Redskins vs. Bills: Some Observations

Well, the anticipated debut of the 2010 model of the Washington Redskins has come and gone. A whole offseason of guesswork and speculation can now be replaced by some good old-fashioned film breakdown. And there’s a whole week in which to do the analysis.

So how did the Redskins look in their preseason opener?

Well, if the final score is any clue, not too shabby. Under the lights of FedEx Field on Friday, they cruised to a 42-17 victory over the hapless Buffalo Bills. For the most part, it looked pretty effortless. In noticeable contrast to last year’s 23-0 head-scratcher of a debut against the Ravens, these Redskins actually looked like they knew how to play football. And after suffering through the eyesore that was the 2009 season, that’s something that should give the Washington fan base some hope for the coming year.

Here’s what I took away from Friday’s contest:

• Donovan McNabb is picking up right where he left off with the Eagles. The Skins new QB threw 8 passes and completed 5 of them for 58 yards. With the Bills pass rush in his face, he tossed a dart from off of his back foot to Anthony Armstrong for a TD, and he even showed that he can still make plays with his legs by rushing for a key first down. In general, he looked poised and made some sharp throws. He also has developed a great chemistry already with tight end Chris Cooley. Keep an eye on that tandem this year. It could be big.
• For one game at least, the starting offensive line was solid. They yielded zero sacks. In fact, McNabb had pretty good protection from this group for both of the Redskins’ first two offensive series. Rookie Trent Williams showed good strength and footwork and he won most of his matchups at left tackle (although his penalty for not lining up correctly was pretty embarrassing). Also impressive was oft-maligned veteran Stephon Heyer, starting in place of the injured Jamaal Brown. He kept the right side pressure-free during his pretty much his whole time on the field. An encouraging sign from one of the worst offensive lines in the league during the past two seasons.
• The Redskins finally have an interesting prospect in the return game. Brandon Banks’ evening didn’t have a great start. He bobbled one of his first kick returns. But he more than made up for that mistake by returning a ball 77 yards for a score. What’s more impressive is that the return was all speed. Banks didn’t so much sidestep tacklers as he did run around everyone and into the endzone. Good first impression to make when you’re fighting for a roster spot. And while he may not be able to make the roster without showing some receiving talent, that return TD will certainly make the coaches think twice about Brandon Banks.
• Haslett’s new 3-4 defense could be just what the doctor ordered. The defensive starters held the Bills to a measly 3 points during their time on the field. And except for a pair of long TD runs during junk time, the backups played solidly as well. DeAngelo Hall and Justin Tryon each made impressive interceptions. Hall read Bill’s QB Trent Edwards perfectly and jumped the receiver’s route to snatch the pick, while Tryon made a heads-up play on a tipped ball late in the game. That’s hopefully a sign of more turnovers to come. In a side note, this 3-4 scheme just might have recharged this defensive group. Case in point: at some point in the 4^th quarter, the Redskins defense lined up no less than seven players (possibly eight) to rush the QB. That kind of “big risk, big win” attitude hasn’t been seen in D.C. for a long time. About time it came back.
• The backfield is getting pretty crowded. While de-facto starterClintonPortis wasn’t terrible in his limited play, Ryan Torain and Keiland Williams stole the show with their rushing performances. Torain gained 62 yards on 17 carries and also hauled in a pass for a 22 yard gain, while Williams gained 51 yards on 11 carries and found the endzone twice. Both showed good vision and ability to find running lanes and each made good plays. One of them will make the team, guaranteed. Unfortunately, that means that there might not be a spot for Larry Johnson or Willie Parker.

All in all, the game was probably the best preseason debut that any fan could have asked for. Progress was made in virtually all the areas where the team struggled last year. There were defensive turnovers, first quarter points scored, and the makings of an actual return game. Like I said, improvement all around. And even if it is the preseason opener against the Bills, it still has to feel great to score 42 points. (Fun Fact: that’s the most points the Skins have scored in a preseason game since Oakland in 1988. Wow.)

So, take heart, Redskins Nation. It looks like this team might have a bright future on its horizon.