The Alabama Duo headlines an impressive night for the Redskins defensive line

Second-year defensive end Jonathan Allen and rookie Daron Payne both made their 2018 debut last night against the New York Jets. The two defensive linemen had very impressive outings during their time on the field and showed how lethal of a combination they can be if their health holds up.

Overall, the starting interior pass rush against the Jets was active each series they played, forcing multiple sacks, one being from Payne himself. A concern that came with Payne was that he was possibly a two-down defensive lineman because he came off as a non-factor as a pass rusher during his time at Alabama. Payne showed his versatility during nickel situations, providing pressure through his ability to counter the guards using quickness and strength to finish the play.

Another sack during the time of the starters was more so due to coverage, but the continuous effort by the defensive line and front seven forced rookie quarterback Sam Darnold into Preston Smith‘s hands.

Outside of passing situations, Jonathan Allen was challenging to run against, which is most important with the Redskins defense. The Redskins statistically have finished bottom five in rush defense each year since 2015, and the primary focus of the staff and management was to both bolster and improve the defensive line. The talent and youth have stood out this year in the first two games, as well as training camp.

The first uninterrupted view of the starting defensive line will come next Friday as the Redskins will likely play their starters for two quarters against the Denver Broncos.