Washington Redskins: 5 Players To Watch In Week 1 vs. Steelers
Aug 11, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Washington Redskins helmet in the air before a game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
The Washington Redskins have a lot of great players on their team, but who should you really be focused on monitoring in the season opener?
The Washington Redskins are going to be playing their season opener in primetime. On Monday, September 12, the team will face off against the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 7:00 p.m. clash to kick off the Monday Night Football season. The two teams are going to be evenly matched, and the game should be a fun one to watch.
That said, there are some players that will be particularly interesting to check out during this game. The Redskins have a few new starters or players at different positions that will need to be monitored during the 2016 opener. With that in mind, here are five players to keep an eye on during the Redskins clash with the Steelers.
Aug 26, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins guard Shawn Lauvao (77) prepares to block against the Buffalo Bills during the first half at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
5. LG Shawn Lauvao
This may not be the most exciting position on the team, but Shawn Lauvao did win a position battle to get into the starting lineup. After missing some of July and early August with an ankle injury, Lauvao came back and over the course of the preseason, won the starting job from Spencer Long. This was considered a mild surprise. Long had looked good during the preseason, and it looked like he was going to hold on to a starting spot.
Because of the constant competition from Long, Lauvao will have to perform well to keep a starting job. He is a relatively solid starter anyway, but the threat of being replaced will make him better. If he can become a very stout run blocker, the left side of the line will be able to open holes in the running game. Furthermore, he could end up being a key part of the Redskins line improving. With Morgan Moses and Brandon Scherff expected to get better, Lauvao could really help to solidify the unit. Then, if center Kory Lichtensteiger continues to struggle, Long can come into the lineup and give Washington a pretty decent line.
Of course, all of that is just hypothetical. First things first, Lauvao has to ensure that he performs well against the Steelers. Because of that, it will be interesting to see how he plays to start the season.
Aug 26, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) throws the ball as Washington Redskins outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan (91) chases in the first quarter at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
4. LB Ryan Kerrigan
The Redskins had to have been worried when Ryan Kerrigan suffered a groin injury in the third preseason game against the Buffalo Bills. At the time, the injury was considered minor . Some have been concerned about his health prior to the season, but let’s not forget that ESPN’s Jon Keim offered this up just days after the initial injury.
Kerrigan is a tough guy and he will absolutely be ready for the start of the regular season. In fact, he could end up having a big impact for the team against the Steelers. He will be facing left tackle Alejandro Villanueva, and the he should be able to put some pressure on the 6-foot-9 tackle. Kerrigan has a unique combination of strength and athleticism, and he could wreak havoc if he is fully healthy.
In short, many are worried about Kerrigan heading into this game, but they should not be. He is going to be in fine shape and he will make an impact. If he plays well, he could help lead the team to a win.
Aug 26, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins defensive end Ziggy Hood (73) sacks Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) during the first half at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
3. DE Ziggy Hood
The Redskins signed Ziggy Hood during the week of the Super Bowl to a reserve contract. He had been a disappointment during his NFL tenure prior to arriving in Washington. Since then, he has magically revived his career.
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Hood looked absolutely fantastic during the preseason, and he was able to stuff the run and rush the passer very well. In limited action with the starting unit, Hood made some splash plays including some well-timed sacks. He was also able to use his strength to bust into the backfield to stop running plays for a loss. He looked really good, and as a result he will be the starter at the right defensive end position for the Skins.
Hood could end up being a breakout candidate for the team. He has never been very productive in the past, but he will get a chance to set the tone in the first game. Even better, Hood will get a chance to face the Steelers, who drafted him in the first round out of Missouri, so he will be out for some revenge. A strong performance will solidify Hood’s comeback and make him an integral part of the rotation in Washington.
Aug 19, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins running back Matt Jones (31) runs with the ball in the first quarter against the New York Jets at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
2. RB Matt Jones
Matt Jones has not seen any action since the second preseason game. Usually players do get a significant amount of time off heading into the regular season, but not that much. The sprained AC joint that Jones suffered has apparently healed and according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post, Jones said his shoulder was fine.
Still, there are questions about Jones’ long term health and his ability as well. Jones has suffered multiple injuries throughout his college career and in the NFL. In fact, he missed time last season with a hip injury and that slowed him towards the end of the year. He needs to prove that he can stay healthy before really becoming the lead back.
In terms of talent, Jones definitely has it but he is inconsistent. There were some games where he looked incredible as a rookie. In others, he was about as mediocre as they come. He needs to develop some form of consistency in his second season. Jones also needs to learn to run downhill more and break tackles. He has speed, but his main strength is his toughness.
It will be interesting to see which Jones shows up on Monday night. Perhaps he remade himself during the offseason, but there will be no way to know until he steps on the field.
Aug 26, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins defensive back Josh Norman (24) celebrates after a tackle against the Buffalo Bills during the first half at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
1. CB Josh Norman
There is no doubt that Josh Norman is one of the best cornerbacks in the league. He performed so well with the Carolina Panthers last season and really helped to carry them to a Super Bowl. Now, he will look to do the same with the Redskins and his first game will be a tough one.
Norman will be going up against Antonio Brown in the opener against the Steelers. Brown is arguably the best receiver in the NFL and the matchup between him and Norman is going to be extremely fun to watch. It will end up being a relatively equal battle, but whoever holds the advantage at the end of the night will give their team a chance to win the game.
It is also just going to be fun to see Norman on the field in a Redskins uniform. He is a big personality who brings a lot of intensity to the field. If he can get fired up during the game, then he will almost certainly have a strong performance. It may also ignite his teammates and really make the defense perform well during the game.
There is nothing more exciting than the first night of football. Except of course for seeing the biggest free agent signing of the offseason suit up for the first time.
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