MMA
John Keim, ESPN Staff Writer 6y

With Alex Smith as QB, Redskins must find their version of Tyreek Hill

The Washington Redskins found their quarterback. Now they need to find Alex Smith another version of what he had at receiver in Kansas City: Tyreek Hill.

Smith and the Chiefs’ offense were dangerous this season thanks to Hill’s game-breaking ability. They also received that from running back Kareem Hunt and had a top tight end in Travis Kelce. But Smith got them the ball in position to make plays. The Redskins are well aware that they need those types of game-breaking players on offense -- and they knew that long before they traded for Smith (a deal that can’t become official until March 14). It was on their wish list before the season had ended.

Washington has a young slot receiver they love in Jamison Crowder and a talented X receiver whose potential they -- meaning players and coaches -- constantly point to in Josh Doctson. Beyond that, however, they don’t have a lot when it comes to players who can change games with one play. Ryan Grant is a free agent and they’d like to re-sign him. But even if they do, they’ll seek another wideout with speed to put opposite Doctson.

It’s not that Doctson is slow; he’s not. And he can make plays down the field. Of his 76 targets, 25 percent were on throws 20 yards or more down the field -- but he caught just five (with three others classified as drops). Only 5 percent of his catches came on throws of 40 yards or more, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Doctson has terrific ball-tracking skills and to consider him a finished product after one full season is silly. There was a lot he needed to learn -- and still can refine.

But the Redskins could use a speed guy on the other side -- someone such as DeSean Jackson, whom they allowed to leave via free agency last offseason. The Redskins did make an effort to retain him, but Tampa Bay topped their offer.

Jackson certainly has flaws: He was a poor blocker, which sometimes had an impact on where they could run the ball. Defenses knew this. But Jackson’s speed also scared defenses and forced them to abandon certain coverages -- or play them less. When Jackson was in the game in 2016, defenses used far fewer eight-man boxes, knowing what he could do -- and with Kirk Cousins throwing downfield more. Consequently, the Redskins averaged 4.69 yards per carry when Jackson was on the field (and a still-respectable 4.26 when he wasn’t).

There were plenty of times the Redskins used that fear to hit a team underneath on some sort of crosser to another receiver or tight end, leading to big plays.

In 2016, Jackson caught 16 passes that traveled at least 20 yards; 35 percent of his targets went that distance. Jackson’s speed enabled the Redskins to get better looks for tight end Jordan Reed on the other side when aligned wide by himself. Safeties typically would cheat to Jackson’s side.

But for a quarterback such as Smith, having someone who can turn short completions into long runs matters, too, as his history suggests Smith will throw a lot underneath.

Even last year, when Smith threw more downfield, he targeted Hill only 23 times on throws 20 or more yards -- that’s just 22 percent of his overall targets. Instead, Hill caught 54 passes either behind the line of scrimmage or within 10 yards.

Here’s another stat similar to Jackson’s: The Chiefs averaged 4.96 yards per run with Hill on the field and 4.25 when he wasn’t.

It’ll be interesting to see how Washington addresses this position. Among the speedy potential free agents: Sammy Watkins, Marqise Lee and Paul Richardson. Denver’s Emmanuel Sanders is rumored to be on the trading block. It doesn't need to be a big name, but someone who threatens a defense with his speed. If these options are too costly -- and they would be expensive -- then there are fast receivers in the draft. But that would lead to another year with a receiver adjusting to the NFL.

Regardless, the Redskins want more speed and the impact could be big.

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