Ron Rivera has preached competition across the board in his first year as Washington Football Team head coach. Linebackers is no exception. Sunday, the team activated Reuben Foster off the PUP list, adding another capable talent to a stacked linebacker room.
Washington added veteran Thomas Davis Sr. and Kevin Pierre-Louis and re-signed Jon Bostic. Meanwhile, youngsters Cole Holcomb, Shaun Dion Hamilton and the returning Foster.
Rivera explained Monday, the team is trying to mesh in the abundance of skill sets at the position before locking guys into certain spots.
Rivera said Washington is moving around the linebackers, naming Davis, Foster and Pierre-Louis specifically. He added there could be different guys starting in the base package, and others starting in nickel and other sub-packages.
“This might be linebacker by committee, because this is a very talented group,” Rivera said per Matthew Paras of the Washington Times.
The versatility of the linebackers could make for intriguing mixes and matches depending on sets. Each have skill sets and experience that can place them at the Mike, Will or Sam positions.
Surely the younger linebackers will draw attention. Foster can be dynamic no matter what role is carved out for him.
Holcomb has speed, range and awareness to play step ahead at either position. Last season, he was second on the team with 105 tackles.
Don’t count out Shaun Dion Hamilton. Last season he played on 34% of Washington’s defensive snaps. Yet, Hamilton allowed the least yards per target among NFL linebackers, according to Pro Football Focus.
The trio will face stiff competition from the cagey veterans. Davis is the most established of the entire group and has the most familiarity, spending nine seasons with Rivera in Carolina. Bostic equaled Holcomb from the middle with 105 tackles. Pierre-Louis is looking to expand beyond special teams.
Unless one drastically falls back from the pack, it will be hard to keep anyone of the core six off the field. There may not be one talent that sticks out. However, Washington Football Team may be presented with an unique luxury that could make enhance the prospects of Jack Del Rio’s defense.
