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RICHARD CARSON (AP)
Sports
JONATHAN NEWTON (THE WASHINGTON POST)
Nene is averaging 14.2 points per game in his second season with the Wizards
The Redskins’ offensive line allowed 43 sacks last season — tied for 14th-most in the NFL. Washington’s offense ranked 23rd in scoring (20.9) and ninth in yards (369.7).
Everything’s on the Line At the NFL combine, Jay Gruden has the proper grasp of what the Redskins need: a lot of new offensive linemen. The first-year coach spent nearly two months watching tape of last season — when Washington fell from NFC East champions to 3-13. He quickly realized the rebuilding process won’t be easy. “We have a lot of holes everywhere,” he said. “Any time you’re 3-13, there’s a lot of needs.” The Redskins are going nowhere unless quarterback Robert GrifBy Rick fin III rebounds Snider from a poor season. The needs of the many do not outweigh the needs of the one, despite what Spock and his Vulcan logic would say. Griffin lifted the franchise into the playoffs as a rookie in the 2012 season. Washington probably would have been 5-11
without him. After missing the entire 2013 offseason and preseason after knee surgery, he really wasn’t ready and the Redskins floundered. Griffin should be healthy this year and Gruden’s task will be meshing what the coach’s system does best with what Griffin does well. Gruden can’t force the passer to run particular plays like the preceding staff did. Still, the coach knows Griffin won’t last long if the quarterback continues to dance behind the line, so Gruden’s creating more five- to seven-step drops to give Griffin more time to see defenders. But — and here’s the whole
point of the five-day combine for Washington — the team needs four new linemen. Without a first-round pick, there was no need to watch quarterback Johnny Manziel or defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. The Redskins scouted offensive linemen Taylor Lewan of Michigan and Zack Martin of Notre Dame and will scheme over the next two months how they can trade back into the first round to get a premier tackle like those two. Also, they looked at guards Gabe Jackson of Mississippi State and Cyril Richardson of Baylor, trying to decide which they like more for second- or third-round
It’s hard to find starting veteran linemen on the market because teams rarely let quality ones depart.
options. And, it didn’t hurt looking at centers like Travis Swanson of Arkansas and Gabe Ikard of Oklahoma. Free agency will largely decide who the Redskins draft. But it’s hard to find starting veteran linemen on the market. In free agency, there are always decent receivers or corners available, but teams rarely let quality linemen depart because there aren’t enough around the league. The Redskins need to build a unit around left tackle Trent Williams. Fixing the offensive line is even more essential if Griffin is going to spend more time in the pocket. Washington absolutely has to replace aging guard Chris Chester, right tackle Tyler Polumbus and center Will Montgomery. At least Gruden isn’t in denial. The line comes first, finally. Rick Snider has covered Washington sports since 1978. Follow him on Twitter @Snide_Remarks
Nene Hurts Knee, Out Six Weeks Wizards Wizards forward Nene will be sidelined for approximately six weeks with a sprained MCL in his left knee, costing the team its most reliable barometer for success while it makes a push for its first playoff berth since 2008. Nene underwent an MRI on Monday after he was injured in the third quarter of Sunday night’s 96-83 win at Cleveland. A six-week absence would sideline the Brazilian veteran until the final few games of the regular season. The Wizards have won three straight to get to 28-28, making them fifth in the weak Eastern Conference. Though the injury is not season-ending, it will keep him sidelined for significant time and the team has struggled in the past in his absence. Nene dealt with an Achilles tendon injury early in the season and the Wizards went 1-6 without him. (AP/THE WASHINGTON POST)
TV Lineup SOCCER (2:45 P.M., FS1) Manchester United sits in sixth place in the English Premier League, but they’ve fared much better against Europe’s elite, going undefeated so far in the Champions League. The Red Devils travel to Greece to take on Olympiacos in the first leg of the round of 16 in the continent’s premier competition.