Washington’s Chase Young: “I can take the criticism … keep watching” – Washington Blog

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ASHBURN, VA – The way Chase Young ended his rookie season led to a question early in his sophomore year: Would the defensive end of the Washington football team become a top five passer?

This does not happen. And now the question is, why hasn’t Young been more productive?

In eight games, he has 1.5 sacks and his pressure numbers are dropping. His second season became more about learning than establishing his rank as an NFL passer. He’s been doubled down and flayed more often than his rookie season.

“I’m a man, I can take criticism,” Young said. “It’s a process. Everyone will be talking. Just wait for the road to end. Just keep watching.”

But on Monday, coach Ron Rivera’s message was basic: stay patient and disciplined. With his other defensive end Montez Sweat out 4-6 weeks with a broken jaw, Young will have more of a burden, starting with Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6-2 (1 p.m. ET, Fox).

It takes a lot for Rivera to hit his players, and he did so with Young during the week off in an article on the team’s website and again at a press conference, mentioning how Young has to. do more and handle situations differently.

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“He’s been great about it. He’s working on it,” Rivera said. “He sees things a little different for him, a little new for him, and we try to help him overcome them to learn and understand how to win in these situations.”

It will be difficult for Young and his teammates to harass Sunday’s opposing quarterback Tom Brady. He has been sacked 12 times in eight games. Brady averages 2.50 seconds before throwing the ball, the second fastest in the NFL.

But for Young, it’s just about putting together good rushes. In the second half of last season, he recorded four of his 7.5 sacks, forced three fumbles and recovered three. He set up other pass-rushers with his pressure.

“There is a lot of pressure on him,” Rivera said. “I wanted to make sure he understands that he doesn’t have to do something amazing. I don’t want him to come and think every game has to be great.”

Young said that expectations are not a burden.

“I am not under pressure,” he said. “I don’t feel any pressure. I can’t hear people.… You have to block the enemies.”

Later he added: “I am blessed. I can play on Sunday. I support my family, I am comfortable. I can just go out and play ball.”

But it is under closer scrutiny. That’s life as the No. 2 overall pick, especially one who plays for his hometown team.

“He’s frustrated, but I don’t think he would be too if they won,” said Young’s personal manager Ian Thomas, who played college in Illinois and coached Young for two years at the high school. “He’s a guy who could be in double digits [in sacks] at this point in the season … But he won’t make excuses. He can state all the reasons, but he always wants to. He won’t use that as a reason not to play the games he wants to make. “

It was a frustrating start to the season for Chase Young, left, who has 1.5 sacks. Said coach Ron Rivera, right: “I don’t want him to come and think every game has to be great.” Photo by Dustin Bradford / Icon Sportswire

Young, a team captain, missed voluntary off-season training while filming commercials. It’s hard to say if he would have had a better season if he had shown up to these practices.

“I was making money, baby,” Young said. “I have to make money. None of you would have dodged the money. It’s a job, just like you all have to do your job, I do my job.”

Last season, Young won 22.3% of his passes compared to 18.6% this season, according to ESPN Stats & Information. He beat doubles teams 14.3% of the time versus 2.9% in 2021. When he rushed indoors last season, he won 20% of the time; he hasn’t rushed indoors much this season, but has yet to win.

It’s more chipped by the ends and tight backs compared to 2020. Lines slip in its way more often. Rivera said their internal stats show Young and Sweat are chipped 55 to 57 percent of the time when third and 7 to third and 10.

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“Some games line up the chipper over there and I expect them to nab me and he doesn’t,” Young said. “It’s like they’re playing a mind game. I just have to adapt. It’s just to compose like I do and continue to trust the process.… I spoke to the Coach Rivera and we have a plan to fix this. “

Rivera said: “I would love to see him walk through this guy a few more times and set the tone and tempo instead of overreacting with him a little too much. It’s something he’s never had to face. “

Young said he would contact Chicago Bears linebacker Khalil Mack, whom he has known since ninth grade. Young has also spoken to other former smugglers, from Michael Strahan to Bruce Smith.

Their advice, in part, was this: You can beat it with power.

But Young also knows that he has to mature in certain aspects.

“It has a lot to do with the fact that I don’t trust my teammates, that we don’t trust each other overall,” he said. “I could think someone might be out of place and I’m like I have to cover that up and then, ‘boop’. We have to trust each other.”

His teammates trust him.

“He has a lot of expectations because of who he is,” said Washington wide receiver Terry McLaurin, who also played for Young at Ohio State. “He’s not afraid of this.… He hasn’t fallen too low, although he would like more of himself. He still works and works, knowing that these opportunities will present themselves in the future.”

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