Rookie Progress Report: Jamin Davis
Taking a closer look at how Jamin Davis played against the Chiefs
Jamin Davis’ slow start to the season has been well documented at this point. Washington’s first-round pick has struggled to see the field despite the team being short at linebacker. Against the Chiefs, however, Davis had his most promising outing to date. He played 56 snaps, the most in a single game so far this season and looked far more comfortable than he has in the past.
Davis’ struggles have come in the run game, where he has had issues diagnosing run plays, finding the correct gap to fill and working through misdirection. In the Chiefs game, he looked far more accomplished and prepared to defend the run.
On this play, the Chiefs run a counter scheme to their left, with the right guard pulling to kick out the defensive end while the tight end follows the guard and wraps around for the linebacker, in this case Davis. In past weeks, Davis has been slow to read his run keys, leaving him late to get into the correct position. But that certainly was not the case here. Davis spots the guard pulling and instantly works to the edge. He gets there early, which enables him to locate the tight end and ball carrier. Davis then squeezes the tight end inside, closing the lane for the running back. Fellow linebacker Cole Holcomb bursts through from the other side and makes the tackle.
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