nose? McGee has played some nose, though the Redskins want him at end in their base front. McClain can play both spots. The Redskins used Ziggy Hood there last season, but that was out of necessity and they know his best spot remains end.
The Redskins play their 3-4 base front perhaps 20 to 25 percent of the time. That equates to approximately 10-15 snaps per game. It helps explain why they don’t want someone who can only play nose, but it also remains a position that can’t be dismissed, either. Not when you’ve struggled to stop the run like Washington. The nickel run defense, when they’re in more of a 4-3 look, had been a big problem in recent years, too.
They have four other primary candidates. That’s not to say one of them will win the job or even be on the roster, but they’re certainly four players the Redskins hope can end up playing nose. Here’s a look at each:
Phil Taylor: This would be the dream scenario for Washington because the former first-round pick has the size and talent to play the position. But they need to hope a guy who has dealt with injuries throughout his career suddenly can stay healthy. In four years with Cleveland, Taylor played 44 games (missing 20 because of injuries). He last played in 2014, but appeared in only five games because of various knee issues (he eventually needed surgery). And that’s the last time he’s played. At this point, you can’t assume he’s the same guy from several years ago; it’s been too long. If he comes through, it should be viewed as a bonus.
Matt Ioannidis: The Redskins drafted him in the fifth round last year, hoping he would develop as a nose but also be able to play tackle in their nickel package. But it was a big adjustment for him considering he did not play this spot at Temple. Before the draft, because he weighed 299 pounds, most teams had talked to him about playing tackle in a 4-3 or end in a 3-4 -- not nose. However, Ioannidis does play with strength and, in the end, could be the best option here. He’s been focused on adding weight.
Joey Mbu: Atlanta signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2015 -- pre-draft projections placed him as a seventh-rounder at best. He was on the Falcons’ practice squad most of 2015, but did spend two games on the active roster. He was released in the Falcons’ final cuts in 2016 and signed to the Redskins’ practice squad in October. He’s considered an effort guy, but will he be strong enough to handle nose tackle?
A.J. Francis: He also has the size, at 6-foot-5, 335 pounds and also entered as an undrafted free agent with Miami in 2013. Since then, he’s spent time with six organizations -- mostly on practice squads -- and has appeared in three games with two tackles.
The Redskins also hope Tomsula can coax production from nose as he did in San Francisco with lower-round talent.
“I feel good,” Gruden said. “A lot of people don’t know the guys we’ve had here or the guys there were on our practice squad like Joey Mbu, A.J. Francis. We feel good about the development of Matt Ioannidis, those three guys. And we added Phil Taylor. He looks healthy ... we’ve got some multi-dimensional guys.”
