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Second half adjustments Redskins must make vs. Bengals in NFL preseason Week 2

By Jacob Camenker

LANDOVER, MD - AUGUST 16: Defensive back Troy Apke #30 of the Washington Redskins celebrates with defensive tackle Ondre Pipkins #78 after intercepting a pass thrown by quarterback Sam Darnold #14 of the New York Jets (not pictured) in the first half of a preseason game at FedExField on August 16, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - AUGUST 16: Defensive back Troy Apke #30 of the Washington Redskins celebrates with defensive tackle Ondre Pipkins #78 after intercepting a pass thrown by quarterback Sam Darnold #14 of the New York Jets (not pictured) in the first half of a preseason game at FedExField on August 16, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
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The Washington Redskins and Cincinnati Bengals are playing in a tightly contested preseason contest. Here’s a look at the second half adjustments the Redskins should make to improve.

Obviously, it’s the preseason. Second-half adjustments in the preseason aren’t the same as they are in the regular season. But the Washington Redskins should still be looking for a chance to make changes at the half to give themselves a chance to win. Here’s a look at some of their problem spots to work on ahead of the third quarter.

The Redskins defense played very well for the first quarter of the game, and their starters looked very strong for most of the night. However, once they left the field, the Bengals were able to move the ball at will. Part of the issue was related to tackling, as the Redskins missed some key tackles on the edge, including two on a play where tight end Mason Schreck broke a Greg Stroman tackle and a Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie tackle on the same play. That tackling needs to improve, as the ‘Skins aren’t a team that can afford to give up a lot of YAC yards.

Additionally, the middle of the field was wide open at various times with the backups on the field. This falls partly on the linebackers, but the team’s backups safeties, Deshazor Everett and Troy Apke, really had trouble helping in coverage. Apke showed better tackling ability than expected, but the lack of solid coverage skills there could be an issue. This unit should look to show better in coverage in the second half and perhaps putting Jeremy Reaves, given his athletic ability, could help in coverage.

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Also, the first drive of the game underscored a problem that the Redskins dealt with quite a bit last season. Penalties. There were definitely some calls that went against the Redskins that shouldn’t have. But the avoidable ones have to be cleaned up if the team wants to win this season. Gruden should focus on playing penalty and mistake-free football in the second half.

The ‘Skins were called for three, 15-yard penalties on the opening drive. Two were certainly bogus, as the call against Jonathan Allen was ticky-tack while Josh Norman‘s hit on Giovani Bernard was certainly not helmet-to-helmet.

However, the call against Norman, when he went after the official after his penalty was called, has to be avoided. Norman, a veteran in the cornerback room, has to show more discipline. Of course, he may have just been getting in some words in a meaningless preseason game, but if that happens during the regular season, it would be a disaster.

On the offensive side of the ball, Chase Roullier was called for a critical holding penalty on the Redskins first offensive drive of the game. It wasn’t an egregious hold, but again, the team needs to ensure that they stay disciplined. That turned a third-and-2 into a third-and-12 and the Redskins missed a field goal after that penalty.

And on what nearly ended up being a go-ahead touchdown on a fourth-and-2 from midfield, the Redskins were called for pass interference. Though Jay Gruden challenged the call, the call stood. There wasn’t a great angle on what they were reviewing, but there were a couple of potential grabs by Cam Sims (not the receiver Steven Sims Jr.) that could have been called. It was a crushing blow to the offense’s chances of netting a second-quarter score.

Speaking of the kicking game, that’s another major area for improvement. Hopkins missed two kicks during the first half. The first came on an extra point, but that one fell more on Nick Sundberg for uncorking a bad snap than it did on Dustin Hopkins, but the second one, a 50-yard field-goal attempt, falls solely on Hopkins. He simply mishit it and drove it far too low to have a chance to make it. That’s something for the whole unit (snapper, holder, and kicker) to work on ahead of the second half.

On the bright side, the offense looked very strong on Dwayne Haskins’ two drives of the first half. If they can continue to give him time in the pocket and see receivers break open downfield, that could accelerate his development. Conversely, if they allow him to be pressured, that could hurt it. But he has to be willing to get rid of the ball a bit quicker as well, so perhaps the coaches will attempt to make that happen.

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The Redskins have time to fix these problems. Again, it’s just the preseason, but the squad should always be looking to better themselves, even if it is in a meaningless game.

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