Washington Redskins edge rusher Montez Sweat has had a relatively quiet rookie season. Through 14 games he has registered five sacks. It’s just his first season, however, he hasn’t made quite the impact expected early for a player who the Redskins traded back into the first round to draft.
Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sweat had three tackles in the Redskins’ 37-27 loss. Despite playing on 61 snaps, Sweat appeared non-existent, particularly when it came to getting after Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, not registering a quarterback hit.
Wentz dropped back 45 times in the game, still Sweat was invisible. Part of the reasoning could have been how defensive coordinator Greg Manusky used the talented pass rusher.
According to Pro Football Focus, Sweat dropped back in pass coverage on 12 snaps –nearly 20% of his snaps. That’s a lot for a premiere pass rusher, who one would think was drafted with the focus of getting after the quarterback.
In fact, Sweat’s 12 pass coverage snaps Sunday equaled the amount of times he dropped back into pass coverage during his entire senior season in college at Mississippi State.
Sweat struggled in pass coverage according to his PFF’s coverage grade.
While one stat cannot tell the entire story, it certainly brings up the chatter that been going on for years about the Redskins’ usage of their pass rushers.
Understandably, Manusky’s system requires the outside linebackers in base formations to play coverage, as does other 3-4 schemes. But, given Washington’s track record going back to Brian Orakpo. Also Ryan Kerrigan.
Despite Kerrigan closing in on the franchise sack record, critics have chirped about how Kerrigan has been used at times. Imagine if he played in a different scheme?!
Preston Smith may have the biggest case of being misused. In four seasons with the Redskins, Smith averaged 6.1 sacks per season. His previous season-high has been eight sacks in two separate seasons. In his first year with the Green Bay Packers, Smith has career-highs of 11.5 sacks and 22 quarterback hits through 14 games. He also nabbed an NFC Defensive of Player of the Week award this season in Green Bay.
While Orakpo sack average was relatively the same in six seasons with the Redskins as his four with the Tennessee Titans, he registered more quarterback hits on average in Tennessee than Washington.
Fair or not, these three examples along with PFF’s tracking of Sweat in Week 15’s loss is alarming to say the least. And while it doesn’t tell the entire story, it definitely adds to critics’ argument of Manusky and the team’s approach in using their pass rushers.
The good news may be that an overhaul of the coaching staff is expected at season’s end that would presumably end Manusky’s tenure with the Redskins as defensive coordinator. Hopefully, the next defensive coordinator will be able to change the narrative of the Redskins’ usage of their edge rushers and the progress of Montez Sweat.
