Kendall Fuller Will Be Washington Redskins Nickel Back Moving Forward
Kendall Fuller is being declared the starter at the nickel position moving forward. This is definitely a good call by the Redskins.
The Washington Redskins were faced with a tough decision this week. After being without Bashaud Breeland and Dashaun Phillips for a couple of weeks due to injuries, the duo returned to practice. It seems possible that both will play on Sunday, but there were questions about where they would play. Quinton Dunbar and Kendall Fuller had played well in their absence and it is confirmed that Fuller will not be moving back to a bench role.
Fuller took over for Phillips at the nickel position for the last couple of weeks, and he has played extremely well. The rookie was able to step in and actually be an upgrade over Phillips. That is why the team is electing to keep Fuller at the position. As defensive coordinator Joe Barry put it:
Well, I think that’s the nice thing with our nickel position. It’s good when you have guys – multiple guys – that can play that position. But right now Kendall Fuller is playing really good at our nickel position. I don’t see a change there at all. He’s played very well, especially the last two weeks. We’re very happy with his play.
In the two games that Fuller has played this season, he has recorded a whopping 10 tackles and has broken up a pass. He seems to have a nose for the ball and his coverage skills are very strong. Fuller should continue to improve with each passing week, and that will be huge for the Redskins defense.
Personally, I believe that this move should have been made prior to the season opener. I thought that Fuller had outplayed Phillips in the preseason and had more upside than the veteran. Barry using Phillips does make sense, solely because of Phillips’ experience, but I am surprised that the team did not have a shorter leash on him. Furthermore, I am surprised that the team did not elect to dress Fuller until both Breeland and Phillips were injured. He definitely could have had an impact as a depth player.
Fuller is going to continue to be a fun player to watch. The rookie has a great deal of upside and he should develop into one of the better slot corners in the league. Fuller is going to be a major asset for the Redskins moving forward.
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