Marky Watch

August 28, 2019

by Eric Hill

Three weeks of the Redskins preseason are in the books and we’re getting down to crunch time for our The Marcus Mason/Marko Mitchell Pre-Season Superstar Who The Team Will Rue The Day They Let Go Award hopefuls.

For Marky hopefuls, week four of the preseason is like the Super Bowl, the Oscars and a Popeye’s chicken sandwich all rolled in to one. It’s the big time—the Catalina Wine Mixer, if you will. It’s their last chance to shine on the big stage before the Turk starts leaving red tags on lockers (Major League is my only source for how professional cuts work and that’s fine by me).

Every player on the bubble is in the same boat – they all need to impress – but winning a Marky would be a wonderful consolation prize for a player to show off at his St Louis Battle Hawks tryout.  (Side note: Battle Hawks?  Seriously? That’s like the screen name of a 40-year-old gamer whose life highlight reel includes washing out of Coast Guard basic training and putting a Grand National badge on his Cutlass Sierra.  It’s impossible to even say “Battle Hawks” without getting a whiff of Drakkar and Kodiak. Try it.)

To recap, the Marky criteria is as follows: The player must make an impact in the preseason, the player must be cut, practice squad members are eligible, and, a player is still eligible if he has been on the active roster in previous years, as long as he has underachieved thus far. We good? Good.  Let’s get to the candidates:

Ryan Bee
This is my guy. He checks all the boxes: Crazy motor, always around the ball, impact plays in the second half of preseason games, and vying for a job in a position group that is too loaded to keep him. My Marky bit is meant to be tongue in cheek but I’m kind of buying in on Bee. I might be kind of pissed if he doesn’t make the team.  I’m supposed to keep emotion out of this but, dang it, I really like this dude. I’m an official member of the BeeHive.
Marky Odds: 4-1

Jeremy Reeves
Reeves shouldn’t be this high. He has shown range and tackling ability this preseason and has done well in coverage. I believe he has played well enough to earn a roster spot. Unfortunately, he may fall victim to the coach’s infatuation with Troy Apke and end up cut or on the practice squad. Add to that the picture and accompanying story of him hanging out with the disabled kid at training camp (which is awesome) and he is a formidable candidate for a Marky.
Marky Odds: 5-1

Darvin Kidsy
Kidsy has a nice rapport with Dwayne Haskins and has made some plays this preseason.  He’s also an underdog to make the roster, which keeps him on the list, but he didn’t make much of an impact in week three and, for some reason the buzz just isn’t there with him. Week four will be huge for Kidsy.
Marky Odds: 10-1

Stephen Sims, Jr
Sims has gotten some run as a punt returner and with even made an appearance with the big boys in the first half against Atlanta. He has a nice support base on Twitter, which is a bonus.  Holding him back is a solid chance at making the roster.
Marky Odds: 12-1

BJ Blunt
Blunt was all over the field in the second half against the Falcons. His speed and instincts were on full display.  That game likely pushed him up the depth chart, but down the Marky board.
Marky Odds: 18-1

Josh Doctson
Doctson shot up the board this week as news leaked that the team has been actively trying to trade him for two years. Doctson has been an average at best player in his time here as a first-round pick and most won’t miss him if he is released. However, there will be a small but loud contingent of fans who will insist he was never used correctly and will be an All Pro on his next team.  Those people are idiots.
Marky Odds: 30-1

Other players of note include Robert Davis, Cassanova McKinzy and Cam Sims, but I didn’t include them this week because they have all but locked up their roster spots.

So there you have it: Your Marky front runners.  Did I miss anyone? Let me know in the comments and get’cha popcorn ready for week four!