Washington Redskins: 5 Roster Bubble Candidates Who Must Make the Team

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 23: Ziggy Hood #90 of the Washington Redskins waits in the tunnel before taking the field to play against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on October 23, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 23: Ziggy Hood #90 of the Washington Redskins waits in the tunnel before taking the field to play against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on October 23, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MD – NOVEMBER 12: Running back Jerick McKinnon #21 of the Minnesota Vikings is tackled by inside linebacker Martrell Spaight #50 of the Washington Redskins during the fourth quarter at FedExField on November 12, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – NOVEMBER 12: Running back Jerick McKinnon #21 of the Minnesota Vikings is tackled by inside linebacker Martrell Spaight #50 of the Washington Redskins during the fourth quarter at FedExField on November 12, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Martrell Spaight

The second ruinous error the Washington Redskins could make is another player on the defensive side of the ball. The Skins have an impressive group of inside linebackers. It’s easy, I guess, to get too comfortable with Mason Foster and Zach Brown as your starters. And yes, studs – both! But Washington can ill afford to get cute and do something dumb like letting Martrell Spaight go.

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Certainly, Spaight has his detractors but he is, in layman’s terms, a flat out beast. No one on the team hits any harder than Spaight and while he has some small holes in his game (coverage), a review of Redskins game tape clearly demonstrates that Spaight, when on the field, is ALWAYS near the ball.

Spaight led the SEC in tackles his senior year at Arkansas. He came into the league with a reputation for having a nose for the ball. As a Redskin he has been a steady back up, improving each year. It would be a huge blow to the defense to replace him with a rookie. Yes, even a rookie from Alabama.

Shaun Dion-Hamilton will get his chance but it shouldn’t come this year. Right now, Spaight brings more value to the Redskins defense. It would be a mistake to remove this mauler from the Skins defense. He is exactly where he needs to be, backing up Washington’s starters and knocking opponents silly whenever the opportunity presents itself.