Two Up Two Down

The Washington Football Team will begin mandatory minicamp on the 15th of June 2021.

There has been little in the way of controversy and the WFT remain in a good bill of health. A notable absentee from OTAs was the Defensive Rookie of the Year, Chase Young, but there is absolutely zero to read into that. Chase has his own trainer and has remained in Florida for a more bespoke & personal camp.

The team contains a pleasing low number of overpaid/washed out personnel, which made the latest UKHTTW feature a difficult one.

Here at UKHTTW, we discussed with Andy Eckert of DC Football Gold Pants and Tony Wheat of Full Press Coverage their views on two guys who will ascend further in 2021 and two guys who might see their stock dwindle.

Offering his Two Up first of all is Andy.

Jon Bostic (LB)

Originally, I had made a joke to myself that Bostic could not be much worse.

But then I looked at his stats and saw a career high on tackle/sacks. I think adding Jamin Davis, William Jackson III, Bobby McCain and having a healthy Matt Ioannidis back, will all help the coaches put Bostic in a better position, so he is seemingly not out of position where we are yelling at our TVs on Sundays. If offenses are worrying about the DL with a more experienced Chase Young, all the LBs/DBs should benefit.

Kendall Fuller (CB)

Kendall gave up 6 TDs last year, after giving up a combined 5 the previous 2 years.

I think all the DBs will benefit if the DL is getting to the QB faster and forcing mistakes. But Fuller, if starting opposite of Jackson III, will get his opportunities for turnovers. Last year he did have 4, which was a step up. Maybe he can get a few more than that.

Honorable Mention – Peyton Barber (Short Yardage RB benefiting from OL upgrades)

And two guys Andy believes might take a step back in 2021.

Kamren Curl (S)

I really hope this does not happen.

But with Landon Collins coming back and playing Strong Safety, I do worry that Kam will take that step backward because he will be getting less time on the field. Not getting the reps he was getting at the end of last year, maybe a sophomore slump. Perhaps a bit of both. To be honest, it was hard to pick somebody for this category.

J.D. McKissic (RB)

This might just be a numbers game for him if Antonio Gibson can stay healthy and on the field.

Otherwise, I would have had J.D. as a breakout player who gets opportunities because the other new weapons on offense are taking attention away from him. J.D. might not get as many opportunities this year because of those new additions.

Dishonorable Mention – Dustin Hopkins (Will he get himself right and clean up XP/FG misses?)

Next up, Tony dives in with his two guys who will continue the upward curve next season.

Antonio Gibson (RB)

As I highlighted in our previous blog, I am looking forward to seeing how Antonio Gibson develops in year 2.

It is clear that Ron Rivera feels he can take a big jump, and, if given more opportunities at JD McKissic’s expense, could really develop into a potent 3 down back.

His performances throughout his rookie season but particularly after mid-season saw him becoming a real all-round threat, although to break through into the Alvin Kamara/Christian McCaffrey bracket he will have to show that he can become that pass catching threat out of the backfield.

Hopefully, his toe injury will not linger, and he’ll be given the opportunity to take the next step. His number of touches was comparable to CMC in his rookie season under Rivera, and he obviously then exploded in year 2. Gibson could do likewise with the right opportunity.

Kamren Curl

Curl’s play in relief of Landon Collins last year was a very pleasant surprise from the unheralded 7th round pick. He excelled in the strong safety position with great instincts, an eye for the ball and solid tackling.

Landon will return this year, but there will be scope for both to play in certain packages, as most NFL teams are typically not in base Defense as much in recent years, with heavy use of nickel packages and often 3 safeties.

Curl needs to continue to develop, work hard on his reads and trust his eyes as his knowledge will continue to help him develop. A strong second season could see him become entrenched as a starter.

And a duo who Tony feels might dip a tad in 2021.

Jon Bostic

With the drafting of Jamin Davis and the youth of Cole Holcomb, Bostic’s playing opportunities may not be as great.

If Washington is out of base D and has only 2 LB’s on the field, it is likely that those players will be Davis and Holcomb. Davis is already being tried out in the signal calling MIKE LB role which could spell trouble for Bostic.

Rivera was critical of the LB’s at times last season, and they responded well, but Bostic is not much more than a solid place holder, who could face reduced playing time with the emergence of Davis.

Steven Sims Jr (WR)

This time last year the talk was how Sims Jr was going to emerge as the dynamic slot receiver that he had shown signs of becoming in the latter part of 2019.

While undoubtedly quick, elusive, and shifty, Sims underwhelmed last season with multiple drops and a worrying habit of muffing punts, which gave WFT heart failure every time he was back there. He never forged the role in the offense that many people had foreseen and this year he faces a battle to even make the roster.

Adam Humphries has been signed and has the inside line on the slot role due to his familiarity with Fitzpatrick, and Dax Milne was also added in the draft as an option for that role. Added to that, Dyami Brown was also added, and Kelvin Harmon is returning from injury. The WR room is extremely crowded, and Sims Jr could face a battle to even make the team never mind get much playing time. He could be on the way out.

Taking us into overtime, is Christian Burt UKHTTW founder who offers opinion into two guys who will ascend.

Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB)

My initial thoughts for the “place holder” QB in Washington was to reach out for one of the steadier under centre guys like Teddy Bridgewater. I am glad, in hindsight, that Coach Ron Rivera is made of sterner stuff than this armchair fan in the UK.

I’ve a feeling that Fitzpatrick is going to sprinkle far more magic in D.C, than compose a tragedy. He has lethal receiving weapons in Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel and also has the vast experience to mesh well with a youthful offense in Washington. Ryan might throw the football around a fair bit, but he also has the running game ability that a Scott Turner offense desires, plus seems to have curbed the overenthusiasm for INTs.

Bookmark this blog right now: Ryan will be making his first career play-off appearance this season, and it will be in the colours of burgundy & gold.

William Jackson III

The NFC East is chockful of dangerous WRs.

Dallas has a formidable trio of Amari Cooper, Cee Cee Lamb and Michael Gallup. In New York, the Giants made a big FA splash on Kenny Golladay and double downed on receiving talent with the after-burner speed of Florida’s Kadarius Toney with the 20th pick of the 2021 draft.

For the WFT to retain the divisional title, combating this aerial threat is vital. Jackson III has the skillset and athleticism that, by end-season, could have him in the upper echelons in discussions of elite level cornerbacks.

Of all the FA signings, I have the feeling that Jackson III has the natural “ready to explode” talent.

And two who Christian feels might slip in 2021.

Landon Collins (SS)

Here is a big salary guy who was inherited by the current staff and suffered a blown Achilles injury in 2020. He often played off-script and was a below par performer pre-injury.

This does not bode well for the strong safety who, when placed on PUP, was outplayed by exciting seventh round draft pick Kamren Curl.

All signs point to the neon Exit Sign in 2022, when Washington will likely take the slightly more palatable $9.6m cap hit (in 2021 it was $16,905,877).

Kendall Fuller (CB)

This was a really tough choice as I do not feel Fuller will play badly in 2021.

My coins are fully thrown into the bet of Jackson III having a breakout season. With the aforementioned NFCE WR talent, there is the strong possibility that Fuller gets a little picked on simply by playing on the opposite side of Jackson III.

The contract for Fuller I felt was a little bit steep, not excessively so, but I would not be so surprised if the WFT gradually move Fuller to his more natural slot corner on certain looks, and rookie Benjamin St-Juste gets starting time on the outside.