RICHMOND—Here is what you need to know on Friday, July 27, just 13 days before the Washington Redskins open up their preseason at New England.

Note: With a new season, I revised the format of Need to Know in response to some comments. The revision will undergo further tinkering over the next few weeks; your comments here or on social media are welcome.

Talking Points

As you may have heard, the Redskins were last in the league against the rush last year. They were shredded for an average of 134 yards per game. It’s a passing league but it’s hard to win if you can’t stop the run.

The Redskins appear to have a solution to the problem. They started last year when they drafted Jonathan Allen in the first round. He is quick and powerful, making him tough to block. They added him to 2016 fifth-round pick Matt Ioannidis, who can get around blockers with his quickness.

But there were two problems last year. For one thing, Allen got injured in Week 6 and he was done for the season. Ioannidis missed two games with a broken hand and he was less effective for a few games after that. The rushing defense was not nearly as effective after that.

The other problem was that they did not have a true nose tackle. Ziggy Hood was the starter there and D-line coach Jim Tomsula even said that he is not a true nose tackle. That creates problems when one blocker can handle the nose tackle.

Enter Daron Payne, Allen’s former teammate, in the first round of this year’s draft. Payne, 6-3, 319, is a nose tackle. He likes doing the dirty work that doesn’t lead to much glory.

“I did all that in college, so I know what comes with it,” he said. “It’s really an important part of the defense, the defensive line and you can’t do nothing without a strong nose tackle.”

The Redskins couldn’t do much when it came to stopping the run without a true nose tackle last year. There is every reason for confidence that things will be different this year.

Watercooler Wisdom

The 2,146 rushing yards the Redskins gave up last season was the worst rushing defense performance for the team since 2006 when they gave up 2,197. '

Their worst season against the run since the merger was in 1978 when they gave up 2,536.

On the Record

Allen on missing the last 11 games of last year: “Probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Even though I’ve had surgeries before I’ve never missed game time . . . I just came back more grateful, ready to put in the extra effort and the hours that I might not have been able to do, might not have been willing to do and I was ready to go.”

Comment: You like to see the adversity of last year turn into determination. Look at the social media section to see what he said about conditioning this year vs. last year.

Alex Smith on Jordan Reed: I've watched a ton of film, played against him and I know what kind of player he is, you know, I mean, he is truely, truly unique, gifted special player, and it's hard to put it into words. He is a unique guy at the tight end position that can do so many things - route running with the ball in his hands after the catch."

Comment: Reed is a special player. It may be a stretch to say that one player could be the difference between making the playoffs and having a losing record, but the Redskins offense is considerably better with him than without him.

The Agenda

Today: Jay Gruden press conference 9:30; Training camp practice 9:45; Walkthrough 4:40; players available after both practices

Upcoming: Preseason opener Redskins @ Patriots (Aug. 9) 13 days; Final cut (Sept. 1) 37 days; Season opener @ Cardinals (Sept. 9) 45 days

Trending on Social

#Redskins’ DL Jonathan Allen admitted that he was not in as good a shape as he should have been last year:

“Gotta put the game down, gotta eat right. Last year my body definitely wasn’t what it needed to be.” — Rich Tandler (@TandlerNBCS) July 26, 2018

This next one speaks for itself.

Bein badasses - that’s what @jonallen93_ says the #Redskins defense will hang their hat on that ... we say the same thing in the @NBCSRedskins tent pic.twitter.com/gXC4qVelCA — Mitchell Tischler (@Mitch_Tischler) July 26, 2018

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