They consoled themselves with bits of positives, starting with the obvious: it was only the preseason opener. They patted the rookie left tackle on the back, for not getting dominated by a top defensive end. They blamed other problems on communication and a simple tripping.
But the Redskins also confronted the other obvious conclusion from Saturday’s 14-6 preseason win over Tennessee: their offensive line struggled, starting with the novice left guard and the veteran right side. The line, considered the strength of the offense entering camp, allowed five sacks; two of them resulted in fumbles in the first half.
“We got a little reality check,” line coach Joe Bugel said.
And now the Todd Wade at guard experiment could take a new twist.
Coach Joe Bugel said Wade will continue to work at left guard. But he also said Mike Pucillo would start at left guard Saturday – if Wade, who missed practice Monday with a sore shoulder can’t play.
Wade said he would return to practice today.
“He deserves every chance,” Bugel said of Wade. “He needs a lot of work. If he’s going to learn, he’s got to learn on game day.”
The normally effusive Bugel said Wade played “just OK” vs. Tennessee, and tackle Albert Haynesworth. Though there’s skepticism around the NFL that Wade will make the adjustment to tackle, Bugel said, “If he can’t play in there, I’ll tell him he can’t play and he’ll go back to tackle.”
Wade wasn’t pleased with his performance.
“It was average or below average,” Wade said. “My technique was sloppy and I wasn’t playing with the leverage I wanted to play with.”
Regardless, Bugel said he wants to see Pucillo at left guard.
Meanwhile, rookie left tackle Stephon Heyer missed part of practice with a left hamstring injury and was replaced by a rotation of Taylor Whitley and Jason Fabini in the nine-on-nine and full-team drills. But Heyer, who faced Titans end Kyle Vanden Bosch a couple times, will continue to start at left tackle.
“That kid has a chance to be a good football player,” Bugel said.
The right side had its problems, too. Bugel said Jon Jansen tripped on guard Randy Thomas’ foot while trying to pick up a stunt that resulted in a sack and fumble. The two have played together for five years.
“You don’t want to play the Super Bowl in your first game,” Jansen said. “We’ve got some technique things to solve, and we’ll be OK.
“That wasn’t one of our ups, but it wasn’t one of our downs, either.”
