Washington Football Team: Five players to watch vs. Bengals
By Ian Cummings
No. 3 – LB Cole Holcomb
Cole Holcomb may have been anointed as the defense’s next star a bit too early when he had a standout game against Dallas. Holcomb no doubt deserved the recognition in that moment, but his efforts were in vain against New York, and he had a shaky outing in Detroit. Now, Holcomb will need to bounce back, to show he can attain consistency as a starter.
Ron Rivera has confidence in Holcomb, and with good reason; Holcomb is an elite athlete with good size and instincts. But consistency with positioning and angles in coverage has been an issue, and Holcomb has to clear that up if he wants to keep his starting gig going into 2021.
Luckily for Holcomb, the Bengals game may present an opportunity for him. The Bengals’ line could be susceptible to linebacker blitzes, and additionally, three of Joe Burrow’s five picks have gone to linebackers. If Holcomb can trust his keys and play fast, he could be in store for a good game. But it’s all up to him.