WASHINGTON — The Redskins coaches will probably tell you there are more than four things to watch in the preseason opener Thursday night in Cleveland, but with the help of WTOP’s friends at NBC Washington, here’s a look at four of them.
- Robert Griffin III. Can he get back to the form that made him 2012 NFL offensive rookie of the year? He will start Thursday night and is only expected to play a quarter at most. RG3 believes he is coming off his best practice of training camp.
- The offensive line. The offensive line is related to No. 1. For RG3 to have success, he needs protection. The Redskins allowed 58 sacks last season. The key to the line might be on the right side with rookie guard Brandon Scherff and second-year tackle Morgan Moses.
- New look defensive line. Nose tackle Terrence “pot roast” Knighton and defensive ends Stephen Paea and Jason Hatcher will make up the Redskins front three. Hatcher is back for a second season with the Redskins after being slowed by injuries in 2014. Knighton is a free agent from the Broncos, and at 6-foot-3, 331 pounds he is known as one of the best at stopping the run in the NFL. Paea played with the Bears last season and recorded a career high in tackles and sacks.
- The corners. There could be an opportunity here for someone to emerge with both Bashaud Breeland and David Amerson sidelined by injury and De Angelo Hall and Chris Culliver just back from groin injuries.