If it happens, defense will be the reason.
The Washington Football Team could be the NFL’s next great defense. The team hasn’t had an outstanding defense since the days of Champ Bailey and Darrell Green in the late ’90s and early 2000s. Today, the team has a defensive-minded head coach in Ron Rivera, who had defensive success when he coached the Carolina Panthers from 2011-2018.
In five of those eight seasons, Rivera’s Panthers ranked in the top ten in total yards allowed. In his final four seasons, the team ranked in the top ten twice in total turnovers created.
Last year, the WFT ranked 22nd of 32 teams defensively. This year, it’s 6th. So how has Rivera changed Washington’s defense in his first year as head coach?
WFT’s defensive prowess begins with the defensive end positions. On one side, Washington got an immediate upgrade when it picked Chase Young with the second overall draft choice in the 2020 NFL Draft. One of the most hyped defensive linemen over the past few years, the Ohio State product sacked the quarterback 16.5 times in college and forced six fumbles in his final year in Columbus. With a Pro Football Focus grade of 78.1, the highest of any rookie defensive lineman, Young continues that stellar play as a pro.
But Young doesn’t do it alone. Monster-man Montez Sweat handles the opposite side of WFT’s defensive line. The first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Mississippi State, Sweat ranks in the top 20 in tackles, forced fumbles, and sacks for his position. That translates into a PFF grade of 78.8.
WTF excels on the interior, too. Johnathan Allen, a 2017 first-round pick from Alabama, ranked in the top ten in sacks and solo tackles for his position in both 2018 and 2019. This season, Allen ranks 4th in tackles and has a PFF grade of 81.9. Then there’s Daron Payne, another first-round pick (2018) from Alabama, who’s known for his run-stuffing ability. In 2020, Payne has six stuffs, two forced fumbles, and two sacks.
Keep in mind that all of these defensive line players are young, so imagine what they’ll accomplish as they mature.
Linebacking isn’t as strong, but it has potential. Reuben Foster stands out. Yet another first-round pick (2017, Alabama), Foster’s play has been limited (domestic violence accusations [later dropped] and injuries). Still, Foster had a PFF grade of 81.2 in the only season that he played 10 or more games.
What about WTF’s secondary? The leader is Landon Collins, a three-time pro bowler and one-time 1st team All-Pro. Collins, another 1st round pick (Alabama, 2015), has played strong safety and free safety but is better at free safety. Then there’s cornerback Kendall Fuller, who ranks 4th in INTs this season and has 10 during his pro career (65 games). Cornerback Ronald Darby ranks in the top 15 in passes defended this season, earning a PFF grade of 75.6.
When you put it all together, Washington’s defense has the potential to be one of the league’s dominating defenses for years to come. Solid coaching and shrewd draft picks are the reasons.
