Redskins vs. Broncos: 5 position battles to watch in Preseason Week 3

Jacob Camenker

FOXBOROUGH, MA - AUGUST 9 : Colt McCoy #12 of the Washington Redskins hands the ball off to Rob Kelley #20 during the preseason game between the New England Patriots and the Washington Redskins at Gillette Stadium on August 9, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

HOUSTON, TX – NOVEMBER 19: Adrian Peterson #23 of the Arizona Cardinals runs the ball in the first quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on November 19, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

The Washington Redskins are entering their third week of preseason football and are getting ready for the all-important dress rehearsal against the Denver Broncos. Here’s a look at the best position battles to watch in the preseason Week 3 action.

Week 3 of the preseason is always one of the most exciting times on the NFL offseason calendar. Well, maybe it’s not that thrilling, but it is the closest thing we get to a real football game from early February to late-August. So, needless to say, there is going to be some excitement ahead of the third preseason contest.

So far in the preseason, the Redskins have generally looked good. Their offense has moved the ball well and while their third-string defense blew a second-half lead to the Patriots in the first preseason game, the squad showed a lot against the Patriots first-string defense, so that’s a major positive.

Compared to last season, when the Redskins offense sputtered badly in the first two weeks of the preseason, the team seems to be in good shape. They will get to test their fitness and ability against the Broncos, who should be a solid test in the team’s final (meaningful) regular season tune-up.

This game may be the last time we get a look at some of the key position battles that will be taking place during the offseason. While some roster battles will be decided in the preseason’s fourth week, Week 3 is often the time that battles for starters and top backups are decided. With that in mind, here’s a look at the top position battles to watch for the Redskins preseason dress rehearsal against the Broncos.

BLACKSBURG, VA – SEPTEMBER 30: Adonis Alexander #36 of the Virginia Tech Hokies celebrates a tackle during the second half against the Clemson Tigers at Lane Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images)

5. Backup Corner

Adonis Alexander vs. Greg Stroman

I’m interested to see how the two Virginia Tech prospects fare on Friday. Both Alexander and Stroman are talented and one seems poised to win the backup job in the wake of Orlando Scandrick’s release.

While Stroman has impressed so far this preseason, Alexander has the size needed to be a difference maker on the outside. Both players did well in coverage during their collegiate careers, but Stroman was better during his final season with the Hokies. That may give him the early advantage.

Of course, it’s also worth noting that Stroman is probably going to be handling return duties in some capacity with the Redskins, whether that’s on punts or kicks. So, it’s possible that if he’s spread a bit thinner, Alexander could win the job as the first man off the bench. Or, Alexander could outplay Stroman in his first on-field action and give Torrian Gray hope that he can mold Alexander into a future starter.

This battle may not have huge ramifications on the Redskins upcoming season, but this still means something. The winner of this battle may be next in line to play a starting role if and when Josh Norman leaves the team in the near future. So, this is a good chance to get an early look at these guys to see what they’re made of.

It’s not often a team keeps three rookies as backups, but that’s what the Redskins seem ready to do. It will certainly be interesting to see how they perform against the Broncos, who have some other talented rookies who will test them throughout the game.

4. Backup Interior O-Line

Tony Bergstrom vs. The Field

This may not be the most exciting battle to watch, but nonetheless, it is certainly an important one. The Redskins have minimal depth on their offensive line, and they are going to have to find some backup players from a slew of candidates. Thus far, their backup unit has played poorly, so finding help for the interior line could be an issue.

Right now, Bergstrom appears to be the favorite to man the backup center/guard position. That’s not exactly a great thing, as Bergstrom doesn’t appear to be more than a journeyman at the position. While Bergstrom seems likely to make the roster, the team should hope that one of their younger guys steps up and earns playing time.

3. Backup Edge Rusher

Pernell McPhee vs. Ryan Anderson

For the past couple of seasons, the Redskins have had a third rotational rusher that has made a big impact in the role. In 2016, it was Trent Murphy. Last year, it was Junior Galette. This year, they need one of these players to emerge to continue to succeed at this spot.

McPhee is a big-bodied guy who has played for the Ravens and Bears during his NFL career. He’s great at holding the edge and defending against the run, and he also offers a little as a pass rusher thanks to his strength-based moves. He signed a one-year, bargain bin deal to join the Redskins and is the favorite to hold that position.

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Anderson was a second-round pick in 2017, and he did little to prove that he was worth the selection last year. Anderson is similar to McPhee in that he isn’t a great athlete, but he has a great motor and some strength on his frame. However, Anderson is smaller than McPhee and will have to use a bit of quickness if he wants to beat NFL tackles.

The third preseason game will be a good time for both players to demonstrate that they have the pass rushing moves needed to be successful at this position. If they can’t do it, it may prompt the Redskins to start exploring other options and keeping one of the duo on board as a run-stuffing specialist.

A reunion with Galette, who recently stated that he would play for the veteran minimum, may not be a bad idea as he would provide solid depth at one of the thinner positions on the Redskins roster. Either way, these guys will be fighting for playing time and potentially a roster spot, so this is a position to watch for sure.

SEATTLE, WA – NOVEMBER 05: Wide receiver Brian Quick #83 of the Washington Redskins catches a long pass in front of Justin Coleman #28 of the Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on November 5, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. The Redskins won 17-14. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

2. Wide Receiver Depth Battle

Brian Quick vs. Trey Quinn vs. Cam Sims

The Redskins had a position battle at receiver coming into the offseason. However, few expected that the battle for the final roster spots thought it would come down to these three players.

Quick, a veteran who is entering his second year with the Redskins and sixth in the NFL was supposed to provide depth and experience to a young positional group on the roster. Quinn was the final pick of the 2018 NFL Draft and some thought that he might win the No. 4 receiver job. As for Sims, few expected him to contend for a roster spot, but he has made some great catches this season. They all appear to be fighting for two spots, so one will be the odd man out.

In terms of preseason play, Sims has stood out the most with his 6-foot-5 frame and his penchant for making tough contested catches. He did have one key drop that led to an interception, but he made up for it with his second-half play against the Jets. Now the question is, has Sims done enough to earn a spot on the active roster?

The final preseason game will be a good barometer for which receivers Gruden really trusts. If Sims put up another good performance, he should have a shot at the roster, and that would come at the expense of Quick. Conversely, Quick will look to use sharp route running to prove he has a place, while Quinn will try not to commit a drop as he looks to earn trust in his abilities.

LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 17: Rob Kelley #20 of the Washington Redskins runs the ball against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

1. Running Back Battle

Rob Kelley vs. Adrian Peterson vs. Kapri Bibbs vs. De’Veon Smith

It’s important to note that I’m not including Chris Thompson in this because he’s clearly going to be the third down/change of pace back. The rest of the competition is wide open especially with Samaje Perine dealing with an ankle injury and Adrian Peterson joining the roster.

While many are assuming that Peterson will come in and be the starter right away, it seems that he will have to earn that role. Gruden really likes Kelley, for better or for worse, and he will probably get the first crack at the starting job because of this. Peterson will challenge him — provided that he can learn the system and avoid fumbling, which has been a big problem for him during his career.

Elsewhere on the squad, Bibbs will get his best chance to prove that he belongs on the roster this week as well. With Byron Marshall out, Bibbs has a chance to establish himself as the backup receiving back if he can continue to catch passes and play better between the tackles, as he did in preseason Week 2. With extended second-half action, he will have plenty of opportunities to prove himself.

Finally, Smith, a man who flew under the radar after the Redskins signed Peterson, was also added to the roster this week. I like Smith as a potential camp body/practice squad player. He’s a slightly more athletic version of Kelley with better vision. I’ll be interested to see how much work he gets and if he can make a case to be stashed on the practice squad as depth.

Jacob Camenker