The Washington Redskins weren't anything to write home about last season. After starting strongly, an injury to quarterback Alex Smith derailed their season.
Now they have a great young core. A rookie quarterback in Dwayne Haskins has the help of Derrius Guice and Adrian Peterson at running back. He has some intriguing weapons and a decent offensive line.
On defense, rookie Montez Sweat has people most excited, as well as safety Landon Collins.
However, can the Redskins improve this season? If so, can they do enough to make the playoffs. For that to happen, they'll need some players to improve.
Here are three.
Josh Docston
Some members of the Washington Redskins could play huge roles on the team but aren't taking big steps. You can't ask Dwayne Haskins to take the next step because he's a rookie — he hasn't taken his first step. The same goes for Derrius Guice. Although he was drafted last season, an injury kept him out all year.
That takes us to Josh Docston. The Redskins' wide receiver corps isn't very good.
I was considering putting Trey Quinn here, but if it wasn't for an injury he might've looked like a great slot receiver last season. Besides, many are already expecting him to be solid.
Doctson, on the other hand, has been a disappointment so far. There's no nice way to put it. The former first-round pick hasn't been the dominant receiver Washington has hoped for. He hasn't even been a “good” receiver; he's just been “there”.
That said, Doctson did have his best season in the NFL in 2018. He did so with a circus at quarterback too.
The receiver had a career-high 44 receptions and 532 yards. His two touchdowns were lower than the six he posted the year prior, but still tied for the highest on the entire team (more proof the QB situation wasn't great).
Those 44 receptions and 532 yards were both the highest by any receiver and were second-highest by anyone on the team. Only tight end Jordan Reed had more in either category (54 receptions and 558 yards).
After those two, only running back Chris Thompson had more than 30 receptions (41). Meanwhile, Reed and Docston were the only two with more than 400 receiving yards.
While his season wasn't great, it was a step in the right direction… but he still has a long way to go. If Docston can clean up his routes and improve his hands, bigger things could be on the horizon. The Redskins have cleaned up the QB position; now Doctson needs to step up.
Da'Ron Payne
I've said it a million times and I'll say it a million more: The Washington Redskins have the most exciting front seven in football. That defensive line is so young and talented it should be illegal.
Defensive tackle Da'Ron Payne has a chance to be the best of the bunch. He could be one of the best defensive lineman in football, period.
His rookie season was incredible. He racked up 56 tackles (seven for loss) and five sacks. Payne was a plug in the middle against the run while being an impressive pass rusher.
Of course, he still needs to improve. If Payne put up those numbers every year in his career, that would equal a very strong career. However, he has superstar potential. If Payne can take the next step, the Washington Redskins will have a true centerpiece every opposing offense will fear.
Jordan Reed
We've already touched on him, but this step forward has nothing to do with on-field work. When Jordan Reed is healthy, he's one of the best tight ends in football. The problem is, he hasn't been healthy that often.
Reed has never played all 16 games in a season. He appeared in 14, 13, 12, 11, nine and six. In fact, he's injured so often, you can go to his ESPN page right now: He is listed as questionable.
The Redskins have an extremely young team. That includes two rookie receivers and another a second-year player who barely played last season. They also have a second-year running back who was injured all last year and a rookie QB.
Washington needs a veteran who can put up big numbers in the offense. They need someone who can be a security blanket for their rookie QB. That's Reed.
It can't be Reed if he's not healthy, though. Jordan Reed taking the next step by staying healthy might be the most important step anyone could take for the Washington Redskins in 2019.
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