Riggo's Rag
FanSided

Washington Football Team: Five players to watch in rematch with Giants

By Ian Cummings

ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 08: Robert Foster #16 of the Buffalo Bills on the sideline during a game against the Baltimore Ravens at New Era Field on December 8, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. Baltimore beats Buffalo 24 to 17. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 08: Robert Foster #16 of the Buffalo Bills on the sideline during a game against the Baltimore Ravens at New Era Field on December 8, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. Baltimore beats Buffalo 24 to 17. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
LANDOVER, MD – OCTOBER 25: Cole Holcomb #55 of the Washington Football Team celebrates after a play against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half at FedExField on October 25, 2020 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – OCTOBER 25: Cole Holcomb #55 of the Washington Football Team celebrates after a play against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half at FedExField on October 25, 2020 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

No. 5 – LB Cole Holcomb

The Washington Football Team’s defense has quietly been one of the league’s better units in 2020, and it’s clear that the team’s redefined marriage between talent and coaching has been a key catalyst for the unit’s rise.

The raw potential hidden in Washington’s defense was something Ron Rivera emphasized early on as a reason for his decision to coach in D.C., and while the team’s only competent outings have come against similarly hapless NFC East squads, the defense has taken full advantage at all three levels, and it’s visibly meshing as the season goes on.

In Week 7, Washington’s defense had perhaps its best outing yet, holding the Cowboys to just three points, and linebacker Cole Holcomb was a big reason why. Holcomb epitomizes the notion that Rivera has helped develop the team’s talent; the North Carolina product flashed his elite athleticism in 2019, and early on in 2020, he’s displaying increased awareness and playmaking ability to compliment his physical traits.

With that being said, while Holcomb is no doubt on the rise, he’ll have to string together multiple standout weeks to truly earn the title of playmaker, and off a bye week, against the New York Giants and turnover-prone quarterback Daniel Jones, he should have as good a chance as he’ll get to build on his success, and take the next step.

Home/Commanders News