Washington Commanders

Redskins rookie Preston Smith grateful to practice against Trent Williams every day

Published May. 21, 2015 2:48 p.m. ET

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There is reason to believe that the Washington Redskins found a steal in second-round edge defender Preston Smith. Many draft analysts believed that Smith's combination of length, strength and impressive game tape made him one of the draft's top 20 prospects. At 6-foot-5 and 270 pounds, Smith projects best as an outside linebacker in the Redskins' 3-4 defensive scheme.

By head coach Jay Gruden's account, Smith is off to a great start.

"I think he’s doing a good job," Gruden said, according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post. "I talked to him today about trying to get a little bit more suddenness to him, and he’s just saying, ‘I’m getting my bearings straight. I’m getting my plays down.’ You’ll see it once camp continues to hit and he gets more comfortable with the terminology, but I’ve been impressed with him.”

Smith's first order of business--working on his technique. More specifically, he has focused on hand placement and disengaging from opposing blockers.

“That’s very important,” Smith said of the hand-work training. “I’m a guy with a lot of length, and I’ve got to be able to use it and use it in multiple ways. I can’t come out here and just long-arm people. This is a different league, with athletic tackles. I’ve got to come out, and use my length and my hand quickness to separate from offensive linemen.

“Working with my length and hand quickness allows me to watch their hands and be able to beat them before they grab me. I’ve got to be able to keep them off of my pads and from grabbing me so quick and have their way with me, because once they get their hands on me, it’s pretty much over.”

Smith knows that the more adversity he is faced with right away, the better his chances are of making a quick transition to the NFL. He couldn't be facing a bigger challenge than he is now lining up across from all-pro left tackle Trent Williams.

“I’m really looking forward to it because it’s going to help me progress as a player and help me know what to work on to get better in this league, because Trent Williams is one of the best tackles, one of the most athletic tackles in the league,” Smith said. “Playing against him every day in practice and improving every day off of him can help me be a better player in this league.”

If all goes well, Smith will be the Redskins' starting right outside linebacker in Week 1.

(h/t Washington Post)

Photo Credit: Spruce Derden/USA TODAY Sports

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