Who is in the spotlight against the New York Jets tonight?

The Redskins head into week two with light turnover from the previous week. Rookie Derruis Guice andsecond-year wide receiver Robert Davis are both on injured reserve, and veteran cornerback Orlando Scandrick was released. These are three different position groups that all had their respective battles within the unit.

With Guice out of the picture, the running backs have returned to a committee approach, “Everybody eats.” With Guice out of the picture players like Robert Kelley, Samaje Perine, and Kapri Bibbs have to work to outshine one another in the coach’s eyes to earn a spot on the final 53-man roster. Martez Carter may see more action with the need to find talent and make sure the best four, maybe five, running backs are kept on the team. If Bryon Marshall continues to perform well as a runner and in the passing game, he may have earned a significant role with Washington when September rolls around.
At the receiver position, the injury to Davis narrows down the battle for the fifth and sixth spot on the depth chart. Maurice Harris (who may have earned his spot already), Brian Quick, Trey Quinn, and Cam Sims are all fighting for the bottom three spots on the depth chart at the wide receiver position. Harris and Sims both had impressive outings in week one, but how they follow up that performance is just as critical. It is the consistency that matters when evaluating these players. In addition to consistency, how do players like Quinn and Quick perform with the pressure to produce?

Lastly, head coach Jay Gruden said that Scandrick’s release was more about the play of their younger players than it was him underperforming. Whether that statement he made was accurate or not, the bottom line is the younger players he praised are now in the spotlight. Will Fabian Moreau, Quinton Dunbar, Danny Johnson, and Greg Stroman all be able to prove Gruden right in the long-run? Tonight will be the start of determining if the Redskins coaches made the right decision to put all their faith in the younger guys. However, it is important to note that these guys practice performances, for the most part, have backed up Jay’s sentiments.

 

Who’s in the spotlight for you against the New York Jets?