Washington Commanders

Terrance Knighton emerging as leader on Redskins' defensive line

Published Jun. 29, 2015 5:12 p.m. ET

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The Washington Redskins have completely reassembled their defensive line over the last two seasons. In 2013, their three-man down front featured names like Barry Cofield and Stephen Bowen. Now, the projected starting line features Terrance Knighton in the middle with Jason Hatcher and Stephen Paea book-ending him. Each player has enjoyed their best season with other teams, and now Knighton is hoping to bring them all together.

Knighton and his defensive linemen have been organizing time twice a week to hang out and learn more about each other.

“We were like ‘Look, we’ve got to start hanging out, we’ve got to start knowing the guys we’re playing with’, Knighton told Redskins.com. "That’s the only way this group can gel is if we start hanging out more and more, whether it’s on the field, in the film room, or even when we’re home…We’ve been watching the NBA Playoffs, eating dinner together and just mingling. It’s good to know the person personally that you’re playing with next to you. So that’s just something I brought here.”

The Redskins' defensive line has potential to be one of the league's elite 3-4 lines in the NFL based on talent and past success. Knighton is hoping to be the man to orchestrate the continuity necessary for this group to realize their ceiling together.

(h/t Redskins Blog)

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais