The Washington Redskins couldn’t win against the New England Patriots. Still, they had some good individual performance, and here are five players that stood out on Thursday.
The preseason loss to the Patriots had to be tough for Redskins fans to stomach. The team was up 17-0 at one point before giving up 26 consecutive points to end the contest. Of course, the preseason is for working out all the kinks, so hopefully, this will be a net-positive for the team as they try to learn.
Of course, it’s also worth noting that the team saw some strong performances from their individual players. They got a lot of production out of their offense and saw some young players on the defensive side of the ball make an impact too. So, these results were certainly good for the squad.
Here’s a look at five players on the team that really shined in the first Redskins action of the 2018 NFL season.
Honorable Mentions: CB Greg Stroman, CB Danny Johnson, NT Tim Settle, WR Cam Sims
5. RB Samaje Perine
I’m admittedly biased towards Perine, but I really thought that he outplayed his primary competition for the backup RB position (Rob Kelley).
While Kelley was able to grind out a couple of short-yardage first downs, Perine showed better vision and the ability to find the hole and get into open space. This was evident on his first run of the day, a 14-yard scamper that saw him quickly identify the open hole, run towards it, absorb some contact down the field, and get a first down. It was a good highlight for the Oklahoma product, who some thought might be on the trading block.
Perine still does have some issues, particularly when running between the tackles. He runs with high pad level and that makes him less likely to fall forward and gain tough yards. In short, he needs to learn how to be more of a power runner, given that he has the strength to be one at the NFL level.
Of all the backs in action tonight not named Derrius Guice, Perine showed the most as a potential backup. He simply has the skills needed to be a solid back-end part of a one-two punch. I know that Jay Gruden loves Kelley, but he has to open his eyes and see that Perine has more potential. This performance proved that for sure.
I’m not certain Perine will be a Redskin after this preseason. But after one week, I can safely say that he is beating Kelley in his position battle. It will be interesting to see if he can continue that trend moving forward.
4. OLB Vontae Diggs
I was pleasantly surprised by what Vontae Diggs had to offer on Thursday night. A roster longshot at outside linebacker, Diggs fared well when he was on the field. It may not be enough for him to make the 53-man roster, but he certainly has a chance to make the practice squad.
Two plays defined the night for Diggs and turned him into a standout. The first was on a play where he almost sacked Brian Hoyer. Diggs came off the edge with solid speed and a good first step in order to make an impact on the play. He just barely missed getting to Hoyer before he released the ball, and while Hoyer completed the pass, Diggs certainly had an impact on the play.
Later on, in the fourth quarter, Diggs made a nice stop in the run game. New England handed the ball to Ralph Webb and before he could get anywhere, Diggs came into the backfield and leveled him immediately. He stopped Webb in his tracks and forced the Patriots into a second and 12. In a situation where the Redskins were fighting to stay in the game, it had the potential to be a key play, though it wasn’t at the end of the day.
Diggs finished the game with four tackles, including the one tackle for loss on Webb. He looks like a potential No. 5 outside linebacker that could provide value as a tackler on special teams. The Redskins might not be able to afford to roster him, but he still flashed.
Following up his performance against the Patriots with a solid outing against the Jets would be ideal for Diggs. Right now, the undrafted free agent from UConn is still just a roster long shot. But if he continues to play well, the NFL will find a spot for him in some way, shape, or form.
3. QB Colt McCoy
Some doubted whether or not McCoy would be the backup quarterback after the acquisition of Kevin Hogan. On Thursday night, McCoy reminded everyone why that was never a battle to begin with.
McCoy was one of the stars of the game, and he helped lead the Redskins to a 17-0 advantage. For a while, it seemed that he would have a chance to lead the team down the field every drive, even against some of the Patriots top defenders. He truly played at a high level, and he should be praised for the early performance of the Redskins.
As I pointed out in my initial game recap, McCoy’s accuracy and ball placement was very good, and that’s what allowed him a chance to play so well.
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"Colt McCoy was one of the stars for the Redskins in this contest. He played most of the first half for the team and put up great numbers, going 13-of-18 for 189 yards and two touchdowns. The numbers illustrate how he played, as he took advantage of some open receivers but put accurate, well-placed passes right on their hands. It’s clear that McCoy will be the backup and in the event of an injury to Alex Smith, he should be able to lead this team to some victories."
Hopefully McCoy can continue this momentum throughout the preseason. Having an in-tune backup can be critical for contending teams, as the Eagles saw with Nick Foles and Carson Wentz last season. If McCoy can stay sharp, then the Redskins will be able to breathe a bit easier if Smith gets hurt (much easier than they would if Hogan was the man).
2. WR Maurice Harris
It seemed that the Redskins planned to get Maurice Harris involved early in this contest. He caught the first two passes from McCoy and was given a chance to do what he does best. Gain separation from route running and use his hands to make clean receptions.
Harris’ finished the game with three catches for 22 yards and a score. That may not look great on paper, but he saw a team-high five targets and really was efficient with his opportunities. Essentially, he did so well early that the team was able to give other players chances on offense, because Harris showed them everything that they needed to see.
Harris’ touchdown catch was one of the plays of the night. You can check it out here, thanks to the Redskins official Twitter.
.@Maurice3Harris with the toe drag! #HTTR #WASvsNE pic.twitter.com/OMGRrmoHFo
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) August 10, 2018
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The awareness that he demonstrated to first get open, realize how close he was to the sideline, and get that toe down just enough to get both feet in play was excellent. Harris has all the intangibles that coaches look for in receivers, and there is a good chance that he will win the No. 4 receiver spot for the team.
In addition to his efforts on offense, Harris was on punt return duty as one of the backups. He returned a single punt, but showed good elusive ability bringing it back for 20 yards. This helped him to further differentiate himself and give him extra value. For that reason, he deserves another stock up in terms of his roster hopes.
Harris should be happy with his performance. He was probably the best offensive player and has done a lot to ensure that he will get a chance on the 53-man roster. If he continues at this rate, his potential role will only grow.
1. LB Shaun Dion Hamilton
Considering that Hamilton wasn’t necessarily expected to be ready for the start of the season, this performance was excellent. Hamilton was at the forefront of many plays on defense and showcased why he could have been a Day 2 talent had he stayed healthy at Alabama.
Hamilton led the Redskins in total tackles with 10. Throughout the night, he showed the ability to shoot through gaps to get to the ball carrier. He demonstrated excellent instincts and intelligence, which were two of his strengths coming out of Alabama. He has a legitimate chance to win a role as one of the primary backups and could be a player that develops into a starter down the line.
Of course, it’s worth noting that Hamilton saw a lot of action in the second half while playing with players further down the depth chart. Still, that didn’t stop him from flashing. The Redskins have to be happy with the investment they made in the Alabama product, and if he has another solid game in Week 2, there’s a chance that he could be in consideration for the No. 3 role in that linebacker corps.
The Redskins talent flashed despite the loss. That’s all you can ask for in the first preseason game. With increased energy and effort compared to last season, the Redskins and their young standouts should have a chance to win in the near future, especially against some weaker competition.