The Washington Redskins have carried a continued focus of making their Offensive Line one of the team’s strengths ever since Bill Callahan was hired two season ago. Callahan has put together a pretty tough unit through dedication and long hours on the practice field. The offensive line group is routinely the last unit on the field, day in, and day out after practice.
When Callahan was hired, he promised to return the team back to the days of ‘The Hogs’. While they haven’t quite become the best in the business yet, they have become a top five group in the league.
All positions accounted for but one
The Redskins are in a position of comfort in terms of how they feel about their offensive line. The group gave up the fourth least amount of sacks in the league last year, and continued to improve in rushing situations as well. The problem with Washington running the ball in 2016 was all in the play-calling and situations of the game.
For the second straight season, the Washington Redskins will enter draft time knowing they will not need to draft a starter on the offensive line. The team is currently set with a starter at every position but one, where an on-going question mark still lingers at left guard. While 6-3, 315 pound Shawn Lauvao is listed as the starter, the Redskins have expressed interest in upgrading the position on more than one occasion.
The team could save around $4 million by releasing Lauvao.
The original idea was for 6-5, 324 pound Spencer Long to take over at left guard when Kory Lichensteiger returned from injury, but Long had to stay at the position when Kory never came back. Now that Lichtensteiger has retired, it will interesting to see if the team looks to draft a center or another guard who can play both positions.
Lauvao will still have 6-5, 315 pound Arie Kouandjio to contend with on the depth chart. Kouandjio played well when called on for two starts last season, and could be positioned to take Lauvao’s starting spot with a good showing at training camp this summer.
Virtually everyone on the planet that knows football, realizes that Washington is set at left tackle with the 6-5, 320 pound Trent Williams.
What many don’t know though, is his backup could start on a lot of teams as well. The 6-8, 325 pound Ty Nsekhe will turn 32 midway through the 2017 season, but has only been in the NFL for three years, having all six of his starts in Washington. Nsekhe may be the biggest bargain in the entire league with a salary of $690,000 in 2017. He’s the universal replacement on the o-line at tackle but 6-4, 311 pound Vinston Painter is the guy who would come in next for emergency situations. The 27-year old Painter played good in the five games he appeared in during the 2016 season with Washington, not giving up any sacks.
The right side of the Redskins line has been the same for two solid seasons with 6-5, 320 pound right guard Brandon Scherff, and 6-6, 314 pound right tackle Morgan Moses starting all 16 games.
The two combine to make up one of the most dominant right sides of any line in professional football.
Washington also has 6-9, 335 pound Kevin Bowen (23) and 6-3, 295 pound Isaiah Williams on the practice squad at tackle.
The backbone of the offense
The Redskins offensive line is one of the top strengths of Washington’s entire roster. Trent Williams is routinely in the discussion for the Pro Bowl and All Pro teams, while Scherff and Moses are starting to get recognized as well. Scherff was elected to the Pro Bowl last year, but decided not to attend so he could heal up some lingering injury issues from the season.
The Redskins could look to add a guard on draft day who can also play center if needed. LSU’s 6-6, 310 pound Ethan Pocic, Ohio State’s 6-3, 303 pound Pat Elfein, Utah’s 6-3, 325 pound Isaac Asiata or Clemson’s 6-3, 325 pound Jay Guillermo could be on their wish list if available.
