The fourth and final week of the 2019 NFL preseason is here. Here’s an in-depth preview for the Washington Redskins game against the Baltimore Ravens in preseason Week 4.
The final week of the 2019 NFL preseason is here. NFL fans, rejoice! That means that in less than two weeks, we’ll be watching real, regular-season NFL action. But until that point, there’s one final obstacle to get over. And that’s the fourth preseason game.
The final preseason contest is often — if not, always — the least exciting and least important game of the preseason. Teams will rest all of their key starters and the game is mostly used to evaluate any of the fringe roster depth remaining. There will be a few players that it will be nice to get an extended look at, but aside from that, this game doesn’t have much meaning.
Here’s some food for thought on the final preseason game. In 2018, the Redskins saw Kevin Hogan throw for 272 yards, three touchdowns, and two picks in the final game while Rob Kelley and Simmie Cobbs Jr. led the team in rushing and receiving respectively. Only Kelley made the team and he isn’t even in the league anymore.
And in 2017, Nate Sudfeld, Mack Brown, and Matt Hazel were the statistical leaders in the final game for Washington. None made the squad.
The performance of certain players in this contest may give them an outside chance to sneak onto the roster. Or maybe the practice squad. But largely, this exhibition will be focused on just a couple of key players that see action. With that in mind, here’s an in-depth look at a preview for the Redskins’ game against the Baltimore Ravens and what to keep an eye on during the game.
Redskins offense vs. Ravens defense
Case Keenum will be sitting on Thursday night. That means that Dwayne Haskins will get the first start of his NFL career. And that’s the most interesting storyline of this contest.
Haskins was the 15th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft and he is the quarterback of the future for the Redskins. Keenum beat him in the team’s quarterback competition and it seems that Haskins needs some time to develop. Still, Haskins has shown growth during the preseason and in extensive action, he could continue to build upon his positive progress with a solid performance.
As I noted in a recent article, Haskins’ performance in the pocket will be of particular interest. Here’s my explanation for that.
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"The big thing to watch in this contest will be Haskins’ pocket presence and poise. He looked shaky in that area in his first start but has gotten more comfortable as the preseason has gone along. If he can continue to show well in that area and prove to be more mobile than people initially thought, he will do a lot to showcase his upside and show the coaching staff that he will eventually have a chance to be the starter."
The good thing is that Haskins will be tested in the pocket. The Redskins don’t have a lot of offensive line depth and the Ravens have some interesting young players that should see action on the defensive line including Gerald Willis III, Zach Sieler, and Jaylon Ferguson. If Haskins can stand up to the pressure, that should demonstrate that he is improving with his pocket presence and ability to read the field.
Speaking of the offensive line, Timon Parris should get his chance to make a case for being on the 53-man roster. Parris currently looks like a developmental fourth tackle and he has flashed some this preseason. If he can help keep Haskins upright, he could make the team and challenge Geron Christian for the swing job (though Christian is still probably in the lead for that role).
As for the weapons on display in this game, Darvin Kidsy, Cam Sims, Jehu Chesson, and tight end JP Holtz will all be battling for spots in the receiving corps. If Haskins shows chemistry with some of them and gets them involved, they could make the team.
In the running game, it’s all about Samaje Perine and Craig Reynolds. Can Perine build on a solid performance last week to take the fourth running back spot? If not, can Reynolds take it, or is he destined for the practice squad? We’ll soon find out how they can do in the preseason finale.
Redskins defense vs. Ravens offense
On the defensive side of the ball, it’s even less clear what the Redskins are going to be doing. Again, their starters are unlikely to play much, so there will only be a handful of guys to watch. But it’s also hard to know what the Ravens are going to do outside of the quarterback position.
In all likelihood, rookie sixth-round pick Trace McSorley will get a lot of action at quarterback and that will give this a Big 10 feel (Haskins and McSorley squared off last season in a great Ohio State-Penn State clash). McSorley had a really nice outing in his last preseason appearance so he will be looking to build on that.
For the Redskins, they will look to contain McSorley and his receiving corps and the player to watch in the secondary will be Jeremy Reaves. He has had a very good preseason at the safety position and has made a case to make the team as a fifth safety. If he can make some plays on McSorley’s passes, that could be enough to get him a chance to make the roster.
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In the front seven, two undrafted rookies will come into focus. Linebacker BJ Blunt and defensive lineman Ryan Bee have both had solid preseasons and could push for roster spots. Bee has been a good pass rusher and if Caleb Brantley is still recovering from his Lisfranc injury, he could serve as the fifth lineman. Meanwhile, Blunt is a raw inside linebacker, but he plays fast and hard and could become a solid player.
These two will have to make an impact in the running game as the Ravens have solid depth at the running back position (Justice Hill, Gus Edwards, Kenneth Dixon). That should be a nice test for them. Bee will also look to get another sack working against the Baltimore backup line.
Speaking of that, Cassanova McKinzy will also get a chance to get another sack. He has been excellent off the edge this preseason and was dominant last week in a two-sack outing against the Bengals. He is likely a roster lock but may play early on, so keep an eye on him. If he keeps playing well, he will earn a big role in the pass rushing rotation.
Score prediction
It’s the fourth preseason name. It’s almost impossible to know what’s going to happen. All that we do know is that the Haskins vs. McSorley battle last ended with a one-point victory for Haskins’ Buckeyes squad.
Could history repeat itself in the NFL preseason? It’s surely possible. But at the same time, the talent surrounding Haskins and McSorley is very different. And in terms of preseason coaching, John Harbaugh is one of the winningest preseason coaches in the NFL. So, beating him will certainly be a tall order.
The result of this game will all depend on how the Redskins depth looks. So far, they haven’t shown the ability to do much when on the field. Trusting them in extended action is certainly tough, especially after how they looked in the first two preseason games.
As always, the results of this game don’t matter. It’s more about how the players that need to prove themselves look. If Haskins shows well, the Redskins will be happy. But at this point in time, it’s hard to imagine them winning against a deeper Ravens team with better coaching.