Redskins offensive line an issue, but gravity not yet quantifiable
By Ian Cummings
The Redskins offensive line was, to put it politely, atrocious on Thursday. But it’s not fair to judge the situation in its entirety just yet.
The Washington Redskins lost to the Cleveland Browns in their preseason debut, by a score of 30-10. There were some high points. Dwayne Haskins showed off his potential with some excellent throws and scrambles, and he had valuable learning moments. Jimmy Moreland took over on defense, and on offense, receivers Darvin Kidsy and Robert Davis showed off their athleticism.
The bright flashes across the board were overshadowed, however, by the lackluster performance of the team’s offensive line. The team’s quarterbacks were under almost constant pressure, and the running backs rarely found sustainable holes. It made moving the ball a tough feat to accomplish consistently, and it drastically impeded the offense’s ability to sustain drives.
The performance of the Redskins offensive line is notable, and it brings to light an issue that was already known. However, until the starters see the field, the true gravity of the issue on the offensive line cannot be quantified.
It’s possible that no Week 1 starters even saw the field last night on the offensive line. The starting lineup was, from left to right, Geron Christian, Ereck Flowers, Tony Bergstrom, Zac Kerin, and Timon Parris. Flowers is the only potential starting lineup inclusion in that mix, barring injuries, and if he keeps playing like he has, he could sooner be a surprise cut.
The Redskins offensive line depth can be judged by last night’s spectacle; they’re hurting very much there, and based on how often they’ve faced injuries on the offensive line in recent years, it’s a crucial part of the Redskins upcoming season. But the offensive line won’t have as much trouble once the starters hit the field. Donald Penn and Wes Martin didn’t play much. Chase Roullier, Brandon Scherff, and Morgan Moses didn’t play at all.
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It was bad against Cleveland. But this might not be an indictment on the starting offense, so much as it is an indictment on the team’s offensive line depth. Either way, it’s a pressing issue. But there’s reason to believe last night was closer to rock bottom than it was to reality.