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Redskins: Five players to watch against the Patriots in NFL Week 5

By Jacob Camenker

PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 08: Colt McCoy #12 of the Washington Redskins warms prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 08: Colt McCoy #12 of the Washington Redskins warms prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on September 8, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 29: Linebacker Cole Holcomb #55 of the Washington Redskins tackles running back Jon Hilliman #23 of the New York Giants during the second quarter of the game at MetLife Stadium on September 29, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 29: Linebacker Cole Holcomb #55 of the Washington Redskins tackles running back Jon Hilliman #23 of the New York Giants during the second quarter of the game at MetLife Stadium on September 29, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

4. LB Cole Holcomb

Cole Holcomb always had upside as a prospect when the Redskins selected him in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. But he has even surpassed the expectations of those who were high on him during the draft process.

Holcomb came out of North Carolina with excellent production and top-level athletic ability. But he fell to the fifth round because he was undersized and some wondered if that production would translate.

So far, it has.

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That said, Holcomb is coming off the worst game of his brief career to date. He logged only four tackles and had issues tackling at times and some trouble in coverage. On a couple of occasions, he overran the play a bit and allowed the player he was responsible to get by him. Once, he slipped and allowed a reception.

These issues are to be expected. Rookies go through growing pains, and Holcomb just happened to endure his last week. But now, the question is, will he be able to bounce back from that performance?

The Patriots are a much more difficult opponent than the New York Giants, but their running game hasn’t been strong to start the season. If Holcomb can help to contain Sony Michel, that will afford the Redskins the opportunity to get some defensive stops. Despite their success, the Patriots’ offense hasn’t played particularly well the past two weeks, so perhaps the Redskins could at least slow them down.

If Holcomb can hold up against the run and match up well against the New England tight ends (likely Matt LaCosse and Benjamin Watson), that should be a positive for him. If he continues to grow, he should play a big part in the team’s defense moving forward (and that’s saying something given that he has already played 65 percent of the team’s defensive snaps this season).

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