The Washington Redskins currently possess a solid group of pass-rushers on their roster. It’s possible that general manager Scot McCloughan will draft additional players this spring to aid the position as well.
With that being said, I believe that the Washington Redskins should at least consider shifting Pro Bowl outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan inside to man the inside linebacker position opposite of Will Compton. This isn’t a knock on Kerrigan’s ability, but more so a compliment to his talent as a football player and leader. The Redskins haven’t had a reliable veteran presence in the middle of their defense since London Fletcher was with the team, and I believe Kerrigan possesses the ability and intelligence to thrive in such a role.
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The only reason that such a shift is possible is because of the depth that the team has as at the outside linebacker positions. Preston Smith was easily one of the biggest steals of the 2015 NFL draft, as he led all rookie players with eight sacks on the year. Trent Murphy has shown flashes of ability, but he might be better suited as a change of pace player. Ultimately, though, much of the decision will hinge on Junior Galette‘s ability to return to speed after suffering a torn Achilles.
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If Galette can return to form, I believe that the Redskins would have enough talent at the outside linebacker position to push Kerrigan inside. Galette, when healthy, is a player that is capable of posting double digit sack numbers. The 27-year-old outside linebacker registered 12 sacks in 2013 and 10 in 2014 before missing the entirety of the 2015 season. Pairing a healthy Galette with the up and coming Preston Smith would provide Washington with a talented pair of bookend pass-rushers.
Smith and Galette, in my opinion, are capable of supplying the Redskins with an ample pass-rush off the edge. The amount of talent that Washington has at outside linebacker should allow for them to shift Kerrigan inside. This would ensure that the Redskins have all of their best pass-rushers on the field at once, with Kerrigan applying interior pressure.
Kerrigan has accumulated a total of 47.5 sacks over the course of his five-year career, which averages out to 9.5 sacks per season. Clay Matthews, an outside linebacker that shifted to inside linebacker, has similar numbers, as he reaches the quarterback an average of 9.6 times per season.
It’s likely that Kerrigan’s sack totals would decrease – Matthews’ sack total dropped from 11 in 2014 to 6.5 sacks in 2015. Inside linebackers don’t rush the quarterback nearly as often, which results in their sack totals being lower. Although inside linebackers don’t often secure a high volume of sacks, they are known for registering boatloads of tackles.
Kerrigan’s ability to pursue and wrap up opposing players is an impressive aspect of his game, and it’s something that I believe would help him transition to inside linebacker. The Washington Redskins struggled mightily against the run in 2015 and their ability to secure runners at the point of attack had a lot to do with that.
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I firmly believe that Kerrigan would improve the Redskins run defense, as it’s not often a runner gets away from his grasp. In addition to that, he’s an extremely smart football player that possesses the leadership qualities that coaches and general managers crave.
In this scenario, Washington’s starting linebackers would consist of Preston Smith, Ryan Kerrigan, Will Compton, and Junior Galette. Being able to field your best players is important, and, in my opinion, this is the best way for the Redskins to do so. Their outside pass-rush wouldn’t suffer, while their interior run defense and pass-rush would likely improve. Of course, no team in this day and age can have enough pass rushers and that could be a priority in the draft as well.