Washington Redskins: Preston Smith a versatile force

By Andrew Long | May 1, 2015

The Washington Redskins opted to use their first round pick in the 2015 NFL draft on Brandon Scherff, a powerful offensive tackle from Iowa. After shoring up the offensive line in the first round, Scot McCloughan, Washington’s general manager, decided to bolster the defensive line by selecting pass-rusher Preston Smith out of Mississippi State with their second round pick.

Like they did by selecting Scherff in the first round, the Redskins went with another safe, non-sexy pick. The 6-5, 271-pound Smith is a capable force against the run. His size makes him ideal at outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, or a defensive end in a traditional 4-3 defense.

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It’s not a secret that the Redskins are attempting to get bigger, and more physical in the trenches. Prior to the draft, McCloughan had this to say in an interview with the media on Redskins TV, “I think it’s a big man’s game, and I think size and strength and like I said passion, toughness is very important up front. If you can control the line of scrimmage on either side, it’s a pretty good start.”

Up until this point in the draft, McCloughan and company have stuck to this mantra. First with Scherff, and now with Preston Smith.

In Washington’s defense, Smith will probably be bounced around. He’ll likely spend first down playing the role of outside linebacker, and then shift to the defensive end position in nickel and dime situations – this is typical for edge-rushers in hybrid defensive schemes.

Smith’s versatility is a big selling point, and I believe that it played a role in Washington’s decision making at the top of the second round. Like I mentioned earlier, he is more than capable of stuffing the run, and his long, powerful arms allow him to wrap up the opposition with relative ease. While Smith is very good against the run, his productivity doesn’t stop there. He can also make an impact in the passing game.

Smith spent some time playing in space in college, but his real draw in passing situations is his ability to create pressure and fluster opposing quarterbacks. Over the past three seasons, he has accumulated a total of 27 sacks and 127 tackles for a loss. Those statistics are solid, but it’s truly impressive when you realize that a vast majority of those numbers were posted last season.

During his senior season at Mississippi State, Smith finished with 48 tackles, 15 tackles for a loss, and 9 sacks. His tackle for loss and sack totals led all Mississippi State defenders. It’s worth noting that he grabbed two interceptions for the Bulldogs last year, one of which he took the other way for a touchdown.

Overall, I think it was a smart selection for the Redskins. Washington had a need for an edge-rusher opposite of Ryan Kerrigan, Smith can be that guy. He plays well against the run and is good against the pass, too. I think he’ll need some time to develop his skills, but I believe that Smith can make the transition from college to the pros.

Next: Redskins draft: A new Scherff in town

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