Reckless or reluctant, Redskins slow played their left guard problem

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title => "Reckless or reluctant, Redskins slow played their left guard problem"
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article_body => "Irresponsible? Overstatement.<\/p>\nResponsible? Not exactly. <\/p>\nThe Redskins needed to improve at left guard this offseason. They didn't. <\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/redskins-re-sign-guard-shawn-lauvao\">News emerged<\/a> last week that Washington will bring back veteran offensive lineman Shawn Lauvao for the 2018 season. The 6-foot-5, 308 lbs. 30-year-old has started 41 out of 64 games in the last four seasons for the Redskins.<\/p>\nHis play has been inconsistent and he's dealt with a number of injuries. Lauvao has never played a full 16-game season for the 'Skins and missed seven games last year.<\/p>\nRedskins players and coaches will tell you Lauvao is a strong player, one who just needs good luck. <\/p>\nPro Football Focus will tell you Lauvao is a below-average player. He landed in the bottom 25 percent of guards ranked throughout the NFL. <\/p>\nStill, for better or worse, it seems possible Washington rolls with Lauvao, again, in 2018. <\/p>\nHe will face competition from Arie Kouandjio, though. Kouandijo is similar in size and four years younger, so he could be in a position to beat Lauvao for the starting job.<\/p>\nKouandjio started the final six games of 2017 for Washington, and he has added at least 10 pounds of muscle this offseason, per a source. Pro Football Focus rated Kouandjio about 20 spots higher than Lauvao, for what it's worth. <\/p>\nLauvao and Kouandjio will compete for playing time next to Trent Williams once the Redskins get to Richmond.<\/p>\nCompetition is great, but competition among two below average players is not. <\/p>\nThere's also the possibility of veteran Ty Nsekhe converting to guard, but it seems less likely as both Williams and right tackle Morgan Moses work back from offseason surgery. The Redskins love having Nsekhe as a potential super sub at swing tackle; move him to guard and that potential dries up. <\/p>\nSure, the Redskins drafted Geron Christian in the third round as a possible swing tackle much in the mold of Nsekhe, though it's unclear if Christian is ready for that role right away. Both Moses and Williams are expected to miss the entirety of offseason workouts. With that in mind, added to the fact that Williams has not played a full 16-game season since 2013, and Jay Gruden might not be in a hurry to move Nsekhe to guard. <\/p>\nBack to the beginnning. The Redskins did not address their need at left guard this offseason. <\/p>\nWashington wanted to improve, and right now, in early May, the team is in the same spot as it was in May 2017. <\/p>\nLauvao vs. Kouandjio. <\/p>\nIt's entirely possible Kouandjio has improved, like one Redskins offensive lineman told NBC Sports Washington, by adding bulk and strength to his upper body. <\/p>\nIt's also entirely possible that left guard will again be the weak link on the Redskins offensive line. <\/p>\nWashington tried to address needs this offseason. <\/p>\nThe team had to figure out their quarterback position and tried by bringing in veteran Alex Smith. <\/p>\nThe team had to figure out their run defense and tried by adding Da'Ron Payne and Tim Settle in the NFL Draft. <\/p>\nThe team had to figure out their run game and tried by adding Derrius Guice in the NFL Draft.<\/p>\nLeft guard will look the same. It wasn't responsible, but it wasn't reckless either. Like it or not, the NFL is not a league where all problems can be addressed in one offseason. And despite a 7-9 record in 2017, the internal belief at Redskins Park is this team can compete for a playoff spot as constituted. <\/p>\nWashington just better hope the left guard spot unfolds better in 2018 than it did in 2017. <\/p>\nMORE REDSKINS NEWS:<\/strong><\/p>\n\u2014 Report Card: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/need-know-tandlers-take-grading-redskins-draft\">Grading the Redskins' 2018 draft<\/a> \u2014 Draft Analysis: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/what-looks-great-draft-redskins-added-value-and-addressed-key-needs\">Redskins drafted for value AND need<\/a> \u2014 Day 3 Results: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/redskins-2018-nfl-draft-recap-late-round-draft-pick-results-selections-analysis\">Meet the Redskins' late-round picks<\/a> \u2014 Day 2 Results: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/nfl-draft-2018-day-2-second-and-third-round-results-picks-selections-trades-order\">Second and third-round selections<\/a> \u2014 Rolling the Dice: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/redskins-wait-right-time-roll-dice-derrius-guice\">The right move drafting Guice<\/a> \u2014 Bring the Payne: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/redskins-hope-daron-payne-will-be-able-solidify-porous-run-defense\">Redskins address porous D-Line at No. 13<\/a><\/p>\n#REDSKINSTALK PODCAST<\/strong><\/p>\nDon't forget to subscribe to the #RedskinsTalk podcast, hosted by JP Finlay.<\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/redskins-talk\/id1151988852?mt=2\">Click here for the #RedskinsTalk on Apple Podcasts<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/music\/m\/Iygppa4jqsc74swaa7q7vfdc3ym?t=Redskins_Talk\">here for Google Play<\/a> or press play below.<\/p>\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/f1339a3e-06a7-41d6-bc8b-77df06fb8eae\/episodes\/59a6a32d-1844-4718-808f-6555ad6586f9\/embed\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe> \n"
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Redskins

Irresponsible? Overstatement.

Responsible? Not exactly.

The Redskins needed to improve at left guard this offseason. They didn't.

News emerged last week that Washington will bring back veteran offensive lineman Shawn Lauvao for the 2018 season. The 6-foot-5, 308 lbs. 30-year-old has started 41 out of 64 games in the last four seasons for the Redskins.

His play has been inconsistent and he's dealt with a number of injuries. Lauvao has never played a full 16-game season for the 'Skins and missed seven games last year.

Redskins players and coaches will tell you Lauvao is a strong player, one who just needs good luck.

Pro Football Focus will tell you Lauvao is a below-average player. He landed in the bottom 25 percent of guards ranked throughout the NFL.

Still, for better or worse, it seems possible Washington rolls with Lauvao, again, in 2018.

He will face competition from Arie Kouandjio, though. Kouandijo is similar in size and four years younger, so he could be in a position to beat Lauvao for the starting job.

Kouandjio started the final six games of 2017 for Washington, and he has added at least 10 pounds of muscle this offseason, per a source. Pro Football Focus rated Kouandjio about 20 spots higher than Lauvao, for what it's worth.

Lauvao and Kouandjio will compete for playing time next to Trent Williams once the Redskins get to Richmond.

Competition is great, but competition among two below average players is not.

There's also the possibility of veteran Ty Nsekhe converting to guard, but it seems less likely as both Williams and right tackle Morgan Moses work back from offseason surgery. The Redskins love having Nsekhe as a potential super sub at swing tackle; move him to guard and that potential dries up.

Sure, the Redskins drafted Geron Christian in the third round as a possible swing tackle much in the mold of Nsekhe, though it's unclear if Christian is ready for that role right away. Both Moses and Williams are expected to miss the entirety of offseason workouts. With that in mind, added to the fact that Williams has not played a full 16-game season since 2013, and Jay Gruden might not be in a hurry to move Nsekhe to guard.

Back to the beginnning. The Redskins did not address their need at left guard this offseason.

Washington wanted to improve, and right now, in early May, the team is in the same spot as it was in May 2017.

Lauvao vs. Kouandjio.

It's entirely possible Kouandjio has improved, like one Redskins offensive lineman told NBC Sports Washington, by adding bulk and strength to his upper body.

It's also entirely possible that left guard will again be the weak link on the Redskins offensive line.

Washington tried to address needs this offseason.

The team had to figure out their quarterback position and tried by bringing in veteran Alex Smith.

The team had to figure out their run defense and tried by adding Da'Ron Payne and Tim Settle in the NFL Draft.

The team had to figure out their run game and tried by adding Derrius Guice in the NFL Draft.

Left guard will look the same. It wasn't responsible, but it wasn't reckless either. Like it or not, the NFL is not a league where all problems can be addressed in one offseason. And despite a 7-9 record in 2017, the internal belief at Redskins Park is this team can compete for a playoff spot as constituted.

Washington just better hope the left guard spot unfolds better in 2018 than it did in 2017.

MORE REDSKINS NEWS:

— Report Card: Grading the Redskins' 2018 draft
— Draft Analysis: Redskins drafted for value AND need
— Day 3 Results: Meet the Redskins' late-round picks
— Day 2 Results: Second and third-round selections
— Rolling the Dice: The right move drafting Guice
— Bring the Payne: Redskins address porous D-Line at No. 13

#REDSKINSTALK PODCAST

Don't forget to subscribe to the #RedskinsTalk podcast, hosted by JP Finlay.

Click here for the #RedskinsTalk on Apple Podcasts, here for Google Play or press play below.