ASHBURN – They wanted to evaluate players. So they started Rex Grossman again and tried to figure out how he factors into their future, what his inconsistent outing meant. And they gave some snaps to young receivers now starting to improve.
They also wanted to survive. With a makeshift defense, evaluation would have been nice, but getting through the game was more important. So they blitzed the Jaguars more, trying to cover up potential flaws, and they used corners at safety, and — somehow — they survived.
The Redskins’ 20-17 overtime win at Jacksonville gave the coaches a chance to look at many young players, mostly out of necessity thanks to injuries. The win was revealing. It’s also hard always to know what it means for the future.
“Year to year teams change so much in terms of personnel,” Redskins end Vonnie Holliday said. “We have a lot of young guys who made a statement for themselves, whether it’s with this club or another club you never know. Guys fought at a time when you could throw the towel in and load the U-Hauls up and get out of here.”
The most important evaluation, perhaps, surrounds Grossman, a pending free agent. The Redskins wanted to see whether he can play a role in their future. Sunday, he completed 19 of 39 passes for 182 yards, one touchdown and an interception in the second quarter.
“He played extremely well up until the interception,” Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said. “When he had the interception it looked like he lost a little focus and missed reads he normally would make.”
On the play, Grossman threw into the end zone a bit too late — and he was falling back slightly as he threw.
“We had a chance to get a touchdown on that play,” Shanahan said. “It was disappointing. … [But] you have to fight through that and keep your concentration.”
Defensively, the Redskins started two safeties — one of whom was replacing a backup to begin with — who are better suited for corner. Kevin Barnes, at strong, and Macho Harris, at free, both made mistakes in coverage and are undersized. But Barnes at least compensated with an overtime interception, forced by a well-timed blitz, leading to the game-winning field goal.
They also received stellar play from linebacker Rob Jackson, promoted from the practice squad last week. He finished with three tackles, a sack and a quarterback hurry.
An aggressive game plan caused Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard not always to have time to throw downfield against a weakened safety corps. The defensive coaches were forced to cover up sins — or potential ones if nothing else.
Holliday said the Jaguars were confused at times.
“I remember a couple times in the game where the center [Brad Meester] was frustrated,” Holliday said. “He’s like, ‘I don’t know just go right with it’ as opposed to knowing for sure who’s coming and who’s not.
“Sometimes we may get a little predictable when Orakpo is in there and they know who’s coming. With these young guys, they didn’t know who was coming at times.”
And with the young guys, the Redskins had a different energy.
“It brought more excitement,” Barnes said. “We’re out there trying to make the most of the moment we have.”
