Redskins vs. Broncos: 5 players to watch in Week 3

No. 2 – QB Alex Smith

Redskins quarterback Alex Smith played well in his debut with the team against the Jets. He was quick with his decisions, he was efficient, and he led a scoring drive. On paper, he had a solid outing.

One should never read too much into a preseason game, but there was room for improvement, even from Smith. He appeared somewhat tentative, using short gains to drive down the field instead of taking chances down the field; preseason is the time to do that, and we haven’t seen Smith take advantage of the inconsequential opportunities.

Granted, Smith was only on the field for one drive, and it’s well-documented that Smith’s play style resembles a chisel, as opposed to a hammer. But with the Redskins’ running game offering little more than mystery, Smith will need to mix some big plays into his game, and he’ll need to convert six points where the running game might not be able to. On his lone drive, the Redskins stalled in the red zone and settled for three points. That’s a common theme that shouldn’t continue this year.

Despite this, we’re a far cry from sounding the alarm. As explained earlier, Smith was solid, if unspectacular in his debut, and he made some quick decisions that justified the Redskins’ faith in him. Now, against the Broncos’ defense, with more opportunities to shake off the rust, it’s time to see him immerse himself in the offense, and use his weapons to their fullest potential.