Whether he's in on a sack or chasing down a running back trying to get around the end, Washington Redskins defensive end Frank Kearse makes sure he's always giving it his all.

"I just come in every day and try to focus on getting better and helping this team any way I can," he said. "I don't believe you have to coach effort. I've just got to make sure that whether the technique right or wrong, you can see that I'm going 100 miles an hour."

Kearse's journey to Washington started at Alabama A&M, a I-AA school whose undergraduate population is less than 5,000.

While there, the 6-foot-5, 310-pounder played in 44 career games, recording 129 tackles, six sacks and three fumbles forced.

Despite playing far from the spotlight, Kearse defied the odds to be drafted by the Miami Dolphins.

It was the start of a twisting voyage that has landed him in the Nation's Capitol.

"I was drafted by the Dolphins, seventh round, 231st-overall pick, spent training camp with them, made the roster, cut the next day and was then put on practice squad for two weeks," he said. "Spent two and a half years down in Carolina, starter a few games down there, got hurt, Chicago Bears preseason 2013, got healthy by Week 10, Week 9, signed to the Tennessee Titans practice squad for like four or five weeks.

"Then Dallas picked me up for the final two games, spent a majority of my offseason in Dallas and then signed here after a workout on May 17."

While some would be discouraged by the continued change of scenery, Kearse has used it as motivation.

So far this season, the third-year veteran has nine tackles and two sacks.

His first sack came against the Jacksonville Jaguars when the defense recorded a team-record-tying 10 quarterback takedowns, while his second was against the Seattle Seahawks, when he drug Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson down to the ground.

Against Wilson and other quarterbacks who have the ability to move around, Kearse said a defender must always be aware of their location.

"It all starts with alignment, assignment and technique," he said. "You just play through the down and keep awareness of where he likes to escape, what's his tendencies when he pulls the ball down, you try to gauge from film and just be a player."

The entire Redskins defense may be tasked with stopping another mobile quarterback this weekend when they face the Titans.

Quarterback Jake Locker -- the team's first pick in the 2011 NFL Draft – has been limited in practice by an hand injury.

If he does play, Kearse wants to disrupt his timing, making it easier for the backend of the defense to do their job.

"Rush and coverage are playing together so if those guys are back there playing their butts off, I want to make sure that I get there," he said.

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