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Jay Gruden comes to the podium to talk about the Redskins 1st round pick, Alabama DT Da'Ron Payne.
LIVE: Washington #Redskins head coach Jay Gruden press conference. #HTTR https://t.co/s7MpPNsO6k
— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) April 27, 2018
Da'Ron Payne is a perfect fit:
#Redskins HC Jay Gruden said getting Da'Ron Payne was important with NFC East's running backs. Notes that he's a "perfect fit."
— Stephen Czarda (@SCzardaRedskins) April 27, 2018
Jay Gruden on #Redskins' No. 13 pick: "Da'Ron paired with Jonathan Allen... and the rest of the guys was a perfect fit."
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) April 27, 2018
Stopping the run in the NFC East:
Gruden on taking Payne: You see what's going on in our division with Saquon Barkley and Ezekiel Elliott
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) April 27, 2018
Gruden: At the end of the day pro football is about running the football and stopping the run. We havent stopped the run
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) April 27, 2018
Unanimous decision:
Several guys were "worthy" of the No. 13 pick, Jay Gruden said. But Da'Ron Payne was a unanimous choice in the #Redskins room
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) April 27, 2018
More than a run stopper:
Gruden says Payne can play more than just nose tackle. He can push the pocket, too. Sack numbers weren’t there but they saw potential there on tape.
— Craig Hoffman (@CraigHoffman) April 27, 2018
Gruden said Payne can disrupt opposing passing games and while he himself didn't have many sacks while at Alabama, his pressure allowed other players to get the QB down.
— Stephen Czarda (@SCzardaRedskins) April 27, 2018
Trading back:
Gruden says there was some thought of a trade, but trading back risked losing DaRon Payne, and they didnt want to risk that
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) April 27, 2018
Pairing Payne with Jonathan Allen:
Gruden said that when he watched Jonathan Allen's tape last year, Payne had plays where he stood out. So he re-watched some of that tape to see how the two could be paired together in the NFL.
— Stephen Czarda (@SCzardaRedskins) April 27, 2018
"Watching those two guys side by side, it's tough sleddin'." Jay Gruden liked the tape he saw of Jonathan Allen & Da'Ron Payne together at Alabama. #HTTR https://t.co/L4Pyf4rjD2
— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) April 27, 2018
Nose tackle:
Gruden says #Redskins intend to start DaRon Payne as a nose tackle pic.twitter.com/j1FKlWGRvU
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) April 27, 2018
Gruden says they’ll start Payne at NT, but he can play everything. He says the first time he noticed Payne was last year watching Allen. He was really impressed with how those two played off each other.
— Craig Hoffman (@CraigHoffman) April 27, 2018
Mock drafts:
Gruden: "We glance at the mock drafts, but theyre called mock drafts for a reason. It's like fantasy football."
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) April 27, 2018