The Washington Redskins’ defense is young, and they’re deep.
Defensive line coach Jim Tomsula at times struggled to contain his excitement when talking to the media after Day 2 of minicamp on Wednesday afternoon, noting the depth and talent that has been displayed by some of the reserves in the front-seven.
While everyone expects to be impressed by the strength and agility possessed by Jonathan Allen, Matt Ioannidis, and Daron Payne, it was young players like Tim Settle, JoJo Wicker, and Caleb Brantley who really showed out on Wednesday.
“Oh yeah, they’re sharp. It’s enjoyable,” Tomsula said, via Redskins.com. “You get one of these groups and you wake up and high-five yourself because you’re excited to get to go to work with them.”
Tomsula lauded the fresh infusion of talent as a key addition to the defensive line depth, noting that he has been able to frequently rotate in players and keep his veterans fresh.
Rookie edge rushers, Montez Sweat and Jordan Brailford were also dominant in Wednesday’s session, repeatedly blowing past offensive lineman with a mix of speed and strength.
An injury derailed the defense on the first day of OTAs, but with an array of young players that are showing they can adapt and succeed, the Washington defense will be near the top of the league in 2019.
