Subscribe
Follow Us
The Washington Redskins are entering a 2019 campaign in which they are clearly not contenders, but this year still represents one of their most important seasons in quite some time.
The Redskins are clearly in rebuilding mode, as they drafted quarterback Dwayne Haskins with the 15th overall pick back in April and see him as their future under center.
However, as of right now, Haskins is listed as the third signal-caller on Washington's depth chart, with Colt McCoy winning the job and Case Keenum being named the primary backup.
But we will almost certainly see Haskins get some reps in the Redskins' preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night, and that alone makes this game interesting.
So, here are three things to watch in Washington's first preseason contest:
3. How Much Potential Does the Defense Have?
The Redskins' defense wasn't good in 2018, but it wasn't terrible, as it ranked 17th in the NFL in yards allowed and 15th in scoring defense. It was middle of the pack.
But Washington made a couple of significant additions to its defense this offseason, landing safety Landon Collins and drafting pass rusher Montez Sweat.
While the Redskins probably won't have an elite defense, there is enough talent on that side of the ball for it to at least be respectable, and Collins should instantly make the secondary better while Sweat should bring some quarterback pressure to the table.
We should get an idea of how solid this unit could potentially be on Thursday evening, which could end up making all the difference in whether or not Washington is a pushover in 2019.
2. Which Wide Receivers Will Emerge?
Article Continues Below
Let's be honest: The Redskins' receiving corps is terrible, and the fact that Josh Doctson is currently the No. 1 wideout is all the evidence you need.
No disrespect to Doctson, who certainly isn't bad, but he is more of a No. 3 receiver than he is a No. 1, which goes to show you that Washington might have trouble scoring points no matter who is under center this season.
The good news is that Washington has a couple of interesting rookies in Terry McLaurin and Kelvin Harmon, and 6-foot-5 second-year wideout Cam Sims is an intriguing prospect.
Maybe in another year or two, the Redskins' group of receivers will be quite a bit more formidable, but right now, it's full of nothing but question marks.
1. How Much Will Dwayne Haskins Play?
You would think Jay Gruden and Co. would prioritize getting Haskins reps above all else in this contest.
Neither McCoy nor Keenum factor much into the future and are merely placeholders for now, and I still think that at some point during the regular season, Haskins will take over as the full-time starter.
But how much leash will Gruden give Haskins in his preseason debut? Will he give him extended playing time? Or will Haskins only make a brief cameo as the two veterans get the bulk of the action?
To put it bluntly, no one cares about anything the Redskins have to offer other than Haskins. Take him off the roster, and this is an incredibly boring team, so hopefully, he gets some shine on Thursday evening.
