Why Dwayne Haskins and Robert Davis pre-season performances will force tough cuts soon
Washington falls to 0-2 in the pre-season following their 23-13 defeat at the hands of the Cincinnati Bengals. No big deal given the nature of the games. It is only pre-season, individual performances matter. For two consecutive weeks Robert Davis has gotten behind the defense and scored touchdowns, his first two touchdowns as an NFL player. Davis, who is coming off a severe knee injury, has flashed well enough to threaten a couple of wide receivers on the bubble for this team. Then there is Dwayne Haskins, who showed several improvements from his performance last week. With an injury to quarterback Colt McCoy keeping him out of games, that might allow head coach Jay Gruden to make an unexpected roster move at that position.
The Redskins are backed-up at the receiver position, so there will have to be some tough decisions made here. There are a couple of players who do not have to worry about their roster spot, such as Terry McLaurin, Paul Richardson, Josh Doctson, and Trey Quinn. However, anyone behind them is in some dog fights now. For two weeks in a row, Davis has shown his speed as a deep threat, getting behind the defense on multiple occasions. Against the Cleveland Browns, it was not a completion, but it did result in a defensive pass interference. This week, he and Haskins connected for a beautiful 55-yard touchdown.
With Davis returning to form and making great impressions on the fans and coaches, where does that leave the rest of the depth chart? Receivers Jehu Chesson and Brian Quick are key special team players for Washington, but how important are they to the team if Cam Sims can provide even more versatility by being a capable backup at receiver while primarily playing special teams? Although I do not see Washington cutting Chesson as of yet, both receivers may seriously be on the bubble if Washington can find production elsewhere. The key with all this is that nobody at the position has drastically stood out. With that being said, what can anyone expect of Terry McLaurin yet? He played one snap versus the Cleveland Browns and was inactive against the Bengals. What is to be made of the training camp star? That is a mystery; however, if Terry does see the field in the pre-season and his performance is as good as it was in training camp, there may be a serious conversation taking place to find a trade partner for Josh Doctson before the season starts.
As of now, the Redskins receiver position looks like the following:
- Paul Richardson, Terry McLaurin, Kelvin Harmon, Jehu Chesson
- Josh Doctson, Cam Sims, Robert Davis,
- Trey Quinn, Terry McLaurin, Cam Sims
On to the quarterback position. Dwayne Haskins’ overall performance was hit and miss; however, the highlight of the night was what made Haskins the Redskins first-round pick this year. Haskins showed growth from the previous week, being able to successfully identify the blitzing cornerback on a dropback that resulted in a 55-yard touchdown pass. Haskins was also able to effectively recognize coverages and delivered the football with confidence and within the timing of the play. Again, his performance was not perfect, but many saw the flashes that will ultimately make him the Redskins starting quarterback. With Haskins’ stock rising, it raises a legitimate question about the other two quarterbacks. What are the Redskins going to do with either Case Keenum or Colt McCoy? Case Keenum looked efficient in his performance against Cincinnati. His grasp of the offense is coming along well, and he showed his veteran skillset as well; meaning, his wherewithal to dead a play when it makes sense and saving his team from losing key field position. In instances where Haskins got in trouble, he took some avoidable sacks that hurt offensive possessions.
For Colt McCoy, not being ready to play nearly ten months after his leg injury does not help his chances of starting. However, if Haskins’ growth forces the coaches to cut a quarterback, does Jay Gruden stick with the quarterback who thoroughly knows his offense? Alternatively, will he stick with Case Keenum, who is continuing to grow in his offense? It is evident to many that Keenum’s and Haskins’ performances have made this seem to be a two-man competition. The issue here is that nobody can underestimate Gruden’s loyalty to Colt McCoy, which means Keenum is not safe. The Redskins may very well trade Case before the season starts.