The Washington Redskins have been making some notable changes this offseason which would see the NFL stars execute some fresh gameplays later on. With the rigid schedule and disciplined routine set forth by head coach Jay Gruden, the Burgundy and Gold warriors are undoubtedly in for a very tough ride.
Armed with a new offensive head coach Bill Callahan, the Redskins are clearly going in for the kill this upcoming NFL season. One of the more apparent strategies of the former Oakland Raiders head coach upon taking charge of the Washington team is to further bolster its offensive line as seen in the group's decision to use its first-, fourth- and seventh- round draft picks to acquire formidable offensive linemen. Known for his "intense" sessions, Callahan stayed true to form as Redskins offensive lineman Trent Williams shared that the new head coach will not "accept anything but your best effort."
Right guard Spencer Long and right tackle Brandon Scherff appear to be on the list of players Callahan eyes to take on starting positions. As for the left side, NFL veteran Williams and Shawn Lauvao are regarded as suitable candidates. Kory Lichtensteiger remains at the center. The guard posts will be competed for by Josh LeRibeus and draft pick Arie Kouandjio against veteran free agent Willie Smith.
Meanwhile, Wednesday saw the five-year extension of Ryan Kerrigan's contract with the Redskins. According to ESPN, the deal cost the Washington team a hefty $57.5 million, with $24.28 million guaranteed, to keep the linebacker. While this may seem steep especially since the team could have waited it out and observed Kerrigan's performance for another year, Gruden believes that they made the right decision.
"He's a guy that can get after the quarterback," explained Gruden following the announcement of the five-year extension deal with Kerrigan. The Redskins coach added, "So we're going to get consistent play out of Ryan. We need people around Ryan. He needs to continue to improve himself, obviously, and he will. He's that type of guy. He sets the tone for other people. When you see people like that get rewarded and you see the work he puts in on and off the field, it shows young guys what we're all about."
According to earlier reports, Brian Orakpo opted for free agency this free season which marked a loss for the Redskins in its roster. The interior pass of the team gained two players, Stephen Paea and Ricky Jean Francois. With an abysmal performance next season, Gruden hopes to see a tremendous improvement this year.
Revamping the coaching staff and stocking on reliable NFL stars appear to be promising steps with regard to the achievement of this goal, according to CBS Washington. In addition, the Redskins quarterback, Robert Griffin III, is currently under intensive scrutiny and reportedly training hard to get back on track following his injury during the second week of the previous season. This mishap cost the Redskins six games without their quarterback - no doubt contributing to their poor performance of four measly wins throughout the season.
