Perennial Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams believes the Redskins' deep roster is creating a positive energy for the team as it seeks a second NFC East title in as many seasons.
For the second time in his seven-year NFL career, Washington Redskins left tackle Trent Williams is coming off a playoff season.
It's left him "extremely optimistic" for what's in store for the franchise moving forward.
"[The] team has a lot of confidence and you can tell," Williams said recently on "Redskins Nation." "You watch us practice, guys are going at it, guys are chirping here and there, it's a very competitive atmosphere and I think that's what breeds growth."
Indeed, the Redskins have built up the roster so that not only are the starters some of the best players at their positions in the league, but the second- and third-team players are keeping things competitive, too.
"Obviously it's a good problem to have, when you have guys that can go three units deep [and] that are competing," Williams said. "And a lot of those guys are good enough to make a lot teams around this league. It's always a numbers game and it always comes down to the business aspect, but those guys are putting in the work as much as they can to have the best opportunity to stick around. Honestly, the whole team works that way, not just the o-line, but looking around all those guys are flying around and they all look really good."
One area in particular where the Redskins are plenty deep is wide receiver, as Pierre Garçon, DeSean Jackson, Jamison Crowder and first-round pick Josh Doctson are all talented players.
"I feel we have the deepest and best wide receiving corps in the NFL," Williams said. "We have a gun slinging quarterback and we have guys who are passionate. …I haven't been on a team with this many weapons and I'm just extremely excited to see everybody come together and gel on Sundays."
The offense, of course, wouldn't be complete without Kirk Cousins under center.
After beating out Colt McCoy and Robert Griffin III for the starting quarterback gig last season, Cousins would go on to have one of the best individual seasons by a Redskins player in recent history.
Like Williams (No. 45), Cousins was named to the NFL's "Top 100 Players" list this year, checking in at No. 85. It's yet another example of how far Cousins has come.
"He's a book rat," Williams said. "He studies his plays like you wouldn't believe. He knows everyone's assignments and he knows what the defense is supposed to do. So a guy like that has no choice but to succeed in my opinion."
'I love Jay to death'
Redskins head coach Jay Gruden is, by every definition, a players' coach. Gruden can be seen mixing up with the wide receivers during 1-on-1s in practices as a cornerback and is never shy in trying to lighten the mood.
But when the time comes to get serious, the players follow his lead. That starts with Williams, the team's offensive captain.
"He's a great coach and a great players coach, but at the same time you can see him getting comfortable in the role where he'll stop practice and get on to you," Williams said." You understand that he's a player's coach, but we have to respect his opinion at this time and know that we need to pick up whatever he says we need to do. He gets the message across and as grown men, we need to do that. He's come a long way and just like anybody else, the more experience you get at the position, the better off you are. We can definitely see the growth in him as well."
