So preseason game #1 is tonight. Exciting as we will get our first opportunity to look at the team playing against another team. Practice and camp is one thing but while it is only preseason, there is always extra intensity when you get a chance to hit another team. Speed should quicken tonight too.
Players/things to watch tonight include:
1. O line (particularly RT) to see how they are progressing and see if they give JC time against a very good defense.
2. JC - everyone will want to see if he has made progress in learning the offense and becoming a leader. A good opening drive especially leading to a Red Zone TD will be ideal.
3. Orakpo - will be good to see how the rookie responds to life in the NFL as a LB.
4. Kelly/Thomas - as mentioned in other posts, these guys need to step up and take a firm hold of the #2 WR spot.
5. Colt Brennan - everyone is enamored by this guy and will be interesting to see if he continues his solid preseason play.
Looking forward to the game. Can't get too excited because it is just the first preseason game and things will be kept fairly vanilla but I'm sure everyone wants/expects to have success tonight.
HAIL TO THE REDSKINS!!!
6 comments:
Here is my prediction - the Ravens get 7 sacks in the game. JC will be harassed and Joe Sixpack fans will be looking at Colt to fix all the problems.
I think JC is going to be on an unusually short leash with the fans this year.
Went to training camp and JC had a lot of support. I think his play will determine the fans reaction. If he plays poorly because of his decisions, he will hear it. Sure there will be those fans that get on him even if his WRs and O line don't produce but I think most fans and analysts at this point understand the issues at O line and WR.
If JC gets harassed in his 1 to 2 drives, I'll be concerned. I expect the backup O-line to give up 7 sacks, so I won't be surprised if Colt and Chase spend much of the game on the turf.
I want to see JC look deep down field. He apparently went 8-12 in the scrimmage last week in one drive. Seems to me he's still looking to dump the ball off than take chances downfield.
Orakpo is going to be a monster. He seems to be a smarter, more disciplined version of Lavar. I'm glad we got him.
Kelly/Thomas - big questions there. If one of them steps up, the offense will be much more dynamic.
JC has said that they plan on going down field more often this year. Fans need to understand though that when the QB doesn't have time and there is only one legitimate downfield threat that most teams are aware of and will key on, it's pretty hard to get the ball downfield.
Still, JC should trust himself, his WRs, and offense more in taking a few shots downfield and I expect that to happen this year. Another reason that we need Thomas or Kelly to step up. They have the speed and size to make plays one v. one and one v. two.
The Post ran a story last week that Zorn had to let the first team O go up against the second and third team D just to allow JC to have time to throw the ball and build some rhythm. We'll see if that is true tonight.
I like JC, but I don't think the fans will be patient and I certainly don't think they will accept that the O-line stinks as an excuse for JC's play.
Again, I think the majority of fans know the issues we have with the O line. I think there has been enough coverage of that leading up to the season.
I remember the Pittsburgh game last year and nearly every play it was like an all out blitz on JC and he barely had time to get the ball from the center before he was ransacked. Fans booed but those weren't directed towards JC. If the O line plays like that, the same thing will happen. There will be plenty of boos but it won't be directed at JC and the media will certainly blame the O line.
There will always be those that want JC to pull out miracles but if the O line plays poorly, they will get the brunt of the blame.
Still, I trust the O line will be solid enough this year to do the job. We can't forget that we had one of the top rushing teams last year. The O line deserves some credit for that so it's not like we have chop liver.
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