The BBH/Big Hitter's Scouting Report: Washington Defense

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Washington Defense

Defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio was a smash-mouth linebacker who played 11 seasons in the NFL. Now a 26-year veteran coach, Del Rio brings his rough-and-tumble attitude to the Washington defense. Del Rio most always utilizes four down linemen, averaging 1.97 defensive tackles and 2.19 DE/edge players per snap. An old school 4-3 coach, Del Rio now runs a modified 4-2-5 set that replaces the third linebacker with a third safety. As such, Washington averages just 1.72 linebackers/snap but 2.59 safeties/snap (and 2.53 CBs/snap). Del Rio likes to pass rush with a four man front and drop seven into a zone Cover 2 shell. That said, Washington will attack the quarterbacks from multiple angles. Year-to-date, linebackers have rushed the passer 82 snaps, led by Jamin Davis with 48. Safeties have pass rushed 21 times and corners 14, yielding a back seven pass rush rate of 29%. Subtract out the 45 instances where D linemen dropped back into zone coverage, and the result is a 5+ man blitz average of 18%.

Statistically, Washington's defense is 8th in yards/game (310.0 Y/G) and 10th in points (19.7 PPG). They have the 8th best run defense (108.4 Y/G), allowing 4.4 yards/carry (tied for 15th). Washington has the 10th best pass defense (201.1 Y/G) and the 4th best completion against percentage (60.1 %). Washington has allowed 17 touchdown passes, tied for 27th worst, and has 7 interceptions (tied 19th). They have 30 sacks (tied 11 best) for minus 221 yards (8th best). They have allowed the eighth least first downs, 207, a number more impressive given that they have played one more game than most teams. Their third-down defense, an impressive 33.3%, is the league's 4th best; the fourth-down defense is 8/17. Washington's defense has committed 63 penalties (20th) for 524 yards (21st). The opposition shows a run/pass ratio of 42.5%.

Defensive Line

Much like the Giants, the strength of the Washington defense begins at defensive tackle. Starters Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne are both former first-round picks from Alabama. Allen, the #17 overall pick in 2017, was a 2021 Pro Bowl selection. Give his year-to-date play, I would expect a return trip. Allen, a 3-tech who has taken 614 of a possible 739 defensive snaps (83%), has recorded 45 tackles (32 solo), 14 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 3 passes defended, 1 interception, 16 quarterback hits, and 1 forced fumble. Allen earns PFF grades of 62.6 in run defense, 87.4 in pass rush, 61.8 in coverage (five drop backs), and 82.3 overall, ranking #10 of 125 qualifying defensive tackles. Payne, the #13 overall pick in 2018, is more of a nose tackle. A durable player, Payne has played 633 (86%) of the defensive snaps. Year-to-date, Payne has 47 tackles (20 solo), 13 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 5 PDs, 14 QB hits, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 safety. Payne, strong in pass rush, has been a bit soft against the run. He shows PFF grades of 43.0(run)/70.3(pass rush), 57.4(overall), ranking 68 of 125. Rookie John Ridgeway, a fifth-round pick from Arkansas, has not played particularly well. With 185 defensive snaps, Ridgeway has 12 tackles (4 solo) with 1 pass defended. He grades a terrible 29.9 against the run, 50.5 in pass rush, 41.3 overall, ranking 109 out of 125.

All-World defensive end/edge rusher Chase Young suffered a devastating ACL injury in 2021 and has yet to play in 2022. Young, designated to return on November 02, did practice this week, with his participation listed as "limited." Although it is possible that Young sees action this Sunday, it seems more likely he will sit this game out, work though the upcoming bye week, and play two weeks hence vs the Giants in Washington. Montez Sweat, who would start opposite Young, is having a terrific year. The 2019 first-round pick from Mississippi State has played 528 (71%) of the defensive snaps, registering 35 tackles (22 solo), 11 TFL, 7.0 sacks, and 2 passes defended. Sweat grades 81.2(run defense)/81.1(pass rush)/88.2(overall), ranking 6th out of 120 qualifying DE/edge rushers. James Smith-Williams has been the primary starter opposite Sweat. A 2020 seventh-round pick from N.C. State, Smith-Williams has played 414 (56%) of the defensive snaps. Year-to-date, Smith-Williams has 22 tackles (11 solo), 4 TFL, 2.0 sacks, 1 PD, and 13 QB hits. He grades 61.2(run)/57.4(pass rush)/60.5(overall), ranking 81 out of 120.

The primary backup DEs are Casey Toohill, a 2020 seventh-round pick from Stanford, and Efe Obada, a 2015 UDFA (no college). Toohill, who has played 233 (32%) of the defensive snaps, has 15 tackles (6 solo), 2 TFL, 5 QB hits, and 2 fumble recoveries. Toohill grades 61.9(run)/56.4(pass rush)/73.4(coverage, on 11 drop backs)/65.6(overall) ranking 59 of 120. Obada, with 265 (36%) of the snaps, has 17 tackles (8 solo), 3 TFL, 3.0 sacks, 1 PD, and 7 QB hits. Obada grades 53.3(run)/60.1(pass rush)/56.9(overall), ranking 88 of 120. Third-tier backup Daniel Wise, a 2019 UDFA from Kansas, has played 92 defensive snaps. Wise has 1 solo tackle while grading 44.9(run)/56.7(pass rush)/46.8(overall). Shaka Toney, a 2021 seventh-round pick from Penn State, is a specialty teams ace who has taken 51 defensive snaps. At 6'2"/238, Toney is more sized as an outside linebacker but is listed as an edge on the Washington depth chart. Toney currently has 6 tackles (4 solo), with 1 TFL, with PFF defensive grades pf 74.8(run)/56.5(pass rush)/72.2(overall). 

Linebackers

Middle linebacker Cole Holcomb was having a solid season before suffering a Week 8 foot injury. He has since been placed on IR. Prior to the injury, Holcomb, a "cleanup artist" type linebacker, had 69 tackles (37 solo), 1 TFL 1 PD, and 1 QB hit. Holcomb earned PFF grades of 69.4(run defense)/67.0(coverage)/45.2(pass rush)/66.6(overall), ranking #34 of 83 qualifying inside linebackers. Holcomb's replacement has been 31-year-old veteran (and former second round pick) Jon Bostic. Bostic, who had previously been used primarily on special teams, has been, as a defensive starter, at best mediocre. To date, in 179 snaps, Bostic has 18 tackles (8 solo) while grading 50.7(run)/55.4(coverage)/51.7(pass rush)/50.9(overall). The SAM linebacker, 2021 first-round pick Jamin Davis, is solid and improving. Davis, who has played 596 (81%) of the defensive snaps, has 68 tackles (44 solo), 6 TFL, 3.0 sacks, 1 PD, 5 QB hits, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery. Davis grades 64.6(run)/45.2(coverage)/70.4(pass rush)/55.9(overall), ranking #57 of 83 qualifying linebackers. Davis is by far Washington's top blitzer, having rushed the quarterback 48 times.

The remaining backup linebackers are all primarily specialty team players. Former Giant David Mayo has 177 ST and 45 defensive snaps. He has 6 tackles (2 solo) while earning an overall defensive grade of 52.3. Milo Eifler, who has missed time with a hamstring injury, has played 88 ST snaps but only 6 defensive snaps. Kaleke Hudson, who has 169 ST snaps, has only 2 defensive snaps. Both Eifler and Hudson have 2 tackles apiece.

Cornerbacks

Kendall Fuller, a 2016 third-round pick from Virginia Tech, has developed into a solid edge corner. The 27-year-old Fuller, who has played 732 of a possible 739 snaps, has 41 tackles (31 solo), 1 TFL, 11 passes defended, and 2 interceptions. Fuller's PFF grades are 64.4(coverage)/69.9(run defense)/32.8(pass rush)/66.3(overall), ranking #45 of 121 qualifying cornerbacks. Fuller's fellow starter, Benjamin St-Juste, missed last week's Atlanta game with an ankle injury and has been ruled OUT for Sunday's Giants game. Prior to injury, St-Juste, a 2021 third-round pick from Minnesota, had 38 tackles (31 solo), 1 TFL, 1.0 sacks, 7 PDs, 2 QB hits, and 1 forced fumble. St-Juste's PFF grades are 63.3(coverage)/48.2(run defense)/85.1(pass rush)/59.8(overall), ranking #68 of 121. Playing in St-Juste's spot last week was rookie Christian Holmes, a seventh-round pick from Oklahoma State. Holmes, who had just 6 previous defensive snaps, played reasonably well against Atlanta, playing 55 of 57 defensive snaps. On the season, including STs, Holmes has 7 tackles (3 solo) and 1 fumble recovery. His PFF defensive grades are 63.2(coverage)/39.3(run defense)/51.6(overall).

Outside of Holmes, Washington has limited options at cornerback. In early November, they traded the disappointing William Jackson III, a former #1 of the Texans, to the Steelers for a seventh-round draft pick. Jackson, who in 2021 signed a three-year/$40.5 million dollar free agent contract, had played poorly this year. Following his poor play in the Week 5 loss to Tennessee, Williams was benched, resulting in his demand for a trade. Following the trade, second-year corner Rachad Wildgoose, a sixth-round pick from Wisconsin, benefitted the most from Jackson's demise. Wildgoose saw his playing time through Week 10 increase to 193 defensive snaps. That said, Wildgoose did not play well and has not taken a defensive snap in either of the past 2 games. On the season, Wildgoose has 15 tackles (11 solo) with 3 PDs. He grades 53.4(coverage)/40.3(run defense)/54.5(pass rush)/50.1(overall). One more CB option is Danny Johnson, a 2018 UDFA from Sothern U. Year-to-date, Johnson, with 63 defensive snaps, has 5 tackles (3 solo) and one PD. He grades 62.1/67.1/51.0/62.5.

Safeties

Kamren Curl, a third-year player out of Arkansas, is the starting strong safety. Just a seventh-round pick, Curl has developed into a pleasant surprise. Curl is capable both up tight to the line-of-scrimmage and deep off the line in Cover 2. When Washington stacks the LOS against the Giants' run game, expect Curl to he the eighth man in the box. On the season, Curl, with 598 (81%) of the defensive snaps, has 65 tackles (46 solo), 5 TFL, and 1.0 sacks. Probably a bit over-graded by PFF, Curl earns scores of 81.7(coverage)/82.6(run support)/63.9(pass rush)/84.8(overall), ranking #3 of 88 qualifying safeties. Starting at free safety is second year player Darrick Forrest. Much like Curl, Forrest, a fifth-round pick from Cincinnati, was a great find; also, like Curl, I find Forrest's PFF grades a bit high. On the season, in 545 (74%) defensive snaps, Forrest has 61 tackles (41 solo), 1 TFL, 6 PDs, 3 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery. His PFF grades are 81.4(coverage)/63.3(run support)/49.9(pass rush)/77.1(overall), ranking #7 of 88.

Washington DC Jack Del Rio prefers a safety, rather than a corner, to play the nickel back spot. This season, that role has been filled by veteran Bobby McClain. Somewhat the WFT's version of Julian Love, McClain fills multiple roles in the secondary, playing both slot corner and deep safety in Covers 2 and 3.  Expect to see McClain aligned deep when Curl moves into the box as run support. Originally a 2015 fifth-round pick of the Dolphins, McClain rarely comes off the field, having played 707 (96%) of the defensive snaps. On the season, McClain has 55 tackles (38 solo), 2 TFL, 4 PDs, and 1 QB hit. He grades 63.4(coverage)/34.0(run support)/57.9(pass rush)/56.2(overall), ranking 67 of 88 qualifying safeties. Elsewise, Washington has a second corner/safety hybrid in rookie Percy Butler. A seventh-round pick from Louisiana-Lafayette, Butler, with 39 defensive snaps, has 3 tackles (2 solo) and 1 fumble recovery. Butler grades 57.2(coverage)/44.6(run support)/50.9(overall). Jeremy Reeves, a 2018 UDFA from S. Alabama, did take 25 early season defensive snaps but has since played only on special teams. Clearly an ST ace, Reeves has 13 tackles (10 solo). His defensive grades are 64.9/63.8/68.7.

Special Teams

Washington's primary return man, Dax Milne, missed last week's Atlanta game with a foot injury and has been RULED OUT for Sunday. On the season, Milne, who has split kickoff duties with Antonio Gibson, has returned 12 kickoffs for 246 yards, 20.5 Y/R, with a long of 33 yards. Milne had been the sole punt returner, returning 30 punts for 233 yards, 7.8 Y/R, with a long of 19 and 14 fair catches. With Milne out, Gibson will handle all kickoff duties. On the year, Gibson has 13 returns for 327 yards, 25.2 Y/R, with a long of 45 yards. To return punts, Washington elevated Alex Erickson from the practice squad. The veteran Erickson, a long-time Bengal,  Erickson took over PR duties vs Atlanta but did not return a punt.

Joey Slye, a veteran journeyman, is Washington's kicker. Year-to-date, Slye is 18/20 on field goals, including 3/3 on 50+, and is 17/19 on extra points. Veteran Tress Way remains Washington's punter. Year-to-date, Way has 60 punts for a 47.3 gross average, a 43.7 net average, with 20 fair catches, 26 kicks inside the 20, and a return average of 6.1 Y/R.