The Washington Redskins knew they needed to improve their defensive line. The debate over whether or not they have will linger until the season begins. But what the Redskins especially want to do is improve their pass rush.
That certainly is one reason they’ll host Wisconsin pass-rusher T.J. Watt, brother of Houston’s J.J. Watt. T.J. Watt told NFL.com that he’ll visit the Redskins as part of his pre-draft team visits. He told the site that he has worked out already for the Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions and New England Patriots, and also will do so for the Carolina Panthers.
His Redskins visit speaks to what the team wants: more pass-rush help. And this draft is deep with players who can help. Watt projects as a second-round pick after recording 11.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for a loss in his first full season as a Badgers starter. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.69 seconds at the NFL scouting combine, an excellent time for an outside linebacker.
Whether the Redskins draft Watt remains to be seen. But the point is that Washington wants to improve its ability to pressure the passer -- whether with a linebacker or anyone along the line who could provide a legitimate, and consistent, push. It's not as if the Redskins were terrible here; they tied for ninth in sacks with 38 last season. But adding another pass-rusher would allow for versatility. If they draft a pass-rusher, they could always slide Preston Smith or Trent Murphy inside on obvious passing downs, for example. Or if they bring in a linebacker with versatility, the Redskins could align him in various places to help provide more defensive looks.
Here’s why the team wants more help in this area:
Third-down defense. Improving here is a focus at Redskins Park. Washington allowed a staggering 46.6 percent to be converted. The Redskins run defense absolutely must improve, but it’s not as if they were in third-and-short all the time. Of their 208 third-down snaps, 107 occurred when the opposition needed at least 7 yards. Yet opponents converted a staggering 38.3 percent of those tries. That’ll kill many a game (or season).
The Redskins' issues stem from a variety of reasons, including coverages -- both why they were played or how. They hired a new coordinator (Greg Manusky) and a new secondary coach (Torrian Gray) to help. But the problem also stemmed from an inadequate pass rush.
Depth. Outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan recorded 11 sacks and has 34 over the last three years. He’s consistent and productive. But the Redskins need more. Murphy recorded nine sacks, but he’ll be suspended for the first four games. Smith did not develop enough in his second season, and too often a good game was followed by quiet ones. He needs to continue working on a consistent approach. They have Junior Galette, too. But he’s returning after missing two seasons after Achilles injuries to both feet. There’s no guarantee he’ll be the same player. And backup Houston Bates tore his ACL on Dec. 19.
Therefore, the Redskins could use more bodies at this spot. It's like pitching in baseball; you never have enough. Seattle once upon a time was knocked for drafting or signing multiple pass-rushers -- until it led to the Seahawks becoming a top defense. In a league in which teams attempted nearly 5,000 more passes than runs, the desire remains strong to find more players to impact the pass defense.
