Washington Redskins: 3 Things to watch at minicamp
2. The battle at inside linebacker
It’s no secret the Washington Redskins weren’t exactly thrilled with the production they received from the inside linebacker position over the last couple of seasons. While the coaches love both incumbents — Will Compton and Mason Foster —the Redskins needed someone with speed to roam the middle.
Enter Pro Bowl linebacker Zach Brown.
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Brown, who was looking to cash in after a big season last year in Buffalo, signed a one-year deal with the Redskins in March. He offers Washington the type of player who has the speed to roam sideline to sideline and can rush the passer when called upon. Most importantly, Brown can cover tight ends. The Redskins have struggled to cover opposing tight ends in recent years. While it would be easy to assume Brown has one inside spot locked down, that isn’t necessarily true.
Compton, who calls the team signals, is safe at one spot. The Redskins love his smarts, toughness and reliability. Compton is a good tackler and could be even better with a more productive player alongside him. Could Brown be that guy?
Foster was a solid addition for the Redskins two years ago. At times last fall, especially in the Week 17 loss to the Giants, Foster played with reckless abandon and was one of the better players on the field. Unfortunately, Foster is a bit limited and can struggle to get off blocks. He is a good player, but the coaches would obviously like to upgrade.
If Brown adjusts to the defensive scheme fairly quickly, Compton and Foster could end up competing for the other spot at one point. For right now, all three players will rotate. It will be interesting to see how much time Brown gets with the starters at this week’s minicamp.