The Washington Redskins put forth a strong defensive effort for the second straight week, and held the New York Jets to just 13 points. Here’s a look at their top performers from the second week of the preseason and what it could mean for some key roster battles.
The Redskins were able to notch their first win of the 2018 campaign. Yes, it’s the preseason, but Kevin Hogan and the third stringers led a 2-minute drill in the fourth quarter to come from behind after a very solid defensive game and a decent offensive performance. The squad should be praised for their efforts, and they appear to be in good shape heading into the third week of the preseason.
Sure, they had their share of issues. They couldn’t get the job done in the red zone, failing to score any touchdowns and settling for field goals every time. That’s obviously not a good look, but it’s important to note that their starting QB was only on the field for one drive, and Colt McCoy did throw a touchdown — that was called back by an illegal formation penalty.
The Redskins have a ways to go before they’re going to be ready for the start of the 2018 season. Still, they’re in much better shape than they were at this same time last season. And a lot of that is thanks to some of the standout performers that have played so well during the Redskins first couple of games. Here’s a look at the five players that really stood out for Washington in the second preseason contest.
Honorable Mentions: RB Samaje Perine, RB Martez Carter, OLB Preston Smith, CB Danny Johnson, CB Prince Charles Iworah
5. S Troy Apke
Apke’s calling card coming out of Penn State was his athletic upside. He has 4.3 speed, but was considered to be raw on the field and needed to improve his instincts. However, for the second straight week, Apke looked good on the field.
The key play of Apke’s day came on a fourth down for the Jets. The team left the offense on the field to go for it on fourth and short, and Sam Darnold threw a pass that was deflected in the air by Deshazor Everett. That’s when Apke made his move.
The ball was floating in the air in front of Apke, but it looked like he wasn’t close enough to get the ball. However, Apke accelerated towards the falling ball and was able to catch it cleanly just before it hit the ground. It was an excellent play and demonstrated the game-changing speed and playmaking potential that he should have at the next level.
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Sure, some will argue that the play didn’t really matter because it would have been a turnover on downs if Apke hadn’t caught it. Others will choose to credit Everett, which is entirely fair, but it was definitely a good play by both.
In short, Apke has shown why he was a fourth-round pick in the first two preseason games. He’s not ready to produce as a starter yet, but the sky is the limit for him. It will be very interesting to see what he can accomplish as he works with Torrian Gray and grows into his skill set.
4. RB Kapri Bibbs
Before Thursday night’s game against the Jets, Bibbs looked unlikely to make the Redskins 53-man roster, as he was squarely behind four other players at the RB position. His performance against the Jets should change that perception.
Bibbs got into action earlier than expected after Samaje Perine suffered an ankle injury after an excellent 30-yard run and Byron Marshall left with a lower-body injury. When on the field, Bibbs looked very good as a receiver and showed what he can do in open space.
Bibbs has always been good on screen passes, as he possesses the speed, fluidity, and patience to wait for blocks to develop and get into open space. He did that against the Jets, ripping off a 29-yard catch on a dump off from Colt McCoy. It was a pretty all-around play by Bibbs, and it was far from his only impactful addition of the game.
On the night, Bibbs finished with 7 catches for 47 yards and he also had a nice blitz pickup in the second half. Though he struggled on the ground getting only 6 yards on 5 carries, it seems that he may have been able to leapfrog Marshall on the depth chart, as Marshall struggled to run the ball even more, nearly fumbled, and got injured. Bibbs should have a chance to continue to succeed in the next two preseason games. Right now, he is making a case to be a part of a deep but not overpowering Redskins backfield.
3. QB Alex Smith
We’re not trying to overreact to one drive in the preseason. But man, Alex Smith looked like a great fit in the Redskins offense.
In one drive, Smith led the team down the field and was able to notch a field goal. Smith was able to do a lot to inspire confidence in his abilities as a starter, and he showcased a variety of different parts of his skill set.
On his first throw, Smith was pressured immediately by Jordan Jenkins. Before e got crushed, he laid the ball off to Paul Richardson who was close to the line of scrimmage. Richardson turned the play into an 8-yard gain. Some other QBs would have just held onto the ball, but Smith knew exactly what to do to avoid losing yardage. And thanks to his throw and a roughing the passer penalty, he moved the team about 23 yards.
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Later in the drive, Smith feathered a nice throw to Vernon Davis on the sideline to notch a first down. While Davis was wide open, it was still impressive that Smith was able to throw the ball with great touch to ensure that Davis would be able to catch it and turn upfield. He didn’t rush, he didn’t throw it too hard. He tossed it to his tight end just right, and that gave him a good chance to make a play after the catch.
Finally, on a third down, Smith waited in the pocket, stepped up, and found Josh Doctson over the middle of the field and threw the ball to him to get the first down. He got the ball into a tighter window with speed and demonstrated his excellent ability to read the field. And that was a huge positive for him.
Overall, Smith made three very good plays while barely seeing action. He looks like a smart, accurate passer who should be a great fit in Jay Gruden’s offense. There’s certainly reason to be excited about what he will provide this offense.
2. NT Daron Payne
Payne was an excellent pick by the Redskins in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Thursday night only reaffirmed that the team made the right choice by selecting him.
While the Alabama product didn’t see a lot of action, he wreaked havoc when on the field. He notched a sack on the third defensive play of the game for the Redskins. On the play, he just obliterated the Jets offensive lineman and Darnold never had a chance to get the ball away. Payne used his power and quickness to get into the backfield, and his sheer combination of size and speed should make him a huge weapon on the Redskins defensive line.
Payne’s performance also illustrated that the Redskins defensive line is going to be one of the better units on the team — and possibly in the league — this season. Jonathan Allen was a perfect partner for his college defense and when the team has Matt Ioannidis in the lineup with the two…look out.
It’s encouraging to see that Payne was able to have such a big impact on the game. There was some concern that he would just be a glorified run stuffer in the NFL, as he had only 3.0 sacks in college. But after notching 1.0 sacks in his first NFL game, it’s clear that he will be more than that. He’ll only get better as time goes along, so it will be very exciting to see what he can accomplish moving forward.
1. WR Cam Sims
Sims did have a key mistake in this game. He dropped what should have been an easy catch in the red zone and it turned into an interception as a result. It was an ugly moment, but he bounced back after it.
Sims made a couple of tough catches in this game. The first came down the right sideline after the ball was in a tight window. He was double covered, but Colt McCoy put the ball in the perfect place and Sims made the play and used his strength to get to the ball.
The second great catch was called off by an illegal formation penalty. Sims was in the back of the end zone, and the ball came to him. He jumped into the air, grabbed the ball and came down hard — but he kept possession and came down in bounds. It would have been the catch of the game had it counted, and it may have still been the best overall grab.
Sims also had a critical catch on the team’s final drive to win the game. He caught the final pass to get into field goal range for the final kick. It was an excellent, contested catch and demonstrated exactly what he will be able to do at the next level.
Thanks to his 6-foot-5 frame and his production, Sims is looking more and more likely to make the active roster as a potential red-zone threat and outside backup. His inclusion would likely come at the expense of Brian Quick, but it would absolutely be worth it if Sims can perform as he has during the preseason. He truly seems like a quality receiving option, and he could end up being the undrafted free agent that makes this season’s final roster.