Washington Football Team: Studs and duds from 2020 opening win

Dud No. 2 – FS Troy Apke

It wasn’t all bad for Troy Apke. I need to preface his page with this statement, because I think Apke did show potential on Sunday, and he did clean his game up as the game went on — granted, the entire defense did.

Apke finished Washington’s Week 1 contest tied for the team lead with eight total tackles, and he made some crucial stops on runners closer to the line of scrimmage, using his speed to reach the ball in a timely manner. But there were times when Apke lost a step in coverage, and in one of these instances, Apke’s brief hesitance cost the team points.

Dallas Goedert’s touchdown was the ultimate low-point of Apke’s day. Apke was in single-high coverage on that play, surveying two halves of the field. Goedert gained separation on linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis as he streaked toward the left side of the end zone, but Apke was a hair too late to react, and he didn’t reach Goedert in time to make a play on the ball.

Apke’s was rarely burned in Washington’s Week 1 matchup, but even with his athleticism, there were times when he reacted too late. Goedert got a touchdown because of it, and there were several Carson Wentz overthrows that saw Apke a full yard behind his man. Had those throws been just a bit shorter, we’d potentially be talking about Apke losing his starting job.

Apke deserves another chance to solidify his role, because he is talented, and he did have some positive moments against the Eagles. But this kind of inconsistency isn’t something a team should accept from the safety position, and moving forward, Apke should have a clear indication of where he needs to improve.