The Washington Redskins surprisingly won the NFC East last season, and they're looking to build on that performance with another great season in 2016. The moves they've made and will make this offseason will determine how likely determine if Washington can make the playoffs for a second straight year, and head coach Jay Gruden gave some insight on the team during the NFL owners meetings this week. Here are three things we learned about the Redskins from him:
3) Redskins are "concerned" about safety depth, targeting one in draft
Washington only as three safeties that are available to play in Duke Ihenacho, David Bruton Jr. and DeAngelo Hall. Gruden admitted that their depth at the position is "a little challenging" right now, suggesting that they'll look to remaining free agents and to the draft to fix the problem. One possibility is the team re-signing Dashon Golson, who was released early in March due to the size of his contract.
“We haven’t shut the door yet on Dashon,” Gruden said. “I know there’s been some talks with him also. So that’s [Scot McCloughan’s] and Eric Schaffer’s doing right in there and we’ll have to wait and see what happens with him.”
Golson had 139 tackles with one interception, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble last season.
2) Washington could still add another tight end
Jordan Reed has cemented his spot as the starter at tight end for the Redskins, but Washington still has four other tight ends (Niles Paul, Logan Paulsen, Derek Carrier and Marcel Jensen) on their roster. That may seem like a lot, but Gruden says the team could add another player to the mix.
“We have some guys to pick, it’s just a matter of finding out the healthy ones,” Gruden said. “Niles and Carrier can’t practice and all you have is Jensen and really Logan and Jordan, and we want to take care of Jordan obviously. It’s rough.
“You can either dress a fourth tight end-fullback or dress three tight ends – one of those tight ends can play some fullback. Then you can open up another spot for either a sixth wide receiver possibly, or a special teams guy, maybe a third quarterback if you need one, a fourth running back or some defensive players, an extra corner or special teams player.”
1) Gruden wants Kirk Cousins to "work on everything"
Quarterback Kirk Cousins had a breakout season under Gruden in his first full season as the starter, creating the thought that he could be Washington's long-term answer at quarterback. Gruden is certainly happy with how Cousins has performed, but he said he's not satisfied with where Cousins' game is at right now.
“As a quarterback you have to consistently work on your fundamentals on the time: footwork, your drops, all that stuff, you can never stop working your fundamentals ever,” Gruden said. “The one thing he’s going to continue to do vigilantly is study the game, study formations, study plays, study concepts vs. different defenses, blitz patterns, how to pick them up at the line of scrimmage, the audibles, change of protections at the line, I think he’s going to continue to study the game from a mental standpoint – but from a physical standpoint it’s footwork, throwing the ball, taking care of your body.”
Cousins received the team's franchise tag that will pay him $20 million this season while the two sides try to work out a long-term deal, but Gruden doesn't think that will affect his quarterback.
“I think he’s excited about it, ready to show again that he’s worth it,” Gruden said. “That’s what happens when you sign a deal like this – it’s one thing being a fourth round pick and you come in as a backup and, ‘OK, I did this.’ Now all of a sudden when as you’re trying to establish yourself as one of the top five guys in the NFL, now you have a little bit more pressure on yourself to perform, and he knows that.”
Back to the Washington Commanders Newsfeed