Jay Gruden and the Washington Redskins have a lot of scrutiny surrounding them heading into the 2016 NFL season. They were able to make a run into the playoffs last year, although many believe that they will take a big step backwards this season. Washington has the talent to make some noise in the NFC East division, but still have some things that they need to work on before the regular season arrives.
Kirk Cousins broke onto the scene as a legitimate starting quarterback option for the Redskins. Robert Griffin III was released this offseason and ended up signing with the Cleveland Browns.
Now that the Redskins are focused solely on their future as a team, rather than worried about whether Griffin can get his career back on track, the sky is the limit.
Washington is set to take on the New York Jets this week in their second preseason game. They lost to the Atlanta Falcons last week in their preseason opener by a final score of 23-17.
What three things should the Redskins’ fan base keep an eye out for in particular this evening against the Jets?
Who Steps Up at the Running Back Position?
Matt Jones is widely expected to be the Redskins’ starting running back this season, although he hasn’t locked down that job just yet. Both Robert Kelley and Mack Brown are still competing for playing time. It will be interesting to see which back breaks out with a big game this week and whether Jones gets a bit more time to show off his skill-set to the coaching staff.
Is Nate Sudfeld the Real Deal as a Backup Quarterback?
Washington was unable to get a deal done with Kirk Cousins, which could lead to needing a new quarterback at some point in the future. Nate Sudfeld is a rookie out of Indiana University and completed 10 of his 15 passing attempts for 89 yards, a touchdown, and no interceptions. He is battling for the backup quarterback job with Colt McCoy and it’ll be interesting to see what he does in his second preseason outing.
Can the Redskins’ Secondary Make Some Plays?
If the Redskins want to win the NFC East and compete for a playoff spot, they will need their secondary to step up and make plays. That isn’t easy to see in preseason action, but they could help show some potential by forcing turnovers against the Jets.
What are you looking for in tonight’s game from the Redskins? Do you think the Redskins have what it takes to make it into the playoffs once again in 2016? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below!
