Redskins vs. Titans Observations
The first game of the preseason is less about winning and more about staying healthy (even though the Redskins did win 22-21). That being said it’s also the first chance we get at looking over the team to see where they stand. The following are Redskins vs. Titans Observations from Thursday nights game.
– Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan both got sacks on the quarterback. It was nice to see Kerrigan lineup with his hand in the dirt, some of his best pass rushing moves come from his three-point stance (check his tape at Purdue). Orakpo looked good in his first game back since missing almost the complete season a year ago. If these two guys can keep the same intensity they had against the Titans all year, the defense should be much improved.
– No rookie ever has had a mistake-free preseason, so Bacarri Rambo gets a pass this time on his horrible rush defense early on in the game. Rambo wasn’t the only one that Chris Johnson made look silly on his 58-yard touchdown run as Brian Orakpo missed at the line of scrimmage as well. As much as that was a rookie mistake by Rambo, he also needs to get to work to ensure that doesn’t happen in the regular season when it will not be acceptable at all. “I’ve just got to work on just my technique a little bit better, take better angles,” Rambo said.
– Roy Helu looked like a madman running the ball, he had 13 carries for 57 yards with a long of 13. Helu came dangerously close to breaking a couple of plays for long runs. The thought of Helu and Alfred Morris in the same backfield this season should scare opposing defenses. Mix in RGIII and perhaps Chris Thompson as a scat back and you have a pretty dynamic backfield.
– Kirk Cousins looked sharp, he was 6 of 7 with 52 yards passing and a touchdown on two drives. The second drive the offense looked like the well-oiled machine, it was a season ago, moving the ball with ease on the ground and in the air down the field…a drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Fred Davis.
– Leonard Hankerson played well in a short stint, catching four passes on five attempts for 38 yards and touchdown. Hank made a gutsy move as he caught a pass from Grossman, cut back in and then jumped up and over the goal-line for a touchdown where a couple of Titan defenders where waiting for him. Hankerson has shied away from contact in the past, so perhaps this is a sign that his fears are subsiding.
– Phillip Thomas hurt his foot early on. He raced in for a big shoulder hit on Shonn Greene and seemed to get his foot stuck underneath his own weight. Thomas didn’t return, the severity of the injury is unknown at this point.
– Evan Royster ended the game with 14 carries for 62 yards as he tried to make his case for a roster spot.
– Rex Grossman was…well…Rex Grossman. He had his “Bad Rex” moments in the first quarter (although he didn’t throw any interceptions) and then had his “Good Rex” moments in the second and third. He finished 10 for 21 with 119 yards and a touchdown.
– Pat White looked decent in his short time playing, he finished 5 of 8 for 31 yards and also rushed five times for 33 yards and a touchdown. He also threw the pass that led to the go-ahead two-point conversation near the end of the game. I could see White as the third quarterback, he would be perfect to use as a scout team guy for the defense to get ready for other read-option offenses like San Fransisco.
– Robert Griffin III didn’t play, as expected, but he did come out for pre-game warmups and was in full pads and uniform.
– In-actives for the game included: QB Robert Griffin III (right knee), CB DeAngelo Hall (right ankle), S Brandon Meriweather (right knee), LT Trent Williams (left wrist), RB Alfred Morris (rest), WR Pierre Garcon (rest), NT Barry Cofield (rest)CB Josh Wilson (shoulder), S Reed Doughty, FB Eric Kettani, ILB Nick Barnett and TE Jordan Reed (foot).
The Redskins will use Friday as a travel day and will return to Richmond, Virginia for afternoon practice on Saturday.
