Redskins vs. Patriots: Five matchups to watch in preseason opener
By Ian Cummings
No. 3 – Redskins LB Josh Harvey-Clemons vs. Patriots TEs
Until training camp, little was known about the Redskins’ pecking order at linebacker. Zach Brown and Mason Foster are the unquestioned starters, but after them, the depth chart is a bit murky.
Or at least it was.
Organized team activities provided some hints toward the eventual order, and now training camp has been even more revealing. Zach Brown took some time off early on with a minor injury, and whenever he or Foster came out, one player came in right behind them as the first backup off the bench.
On some days, players like Shaun Dion Hamilton, Martrell Spaight, and Zach Vigil worked their ways into the first rotation, but it’s clear that the Redskins see Harvey-Clemons as their primary backup. He’s a versatile player who the team has moved around, and although he’s still a bit thin for the position, he’s shown a willingness to stop the run in early practices.
From the moment he was drafted in Round 7 last year, it was clear that Harvey-Clemons had potential, as a 6-foot-4 safety convert with solid length and speed. While his status in training camp is a promising sign, only preseason will give concrete answers as to how far Harvey-Clemons has come in his first full offseason with the Redskins.
If he develops quicker than expected, he could be a valuable chess piece on the Redskins’ defense; he can help the Redskins’ linebackers in coverage, something the backups, mainly Martrell Spaight, struggled with last year. Tight ends, in particular, had their way with the Redskins’ linebackers in 2017. Harvey-Clemons can stop that.
The Patriots have an intriguing cast of tight ends to pit against Harvey-Clemons. Harvey-Clemons likely won’t see much of the ever-affluent Rob Gronkowski, but everyone else behind him is fair game. Dwayne Allen is an athlete who still has yet to polish his game on a consistent basis. Will Tye is a decent backup who produced with the Giants earlier in his career. Jacob Hollister is an ascending receiving threat with the height and toughness to compete, and Ryan Izzo also fits that profile as a rookie.
Harvey-Clemons won’t necessarily be playing up to his competition, but like so many other matchups across the board, this assignment will be a good barometer for assessing Harvey-Clemons’ growth in the offseason of 2018, and his readiness for an increased, hybrid-type role in the 2018 regular season.