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Don’t Sweat It: Redskins Rookie OLB Starting to Come Into His Own

By Mark Tyler
NFL: Chicago Bears at Washington Redskins Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Some fans were complaining that rookie Montez Sweat had gotten off to a slow start with the Redskins this season. Over the past two games however, the outside linebacker has really starting to play well.

I think some of this has to do with Montez now having the game begin to slow down for him, which allows him to think less, and let his natural athleticism take over.

Below are some cut-ups of Sweat’s play to date.

Here you see Sweat’s elite athleticism on display. This is a guy who ran a 4.41 40 at the combine.

Nice pass rush here by the rookie.

Blocking Sweat with a TE is just asking for trouble!

Sweat nearly getting home... You can see the quickness and pass rush ability.

Sweat does a nice job setting the edge here and getting off his block to make the play. Here is where his length and quickness really shine.

I love this play! Watch the offensive tackle’s head snap back here as Sweat stands him up and is able to get off the block.

This closing speed is elite!

Nice job mixing it up in the run game.

Nice discipline by the rookie here. He plays this run perfectly.

Sweat bench presses the TE here, reads the play and makes the tackle.

Love the recognition and quick reaction here on this bubble screen.

Now, let’s take a look at some of Sweat’s counterparts on the outside.

Here you see Ryan Anderson at right OLB. Anderson fails to wrap up the ball carrier.

A quick look at some of the struggles we are seeing from an aging Ryan Kerrigan.

We’ve seen this in the past, but this is becoming all too common from Kerrigan.

Despite some early criticism from fans on the rookie Sweat, he had really started to come on over the last two weeks.

Growing pains are always expected from rookies, but we are now starting to see the potential this young EDGE rusher has, and the future is looking very bright for number 90 in Burgundy and Gold!

Poll

Grade Montez Sweat’s performance over the first three games of the 2019 season.

This poll is closed

  • 6%
    A
    (47 votes)
  • 60%
    B
    (452 votes)
  • 30%
    C
    (229 votes)
  • 2%
    D
    (17 votes)
  • 0%
    F
    (2 votes)
747 votes total Vote Now

Poll

So far, Montez Sweat has been...

This poll is closed

  • 15%
    A pleasant surprise
    (100 votes)
  • 6%
    A disappointment
    (44 votes)
  • 77%
    Basically who we thought he’d be as a rookie
    (486 votes)
630 votes total Vote Now

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