Washington Redskins: Trent Williams Takes Pride in Protecting His QB's Blindside

The Washington Redskins will head into the off-season uncertain of when Robert Griffin III will return. However, there is one thing that they’ll know for sure. Left tackle Trent Williams is the bodyguard that they’ll need in order to keep their quarterback upright throughout his career.

Williams is a stud, and this year he proved just that. His ‘maturity’ was in question after last season’s four-game suspension for abusing the league’s substance abuse policy. However, Williams came back with a vengeance this season. He was outstanding at protecting Griffin, who was in his first year at quarterback. After the loss to the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, out of frustration, Williams mushed Richard Sherman as they were jawing back and forth. I don’t blame Williams too much, because in one way or another, Sherman had that coming.

One of the reasons Griffin was so successful this season was due to the fact that the Redskins’ offensive line was surprisingly exceptional. They were led by their Pro Bowl tackle, in Williams. I think it motivates Williams to have the opportunity to protect such a talented quarterback. In his first few seasons the Redskins’ quarterbacks were Donovan McNabb (on his last legs), Rex Grossman and John Beck. Not the greatest collections of quarterbacks, which could have caused a lack of motivation for Williams to perform at the best of his ability.

Whether it’s Kirk Cousins or Griffin behind center next season, because of Williams they won’t have to worry too much about their back side. With a right-handed QB the most important position on the field, other than himself, is the left tackle. If there’s one area where Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen have been on point since joining the Redskins, it’s been in the draft. Williams was the fourth overall selection by the Redskins in 2010, and is has began to show that he deserved to be such a high draft choice.

So not only are the Redskins set at quarterback for years to come, but with Trent Williams, they are also set at the left tackle position.

 

Redskins columnist/Josiah Turner

@EspnsJsiah