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Redskins Front Office to Make Difficult Decision but No Payne, No Gain

By Craig Stofko

AUBURN, AL - NOVEMBER 25: Da'Ron Payne #94 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after recovering a fumble during the first quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan Hare Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
AUBURN, AL - NOVEMBER 25: Da'Ron Payne #94 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after recovering a fumble during the first quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan Hare Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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With a plethora of talent available with 13th pick, the Redskins pick SHOULD be obvious

There seems to be more and more speculation that either Minkah Fitzpatrick or Derwin James will drop out of the top 10 and be available when the Redskins pick at 13. I can’t see Fitzpatrick dropping that far. James might, but even that’s a stretch.

There are too many teams picking ahead of the Redskins that would benefit from the special talents either of these guys brings to the field. That said, even if both of them drop into the Redskins’ lap at 13, Bruce Allen needs to keep his head screwed on straight and look the other way. Specifically, he needs to keep his eyes focused on Da’Ron Payne.

Unfortunately, the Redskins’ front office, and by that I mean Bruce Allen, seems oblivious to what most Redskin fans consider blatantly obvious. Once you get past the “best player available” fallacy that Chris Cooley dispelled rather effectively recently, the GM has to take the player that helps the team the most. The Redskins are not in a rebuilding mode. On the contrary, they enter this season, and this draft, with a win-now mentality.
Unfortunately, the Redskins’ front office, and by that I mean Bruce Allen, seems oblivious to what most Redskin fans consider blatantly obvious. Once you get past the “best player available” fallacy that Chris Cooley dispelled rather effectively recently, the GM has to take the player that helps the team the most. The Redskins are not in a rebuilding mode. On the contrary, they enter this season, and this draft, with a win-now mentality. /

Last year’s injury-riddled season left a bad taste in the fan’s mouths but also served to disguise how close the ‘Skins are to being really good. Not 8-8 good, but a deep run into the playoffs good. We all know, (how could we forget,) that the Redskins ranked dead-last in defending the run last year. When a team is rated as the absolute worst at something, whatever it is, that issue has to be addressed immediately.

This year, Skins fans have two things working in their favor. The first, and most obvious, is that there is a player in Da’Ron Payne that is not only the perfect solution to the team’s run defense nightmares but also is probably going to qualify as the best player available when the Redskins make that 13th pick. If Allen is going “best player available” he takes Payne. If he is going “who helps the team the most?” he takes Payne.

Safeties and corners don’t plug up the gaping hole in the middle of the Redskin defense that running backs danced through game after game, all season long last year.

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The second thing that Redskins fans have going for them this year that should prevent the GM from making a gigantic blunder is the alleged rumor that owner Dan the Man Snyder has given Bruce Allen an ultimatum: Win this year, or you’re gone.

Whether or not this happened is irrelevant; even if Danny Boy assured Bruce, even if he crossed his heart and hoped to die, even if he pinky-swore that Bruce’s job is secure, rumors like that tend to stick in a person’s mind.

When Bruce Allen makes that selection, he will make it knowing that he can’t take any chances. He will fully understand that he can’t afford to screw it up. The 13th pick has to be the smart pick. It has to be the safe pick. It has to be Da’Ron Payne.

The fan base, and even Big Dan, might forgive Allen if he chooses Vita Vea instead of Payne. Although, a collective, “Doh!” will echo across Redskin Nation. But, picking a defensive back will have Bruce Allen reassigned to the vice-chairmanship of the Stadium Construction Committee by the first pre-season game.

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    • After years and years, of questionable decisions and seemingly inept management, I think even Bruce knows that his .410 winning percentage is only going to keep him safe for so long. Furthermore, if Bruce Allen misses on this one, it would be unforgivable for so many reasons, not the least of which is the disservice he would do to his father’s legacy.

    The hallowed Coach George Allen famously hated rookies. Longtime fans will remember him building the beloved “Over-the-hill-gang” with free agents. Snarling in a way that only he could, (okay, maybe Lombardi could pull it off too), that no rookies are going to learn how to play professional football on his time. Allen would consider drafting Derwin James a cardinal sin. For all the talent and all the potential, James is a work in progress. He will probably be a great safety one day. But at this point, he is a much better athlete than he is a football player.

    Da’Ron Payne, on the other hand, is ready on day one to step into the Redskins’ defensive line rotation and contribute immediately. Also, he brings enormous size and strength to the Nose Tackle position when the team lines up in that formation. For a team that ranked 32nd out of 32 teams stopping the run, inserting this monster, (545 lb bench press, 635 lb squat), into that cavernous hole on the defensive line should shut down that run lane permanently.
    Da’Ron Payne, on the other hand, is ready on day one to step into the Redskins’ defensive line rotation and contribute immediately. Also, he brings enormous size and strength to the Nose Tackle position when the team lines up in that formation. For a team that ranked 32nd out of 32 teams stopping the run, inserting this monster, (545 lb bench press, 635 lb squat), into that cavernous hole on the defensive line should shut down that run lane permanently. /

    Over the past few years when other teams put their offensive game plans together to face the Redskins, they always made sure their running backs had their EZ Pass stickers affixed to their helmets to make sure there would be no need to slow down as they sped through Washington’s porous D-line. With Payne on board, the EZ Pass stickers won’t work. When the running backs approach the line of scrimmage, they’ll simply see a sign that reads, “Road Closed.”

    Of course, in addition to Payne’s brute strength and size, 6’2 315, he will bring to the Redskin defensive line the skills and work habits that are instilled in all great Alabama players by the legendary Nick Saban. Make no mistake, Payne is ready to go, and the Redskins need him.

    Finally, on the off chance that our trusted GM is still pondering taking a DB instead of this plug and play dynamo Skins fans can only hope that Bruce takes a deep breath and thinks long and hard before he does anything rash. Hopefully, he realizes that Payne is part of the starting D-line rotation and the starting NT the moment he is drafted.

    INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 05: Florida State defensive back Derwin James (DB57) goes up to catch a pass during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 5, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
    INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 05: Florida State defensive back Derwin James (DB57) goes up to catch a pass during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 5, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

    In Derwin James, because of the learning curve, or Minkah Fitzpatrick, because of Swearinger, Nicholson, Norman, Moreau, and Dunbar, Bruce Allen would be spending the 13th overall pick on a back-up, at least to start the season. This notion that Fitzpatrick is so gifted that he can play anywhere in the secondary is fool’s gold. Before he can play FS or SS, or Slot or Corner, he has to learn how to play all of those positions in a brand new defense.

    This doesn’t happen overnight. In fact, it can take years. Additionally, if the Redskins are going to use their second-round draft pick, as is rumored, to select either a Left Guard, (Yes Please!), or a Running Back, they will not be on the clock again until the 4th round at pick number 109. At this point, there are no Defensive Tackles left on the board who can be reasonably expected to contribute immediately in any meaningful way.

    I love Folorunso Fatukasi out of Connecticut but he has “Developmental Project” written right across the back of his jersey. He might be tremendous in a couple years. But, make no mistake, the Redskins are going all in on winning right now. They may not have made that statement as brazenly, and foolishly, as the LA Rams, but they are on the same page.

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    On the other hand, in the fourth round at pick 109, there are a dozen or so Safeties just sitting there waiting to assume their position in the Redskin defensive backfield. In the immortal words of Root Boy Slim, “Think I’m making it up?” This is but a sample of the kind of players that stand a good chance of still being available with the 109th pick. Incidentally, two or three of these guys will be gone a mere four picks later.

    Guys like Siran Neal, Terrell Edmunds, Quinn Blanding, Marcus Allen, Kyzir White, and Godwin Igwebuike, not to mention, (okay, I will), the CBs that should/could be available at 109 that translate better to Safety than to Corner in the NFL, to wit: Quenton Meeks, Duke Dawson, Rashaan Gaulden, Donte Jackson, Kameron Kelly, well you get the point. I hope Bruce Allen figures it out too.
    Guys like Siran Neal, Terrell Edmunds, Quinn Blanding, Marcus Allen, Kyzir White, and Godwin Igwebuike, not to mention, (okay, I will), the CBs that should/could be available at 109 that translate better to Safety than to Corner in the NFL, to wit: Quenton Meeks, Duke Dawson, Rashaan Gaulden, Donte Jackson, Kameron Kelly, well you get the point. I hope Bruce Allen figures it out too. /

    The Redskins could very well look back at this draft and realize that while they may indeed have been able to get a good player in the 5th round at pick number 163, the most significant result of the Su’a Cravens trade may be the Safety that got at 109. A player that wouldn’t have been there a few picks later. The run on Safeties kicked into high gear at the end of the third – beginning of the fourth round last year.

    It will happen again this year. To be clear, I’m not suggesting that any of the previously mentioned players will ever come close to being a Minkah Fitzpatrick or a Derwin James. But, the Redskins don’t need a star Safety. They have two of them on their roster already-just wait. What the Redskins don’t have on their current roster is someone like Payne. Ask yourself this, who would Scot McCloughan pick? Enough said.

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    Passing on players like Derwin James and Minkah Fitzpatrick is not an easy thing to do. It might sting a little bit. But, the pain will be worth it. The Redskins have to take a huge step forward in this draft. Redskin fans can only hope that the front office brain trust understands, No Payne, No Gain. And with that, I wonder if the Redskins are going to let Derwin James wear number 21 in honor of Sean Taylor this year?

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