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Pre-Season Game #3 Preview and Discussion


darrelgreenie

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Tomorrow night will be the 3rd glimpse into the new regime and the future of this franchise.

Many fans don't like pre-season and view it as meaningless for those people this thread won't be for you. (ahem GHH you out there?)

Then there are others that realize that while pre-season games don't count but they are meaningful. With a careful approach we can make evaluations from these games but we must be careful about our assessments and conclusions. 1st team vs 1st team is more meaningful then say 3rd team vs 3rd team which may be more meaningful then 2nd team vs 3rd team etc...Individual player/position 'win' vs 'loss' play by play is more meaningful then judging a unit. How a 1st team RB with a 1st team line plays against the opposing teams 2nd team DL/defense isn't as meaningful as same vs same. etc...etc..ad nausem.

 

This game should be the longest look we'll get with 1s vs 1s and with a sprinkle or dose of gameplan prep.

With that out of the way moving on to a preview/questions heading into preseason game 21             

 

Will Morgan Moses and Spencer Long take first team reps as per the twiiter rumors?

 

This is what we all want/wanted hopefully they deliver and answer the bell.

 

An extended look at the offense. Will Jay go vanilla or show more gameplan?

 

I hope Jay gameplans like a real game but focuses on getting Griffin reps in the passing game more so then a heavy dose of the run game.

 

Enter Jason Hatcher?

 

Will we finally see our prized offseason jewel in action?

 

                                                                                                                                            

 

Of course we all want to see an injury free game. But what specific areas are you guys looking at this game?

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My eyes will be on the OL as you all know, as it has been in both preseason games.

 

A change to the OL is potentially the biggest news to come out of camp. Especially this late.

 

I thought the OL had struggles last game, if that is what precipitated this. Some were happy with the OL. I think its telling that Gruden is hinting (read: will do) the presumed unorthodox move of sitting 2 starting OL, vets, in week 3, which is usually the last significant dress rehearsal for starters.

 

Its been so long that we have had a draft pick compete for a spot in camp (yes Trent aside), I cannot recall, is it normal that there is not a mention of them having a shot a starting, yet only move into the starting spot at the end of preseason?

 

While I doubt Moses is ready, with a little bit of modifying the game plan to give him help, maybe I am wrong. Long, lets just stick him in there on an island the Ballmore 1s and Ngata, and get him a proper test.

 

Williams | Lauvao | Kory | Long | Moses

 

Always love the Pregame Threads - great work as always DG, providing great content and football focused discussions here, and in all threads.

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I think we will see Moses & Long play with the 1st team O-line, albeit sans Griffin, unless the O doesn't show consistency getting down the field and scoring TD's and therefore needs to go into the 3rd qtr.  Cousins probably gets a few snaps with 1st team as well.  I want to see:

 

1. Wipe out the Penalties - No false starts on Griff or anyone else.  No PI/Holding calls on the D.  I think we'll be better with this simply cause Mcaulay won't be calling this game..  and absolutely no boneheaded unsportsmanlike penalties by 'the bench'.  Be disciplined.

 

2. +Ratio on turnovers.  hold on to the damn ball when on O and force some on D.  an interception or 2 will work as well.

 

3. Quick passing game - which will make the O-line look better than it has so far.  of course this requires for Griff to get through his reads quickly as well.  the proper pre-snap reads will be important for this to happen too.  good/timely audibles will also help.

 

4. Griff being smarter with his slides - that or throwing the ball away which he said he'd do in the preseason if nothing was there.  And by all means, if he does scamper, avoid Ngata at all costs...

 

5. O-line nastiness running the ball - if we get into a 1st and goal and we do try to run it, let's get'r done.  missed blocking assignments didn't help in this regards last week.

 

6. Good pressure from the front 7 - Hatcher looking good.  Let's get some strips and/or sacks and make Flacco nervous.

 

7. Better punting and ST coverage - our weak point last year.  No long returns by them and good returns by us.

 

this isn't too much to ask for, is it?  lol....    and as always, please no injuries...  on either team.

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I'll be watching our secondary of course. Rambo Bash and Amerson.

How well KRob leads the D and communicates.

Hatcher.

On offense, I'm wondering if our new young cats get anymore playing time all over.

What little thing Robert will do that will bunch our fan bases collective panties.

DY.

Oh and dg, I love these threads. Thank you.

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I want to see the stuff you talked about (especially our fully stocked pass rush), and I'd LOVE to see Breeland get some first team reps in the nickel and dime situations.  I'd also like to see Rambo a little with the first team.

 

I want to see Hocker boot every kickoff out of the end zone, since that's what we've heard he can do (but I assume the coaches have been intentionally having the kickers NOT kick fair catches every time so that they can evaluate ST).  

 

Since cuts are Tuesday (Gruden said they'd probably be done on Sunday) I want to see some of the fringe guys play more, guys who should be fighting for a spot like Crawford, Minnifield, Trenton Robinson, LeRibeus, Gettis, Hurt, Tom and Will Compton, all the RBs and WRs, Geathers, Adrian Robinson, Gabe Miller, Adam Hayward, Daryl Sharpton (though I don't think he's playing), and the punters.

 

I don't have a good feel for the very bottom end of the roster, especially at RB since everyone has had some great plays and some terrible plays.

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I am going to keep an eye on this Ross kid, playmaker.  Get him time with the 2's. He is dead last on our depth chart, so he must be sucking in practice, but something tells me we want him on the practice squad.

 

RB is my other position to keep an eye on.

 

Most seem to think its set; Morris | Helu | Seastrunk | Young

 

That's the odds on favorite in Vegas.

 

But something tells me no, and it's more than just that nice play from Royster last week. I had pushed around the idea that perhaps Moss would be a surprise cut, and then in place of him, that we actually keep another RB.  Just a random thought that I share here to other skinsaddicts that also cannot wait for our next kickoff. I realize its conspiracy theory grade, but post unafraid of ridicule. :)

 

All of it precipitated by the emergence of Grant, continued development of Robinson, but also the hints we have or saw in week 1, that we will passing a lot to backs this year. But then Helu goes and has a shaky second game. CT is injured, once again. Redd is a longshot but early impressions of him in camp were frequently good... not so much chatter lately. Moss looking great in week 2, fellow posters reminding me that he is more of a lock than I thought. DJax, tight with him; needs him to stay out of trouble.

 

Anyways, its high time for that 3rd HB to steal the job. I would like to think we can find that 3rd or maybe 4th back before the final game 4, which is the least meaningful game.

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I'll be watching the OL/DL as usual. Can't wait to see what Hatcher brings. The possible changes on the OL is of major interest and hope the newbies can step up, although I'm still rooting for stabby at guard.

 

Unless one of the RBs really stand out. especially at pass pro then the picture will remain unclear. I still think that Helu will be the primary back-up but he didn't do himself any favours last game.

 

Special Teams still aint that special so would like to see some kind of improvement there.

 

And finally.....Slide Robert, Slide.

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Throwing the ball away, trust the team, I would think no single play makes or breaks the vast majority of games.

 

OL - I was thinking Leribus was looking more solid than Chester and without the regular 'man gets through free' issue Chester has.  If Long is coming along at a clip bring him on.  The current pass protection level is at a point a rookie with his inevitable mistakes is not going to make it any more dangerous for Griff behind our starting RG.  Will likely do better in short yardage straight away and left or right is much better than left when in the RZ.

 

On D like everyone else I'm looking at what Hatcher looks like.  He is looking in realy good shape for a guy that plays the run as well as he does.  Looking forward to seeing if our run D is looking as good as it should with Baker/Cofield/Hatcher as well as them collapsing the pocket.

 

Overall I want our lines to smack theirs around all night.

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Ross. Can he continue to make plays.

Malone/Hocker. Are these our guys?

CThompson. Yes, I think he plays because he knows he needs to.

Hatcher. Unleash the beast.

PThomas. Hope I can see him this week. Also, what number is Crawford? Has he been playing much?

Crawford is the one that mistimed his jump on the hailmary play last week, he's been playing just hasnt done anything to stand out....

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Hatcher is cool and all but he isn't this posters prized offseason anything OP. That goes directly to speedy himself, Desean Jackson. Hatcher is important to me because of how productive he can be on the line, but what I really want him to do is open it up for the ends. Most of the time we won't even notice he is in there and I don't want to rush him any. The guys old and if he doesn't play right now that's fine with me, as long as he brings it in week one and people start to forget about the Texans defensive line and instead take notice  of the Redskins line.

 

What I want to see most of all is that we see Zero Injuries. NONE please, we could lose by 50 points and I wouldn't really care. I want to see no one get hurt this close to the regular season. Pray for no injuries

 

Secondary to that I want to see the continuation maturation of the rookies - Murphy who I really really liked what I've seen so far as he has a high motor like Kerrigan, Seastrunk I want to see break one, Breeland, and Grant especially. So far so good with those guys, but this is the real deal this week so if I see it there I think I could be on a bandwagon quickly for them.

 

Other then that it's preseason, they are going to stay vanilla, the referees are going to call too many penalties, and there will be good and bad moments.

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+1 on wanting Hatcher to ease his way back in, do not push it.

 

Get in there, run around, but don't go overboard.

 

Don't get me wrong, I would love to see him pitchfork a raver and crunch that punk ass back of theirs proper, but I am not going to be looking for him to do anything of note.

 

I have to think the punter battle is going to be won off of the playing field. Barring a major shank. they just don't significant reps in games. Watch for what i noticed before, Malone hits the ball very low in his kicking motion.

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I'd like to see our passing offense be as good as our run offense. 

 

I know we had a few nice passes, Monday night.  But I also think our drive got kept alive by some really helpful penalties on 3rd and long.  (After we threw incomplete.) 

 

I'd really like to see Rob complete 15 passes.  I don't care if they're 4 yards each. 

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The thing I most want to see in this game is RG3 learning how to slide and when to slide. He's already giving me heart attacks and we're just in preseason. After that I'm looking forward to seeing Moses and Long in there with the 1st team.

 

I would also like to see us run some 1-5-5 on defense with Hatcher, Orakpo, Kerrigan, K. Rob, Riley and Murphy as the front 6.

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The 3 things I'd like to see:

1. Robert shows he can slide at the right time.

2. Vanilla offense - show me you can do the basics. Keep the real offense under wraps. Pass block like you're protecting your momma.

3. DL - show me what you got. Rotate often to keep them fresh.

And of course: no injuries to either team....

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I think we will see Moses & Long play with the 1st team O-line, albeit sans Griffin, unless the O doesn't show consistency getting down the field and scoring TD's and therefore needs to go into the 3rd qtr.  Cousins probably gets a few snaps with 1st team as well.  I want to see:

 

1. Wipe out the Penalties - No false starts on Griff or anyone else.  No PI/Holding calls on the D.  I think we'll be better with this simply cause Mcaulay won't be calling this game..  and absolutely no boneheaded unsportsmanlike penalties by 'the bench'.  Be disciplined.

 

2. +Ratio on turnovers.  hold on to the damn ball when on O and force some on D.  an interception or 2 will work as well.

 

3. Quick passing game - which will make the O-line look better than it has so far.  of course this requires for Griff to get through his reads quickly as well.  the proper pre-snap reads will be important for this to happen too.  good/timely audibles will also help.

 

4. Griff being smarter with his slides - that or throwing the ball away which he said he'd do in the preseason if nothing was there.  And by all means, if he does scamper, avoid Ngata at all costs...

 

5. O-line nastiness running the ball - if we get into a 1st and goal and we do try to run it, let's get'r done.  missed blocking assignments didn't help in this regards last week.

 

6. Good pressure from the front 7 - Hatcher looking good.  Let's get some strips and/or sacks and make Flacco nervous.

 

7. Better punting and ST coverage - our weak point last year.  No long returns by them and good returns by us.

 

this isn't too much to ask for, is it?  lol....    and as always, please no injuries...  on either team.

 

NAIL'D IT. Agree with everything but the RG3's offsides penalties. Those were garbage and nobody calls that. He does need to get the ball out faster and look to pass on scrambles. The only decision he made last week that was worst the the interception was the decision not to throw it to Darrell Young on that scramble that ended in the worlds worst slide. While we're on that subject...anybody else NOT want him to slide??? I mean he just sucks at it so bad...I don't know if I wouldn't just rather have him fall down as best he can lol. 

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I was thinking about this game, and I'd like to see Alfred in for the first series and that's it. He has nothing to prove and we are in a dogfight for the second and third spots. Let those guys get a lot of time

I would actually be fine with RGIII handing off every down. He doesn't need to prove anything either

I hate the preseason I cringe every play bracing for that key injury

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I was thinking about this game, and I'd like to see Alfred in for the first series and that's it. He has nothing to prove and we are in a dogfight for the second and third spots. Let those guys get a lot of time

I would actually be fine with RGIII handing off every down. He doesn't need to prove anything either

I hate the preseason I cringe every play bracing for that key injury

I agree on Morris.

Disagree on Griffin. I think getting more reps in the new offense will help him. Doesn't have to prove anything, but more practice reps will get him more comfortable .

Agree on the injury front.

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Would like to see Griffin and Garcon connect.

 

Want to see the real offense.

 

Griffin throwing on quick rhythm not relying on play-action and playing into the 2rd qtr.

 

Defense to be active, disruptive and aggressive.

 

Want to see the other RBs get meaningful/1st team reps Seastrunk/Redd.

 

Morgan Moses to seize the opportunity and put himself into the conversation for starting RT.

 

" Spencer, even though he seems less likely to win the RG.

 

Fingers crossed Rambo can maintain the tackling form he showed in preseason.

 

Trenton Robinson to blow someone up, I smell it coming the dude has been flying around.

I want to see him get the hit/int big play that cements his spot on the team.

 

Play Breeland with the starters. It seems the team was reluctant to play rookies before. But Breeland is playing good enough ball to earn snaps.  

 

Aldrick Robinson to show well as everydown receiver that can run the whole route tre

 

Get the back-up OLB in early with the 1st unit. We know what Rak and Ryan can do but what about a Murphy/Jackson/Brown combo?

 

Hatcher+Cofield+Baker/Jenkins wreaking havoc together.

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I was thinking about this game, and I'd like to see Alfred in for the first series and that's it. He has nothing to prove and we are in a dogfight for the second and third spots. Let those guys get a lot of time

I would actually be fine with RGIII handing off every down. He doesn't need to prove anything either

I hate the preseason I cringe every play bracing for that key injury

Prove anything? Nope, not in my eyes either. OTOH, I want the team - the offense and Griffin in particular - to build that comfort level.

I'd like to see Alfred targeted by Griffin. It won't answer any questions, but it would be nice to give him some reps in the passing game (and pass pro).

I totally get your... anxiety, shall we say. Lots of guys I'd really hate to lose, especially in a preseason game. At least (IMO) there's reason to feel good about our depth almost across the board.

I think the injuries that would hurt the most are Griffin, Williams and Morris. There's likely a pretty large drop when their backups are in*, but I think we're better off than many teams with Cousins, Moses/Compton and our running backs.

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I was thinking about this game, and I'd like to see Alfred in for the first series and that's it. He has nothing to prove and we are in a dogfight for the second and third spots. Let those guys get a lot of time

I would actually be fine with RGIII handing off every down. He doesn't need to prove anything either

I hate the preseason I cringe every play bracing for that key injury

 

I think they should throw morris at least a few pitches to make sure he watches the ball all the way in and doesn't peek at the line.

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Agree with posters on yanking Morris after one series, definitely if we score. With all the wear and tear backs take, I would be fine if Morris didn't play at all.  Even if Gruden has his backs figured out, get the kids in. 

 

More than Morris, anyone on the bubble, I agree with like minds above, get them in the game sooner than later. The Robinson boys. Anyone that is trending up and maybe pushing for more; like a Breeland. 

 

We may need to get back to basics, and get a TD from one of our starters. How important is the offense to gel in preseason, feel good about themselves? I think us insecure fans ;) may need it more than them, hard to say.

 

Maybe its good to not get a big head against a vanilla backup littered D, and stay focused on improving. We all know going 4-0 means nothing and may even be counter productive.

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I want to see solid drives on offense and smart play out of Robert, don't throw an int when in FG range. I want to see a stubborn Defense that can get to the QB and get some turnovers, Do not give up many points! Let us see a well coached team that makes few mistakes that will be a great sign of things to come.

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