Can ‘Workout Warrior' Revamp Run Defense?

Alabama linebacker Ryan Anderson did not really want to talk to reporters in the immediate aftermath of his draft-day selection by the Redskins.

- Brian McNally

Overwhelmed by emotion and unsure of what to say anyway, Anderson all but begged to end a conference call and return to a family celebration after Washington took him with its second-round pick, No. 49 overall, in last month’s draft. He will let his play on the field do the talking.

Anderson was the overlooked member of Alabama’s dominant defense in 2016. He wasn’t even named All-SEC by league coaches. Teammates Jonathan Allen, Reuben Foster and Marlon Humphrey were all first-round picks – Allen by his hometown Redskins at No. 17.

Dalvin Tomlinson went just a few picks after Anderson at No. 54 and fellow linebacker Tim Williams – considered a better pure pass rusher in college – was a third-round choice. It’s hard to stand out among such luminaries.

“I’m the old-smith football player,” Anderson said. “I’m not a combine warrior, not a workout warrior, I’m a football player. At the end of the day, that’s what it boils down to. It boils down to ‘See ball, get ball and striking the man in front of you.’ That’s what I bring to the table.”