How are you feeling about the Washington Football Team going into the 2021 season?
With just one pre-season game to go, Baltimore on Saturday 28th August, the WFT are now just three weeks from real competitive football and the season opener at FedEx Field vs the Chargers.
Ideally, the burgundy & gold come through the Ravens game with a clean bill of health and the front office will have to face many a challenging final cut day decision come 31st August.
The Washington Football Team are not currently in the uppermost thoughts of the average NFL analyst when it comes to Superbowl contention, but there is a consensus that the franchise is establishing a cohesive and collective unit both on and off the field that can lead to the considered observation that the team is heading in the right direction.
2021 is also the season eve of the new name that will be decided in time for 2022. Is there a feeling that 2022 and the razzmatazz of the name decision might be when the NFL team in Washington really start to evolve into serious challengers at a post-season level? Or can the WFT sign off this short-lived post-Redskins 2020 and 2021 era with aplomb?
Here at UKHTTW, we invited Tony Wheat of Full Press Coverage, Andy Eckert aka DC Gold Pants, James Lowe of Washington FCUK podcast and Christian Burt UKHTTW founder to offer up the following:
1) Who will be our standout DEF player and why 2) Who will be our standout OFF player and why 3) What still concerns you going into 2021? 4) WFT season record predictions
First up Tony Wheat of Full Press Coverage.
Standout DEF player prediction
I’ll stay away from Chase Young and go with a player who may benefit from the 2nd year Defensive Rookie of the Years presence, Montez Sweat.
Entering his third season, Sweat blossomed last year into a big play monster who developed his craft and formed a dominant duo with his more acclaimed partner.
Reports out of training camp have been glowing as Sweat has become more vocal, a sign of his growing confidence.
A lot of attention will come Young’s way in terms of double teams and the sliding of protection, which, along with the additional threats posed by the interior defensive line, is going to give Sweat a lot of 1:1’s. Expect him to have a field day and become a star.
Standout OFF player prediction
There are a couple of choices here, but I’ll go with Antonio Gibson. Considering his lack of experience as an RB, his performance last year was outstanding, and he was really becoming a top back when his toe injury occurred.
He seems to be over the injury now and the added familiarity gained from a second training camp and pre-season games should mean that Gibson is poised to become a top 10 RB
What will be interesting to see is how much of JD McKissic’s 3rd down/pass catching back role will Gibson eat into.
Rivera said recently that they are looking at Gibson having a Christian McCaffrey type role which would mean more opportunities to catch the ball. If he adds that to his early down duties, then look out!
Concerns
I’m concerned by Curtis Samuel’s involvement so far and what it might mean heading into the regular season.
The groin injury was clearly more than a tweak, and the combination of that and an extended stay on the Covid list has meant that Samuel hasn’t really worked with the offense since May.
Even since returning from the PUP list Samuel has been mainly working on a side field doing individual work and has yet to figure in team drills.
It’s understandable that they don’t want to rush him and risk a relapse of the injury, but the more time he misses, the longer it will take to develop chemistry and understanding with Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Rivera says that Samuel knows the offense inside out which is true, but he’ll still need to get that practice time in with the offense. The danger is that he has a slow start and never catches up. Hopefully Rivera’s cautious and measured approach is the right one and Samuel will be ready in 3 weeks’ time.
Season Record
I am optimistic for the season but cautious due to the tough first place schedule that the team face. All 4 conference championship finalists are on our slate, along with a murderers row of top QB talent.
The Defense was excellent last year but feasted on some pretty poor QB’s. To be an elite Defense they will need to beat some of the best offenses in the league. The offense needs to be more productive, it’s as simple as that. The talent is there, it’s now down to execution. Last year the offense suffered from league worst QB play, so even league average QB play should see an improvement.
I’m going to go with a 10-7 record and a repeat NFC East Championship.
Next up we get the opinion of Andy Eckert aka DC Gold Pants who looks into a potential standout DEF rookie
Standout rookie DEF player prediction
Benjamin St-Juste. I know this is the trend pick right now. If you follow any of the beat writers like John Keim, you’ll hear how this guy is always doing something right in practice or how a question is being answered. Add in that DBs benefit from a DL getting at the QB. So, if St-Juste is in there and probably not covering the top receiver. He could doubly benefit from knowing where to be and being in that spot.
Standout OFF player prediction
I’ll go with Logan Thomas. 2nd year as the main TE and now with more weapons that the Defense needs to worry about. If Terry and Curtis are doing their and if your RB is a running and catching threat, the former QB who seems to be working well with Fitz could breakout.
Concerns
After the 1st preseason game, the kicking game is obviously a concern.
Folks are talking about how the Ravens have a guy who won’t likely be a 2nd kicker on their roster who is better than what we have. But my concern is probably offensive play calling. We haven’t seen it yet. Last year we knew Turner may have called a lot based on limited talent. But, watching preseason, it did look like some teams with histories of success had a less vanilla look at Washington. Need to see Turner take advantage of this.
Season record
8-9 with maybe still winning the division. Looking around, who knows how it’ll go? All the teams in the division could range from decent to terrible.
James Lowe of the Washington FCUK podcast is next up.
Standout DEF player prediction
The 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year Chase Young will be looking to improve his numbers in 2021 while also continuing to be a game wrecker.
A generational talent, this season Young should be in the discussion for the Defensive Player of the Year. He's the greatest defensive talent we've had since Sean Taylor.
There is a chance he might not lead the team in sacks, I think Montez Sweat could get the rewards due to opposing coaches game planning for Chase, but he will continue to make big plays in big moments.
Standout OFF player prediction
Ryan Fitzpatrick will be the standout offensive player this season. He will standout because (Heinicke cameo against the Bucs aside) we have not seen a Washington QB really go down field since Kirk Cousins had Garçon and Jackson.
Fitzmagic will transform this offence. Scott Turner will be able to have a lot more plays in the play book with Fitzpatrick under Centre. Dyami Brown and Terry McLaurin can take the top off the Defense, and their speed will open up the middle of the field for the likes of Humphreys, Logan Thomas, and Gibson.
Concerns
What concerns me going into 2021 is the special teams unit.
The specialists have a new guy at long snapper and the unit does not quite seem to have a rhythm yet. Hopkins is under huge pressure, and I predict we will be involved in a lot of tight games this year against good teams.
Punt returns and kick-off returns are still pretty worrying, and I'd like to see better decision making from the returners.
Season record
I think the team will finish 9-8 a winning season that might be enough to win the division.
And finally, UKHTTW founder Christian Burt.
Standout DEF player prediction
Confession time. There have been points of this off-season whereby my love-in for Chase Young has been tested.
Maybe this has changed at the time of posting, but for a leader in the locker room I was surprised by the whole personal choice vibe from Chase regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. The man who drafted him, and clearly knows just how special Young can be, is immunodeficient after battling cancer, and I feel Head Coach Ron Rivera has been let down somewhat by the attitude of some in D.C.
Putting that aside, in terms of sheer athletic ability and on-field energy, I cannot look further than Chase for my DEF standout guy in 2021. Sure, there are some talented guys in the NFL who had a sophomore slump, but I would not bet against Young doubling his sack count from 2020 or, at the very least, hitting double digit sack figures combined with a significant number of QB pressures.
Standout OFF player prediction
Talking of leadership, the Washington Football Team have one hell of a team-first guy in WR Terry McLaurin.
With Ryan Fitzpatrick in town and an O-Line that should be at least serviceable, there should be sufficient pass protection and savvy veteran QB play to allow for some big yards plays for the burgundy & gold. There is a feeling that McLaurin goes into 2021 in great health, and I expect another 1000-yard season, but with a doubling of his TDs from 2020.
In a Scott Turner offense that likes to get everyone involved in the game, especially guys out the backfield, perhaps I am being a bit generous to predict a thousand-yard season and eight TDs, but if anyone can, Terry is that man.
Concerns
The number of talented QBs that the WFT face in 2021 is significant.
Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, and Josh Allen is a scary proposition for any team. A clear strength of the roster is the front four upfront in DEF, but the guys listed under centre, not to mention Prescott twice a year and Justin Herbert straight off, have the know-how and the OC scheming to negate the talented WFT D-Line and take advantage of the less than stellar LB unit in D.C.
Even with the addition of the talented rookie Jamin Davis, there is still a worry that WRs and TEs can find that sweet spot and keep the chains moving against Washington.
Any injuries off the edge to Young or Sweat would be a serious blow, with depth at the position weakened with the exit of Ryan Kerrigan as the experienced back-up.
Season record
The WFT have a better roster now than in 2020 and added some potential next level guys in CB Jackson III and WR Curtis Samuel. There is a lot of talent in burgundy & gold and a growing national consensus that the team are upwardly mobile.
However, the schedule in 2021 is nasty and a lot will depend on veteran QB Ryan Fitzpatrick hitting the ground running.
It’s a tough one to predict, but I feel the WFT will stay in the hunt with an excellent 2021 record vs their NFC East rivals. Five wins out of six against the Cowboys, Eagles and Giants will be the foundation for a 9-win season and it will be enough to secure a consecutive divisional title.
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