Redskins’ addition of DC Jack Del Rio and Chase Young is perfect synergy

Washington added the best player in the 2020 NFL Draft, as well as arguably the best coach they could get to oversee his formative NFL years.

Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio has had the pleasure of coaching future Hall-of-Fame players like Julius Peppers, Von Miller, and Khalil Mack in his career, so when he raves about the skills that the newest Redskin Chase Young has, you know he means it.

After taking the DC job in D.C., Del Rio knew that he would be inheriting a defensive front-seven that is extremely talented, fit with a defensive line that is littered with first-round draft picks. Now that the 2020 NFL Draft has come and gone, Del Rio is able to count his blessings once again, knowing that he gets to mold Young’s NFL career as well.

“The best toolbox I’ve ever seen coming out of the draft,” Del Rio said, via Redskins.com. “I haven’t seen a guy come out with that many tools. I’ve seen talented players come out, but not with a complete toolbox like he has.”

It’s also comforting for Redskins fans to see the synergy in this pick. While it would have been nice to draft a player of Young’s magnitude any year, the fact that he came to Washington in 2020, when the franchise is in the pivotal stages of a rebuild, is special. With a chance to start fresh, with Bruce Allen and the old regime gone, the Redskins added the best player in the draft, and they arguably have the best coach to oversee his early years. Not only has Del Rio coached great players, but he’s been able to oversee their early years in the NFL, and help them to reach new heights. He was part of the coaching staff who drafted Peppers in Carolina, and he took over in Denver when Miller was in his second season, as he did with Mack in Oakland. All three players had some of their highest single-season sack totals with Del Rio as either their defensive coordinator or head coach.

So will Young be a star in the league, like the rest of those players Del Rio has coached? Well, we can’t say for sure. But we know that he has every tool necessary to succeed.

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Jack Del Rio is apparently no match for McDonald’s 90-minute challenge

A challenge to put away an obscene amount of McDonald’s food in 90 minutes has been circulating, and Del Rio is confident he could do it.

The Washington Redskins’ newest defensive coordinator, Jack Del Rio, has a hunger for winning that is rare to find in the average person. It appears that he may have a hunger for fast food cheeseburgers and ounces of soda that outshines your average Joe as well.

A trend on Twitter was making its way around recently that asked people if they could finish a McDonald’s meal that consists of four double-cheeseburgers, two baskets of fries, 20-plus McNuggets, and four large soft drinks, all in under 90 minutes. Del Rio chimed in, claiming that he could make all of that food disappear in under 20 minutes.

Coming off of a 3-13 season, the Redskins could use this type of hunger on defense. Let’s just hope that the chefs in Redskins Park are cooking up some healthier meals than this one.

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Jack Del Rio and Landon Collins present perfect backbone for Redskins defense

Landon Collins was instantly sold on Del Rio’s coaching ability upon meeting him, and the two can form a solid base for the Redskins’ defense.

It didn’t take long for Washington Redskins safety Landon Collins to be sold on the new coaching staff. After spending a season under defensive coordinator Greg Manusky in his first year with the Redskins, Collins now has the chance to learn from Ron Rivera and Jack Del Rio, two heralded defensive coaches.

And he plans to do just that — learn.

In a conversation with NBC Sports Washington, Collins said that what impressed him the most in his first meeting with Del Rio wasn’t that the heralded DC compared his game to that of Hall of Famer Ray Lewis; rather it was Del Rio’s immediate suggestion that there are a few things Collins could do to better improve his play on the field.

“He said, ‘Now, there are some things I need you to change up in your game,'” Collins explained, via NBC Sports Washington. “And I was like, ‘All right, cool, yeah.’ And that’s what I love about him: He was straightforward with me. Don’t beat around the bush… My best seasons came when I heard that from my coaches.”

As a three-time Pro-Bowler and a First-team All-Pro in 2016, it wouldn’t necessarily be a shock for someone of Collins’ stature to be a bit turned off by Del Rio’s suggestion that he could get better. However, on the contrary, Collins seemed to be rejuvenated by the prospect of taking orders from a new coach and being placed in a new defense.

“I like his defense,” Collins said. “It’s a 4-3 concept. That’s what I think we needed from the get-go with these guys. We have great run stoppers, but these guys want to get upfield and make plays themselves, and stop holding people for the linebackers.”

According to Collins, the marriage between coach and player will start to really take off in Washington, as well, and it will come once success becomes an attainable goal.

“That’s one thing I told coach Del Rio: ‘These guys aren’t going to give up on you,'” he recalled. “I say, ‘I’ve been a part of a team that’s like forget this, their season’s over with after six games.’ These guys finished all 16.”

If Del Rio can be the defensive leader off the field, Collins will make sure his message is heard on the field. It’s hard to imagine a more perfect backbone for a defense to build off of.

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‘Bold Prediction’ says Redskins will have top-5 defense in 2020

With a new coaching staff and stout defensive front, some are calling for the Redskins to have one of the best defenses in the NFL in 2020.

The Washington Redskins have spent their last two months or so doing everything in their power to better the roster, coaching staff, and outlook for the future.

Apparently, they’re doing something right, as some people in the media are starting to look at them as a potentially successful team in 2020 that could end up competing for a playoff spot, should everything go according to plan. With Ron Rivera calling the shots, Jack Del Rio running the defense, and Scott Turner with the offensive controls, the team may be in for an encouraging future.

According to a ‘bold predictions’ piece from The Athletic’s Sheil Kapadia, the Redskins defense might be one of the best in the NFL when all is said and done as well.

Washington has Ron Rivera running the show, and it’s not like the cupboard on defense is bare. It has invested resources in Montez Sweat, Jonathan Allen, Ryan Kerrigan, Daron Payne and Matt Ioannidis. Plus, there’s a good chance they add Ohio State defensive end Chase Young with the second pick. Washington still needs to make moves on the back end, especially at cornerback, but analytical research tells us that defensive efficiency isn’t sticky year to year and new units rise each season. Under Rivera, Washington could have one of the defenses that makes the leap.

Of course, a lot of people thought that the Redskins’ defense was going to be near the top of the league in 2019, and we all saw how that turned out. Who knows, maybe this time it will be different.

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What the Redskins scouting tells us about Brandon Scherff, Ereck Flowers 2020 future

The Redskins may have revealed a plan to keep Brandon Scherff and Ereck Flowers in 2020 by not scouting OL position hard at the Senior Bowl.

As the 2020 offseason starts to ramp up over the next weeks, and teams further delve into their free agency and NFL Draft preparation going ahead, it’s important to parse through the shrouded information we get from teams and try to figure out what they might do when it comes to big personnel decisions.

For the Washington Redskins, there are a number of areas that they need to address over the coming months. We’ve identified those needs as some of the following: Tight End, Wide Receiver, Offensive Line, Backup Quarterback, Cornerback, Linebacker, and Free Safety. Our first chance to see their preparation came last weekend at the 2020 Reese’s Senior Bowl. Ron Rivera, Jack Del Rio, and Scott Turner met with Redskins scouts in Mobile, Ala. to evaluate some talent that they might focus on drafting.

While in Mobile, the Redskins seemingly scoped out players at the TE and WR position, while putting less of a focus on quarterbacks and players on the offensive line. Can we glean anything from this information? Does it tell us anything about a potential draft strategy in Washington?

It just might. Let’s start with the O-line. The fact is, the Redskins are almost at a fork in the road when it comes to putting together their front-five for 2020. They have two guards — Brandon Scherff and Ereck Flowers — who are set to hit free agency this year, both of whom found success in 2019 and have expressed interest in coming back to Washington. Should the Redskins retain them, the continuity and experience in the middle will go a long way towards building a solid front. Likewise, there is the Trent Williams situation to monitor going forward. Williams said that he would “never be a Redskin again” late last year, but the litany of changes Washington has made over the past couple of months might make him reconsider. Should Williams return, the offensive line would become a strength of the team going forward. Of course, there is also a scenario where the Redskins miss out on all three of those players, putting them in a dire situation going forward.

As for the backup QB position, we have Alex Smith to consider. There is not yet a date that he is eyeing for a return to the field, but many people believe that it could be as early as this season, should his recovery continue on the right track. It’s nearly impossible to predict how Smith will look once he returns to the game, due to the severity of his gruesome leg injury, but he could likely be thrown into a quarterback competition with Dwayne Haskins this summer. Should Haskins beat him out for the starting job, Smith would be a great QB2 for the Redskins.

It’s nothing concrete, but during a time where meetings with the media are infrequent, and all you have to go off of is the teams’ actions in public, it’s something. The Redskins have a few major free agency decisions to make going forward, and based on their scouting at the Senior Bowl, it could tell us that some veteran players are around to stay in 2020.

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Chase Young pairing up with Jack Del Rio should be a scary thought for 31 NFL teams

Del Rio has a history of working with some of the best defenders in the NFL, and his opportunity to mold Chase Young should terrify the NFL.

For Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio, much of his time spent coaching in the NFL has involved an elite defense. More than that, much of his time has been spent working with an elite-level pass rusher.

In Carolina with the Panthers, Del Rio was part of the staff when they drafted Julius Peppers with the No. 2 overall pick in 2002. In 2012 with the Denver Broncos, Del Rio showed up a year after the team drafted Von Miller with the No. 2 overall pick in 2011. And just years later in Oakland, Del Rio came in a year after the Raiders drafted Khalil Mack No 5 overall in 2014.

It’s safe to say that Del Rio knows the importance that dominant pass-rushers play on defense.

“Having a guy like Von Miller or a guy like Khalil Mack, who are premier pass-rushers, they put a lot of pressure on the offense and help the defense,” Del Rio said, via ESPN.com. “It all starts for us with the penetrative, disruptive defensive linemen.”

This trend with Del Rio and dominant defensive lineman makes it all but a lock that the Redskins draft Chase Young out of Ohio State with the second overall pick in 2020. Young is thought to be an elite talent, and one of the best defenders to come out of the NCAA in several years. His upside is through the roof, and some are saying he’s a future Hall of Fame player, should he be placed into the right system, and under the right coach.

It’s hard to argue that there’s a more perfect fit than Del Rio. His history at coaching the position speaks for itself — three elite talents at the pass-rushing position, three likely future Hall-of-Famers.

Washington will have the chance to draft the fourth in April.

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Pro Bowler Von Miller offers praise for Redskins DC Jack Del Rio

Von Miller realized some of his best years with Del Rio as his defensive coordinator, and he’s excited for what he can do in Washington.

Ever since Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio was announced in his new position, different stories have been coming out about his past years in the NFL, and encouragement from his former players should have Redskins fans feeling confident.

Most recently, Super Bowl MVP linebacker Von Miller shared some praise for Del Rio, and aimed to let Washington fans know how great of a coach they have on their hands.

“He’s just a great coach,” Miller said, via Redskins.com. “He’s great at getting guys in the right mindset to rush and play football.”

Miller has the first-hand experience of working with Del Rio, as the two were paired together during Von’s early days with the Denver Broncos. Miller was drafted in 2011, a year before Del Rio took the defensive coordinator job in Denver. While Miller has had an incredible career in the NFL, his most productive years came under Del Rio from 2012-14. He had 18.5 sacks in 2012, and 14 in 2014.

Now, with a young and talented defense to work with, the expectations for the Redskins transition back into a competitive team are starting to grow. If Del Rio can implement his gameplan and shape the team the same way in which he’s done with teams past, they will surely turn into one of the better defenses in the league.

“Coach Del Rio will definitely have everyone on that level,” Miller said.

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Jack Del Rio speaks on the impact of defenders like Chase Young

One Redskins coach knows how special an elite pass rusher can be.

New Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio happens to know just how important a good pass rusher is to a successful defense in the NFL.

Naturally, Del Rio is already getting plenty of questions about this because his Redskins are in a position to take Chase Young at No. 2 in the 2020 draft.

“Having a guy like Von Miller or a guy like Khalil Mack, who are premier pass-rushers, they put a lot of pressure on the offense and help the defense,” Del Rio said, according to ESPN’s John Keim. “It all starts for us with the penetrative, disruptive defensive linemen.”

Del Rio has experience with both Miller and Mack, not to mention elite edge players like Julius Peppers. But he’s made it pretty clear he won’t publicly share his opinions on Young from an evaluation standpoint.

While Del Rio has largely stressed speed on defense as his main desire when it comes to adding players and he knows the importance of pass rush, he’s clearly walking quietly here just in case the Redskins decide to go a different direction at No. 2.

But as has been well advertised lately, Del Rio just happens to have a great history of being around when NFL teams draft some historic pass rushers.

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10 NFL teams with new looks for 2020

10 NFL teams with new looks for 2020

 

 

Redskins ‘potential’ doesn’t impress new DC Jack Del Rio

Del Rio knows that the Redskins have a lot of talent on defense, but unless that brings results on the field it doesn’t mean much.

Much has been made about the need for Washington’s offense to take the next step into relevance with such a young core of high-ceiling players, but in order for the team to see instant results, it’s the defense that needs to step up to the plate.

After being projected by some to finish as a top-10 defense in 2019, the Redskins did nothing but disappoint. They finished the year ranked 27th in the NFL when it comes to total yards allowed and total points given up, and they were dead last in the league when it comes to third-down conversions, allowing opposing teams to move the chains 49 percent of the time.

With a stacked defensive line, a young and budding defensive secondary, and a potentially solid core of linebackers, the Redskins have great potential to be good in 2020. However, don’t mention that to Jack Del Rio, the new defensive coordinator in Washington. He doesn’t want to hear anything about potential. All that he cares about is results.

“It’s interesting to me that so much is made this time of year with thoughts on potential, Potential really doesn’t matter,” Del Rio said, via The Athletic.It doesn’t really amount to much. To me, it’s more about what we can get done and the work that we’re willing to put in and the idea that ‘Look, we’re going to become a respected unit, OK?’ We’ve got to learn how to commit to doing what is best for each other and what is best for this football team.”

Del Rio has a point. Montez Sweat and Chase Young have the potential to be a force on the outside, terrorizing opposing quarterbacks, but it doesn’t mean squat if they’re rendered irrelevant by NFL offensive lineman. Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen have had their potential raved about for years now, but until it amounts to something on the field, how much is that helping the Redskins?

“I believe in having a defense that understands where it belongs, that is accountable to each other, that plays hard, that plays fast, that plays physical, that plays tough,” Del Rio said. “That toughness is not just a physical toughness but a mental toughness as well. We have a ways to go, and the communication is going to be important, and the understanding of how we all fit together is going to be important. Those are just some of the principles that I believe in.”

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