Redskins defensive line coach Robb Akey seeks more consistency from similar cast

August 18, 2024

The Washington Redskins moved on from two of their three starting defensive linemen from last season. They didn’t make a significant splash at the position during free agency or the NFL draft, but defensive line coach Robb Akey expects a more consistent unit this year

“My expectation and our goal and desire is that you’re going to feel us a lot more,” Akey said. “We’ve got to do a better job of stuffing the run, and we’ve got to do a better job of affecting the quarterback. That’s what your front is all about. We’ve got to affect those two things so that’s what I expect we’ll do a better job of, and I’d like to think that’s what Redskins Nation will take away pride in the way these guys get after it.”

The defensive line had a pretty strong outing during the team’s final minicamp practice on Wednesday as Akey attempts to figure out who will replace veterans Jason Hatcher and Terrence Knighton’s snaps this season. It had a few disruptive 11-on-11 periods during the non-contact practice, which forced the unit to rely on its technique rather than depending on bull-rushing the offensive line. The Redskins saw pressure from Chris Baker but also from newly-acquired defensive end Kendall Reyes and second-year player Houston Bates.

Will a unit led by Baker, Reyes, Ricky Jean-Francois, Stephen Paea and Kedric Golston be enough to get by this year? That’s something the Redskins are still figuring out in Akey’s second season.

“There’s a great familiarity with the package so you’ve got more options to be able to do things and be able to tweak things within specific calls,” Akey said. “I think that’s a great advantage and that’s an advantage with Kendall Reyes coming to the group. While he’s new here, he’s familiar with the package. He’s been with Joe [Barry] before.”

The Redskins were one of the worst defenses in the league last season. They finished 26th against the run, allowing 122.6 yards per game, and ranked at the same spot in total sacks at 27. The front seven was inconsistent all around, though it was able to bring more pressure late in the season with the emergence of rookie Preston Smith.

The expectation was that the Redskins, who were conservative at the start of free agency, would at least select a defensive lineman within the first two days of the draft. They instead waited until the fifth round to select Matt Ioannidis, a versatile defensive lineman out of Temple, on Day 3.

So when the Redskins report to training camp July 27, much will remain uncertain. Akey said he spent the non-contact practices shuffling with different rotations to see how players handled certain situations. He wanted to see which packages they could thrive in and where they would feel uncomfortable. There will be more of that in Richmond once the Redskins finally put on the pads.

“We’ve got a ton of work [to do],” Akey said. “I mean we haven’t even had contact yet. I think that’s going to tell us a lot when we get to training camp. I like the ground that we have gained and then finding out in the combative situations, ‘Okay, who is going to continue to rise in those scenarios?’ I think a lot of that is going to grow when we get down to Richmond.”

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