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INDIANAPOLIS – Shortly after the NFL world learned of Kyler Murray's football highlights, Redskins head coach Jay Gruden and senior vice president of player staff Doug Williams said held separate press conferences on Thursday morning.
The question of the physical stature of the Heisman trophy quarter-winner was evoked, as was the obvious need for Washington's help under the center of Alex Smith's injury. These were hardly the only topics discussed or the only ones to chat.
Gruden and Williams spoke together for about 45 minutes in a conference room in downtown JW Marriott, a few blocks from the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium, main venues of the NFL German Championship 2019. Thursday also marked the first day the prospects held their own press conferences. From these events came the following:
* The Redskins must waive signing Adrian Peterson beyond the terms of the contract.
Washington reportedly began talks with the future Hall of Fame and the best fighter on the team last season. The addition of Peterson after the knee injury that ended Derrius Guice's season during the pre-season helped save the campaign on the offensive until the quarterback's injuries slaughtered everyone . The concept of twinning these two interlocutors with the threat of transmission, Chris Thompson, is very attractive.
Let's talk about the concern now. The Redskins usually have only three backs in the match-day lineup and one of these players is lined up on special teams. None of these guys do it. Thompson and Peterson combined their two special teams last season. Washington would be crazy to expose Guice.
Jay, thoughts?
"It's a great question and it's something you have to understand on match day if everything goes well," said the head coach. "If all three are in good health and we have them all on the list. This is a situation we are expecting a bit. You would like one of your backs to be able to participate in special teams in a certain way. "
Considering Guice comes from a torn ACL and never played in the NFL regular season, it makes sense to choose a viable secondary option. That does not mean that person is Peterson, who will be 34 in March. Washington could still decide to choose special teams from other positions.
* Gruden and Williams presented lists of similar clothes containing holes beyond the quarter: safety, interior linebacker, defender of the edges, guard, wide receiver.
You may be acquiescing because these are the areas where there is a need. That these two agree is important because external opinions do not always correspond to internal thinking.
"Safety is a top priority for us," said Gruden, beginning to correct positioning weaknesses. "The linebacker is a problem. Passing Rusher with Preston (Smith) being a free agent is obviously a priority for us without a doubt. Offensive online players, we already know that it is a priority. We know that shifts are a problem, we know that the receiver is a problem, so we have to improve our entire repertoire. We will add players to each position, add competition, that's what will make us good. "
* Gruden specifically mentioned adding a larger receiver to the mix to meet the speed threat, Paul Richardson. Slot receiver Jamison Crowder is another free agent.
* Washington probably needs two guarantees of departure. Williams said the team would reevaluate free agent Ha Ha Clinton-Ten now that there are new coaching staff members.
* The Redskins need a left guard. We know that. Sometimes during the past two seasons it has not been easy to determine if the Redskins agreed that they had done little to solve the tanning problem by placing Shawn Lauvao, subject to injury. It changed on Thursday. When asked, Williams said he did not believe a starter was on the list.
* Washington remains in limbo as to the future of ILB Reuben Foster, said Gruden, while the team has yet to hear from the league as to whether any disciplinary action will be taken soon.
* The existence of these needs is why Williams was somewhat opposed to the idea that the Redskins exchange their selections in search of a quarterback.
"We have a lot more needs in this football team than to say that we can give up two or three choices and pick a guy and think we're going to have the football team we hope to have," Williams said. "We must use our choices wisely and ensure that guys who come here can help us build this football team a lot better than it is."
* Washington's salary cap scenario, ranked 23rd in the league with $ 16.7 million available, involves finding ways to create more space. Among them, the extension of the right guard of the Pro Bowl and the free agent 2020, Brandon Scherff. The maneuver would free up more space and allow one of the best players on the team to win. "I do not know if anyone understands the effect he's having on our team when he's not playing," Gruden told Scherff, a victim of a torn pectoral in the middle of last season. "So, it's definitely a priority, we'll get there."
* Despite the more than 40-fold hype, bench rehearsals and passing drills, the interview process is a crucial part of the combination process as teams get a close look at the person, not just the player. Dozens of these interactions will occur, so that no single meeting automatically means the day's worth of the project. That said, the Redskins have met two of the 20 caps expected from offensive linemen Cody Ford (Oklahoma) and Juwaan Taylor (Florida).
Both players played in college, but the teams mostly watch Ford at the guardhouse. Taylor said he was not sure of the spirit of the Redskins, but he was aware that the tackle was not a priority.
Among the other players who have met the Redskins to date are Northern AT of Max Scharping Illinois, the Washington State halfback, James Williams and AT from the state of Alabama, Tytus Howard. Mississippi OT Little Greg, a potential first-round pick, said he had not yet met the Redskins. Same thing with two Penn State hopefuls, midfielder Miles Sanders and offensive lineman Connor McGovern.
* Another media availability will be held on Friday morning with team president Bruce Allen. Stay tuned.
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