Keys to the game 1 How the line fares » Washington’s offensive line played better in the opener and was helped at times by quick throws by the quarterback. What line isn’t? But the Redskins were hurt by the lack of such passes at times in the past. The Colts’ defensive line presents different problems than the Steelers, in part because it’s a four-man front, but it’s a smaller and faster group. It’s a good test to see how the Redskins can open cutback lanes.
2 Rookie improvement » Linebacker Ryan Kerrigan and defensive end Jarvis Jenkins, expected to make immediate contributions, both had inconsistent debuts. Kerrigan needs to rush lower and at a better angle and pay attention to when he tries to turn the corner. He was too circular in the preseason opener. Jenkins’ flaw is being too upright, especially when he’s playing the run. Also, wide receiver Leonard Hankerson caught the ball better in practice. Will that carry over to Friday?
3 Backup duty » With a number of starters sidelined with injuries, the Redskins will learn more about some of their backups. Kevin Barnes and Byron Westbrook will get more opportunities at cornerback, while Chris Horton will get more chances to prove himself at safety. He needs to play better. Mike Sellers should get more action at tight end with Chris Cooley sidelined. And Fred Davis will have a chance for big plays as the primary tight end.
| Up next | ||||
| Redskins at Colts | ||||
| When » | Friday, 7 p.m. | |||
| Where » | Lucas Oil Stadium, | Indianapolis | ||
| TV » | NBC, CSN | |||
Players to watch
1 Quarterback John Beck » Finally, a chance to see why Mike Shanahan is so high on him. Beck has been inconsistent in practice but moves well and grasps the offense. Beck must make quick decisions, something he didn’t always do in the past.
2 Wide receiver Terrence Austin » He’s filling in for injured Brandon Banks on returns. Austin is having a solid camp, catching everything as a receiver. But he’s not about to crack the top four in the rotation, so he must excel on special teams.
3 Safety DeJon Gomes » He made plays as a strong safety vs. Pittsburgh and looked good at times during practice, at least playing near the line of scrimmage. He has a lot to learn about coverages, but he’s physical and tough. That’s a good start.
4 Linebacker Keyaron Fox » He played well in a backup role last week but could get the start with London Fletcher out Friday. Fox understands this defense, having played in the same system with Pittsburgh. He was decisive in his movements, but he faced backups.
5 Running back Tim Hightower » If he plays another solid game, can he start to separate himself from Ryan Torain? Hightower was aggressive and physical. He pass blocks well. He makes decisive cuts, a must in this system. But has he cured his fumbling issues?
State of the teams
Redskins
The Redskins felt good after their preseason opener, as if they started to establish something. But they need to finish drives better, a problem they had in 2010 as well. With nagging injuries mounting, the Redskins need to develop their backups.
Colts
Indianapolis is missing Peyton Manning, so it’ll be hard to get an accurate read on the Redskins’ defense. The Colts have tweaked their offensive line this week, inserting first-round pick Anthony Castonzo as the No. 1 left tackle.
The last word
There’s more to this game than determining a quarterback, but that remains the biggest issue. John Beck’s performance will be the No. 1 topic before, during and after the game. Yes, he’s the front-runner, but he must prove he can lead a team.
