The Washington Redskins and Baltimore Ravens open the preseason tonight at M&T Bank Stadium. After two weeks of training camp practices, it?s a welcome sight to see a different team for the first time, players say.
It?s still early in the 2017 campaign, so a lot can and will change between now and the start of the regular season. But tonight will serve as a good measuring stick for Jay Gruden and his players.
Here are five story lines to follow in tonight?s game. Check back after kickoff as we?ll refresh these with our live takeaways from Washington?s preseason debut.
1. The overhauled defense ? This isn?t the usual Joe Flacco-led Ravens offense, but it?s still a good opportunity to gauge the progress of Washington?s defense after a very disappointing 2016 showing. Don?t expect new defensive coordinator Greg Manusky to dial up a bunch of exotic blitzes, but do look for evidence of his more aggressive mind-set rubbing off on players, and for signs of improvement out of the rebuilt front seven.
Washington?s starters might play only a series or two. But strong play from the second unit bodes well because many of these guys will see action on game days as both Manusky and defensive line coach Jim Tomsula prefer to rotate players so frequently. The new safety tandem of D.J. Swearinger and Su?a Cravens offers great potential, but Cravens is still learning. It?ll be interesting to see if he gets an extended run just to give him more experience.
2. Kirk Cousins & Co. ? Of course, all eyes will be on Kirk Cousins as he enters yet another season playing on the franchise tag. But the quarterback is used to this prove-it situation by now. He says he feels more relaxed and prepared than ever. Cousins will not have his top collection of weapons. But he views that as a good challenge to show he can play at a high level with or without his top receivers. Cousins will, however, have the services of free agent addition Terrelle Pryor, who has looked very good in training camp. He should help make life easier for Cousins. Already, they have gone off script a time or two to produce big plays. Tonight is also a good opportunity for guys like Ryan Grant (working for a larger role) and Niles Paul (back from injury and starting in place of Jordan Reed) to show their capabilities in this offense.
3. Draft picks? play ? The healthy members of this draft class have had encouraging training camps thus far. First-round pick Jonathan Allen looks every bit of the part on that defensive line. Second-round pick Ryan Anderson has done well at outside linebacker. Fourth-round pick Samaje Perine should get an extended look at running back. Fifth-round pick Jeremy Sprinkle (tight end), sixth-rounders Robert Davis (receiver) and Chase Roullier (center) and seventh-round pick Joshua Holsey (cornerback) have all looked promising in practice. The other seventh-rounder, Josh Harvey-Clemons, still is trying to carve out a role for himself as he transitions from safety to linebacker. But he can help himself with strong special teams play tonight.
[Defense will be the focus for preseason opener]
4. Backfield picture ? Rob Kelley remains the starter, and he seems primed to make strides this season. We just mentioned Perine, and Chris Thompson has his role as third-down back. But questions remain. Will a fourth back make this roster? Who has the versatility to fill in both as a rusher, receiver and special teams contributor? There?s no clear-cut option to fill Thompson?s role if he were to get hurt. Mack Brown has looked good in practice, and he can do a little bit of everything. Matt Jones still seems like the odd man out, but he?ll need a strong showing considering he should be approaching these games as auditions for other teams.
5. Position battles ? The Redskins have a number of key spots up for grabs. For now, Mason Foster has continued to get the first round of starter reps at the inside linebacker spot next to Will Compton, but Zach Brown remains in contention. Uncertainty looms over the right outside linebacker position. Preston Smith (ankle) isn?t expected to play, and Junior Galette is out with a hamstring injury, a team source says. That means more opportunities for Anderson and Trent Murphy (although Murphy will miss the first four regular season games with a suspension). There?s no indication as to who will start along the defensive line as Allen, free agents Stacy McGee, Terrell McClain, Phil Taylor and young prospects Matt Ioannidis, A.J. Francis and Joey Mbu have all alternated with great frequency. Game play will determine the three starting spots, Tomsula says. So, now the games begin.
It?s still early in the 2017 campaign, so a lot can and will change between now and the start of the regular season. But tonight will serve as a good measuring stick for Jay Gruden and his players.
Here are five story lines to follow in tonight?s game. Check back after kickoff as we?ll refresh these with our live takeaways from Washington?s preseason debut.
1. The overhauled defense ? This isn?t the usual Joe Flacco-led Ravens offense, but it?s still a good opportunity to gauge the progress of Washington?s defense after a very disappointing 2016 showing. Don?t expect new defensive coordinator Greg Manusky to dial up a bunch of exotic blitzes, but do look for evidence of his more aggressive mind-set rubbing off on players, and for signs of improvement out of the rebuilt front seven.
Washington?s starters might play only a series or two. But strong play from the second unit bodes well because many of these guys will see action on game days as both Manusky and defensive line coach Jim Tomsula prefer to rotate players so frequently. The new safety tandem of D.J. Swearinger and Su?a Cravens offers great potential, but Cravens is still learning. It?ll be interesting to see if he gets an extended run just to give him more experience.
2. Kirk Cousins & Co. ? Of course, all eyes will be on Kirk Cousins as he enters yet another season playing on the franchise tag. But the quarterback is used to this prove-it situation by now. He says he feels more relaxed and prepared than ever. Cousins will not have his top collection of weapons. But he views that as a good challenge to show he can play at a high level with or without his top receivers. Cousins will, however, have the services of free agent addition Terrelle Pryor, who has looked very good in training camp. He should help make life easier for Cousins. Already, they have gone off script a time or two to produce big plays. Tonight is also a good opportunity for guys like Ryan Grant (working for a larger role) and Niles Paul (back from injury and starting in place of Jordan Reed) to show their capabilities in this offense.
3. Draft picks? play ? The healthy members of this draft class have had encouraging training camps thus far. First-round pick Jonathan Allen looks every bit of the part on that defensive line. Second-round pick Ryan Anderson has done well at outside linebacker. Fourth-round pick Samaje Perine should get an extended look at running back. Fifth-round pick Jeremy Sprinkle (tight end), sixth-rounders Robert Davis (receiver) and Chase Roullier (center) and seventh-round pick Joshua Holsey (cornerback) have all looked promising in practice. The other seventh-rounder, Josh Harvey-Clemons, still is trying to carve out a role for himself as he transitions from safety to linebacker. But he can help himself with strong special teams play tonight.
[Defense will be the focus for preseason opener]
4. Backfield picture ? Rob Kelley remains the starter, and he seems primed to make strides this season. We just mentioned Perine, and Chris Thompson has his role as third-down back. But questions remain. Will a fourth back make this roster? Who has the versatility to fill in both as a rusher, receiver and special teams contributor? There?s no clear-cut option to fill Thompson?s role if he were to get hurt. Mack Brown has looked good in practice, and he can do a little bit of everything. Matt Jones still seems like the odd man out, but he?ll need a strong showing considering he should be approaching these games as auditions for other teams.
5. Position battles ? The Redskins have a number of key spots up for grabs. For now, Mason Foster has continued to get the first round of starter reps at the inside linebacker spot next to Will Compton, but Zach Brown remains in contention. Uncertainty looms over the right outside linebacker position. Preston Smith (ankle) isn?t expected to play, and Junior Galette is out with a hamstring injury, a team source says. That means more opportunities for Anderson and Trent Murphy (although Murphy will miss the first four regular season games with a suspension). There?s no indication as to who will start along the defensive line as Allen, free agents Stacy McGee, Terrell McClain, Phil Taylor and young prospects Matt Ioannidis, A.J. Francis and Joey Mbu have all alternated with great frequency. Game play will determine the three starting spots, Tomsula says. So, now the games begin.
