Washington coach Joe Gibbs said the Redskins were a little “rough” entering their first preseason game. He wasn’t kidding.
There were moments in the opening minutes of the 19-3 loss at Cincinnati that were so promising. A 19-yard pass to Santana Moss and a 26-yarder to an outstretched Brandon Lloyd plus an eight-yard run by Clinton Portis. Looked like new offensive guru Al Saunders didn’t get Gibbs’ memo over keeping the playcalling duller than a campaign speech.
And then — whammo — Mark Brunell threw an interception and Portis separated his shoulder on the tackle. Portis could miss the preseason with an injury that at worst nags the Redskins’ best playmaker for the entire season and at best makes “Southeast Jerome” uncomfortable for weeks. Ken Harvey wasn’t the same after suffering the same injury in 1998.
So goes the preseason — one minute a diamond, the next one a stone. The starting defense was superb for its two series before reserve cornerback Ken Wright competed with backup quarterback Todd Collins for goat of the game.
Collins — has there ever been a worse debutby a veteran passer? The first pass should have been picked off by a defensive lineman and the second nearly was before ruled a safety. This is the guy who was signed because he knows the offense? I know lots about Krispy Kreme donuts, but you don’t see me hired as its CEO.
Take nothing from the preseason. Some of Gibbs’ past champions were awful in the preseason while Steve Spurrier tried to become bowl eligible before Labor Day. There were glimmers of expectations often not seen until later in the preseason, though.
» First, the defensive line is going to be outstanding. They dogged Cincinnati quarterback Anthony Wright nearly every snap. The front seven will rank among the NFL’s elite. The secondary won’t be far behind. Defense won’t be a problem this season.
» Second, if there’s a quarterback controversy for the backup job, it’s a Tammany Hall election. It’s time to move Jason Campbell to second or the trade to take him in the 2005 first-round was wasted. He’s supposed to be the heir to a soon-to-be 36-year-old Brunell.
Forget making Collins No. 2 just because he’s a veteran and knows the offense. Obviously, that means little. Collins has barely played in years — so the experience is bogus. Campbell is showing enough talent to warrant the move. Granted, he played against Cincinnati’s third-stringers, but go ahead and give Campbell the bulk the preseason work so we’ll know whether he’s promising or putrid.
» Third, the offense is as diverse as expected under Saunders. The Redskins worked the entire field in the first two series, including a bomb on second-and-seven. With so many playmakers on offense, the Redskins have the triggerman in the booth to use them.
» Fourth, tight end Mike Sellers hasn’t been forgotten. Last year’s seven touchdowns may not be a fluke after all. The Redskins went to Sellers several times.
OK, that’s about all we can really learn from one preseason game where starters played one quarter, but it was more than expected. And really, it was better than expected.
Rick Snider has covered local sports for 28 years. Contact him at [email protected].
