Skins Show-Outs against the Bengals
By
Woleola Akinso
In their second preseason game, the Washington Redskins lost to the Cincinnati Bengals 23-13. This game was surrounded by drop passes, penalties, and suspect officiating. It wasn’t the most appealing brand of football but that’s preseason for you. However, if you’re a Skins fan, there were some bright spots in the game.
The Redskins’ first team defense looked aggressive. The front seven was providing push against the Bengals offensive line, especially “The Alabama Wall,” Da’Ron Payne and Jonathan Allen. During the first drive of the game, the Alabama Wall helped get Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton out of his confront zone in the pocket. Payne assisted in arguably the biggest play of the night. Early into the first quarter, while the Bengals were aiming to score, Payne tipped a pass attempt by Dalton, which landed in the arms of free safety Montae Nicholson for a 96-yard pick-six. Payne couldn’t get pressure on Dalton but still had the awareness to get his hands up to tip the pass. That’s an act of unwillingness to quit on a play.
On the other side of it, the interception was big for Nicholson’s confidence. Prior to the season, there was a lot of talk about who would play free safety alongside new strong safety Landon Collins—formerly with the New York Giants. In his first action of the preseason, Nicholson showed Redskins nation what time it is. The 3rd year safety displayed playmaking ability by catching the ball and take that interception to the house (endzone). After the game, Nicholson said, once he saw the ball being tipped, it was “see ball, get ball and once [he] got it in [his] hands, run and score.” The young safety looked like the DC comic superhero, The Flash, bursting down the sideline. The Redskins have added speed to their defense with drafting edge rusher Montez Sweat (26th pick overall out of Michigan State), signing and starting seven-year pro inside linebacker Jon Bostic, and starting second-year inside linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton. All these players, including the return of Nicholson, should make the defense extremely dangerous.
Speaking of dangerous, on the offensive side of the ball, third-year wide receiver Robert Davis Jr. has been electric. In the second quarter, Davis caught a 55-yard bomb from rookie first-rounder quarterback Dwayne Haskins for a touchdown. In the previous game against the Cleveland Browns, Davis caught a 46-yard touchdown pass. Davis is learning how to overcome and thrive. Last year in training camp, he tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), lateral collateral ligament (LCL), and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). It’s truly a testament to Davis’ hard work; just to see him run by cornerbacks and safeties. Davis continues to show out. Within the last two preseason games, Davis has been the team’s best playmaking receiver. He has two touchdowns with 101 receiving yards. The 6’3 210 receiver is remaining humble. He knows that he hasn’t reached his peak yet. He said after the game that “[he] hasn’t played football in a whole year. So [he] still [has] some stuff that [he is] working on. And [he] feels that [he] is gaining confidence every week.” If Davis continues to put out this work, then he will be playing on Sunday’s for years to come.
An example of hard work is a future hall of fame running back Adrian Peterson. Last season, he proved the naysayers wrong by rushing for 1,042 yards (averaged 4.2 yards per carry). The 34-year-old continues to let the world know, to quote Outkast’s Andre 3000, “that age ain’t nothing but a number.” Peterson rushed for 31 yards and averaged 7.8 yards per carry against the Bengals—including a 26-yard run in the first quarter. Peterson showed the ability to cut back and the speed to hit the outside on that 26-yard run. Peterson looks to be the primary back for the Redskins over last year’s second-round pick Derrius Guice. Guice, who tore his ACL last season, still hasn’t been cleared for full contact. When Guice is cleared, he better show-out because AP isn’t trying to slow down anytime soon.
The Redskins have the Atlanta Falcons up next. It’s the third preseason game—better known as the dress rehearsal game. Who else will show-out? Will youngsters like Nicholson and Davis continue their fine play? We’ll see Thursday, August 22 at 7:30 pm ET in Atlanta, Georgia
