The truth of the matter is that Jonathan Allen is the team's best defensive lineman and was from the first day he entered camp. He is a potential Trent Williams-type talent and they don't come around every day.
Without him Matt Ioannidis, who has improved greatly, is now being double-teamed because NO ONE fears McClain, Lanier, Hood or McGhee.
I can give Lanier and Hood a break as one is an undrafted first year player just up from the practice squad. Hood is a 30 year old veteran who is on the team largely for his leadership ability and his work ethic which has rubbed off on guys like Ioannidis.
But with Allen out of action, NOW is the time Terrell McClain and Stacy McGhee are supposed to step up as free agent veterans.
And they aren't doing it.
Confirming what I saw, Chris Cooley graded McClain a C- to a D for the Eagles game.
That's right he was LESS than replacement value.
And we gave him a 4 year, $20M contract.
At age 29 he isn't going to get any better than what you see now on the field now which means he is likely a cap casualty next offseason, a mistake written off the books and carried over 2 years.
That said, Junior Galette also 29 doesn't seem to be anywhere close to being the player he was in New Orleans. It was fine to give him a chance to come back in 2017 and give it a try. But again, like McClain he is now a player that is just at or a bit above or below replacement value.
So, overall it is no surprise the pass rush pressure inside and out on third downs especially has fallen off and the Redskins now can only seem to get pressure when they bring Zach Brown or Mason Foster.
I had some doubts about McClain and McGhee given their less than consistent prior histories with the Cowboys and Raiders.
Dallas at the end of last year seemed to need some bigger guys to help in run support and anchor at DE and yet they let McClain walk without a second thought.
Ditto in Oakland where Jack Del Rio, who has been coaching defenses since Gruden was in the AFL, gave up on the 27 year old 6'4 330 McGhee. On the surface you look at his age and measurable and think 'Del Rio' made a mistake and pulled the trigger too quickly.
But the trick end out of the trick or treat bag is that McGhee despite his size isn't effective playing inside. At DE at 330, he is capable against the run but doesn't offer any real pass rush/pressure threat. Teams single him up all the time.
Couldn't we have gotten the same type of production cheaper out of middle round draft pick, with the potential for at least some upside in creating pressure?
Those two contracts on the DL continue to have me scratching my head.
With Allen out, Matt Ioannidis, a former
#5 pick we cut in camp last year and was on the street, is now our best DL.
Granted he has improved greatly from the player he was as a rookie physically and in terms of comfortability playing against NFL caliber linemen.
But given he is only 24 and still learning how to play under Tomsulla, that is a real indictment of the free agent 'stiffs' we have on the roster.
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