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Washington Football Team: Potential hidden gems on the team’s roster

By Jonathan Eig

Oct 5, 2019; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal linebacker Casey Toohill (52) during the third quarter against the Washington Huskies at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 5, 2019; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal linebacker Casey Toohill (52) during the third quarter against the Washington Huskies at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports /
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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – AUGUST 21: Temarrick Hemingway #84 of the Carolina Panthers makes a catch during the Carolina Panthers Training Camp at Bank of America Stadium on August 21, 2020 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – AUGUST 21: Temarrick Hemingway #84 of the Carolina Panthers makes a catch during the Carolina Panthers Training Camp at Bank of America Stadium on August 21, 2020 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /

Offense: TE Temarrick Hemingway

Bryce Love has been practicing of late, and if you can believe reports, looking good. I have already written about Love. I am a big supporter. But I’m not wasting any more hopes and wishes until he actually takes the field.

Saahdiq Charles may be returning as well, and given Wes Schweitzer’s regression of late, Charles could provide a boost to a struggling line. And we have already seen some rosy predictions for two new speedsters on the outside – Jeff Badet and Robert Foster.

I hope they all flourish. But I’m looking at Temarrick Hemingway.

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The reason I have hopes for Hemingway is that he could fill in at the position of greatest need. I realize that both the line and the receiving corps are weak, but the tight end spot is a disaster. In the preseason, marginally gifted pass catchers like Hale Hentges and Thaddeus Moss offered a bit of promise. But the former was released and the latter lost to injury.

Marcus Baugh won the back-up tight end job, but he looked very slow in actual games, and his blocking was no better than that of veteran Jeremy Sprinkle. Baugh is currently on the practice squad.

Hemingway was signed to essentially take Baugh’s spot. It didn’t seem like much of a move at the time. Just another Carolina retread brought in by Ron Rivera. Since he entered the league in 2016, Hemingway has bounced around, getting a few snaps here and there, but mainly playing special teams.

But Hemingway is 6-5, 245 pounds, and Hemingway can run. I’m not necessarily talking about his 40 time, which is perfectly respectable for a man his size. When you watch him, he runs better than any tight end in a Washington uniform.

Hemingway may not run like Jordan Reed or Vernon Davis, but on the few occasions he has been sent out on pass routes, you have seen him running free. That is something we have not seen from starting tight end Logan Thomas.

The knock on Hemingway coming out of college was that he was not an especially good route runner or a very stout blocker. Those are issues that coaching and weight-lifting can help address. His assets – he can run and he has good hands – those are natural gifts. Something Washington is sorely lacking at the position right now.

Hemingway saw his snap count total go from five to ten to twenty-six heading into last week’s Giants game. Then he was in for a single play against New York. There was no report of injury. It appears that the game plan was to use two backs most of the time. Antonio Gibson and JD McKissic were on the field together for more than a third of the offensive snaps.

This didn’t work very well. The running game suffered. The blitz pickup was disastrous. Both backs contributed to costly turnovers.

Hemingway has one catch this season for 10 yards. He may seem to be a thin and flimsy lifeline for a struggling offense. But right now, he may be the best mystery option we’ve got.

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