Five players under pressure vs. the Packers
QB Kirk Cousins?He will have enough time in the game to establish a rhythm and he needs to get the offense going. It?s not like he is in danger of losing his job or anything but the Redskins need to get some offense going and that means that Cousins will need to be sharp.
RB Mack Brown?Brown didn?t get in until late in the game against the Ravens and he found tough sledding behind the Redskins third-team offensive line. He produced last year behind the bottom of the depth chart line so he should be able to do it this year. The second-year player is battling for a roster spot and, if he makes it, depth chart position.
S Deshazor Everett?Judging from Jay Gruden?s comments earlier this week, it appears that Everett does not yet have the total confidence of the coaches as he fills in with the starters at strong safety with Su?a Cravens out. A good performance will keep him in there until Cravens is ready. If he slips up, however, veteran Will Blackmon could get the assignment.
NT Phil Taylor?He is a repeater on this list from last week. It isn?t that he played poorly; in fact, he did a good job in his dozen snaps at nose tackle. But a player who has been out of the game for two years needs to provide the coaches with a bigger sample size if they are going to give him a roster spot. It will be a test every practice, every game for Taylor right up until the 53-man roster is settled.
ILB Mason Foster?After Will Compton held down the starting Mike linebacker position for most of camp and for the first preseason game, Foster gets his turn now. The coaching staff has a lot of faith in Compton?s ability to call and adjust the defense. Foster needs to earn similar confidence. He may not face Aaron Rodgers, which would be a big test, but he needs to perform well regardless. Foster called defenses during his four seasons with the Bucs so this is not totally new to him.
QB Kirk Cousins?He will have enough time in the game to establish a rhythm and he needs to get the offense going. It?s not like he is in danger of losing his job or anything but the Redskins need to get some offense going and that means that Cousins will need to be sharp.
RB Mack Brown?Brown didn?t get in until late in the game against the Ravens and he found tough sledding behind the Redskins third-team offensive line. He produced last year behind the bottom of the depth chart line so he should be able to do it this year. The second-year player is battling for a roster spot and, if he makes it, depth chart position.
S Deshazor Everett?Judging from Jay Gruden?s comments earlier this week, it appears that Everett does not yet have the total confidence of the coaches as he fills in with the starters at strong safety with Su?a Cravens out. A good performance will keep him in there until Cravens is ready. If he slips up, however, veteran Will Blackmon could get the assignment.
NT Phil Taylor?He is a repeater on this list from last week. It isn?t that he played poorly; in fact, he did a good job in his dozen snaps at nose tackle. But a player who has been out of the game for two years needs to provide the coaches with a bigger sample size if they are going to give him a roster spot. It will be a test every practice, every game for Taylor right up until the 53-man roster is settled.
ILB Mason Foster?After Will Compton held down the starting Mike linebacker position for most of camp and for the first preseason game, Foster gets his turn now. The coaching staff has a lot of faith in Compton?s ability to call and adjust the defense. Foster needs to earn similar confidence. He may not face Aaron Rodgers, which would be a big test, but he needs to perform well regardless. Foster called defenses during his four seasons with the Bucs so this is not totally new to him.
