Game Preview: Redskins at Browns

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August 8, 2018

by Steve Thomas

We aren’t going to start preparing our regular, information-packed written game previews until the regular season starts, because quite frankly the effort it takes to produce them isn’t really worth it until the games start to count, but we nonetheless wanted to give you a quick something to chew on since Redskins football is finally back for real.  So here we go.

The first game of the preseason is usually a limited affair for everyone, and this will be no exception, with teams more interested in trying out different personnel packages than game-planning for a win.  Nonetheless, the Cleveland Browns have somehow risen from bottom-rung dreg of the NFL to an up and coming team, so this game will probably get national attention from sports media.  Enjoy the game and root for the Redskins, but pay particular attention to how Washington matches up against a franchise of this caliber.

Game time & location:           Thursday, August 9, 7:30 p.m. ET, First Energy Stadium, Cleveland, OH; Gates open at                                                           5:30 p.m. ET

Television:                               NBC4/NBC Sports Washington/NBC Sports Washington Plus

Television announcers:          Kenny Albert/Joe Theismann/Sheree Burruss/Clinton Portis

Television replay:                   NFL Network, Friday, August 9, 4 pm ET

 

DC-area radio:                        ESPN 980

Redskins radio network:       Click here

Browns radio network:         Click here

Satellite radio:                         SXM: 383 (Redskins broad.); internet: 831 (Redskins broad.)

 

Redskins roster:                     Click here

Redskins depth chart:           Click here

Browns roster:                       Click here

Browns depth chart:              Click here

What to Watch For

Look like a real NFL team, please

The Redskins head into Cleveland for the first preseason game of the 2019 season with quite a bit to prove.  First and foremost, more than winning the game, the Redskins first string offense needs to just look competent.  We’ve seen a string of past preseason games – in fact for most of the Jay Gruden era – in which the Washington starters have looked absolutely awful.  Job number one Thursday night is to once again try to change that history: move the ball, score points, and don’t destroy their chances by making tons of mistakes.  That shouldn’t be too much to ask.  The offensive starters will most likely only play one or two series, or maybe zero, so there won’t be much time.

Stay healthy

For most teams, this should go without saying, for the Redskins in particular, this is critical given the injury disasters that have befallen this team over the past two years, including preseason game one in 2018.  If I had to pick between “competent performance” and “health” Thursday night, I’ll take health.  Please pray to a higher power of your choosing that Washington escapes this contest without suffering any major injuries.

Performance of the left side of the offensive line

It isn’t news to point out that with the unfortunate absence of Trent Williams, and new people competing for the left guard spot, the left side of the offensive line is a massive question mark.  This is our first chance to see the Geron Christian – Donald Penn – Ereck Flowers – Wes Martin combo perform.  This might be the biggest question mark on the team right now, so if you can only watch one non-quarterback thing in this game, this probably should be it.

Wide receiver competition

The Redskins receiver group is as wide open as its been in many years.  The only truly guaranteed starter is Paul Richardson Jr., with possibly Trey Quinn in the slot role a close second. Rookie Terry McLaurin has definitely impressed Jay Gruden thusfar and seems to be in the lead for a spot as well.  Other than that, essentially everyone else, including former first round pick Josh Doctson, is competing for a spot.  This game is the first step towards seeing who can separate from the pack in real game situations.

The start of the Case Keenum / Dwayne Haskins era

With Colt McCoy supposedly sitting this contest out due to injuries, we’re likely going to be treated to Case Keenum for a series or two, then a healthy dose of prized rookie Dwayne Haskins, which will be exciting to watch.

Check out the pre-gambling presentation

Something called NBC Sports Washington Plus is going to broadcast the NFL’s first true step into the future of massive degenerate gambling, with the channel simulcasting the game with an overlay of statistics and in-game contests.  This is clearly a preseason proof of concept, and we should expect to see this setup in real-money format at some point soon.  Somebody check this out and let us know what you think.