The Redskins preseason finale is later today. And with it, the end of almost two dozen stints with the burgundy and gold.
The Washington Redskins were lucky to find a few gems in the undrafted free agent crop this year. This week, they’ll have to be careful not to lose the players they want to keep.
The decision making process, in regards to trimming down the roster, is not an easy process to conduct. Every player brings some amount of value in some way, and in the end, tough decisions will have to be made.
All players participating in the preseason finale will be worth keeping an eye on; This will be the last chance for roster hopefuls to show their talents under the lights, before a premature reckoning comes for them.
Despite this, there are five specific position battles that carry intrigue with them, as well as regular season implications. We’ve talked about these positions a lot, almost to the point to where you probably know what we’re going to say.
But let’s go over it one more time. Here are five position battles that will come to a climax on Thursday night.
No. 5 – Interior Offensive Line
So, in case you haven’t heard, the Redskins don’t have a ton of offensive line depth. Their starting unit is fairly solid. But behind them, there are only two proven quality backups, and both are well over 30 years old.
Had the Redskins not lost Arie Koaundjio earlier in the offseason, their situation would not be so dire. But now, with just a week before the regular season, the Redskins have Ty Nsekhe as their only backup tackle ready for game action, and Tony Bergstrom as their primary backup at all three interior spots.
After last year, this may be a cause for concern.
Depth options such as Tyler Catalina, Kyle Kalis, Demetrius Rhaney, and Isaiah Williams have yet to stand out in preseason, and the second and third-team linemen in general have looked rather pedestrian. The quality of blocking worsens noticeably in the second half of preseason games. Even after an offseason to develop, it’s unclear if Bill Callahan’s work has borne any fruit at all with the team’s backups.
Still, things like this can change in one game, and with an open spot on the depth chart on the interior offensive line, the backups will be clawing at this opportunity to prove themselves. Right now, Tyler Catalina is who I have making it as the ninth offensive lineman, but Kalis or Williams can surpass him with a strong Week 4. And if no one shows any growth, the Redskins could be forced to turn to the waiver wire.
No. 4 – Safety
This battle might already be concluded. But as long as there are still snaps to give, no one is safe.
Deshazor Everett and Troy Apke appear to be the third and fourth safeties on the roster, and there’s no reason anyone else should be in their places right now.
Everett is a known quantity as a solid special teams player, something that teams still need, even with the modified kickoff rules. He’s only average when asked to play on defense, but his experience is something all other options behind him lack.
Troy Apke, meanwhile, has flashed some of his breakneck speed that got him drafted by the Redskins in Round 4 of the 2018 NFL Draft. He’s been rather inconsistent this preseason; he has trouble controlling his speed, and his tackling, as a result, has been spotty. But no one should have expected anything different from Apke at this point. He’s a project, and a project that has the potential for bountiful returns. No smart team would cut the cord this early, especially when nothing more than a backup spot is at stake.
Still, with the No. 3 and No. 4 spots locked up, there’s a chance, albeit a small one, that the Redskins keep five safeties. Why? Because the two players behind Everett and Apke are surprisingly adequate in their own right. Kenny Ladler has shined so far in preseason, and he could be kept as a solid special teamer, at the very least. Second-year undrafted free agent Fish Smithson hasn’t stood out nearly enough to earn a spot, but a solid performance in Week 4, much like his outing against the Bengals last August, could change his fate.
No. 3 – Inside Linebacker
Josh Harvey-Clemons and Shaun Dion Hamilton both seem to be nearing lock territory in the Redskins’ roster battle at inside linebacker. For the last spot, however, you could make a compelling case for both Martrell Spaight and Zach Vigil, and no one would bat an eye.
Vigil seems to be the favorite amongst fans, simply because his drawbacks aren’t as noticeable as Spaight’s. Vigil isn’t dominant in any part of the game, but he’s a decent all-around linebacker who fared well last season without much of a defense around him.
Spaight, meanwhile, is more of a thumper than anything else. He doesn’t do well in coverage, but he’s an asset in special teams and a reliable body in run defense. These qualities give him plenty of ammunition, and when you factor in the fact that Spaight in two and a half years younger than Vigil, he looks like a good choice in his own right.
In the end, it depends on what the Redskins prefer from their depth linebackers. Do they want someone who isn’t as effective in special teams, but can come in and play at a quality level in coverage and against the run? Or would they prefer a special teams standout, at the cost of security in pass coverage? This race is close; perhaps Thursday will provide separation.
No. 2 – Running Back
Adrian Peterson, naturally, attracts most of the buzz surrounding the Redskins’ running backs. But this week, with the fourth and final preseason game on the horizon, it is the players behind him who deserve the most attention.
Because aside from Peterson and Chris Thompson, the running back position is wide open.
With Byron Marshall likely to start the season on injured reserve (the Redskins can designate no more than two players to return early from reserve), the final two spots in the running back room will be fought over by Samaje Perine, Rob Kelley, and Kapri Bibbs. There’s a possibility they keep five, but they could end up doing that by instead keeping tight end J.P. Holtz as a full back.
Perine, Kelley, and Bibbs all bring different things to the table at running back. Bibbs is the quickest of the bunch, with an uncanny ability to bring some excitement on the field. Perine is a young, brutish back who’s worked on his vision this summer, and Kelley is the best after contact, able to drive through the first lane and grind out tough yards (His vision is suspect, however).
How the Redskins decide to go forward at this position depends on preference. It’s been rumored that Jay Gruden prefers a system where the primary workhorse back, Adrian Peterson, has a backup, and the primary receiving back, Chris Thompson, has a backup as well. This system would help Bibbs immensely, and ultimately pit Perine against Kelley for the final spot.
Washington will have only this matchup against the Ravens to finalize their choice at running back. Adrian Peterson may start the game, given his late arrival, but the Redskins will very quickly rotate in the subjects of a fierce roster battle. In the end, at least one player will not make it.
No. 1 – Wide Receiver
In this position battle rests one of the more fundamental football questions: Youth, or experience?
On one side of the ring, you have Cam Sims, an undrafted free agent receiver who’s shined in limited preseason action. With a 6-foot-5 frame and exciting vertical ability, Sims has emerged as a go-to weapon for quarterbacks late in the game. His traits bring forth impressive potential, and he could be worth an extended investment of time for the Redskins.
On the other hand, however, you have Brian Quick, a player who’s athletic in his own right; he was drafted in the second round back 2012 for his combination of size and athleticism alone. Quick also has experience that Sims lacks entirely. While Sims is only 22 years old, Quick is 29, by far the oldest wide receiver on the Redskins’ roster. If his experience with details and his ability as a mentor and special teams contributor holds enough value, the Redskins could feel obligated to keep him around.
Trey Quinn could also factor into the battle if the Redskins haven’t liked what they’ve seen from him, but for now, Sims and Quick will get the most attention. Will the Redskins favor youth over experience, or will they throw away all the contingency plans and keep seven receivers? All options are on the table, and at this point, there’s nothing to do but wait and see how it plays out.