Smalltalk » There really seem to be two big questions facing

Alabama defender requirement met"WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Looks Like Someone Has A Sixpack Of The MondaysDaily SlopRedskins RecapsEDTShareTweetShareShareNFL Draft 2019: Alabama LB Mack Wilson visited the RedskinsNelson Chenault-USA TODAY SportsThe Redskins have been stocking up on Alabama defenders recently and that trend could continue in this year's draft. Washington was one of several teams that LB Mack Wilson visited pre-draft. The Redskins will have two former Alabama ILBs on the roster this year with last year's 6th round pick Shaun Dion-Hamilton looking like a steal. Reuben Foster is not getting suspended after he was claimed on waivers following his release from the 49ers for a domestic violence incident where charges were dropped. Washington also just picked up safety Landon Collins Womens Bryce Love Jersey , and third-year OLB Ryan Anderson could be starting this season. The Redskins also have the Alabama Wall, defensive linemen Jonathan Allen and DaRon Payne.Do the Redskins need Mack Wilson this season? He will likely be gone in the 2nd round which would be a high pick for another ILB, but Wilson is a very good player who would be with the team for years. Foster has dealt with shoulder injuries during his career, and Dion-Hamilton has his own injury history. Wilson is a young, talented player who can be depth early, and be a starter when needed.NFL.com Draft profile Unsurprisingly, Jay Gruden said that there was no update on Trent:"There is no update on Trent."Interestingly, the last question of his Thursday press conference was about which position group..." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHogs Haven homepageHorizontal - WhiteHogs Havena Washington Redskins communityFollow Hogs Haven online:Follow Hogs Haven on TwitterFollow Hogs Haven on FacebookLog in or sign upLog InSign UpSite searchSearchSearchHogs Haven main menuFanpostsFanshotsSectionsRedskinsMastheadOddsShopCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 321 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Looks Like Someone Has A Sixpack Of The MondaysDaily SlopRedskins RecapsEDTShare this storyShare this on FacebookShare this on TwitterShareAll sharing optionsShareAll sharing options for:Jay Gruden is clearly worried about the offensive line, with good reasonTwitterFacebookRedditPocketFlipboardEmailPhoto by John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty ImagesUnsurprisingly, Jay Gruden said that there was no update on Trent:Interestingly, the last question of his Thursday press conference was about which position group really needed to continue to improve.Jay’s usual modus operandi is to say something along the lines of, “All of the position groups need to improve,” and then to go on to list two or three positions, naming a half dozen players and talking about how it is the job of the coaches to get them ready.He didn’t do that this time.He waded straight into the answer:I think this is more than just an unspoken commentary on Trent Williams’ absence.Jay watched the season implode last year as the Redskins lost linemen to injury.On the first day of camp, Chase Roullier was out and Tony Bergstrom was in because Chase apparently had a hamstring injury.The team is clearly looking to fill the long-standing hole at left guard, and spent two mid-round draft picks to help make that happen.Jay Gruden and the Redskins have typically relied on having a team that is strong in the trenches, and they have invested draft resources on both sides of the ball to make that happen.Increasingly — and especially this off-season — it is apparent that team is trying to get faster.Faster at running back.Faster at wide receiver.Faster at linebacker.Faster at safety.It looks like self-scouting has told the Redskins that they were too slow to compete.But this is a team that believes in the big-uglies packed in near the ball.This team should be lining up Trent Williams, Wes Martin, Chase Roullier, Brandon Scherff, Morgan Moses to face off in training camp against defensive players like Ryan Kerrigan, Daron Payne, Jon Allen, Matt Ioannidis and Montez Sweat.Jeez!Just looking at the names listed like that sends chills down my spine!Instead, here is where we are on Day 1 of Training Camp:The Redskins play an NFL regular season game in Philadelphia on 8 September — about 45 days from now.They need to be building strength, coordination and understanding among the various offensive linemen.Instead, Williams in holding out and Roullier is missing time due to a hamstring.This needs a quick fix.Ereck FlowersPredictably, Jay Gruden was asked again on Thursday about Ereck Flowers and his role.Jay repeated the new line that he recently adopted - that Ereck Flowers was brought in to play offensive line, and that, while the original plan was to try him out at guard https://www.theredskinslockerroom.com/authentic-terry-mclaurin-jersey , his presence on the roster allows the team to take advantage of the fact that Flowers has experience at both tackles spots.Here’s exactly what Jay said on Thursday:I get the sense that Jay is being careful with his words here.He has a script in mind, and I think he’s trying toleave himself lots of wiggle-room.Jay’s wording on Thursday was very similar to what he had to say just a day earlier:You can see that Jay is trying to stay on script here, with his quotes from Wednesday and Thursday being really similar.The one difference is that, on Wednesday, Jay made reference to Flowers at “left tackle”.I think this was a slip on Jay’s part.Listening to him, I get the feeling that he is trying really hard not to use the name “Ereck Flowers” and the position “left tackle” in the same sentence. When he said it on Wednesday, he followed up (and in my mind, he was covering a slip) by then talking about Flowers at left guard and Christian at LT to make it sound like he’s just spit-balling.I suspect that the Redskins are trying hard not to build a narrative of Ereck Flowers as the answer to the hole at left tackle caused by Trent’s holdout.The fact is, however, the Redskins have very few options, and none of them seems appealing:One option is Geron Christian, who was drafted a year ago, but saw very limited snaps before being lost for the remainder of the season to injury.Christian did not inspire with his play in 2018, but he has been talked about as a ‘project’ pretty much from the time he was drafted.Morgan Moses provides an option at left tackle as well.If the Redskins become convinced that Trent Williams is going to continue his holdout into the regular season, perhaps the coaches will experiment with Moses on the left side during preseason.He had 43 starts in his UVa career, and he started all 12 games at left tackle in his senior season.It’s often not ideal to ask a guy to switch when he’s been playing effectively on one side of the line, but one or two teams do it every year.It seems worth noting that the Redskins have not filled the 90th roster spot created when Mason Foster was released immediately prior to the start of camp.Could there be a trade in the works that the team wants to keep under the radar while they continue to discuss the Trent Williams situation with his agent?Jeremy Parnell, Ryan Schraeder and Donald Penn are all available free agents, all on the wrong side of 30, and all likely to be significant steps down from Trent Williams.Despite dire predictions from numerous sources regarding the Redskins outlook for 2019, the team has a good mix of youth and veterans and promise at every position group.The defense played very well for half a season in 2018, and there are reasons to believe the defensive roster and coaching have improved.The running backroom is talented and deep.Reports from the first day of camp say that Jordan Reed looks great.The wide receiver group is young, with potential. the Redskins:Do they have a quarterback capable of running Jay Gruden’s offense in 2019?Can they field a talented offensive line made up of 5 skilled players who can work together to open holes for the run game and protect the quarterback?If Trent Williams returns prior to the start of the season, I’ll feel much better about the second question, and that will help make the first a bit less critical.But if the Redskins are forced to enter the season with a makeshift offensive line that lacks its veteran leader at left tackle, then all those dire predictions could come true.With Trent Williams and a competent quarterback, the 2019 Redskins have a shot at a winning season.Otherwise, the best news for Redskins fans in the coming year may be the excitement over the hiring of the new head coach and the buzz of selecting at the top of the draft.We’ve only seen one day of training camp, but it’s already clear that the Redskins need to solve the current issues with the offensive line if they want to be able to compete this season.