Washington Redskins 2019 Season Preview
Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Posted on 7/18/2019.
Washington Redskins Free Agency Recap
Washington got Case Keenum in Free Agency hoping to find a stop gap at quarterback. Former New York Giants Ereck Flowers and Landon Collins signed with one of the Giants biggest NFC East Rivals known as the Washington Redskins.
Washington Redskins Draft Recap
The Redskins got three potential immediate starters. Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins is the future for the Washington Redskins. He may be the present if he can win a starting job with the Washington Redskins. Mississippi State pass rusher Montez Sweat is also projected to start right away next to Ryan Kerrigan. Washington appears to have hit on both of their first round picks. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin out of Ohio State may end up winning a starting receiver job too after being a 2019 third round pick.
The Redskins got some depth on day 3 of the 2019 NFL Draft as well. Indiana left guard Wes Martin, a 2019 fourth round pick is the backup left guard. Martin could start right away if Trent Williams is traded. Alabama center Ross Pierschbacher a 2019 fifth round pick is the backup center. North Carolina linebacker Cole Holcolmb is a backup 3-4 middle linebacker to Jon Bostic heading into training camp. North Carolina State wide receiver Kelvin Harmon was a steal in the sixth round and while he's a backup, he could surpise in training camp. Washington had one of their best drafts in years with their 2019 NFL Draft.
Washington Redskins Quarterback Summary: Washington has three quality quarterbacks. Alex Smith is on injured reserve and will most likely retire since he's getting older and will miss the entire 2019 NFL Season. Dwayne Haskins, Case Keenum, and Colt McCoy are all competing for the starting job. Odds are that Keenum or Haskins will be taking snaps under center come week 1. Personally, I feel like Haskins has more upside, but Keenum may be more ready right now.
Head Coach Jay Gruden has experience developing quarterback He's effective, but I'm not sure you can label him an elite coach yet. Kevin O'Connell got promoted from quarterback coach when Washington hired him in 2017, to passing game coordinator in 2018, to offensive coordinator in 2019. If Dwayne Haskins wins rookie of the year, then Kevin O'Connell could emerge as a potential head coaching candidate next offseason. Tim Rattay takes over as the new quarterbacks coach.
Washington Redskins Running Back Summary: Washington will impliment a two running back set with some of their plays. Adrian Peterson will be back and Derrius Guice will be fully healthy after missing his rookie season with an injury. Randy Jordan did well enough to retain his job as the running backs coach with the Washington Redskins.
Washington Redskins Wide Receiver Summary: Washington has moved on from Pierre Garcon, DeSean Jackson, and Terrell Pryor in the last two years. This team chews up and spits out wide receivers. They signed Paul Richardson from Seattle to replace Terrell Pryor which did not work. Josh Doctson their 2016 first round pick is projected to be the #2 option with rookie Terry McLaughin taking over as the slot receiver. There may not be depth after those three receivers, but wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard needs to step up in his second season since both Paul Richardson and Josh Doctson underperformed in 2018.
Washington Redskins Tight End Summary: Jordan Reed should have another big year. Vernon Davis is a serviceable backup tight end. Washington has two quality tight ends so they can impliment a two tight end set or a one tight end set with Reed. Tight ends coach Brian Angelichio enters his first season as the tight ends coach with the Washington Redskins.
Washington Redskins Offensive Line Summary: Trent Williams should be able to anchor left tackle with right tackle Morgan Moses if both offensive tackles stay healthy. Left guard Ereck Flowers is expendable. Brandon Scherff rounding out what is a good offensive line. Chase Roullier, the former Wyoming offensive lineman did well at center. Washington got depth on their interior offensive line with backup left guard Wes Martin and backup center Ross Pierschbacher.
Bill Callahan did so well in his first year as offensive line coach that he already got promoted to assistant head coach if Jay Gruden were to get fired at some point which is highly unlikely given Washington's situation.
The Redskins kept most of their offensive coaches. They replaced Kirk Cousins with Alex Smith before replacing Alex Smith with either Case Keenum or Dwayne Haskins to be announced via Redskins training camp. Washington has the tools to be a top 15 offense in every category as long as they do not trade their blindside who wants out in left tackle Trent Williams. If Williams gets dealt, Ereck Flowers moves back to left tackle which forces a rookie fourth round pick into a left guard spot which really ruins the synergy of the offensive line.
Washington Redskins Defensive Line Summary: Washington's defensive line consists of Jonathan Allen at 3-4 right end, Da'Ron Payne at nose tackle, and Matt Iodannis at 3-4 left end. This defensive line is a fantastic unit and will make a huge difference. Jim Tomsula was a terrible head coach. He was a great defensive line coach and is an upgrade over anyone on this staff. Tomsula retained his job as the defensive line coach. I expect this to be a strength once again in 2019.
Washington Redskins Linebacker Summary: Ryan Kerrigan is starting at 3-4 right outside linebacker. Ryan Kerrigan had 11 sacks in 2016, 13 sacks in 2017, and 13 sacks in 2018 making him the leader of Washington's defense off the edge. Kerrigan has recorded 37 of his 84.5 career sacks in the past three seasons and is arguably more consistent off the edge then anyone in the entire NFL. Rookie Montez Sweat compliments him at 3-4 left outside linebacker and is a better edge player coming out of Mississippi State then former Bulldog Preston Smith who signed with the Green Bay Packers. Then you got Pernell McPhee and Ryan Anderson, Washington's 2017 second round pick as guys on your roster at outside linebacker for depth making Washington incredibly deep at this position. Washington's two 3-4 middle linebackers are Jon Bostic and Mason Foster. Shaun Dion Hamilton and Cole Holcolmb are the backup 3-4 middle linebackers.
Washington promoted their outside linebackers coach Greg Manusky to defensive coordinator. This tells me that Washington will be way more aggressive and blitz way more than usual with their depth at 3-4 outside linebacker. Manusky had a great influence and authority on this defense. He showed he is a mentor and father figure to the players on this football team with his leadership and passion. Teams have interviewed Manusky about a head coaching position the last two seasons based on his schemes, but with Washington not winning games he's performed effective enough to remain the defensive coordinator with the Washington Redskins.
Washington Redskins Defensive Backs Summary: Washington may have their best cornerback tandem in years. Josh Norman will be the teams #1 field cornerback. Fabian Moreau is now the boundary cornerback with the Washington Redskins after being the nickel cornerback for his first two seasons in Washington. If Moreau struggles this year, then he is not someone Washington should extend. Former Virginia Tech cornerbacks Adonis Alexander and Greg Stroman are pushing each other for the nickel cornerback job in the nations capital with the loser likely being a reserve corner and a corner that is used sparingly in dime packages. You have Landon Collins starting at strong safety with DeShazor Everett at free safety. You also got Montae Nicholson as a backup strong safety and Troy Apke as a backup free safety.
Torrian Gray is Washington's defensive backs coach. He was a defensive backs coach at Virginia Tech where he helped develop numerous guys like Brandon Flowers, Kam Chancellor, Kyle Fuller, Kyshoen Jarrett, Kendall Fuller, Brandon Facyson, and Adonis Alexander. Gray enters his second season with the Washington Redskins.
Washington has their best defense in years. This team may have a top 10 defense on their hands if everyone is healthy.
Washington Redskins Special Teams Summary: Dustin Hopkins has remained the starting kicker with Washington. Tress Way is the punter. Greg Stroman takes over as the return specialist for kick returns and punt returns. Their special teams coordinator is Ben Kotwica who enters his fourth season with Washington as their special teams coordinator.
Washington Redskins Worst Case Scenario: The Washington Redskins go 4-12 due to trading Trent Williams. As a result they finish last in the NFC East Division.
Washington Redskins Best Case Scenario: Washington goes 12-4. Everyone stays healthy, Dwayne Haskins wins the starting job, and the Washington Redskins somehow take the NFC East by surprise in 2019.
Washington Redskins 2019 NFL Schedule
Week |
Date |
Opponent |
Time |
Cable Network |
Result |
Week 1 |
September 8 |
AT  |
1 PM EST |
FOX |
L |
Week 2 |
September 15 |
VS  |
1 PM EST |
CBS |
L |
Week 3 |
September 23 |
VS  |
8:15 PM EST |
FOX |
L |
Week 4 |
September 29 |
AT  |
1 PM EST |
FOX |
L |
Week 5 |
October 6 |
VS  |
1 PM EST |
ESPN |
L |
Week 6 |
October 13 |
AT  |
1 PM EST |
FOX |
L |
Week 7 |
October 20 |
VS  |
1 PM EST |
FOX |
L |
Week 8 |
October 24 |
AT  |
8:20 PM EST |
FOX |
L |
Week 9 |
November 3 |
AT  |
1 PM EST |
FOX |
L |
Week 10 |
|
Bye Week |
|
|
|
Week 11 |
November 17 |
VS  |
1 PM EST |
CBS |
L |
Week 12 |
November 24 |
VS  |
1 PM EST |
FOX |
W |
Week 13 |
December 1 |
AT  |
1 PM EST |
ESPN |
W |
Week 14 |
December 8 |
AT  |
1 PM EST |
FOX |
L |
Week 15 |
December 15 |
VS |
1 PM EST |
FOX |
W |
Week 16 |
December 22 |
VS |
1 PM EST |
FOX |
W |
Week 17 |
December 29 |
AT |
1 PM EST |
FOX |
L |
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