Day 2 linebacker options for the Washington Commanders
Taking a closer look at some potential linebacker options for the Commanders on the second day of the draft
The Washington Commanders two biggest needs entering the offseason were at quarterback and linebacker. The Carson Wentz trade solved the quarterback need, but little has been done to address the linebacker position. Ron Rivera spoke at the end of the season about needing to find a true Mike (middle) linebacker to fit between Jamin Davis and Cole Holcomb, but as we’ve gotten closer to the draft, Rivera and the Commanders have changed their tune a bit, suggesting Holcomb could well be capable of taking over the Mike linebacker role.
Even with Holcomb playing as the Mike, Washington has very little depth at linebacker, which means it still remains a significant need. The team is unlikely to take a linebacker at 11, but there’s a number of prospects projected to go in the second and third round that could be solid additions to the Commanders linebacker group. Let’s take a closer look at a few of them.
Leo Chenal
Wisconsin linebacker Leo Chenal started forcing his way onto radars with an impressive performance at the combine. He tested so well that he ended up scoring a 9.99 out of 10 on Kent Lee Platte’s RAS (relative athletic score) system, which logs athletic testing data of every player.
When watching Chenal, that athletic ability translates to being able to avoid blockers in tight areas and slip by them to make plays.
On this play, Iowa runs an outside zone to the right. The right tackle is tasked with climbing up to the second level and blocking Chenal. Chenal is perhaps a beat or two slow off the snap, allowing the right tackle to gain ground as he works up to him. This would normally result in the tackle being able to reach the linebacker and seal him off inside, but Chenal is able to get back on track thanks to his athleticism. He has the speed to beat the tackle to the outside and slip past him. Chenal then finds himself directly in the path of the running back and makes the tackle.
Chenal isn’t just fast, he’s also strong. He’s very capable of taking on blockers and shedding them on his way to making a play on the running back.
Here, Iowa is backed up near its own goal line. The offense attempts an inside run to the left, with a fullback inserting between the center and left guard to try and create extra gaps inside for the running back to work with. Chenal walks up to the line of scrimmage and positions himself directly in that A gap, allowing the nose tackle to slide over into the other A gap. With the run going to Chenal’s side, he has to take on a block from Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum, who many rate as the top center in this draft class and a potential first-round pick.
Chenal does a terrific job off the snap, getting his hands inside on the chest of Linderbaum and standing him up, giving Chenal the ability to work either side of him and peek into the backfield. He spots the fullback coming his way, so works to disengage with Linderbaum, tossing him aside as he then gets low again to take on the fullback. He attacks the fullback’s inside shoulder, disrupting him from reaching his actual blocking target. The running back has nowhere to go and attempts to follow his fullback. Because Chenal got the center out of the way so quickly, the defensive tackle in the other A gap is able to penetrate and make a play on the back, forcing the ball out in the process.
Chenal didn’t appear to be trusted in coverage with too many responsibilities from the games I watched. Instead, Wisconsin opted to use him more as a blitzing linebacker to keep him going forward instead of backwards. He was effective in that role.
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