Andrew Wingard Can Bring Toughness and Physicality To The Redskins Special Teams Unit

Andrew Wingard, S
School: Wyoming | Conference: Mountain West
College Experience: Senior | Age: 21?
Height / Weight: 6-0 / 205 lbs
Projected Draft Status: 6th or 7th Round
NFL Comparison: Kavon Frazier

College Statistics

Player Overview

Andrew Wingard was a 2-star running back recruit when he committed to Wyoming back in 2015. Wingard is from Arvada, Colorado and was interested in staying in the state and playing for the University of Colorado but he was never offered a scholarship by the program. Instead it was only Wyoming and North Dakota that offered him scholarships. Having chosen the former Wingard was moved to safety his freshman season and quickly became one of the most productive safeties in all of college football. There is no question that if Wingard went to a power five school and put up the numbers he did during his career he might be in the 4th or 5th round conversation instead of being projected on day 3. That is part of Wingard’s journey to the pro’s and he knows it. He loves being the underdog and plays with a chip on his shoulder. He has to prove that he can be just as aggressive, reliable, and productive against top competition. He started that process at the East West Shrine game and will continue it at the NFL combine. He is extremely good in run support and looks better than some linebackers out there on the field. If Wingard can test well look for him to move up in the draft come April.

Strengths

• Good size, strength, and toughness for the position. He flies to the football all over the field and gets into the thick of things constantly.
• Reliable and prolific as a tackler. Shows decent technique and decent speed to power conversion.
• Particularly a weapon against the run and pressuring the QB. He can come up to the LOS quickly and use his vision and instincts to quickly impact a play.
• Can shed blocks and work his way to the ball through all the mess. Has good vision working downhill.

Weaknesses

• Needs to improve technique in pass coverage. While he has a not insignificant amount of interceptions in his career unfortunately those were more from errant throws than him reading the QBs eyes and working his way back across the receiver in coverage. Stiff hips limit him in his back peddle and bail technique.
• He has decent athleticism but nothing special. Lacks the speed to remain playing deep. It will not only limit him to a box safety but probably also limit him as a backup safety who contributes mainly on special teams.
• Doesn’t have the agility, instincts, range, and anticipatory skills you want to see out of the position. Late to recognize and cover field once the ball is thrown.

Let’s see his work:

More Andrew Wingard videos

How He Would Fit On The Redskins

As the Redskins safety situation currently stands Deshazor Everett and Troy Apke are slated to be starters next year since Clinton-Dix has yet to be re-signed and may not be. Monte Nicholson still has uncertainty regarding his situation and could face possibly disciplinary action from the team or from the league. Not only do the Redskins need to get their starting safeties in order they need to desperately improve depth at the position. Wingard can come in and be that backup physical box safety that the team needs not only in a pinch but also on special teams. He has the skillset not only to make the final 53 on the roster but to stick around the NFL for a while a key special teams contributor and the Redskins need help on that front as well. If the Redskins were ever so bold, there are even a couple situations where I can see Wingard on the field as a ‘linebacker’ to help defend against mobile QBs. As to if Wingard can develop and be more than a backup? Maybe but I wouldn’t hold my breath with new defensive backs coach Ray Horton on doing so. If Wingard goes in the range he is currently projected he would be a solid and reliable investment that would make the special teams unit better. And now seems like a good time to remind you all, with the team’s new special teams coordinator the unit will need all the help it can get.