The Washington Redskins kick off their 2016 preseason against the Atlanta Falcons. There are always plenty of interesting things to watch during these early games but one unit in particular holds a lot of interest for me and that’s the defensive line and linebackers. This unit of the defense — especially the line — has been somewhat in flux for much of the recent past and general manager Scott McCloughan did not address it with any sort of splash this offseason.
The Falcons, on the other hand, have a really good offense of line; ranked sixth and eighth respectively in pass blocking and run blocking by Pro Football Focus. It remains to be seen whether or not they will remain as good as they are projected to be under new offensive line coach Chris Morgan but for now, I am assuming they are going to be pretty good (notwithstanding unanticipated injuries).
Of course Atlanta’s starters will likely only play a series or too just like the Redskins. But even so, in that short time, fans will finally get to see guys like D-linemen Ricky Jean Francois and Stephen Paea work with Chris Baker, Ryan Kerrigan and the new-and-improved secondary… against them.
Both Ziggy Hood and Kendall Reyes are new to the team and are fighting to be among starters in the trenches. They will both see plenty of playing time tonight and it will be important that one of them distinguish themselves.
Second-round draft pick Su’a Cravens is going to capture a lot of attention in this first preseason game. As has been well-publicized, he will be playing in the LB slot as defensive coordinator Joe Barry teaches him the system and assess his skills. But expect to see him near the ball… a lot.
As well, guys like linebacker Trent Murphy — who has been moved back to OLB after gaining a bunch of weight to play defensive end during OTAs and minicamps — have a lot to prove having been on the team for more than the last few months. Houston Bates (OLB), Martrell Spaight (MLB) and Carlos Fields (Mike LB although he’s also played at the Mo position as well this training camp) will have a chance to show their stuff under the big lights… finally. MLB Perry Riley, Jr. will be back on the field after spending the majority of last season on IR but after Will Compton and Mason Foster (as the starters) leave the field, we’ll see if Willie Jefferson can get some good film up.
McCloughan drafted defensive lineman Matt Ioannidis in the fifth round this year and he will likely get plenty of looks during the preseason.
The main I’ll watch is the amount of push the big guys in the trenches get against the Falcons’ offensive line and how much that helps out the secondary. All-Pro CB Josh Norman will make his debut wearing the Burgundy and gold and it will be interesting to see how the safeties work individually and together… namely DeAngelo Hall and either David Bruton, Jr. or Duke Ihenacho. Ihenacho will be fun to watch up in the box, where he does his best work. But Will Blackmon and Desean Phillips have both had good training camps.
I am glad I’m not the one having to make the player cuts when the time comes.
I’ll never understand why some fans don’t like the preseason… there’s so much that can be learned even though not much game-planning is done. This is when McCloughan, Head Coach Jay Gruden and defensive coordinator Joe Barry can really begin to tell just how good the football players are that they’ve got on the team.