Pregame Primer: Preston Smith’s growth has boosted Redskins’ pass rush

As the Washington Redskins prepared for Sunday’s wild-card round game against the Green Bay Packers, the same question was asked over and over.

What will the atmosphere be like at FedEx Field for the team’s first playoff game in three years? How will the fans react to playoff football for the first time since quarterback Robert Griffin III and the Redskins took the league by storm and won seven consecutive games, only for it to end with a crushing loss to the Seattle Seahawks?

Veteran defensive back DeAngelo Hall, who has experienced his fair share of highs and lows since joining the Redskins in 2008, weighed in.

“It’s always satisfying to get the playoffs,” Hall said. “No matter what happened in the past. It’s a hell of an experience. I don’t think anybody is going to understand how electric the atmosphere is at FedEx until they run on the field and hear the fans rallying behind us and understand the passion and importance of the game.”

Then there are younger players such as Will Compton, who certainly do not know what it’s going to be like until they experience it on Sunday. That said, the second-year inside linebacker is eager to find out.

“We’re happy to be here, we’re excited,” Compton said. “My dad, my brother are coming. I’m pretty sure our fans — this is going to be the best atmosphere I’ve ever been a part of. We definitely challenged the fan to fill the seats, back the house, those white towels everywhere, make this a very hostile environment. I’m excited to see.

Those towels, Compton mentioned, will be handed out to every fan at the entrance gates, emblazoned with quarterback Kirk Cousins’ rallying “You like that?!” phrase.

What does Cousins think of that?

“I think it’s fun to give the fan base something to cheer about,” said Cousins, who was here in 2012 but will make his first playoff start. “I felt like the last couple of years they were dying to cheer for us and we just didn’t give them enough to get behind. So I love the thought of giving our fans something to get behind, something to be proud of and we take great pride in our ability on Sunday afternoon to give them something to cheer about. We’ll be very disappointed if we don’t. I expect it to be a great environment and just adding those towels and the phrase can only help galvanize our fan base and create a spirit of belief and intensity in that stadium, which is what we are looking for.”

With that, here’s a look at the logistics and three things to watch against the Packers.

Logistics

Kickoff: 4:40 p.m.

Records: Redskins 9-7, Packers 10-6

Television: Fox (Joe Buck, play-by-play; Troy Aikman, color; Erin Andrews, Chris Meyers, sidelines)

Radio: ESPN 980 (Larry Michael, Sonny Jurgensen, Chris Cooley, Doc Walker)

Weather: 50s and possible rain showers

Lines: Packers -1, over/under 46 per Bovada

Projected Starters:

Redskins offense: QB Kirk Cousins, RB Alfred Morris, WR Pierre Garcon, WR DeSean Jackson, WR Jamison Crowder, TE Jordan Reed, LT Trent Williams, LG Spencer Long, C Kory Lichtensteiger, RG Brandon Scherff, RT Morgan Moses.

Redskins defense: DE Chris Baker, NT Terrance Knighton, DE Jason Hatcher, OLB Trent Murphy, ILB Will Compton, ILB Mason Foster, OLB Ryan Kerrigan, CB Will Blackmon, CB Bashaud Breeland, SS DeAngelo Hall, FS Dashon Goldson.

Packers offense: QB Aaron Rodgers, FB John Kuhn, RB Eddie Lacy, WR James Jones, WR Randall Cobb, TE Richard Rodgers, LT David Bakhtiari, LG Josh Sitton, C Corey Linsley, RG T.J. Lang, RT Bryan Bulaga.

Packers defense: DE Mike Pennel, NT B.J. Raji, DT Mike Daniels, DE Greg Hardy, OLB Mike Neal, ILB Jake Ryan, ILB Clay Matthews, OLB Julius Peppers, CB Quinten Rollins, CB Casey Hayward, FS Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, SS Morgan Burnett.

Injury report:

Redskins: Questionable — RB Matt Jones (hip), FS Dashon Goldson (shoulder/rib), ILB Perry Riley (foot), CB Quinton Dunbar (quad); Probable — DE Jason Hatcher (neck/knee), WR DeSean Jackson (knee), SS Jeron Johnson (chest), CB Dashaun Phillips (neck), RB Chris Thompson (toe), LT Trent Williams (knee).

Packers: Doubtful — CB Sam Shields (concussion); Questionable — LT David Bakhtiari (ankle), LB Jayrone Elliott (quad), DE Datone Jones (neck), TE Justin Perillo (hamstring); Probable —LG Josh Sitton (back), RT Bryan Bulaga (ankle), DT Mike Daniels (hamstring), DT Letroy Guion (foot), RB Eddie Lacy (rib), RG T.J. Lang (neck), C Corey Linsley (ankle), LB Mike Neal (hip), LB Nick Perry (shoulder), LG Lane Taylor (knee), LB Clay Matthews (ankle), LB Andy Mulumba (knee), CB Damarious Randall (groin).

Stats:

All-time record: The Redskins are 14-19-1 against the Packers.

Last regular-season meeting: Sept. 15, 2013: 38-20 loss at FedEx Field.

Last postseason meeting: Dec. 24, 1972: 16-3 win at RFK Stadium.

Three things to watch:

** Can the Redskins pressure quarterback Aaron Rodgers? The Green Bay offensive line is still far from healthy, particularly left tackle David Bakhtiari. With Bakhtiari out the last two games with an ankle injury, Rodgers was sacked 13 times. The Green Bay quarterback has also been dropped 46 times this season, second most behind Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles. The Redskins have sacked opposing quarterbacks 14 times in the last three games — including five from rookie outside linebacker Preston Smith. While the Redskins have veteran rushers in defensive ends Jason Hatcher and Chris Baker and outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan, Smith’s recent outburst has helped bring a balanced rush, which will be key when trying to contain the Green Bay quarterback.

“I think the maturity and growth of Preston has helped the whole defense,” nose tackle Terrance Knighton said. “In this league you need two dominant pass rushers. Ryan got a lot of attention and Preston slowly came and is growing into his own. When him and Ryan and [Trent] Murphy are playing lights out, it just makes it easy for everybody.”

** Can Kirk Cousins keep the Redskins’ offense rolling? During a four-game winning streak, the Redskins have scored at least 24 points. Cousins, in that period, has completed 74 percent of his passes for 1,160 yards, 12 touchdowns and just one interception. The fourth-year quarterback’s decision-making has been exceptionally sharp lately and that will need to continue on Sunday. Of course, tight end Jordan Reed will be a factor. When Cousins and Reed are rolling, it’s hard to stop the Redskins and their complete arsenal of playmakers such as wide receivers DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon and rookie Jamison Crowder. The Redskins have been particularly strong in the first quarter and another fast start is desired on Sunday.

“I think it’s our players making great plays,” offensive coordinator Sean McVay said. “They’re doing an excellent job. It starts with Kirk being able to recognize where the ball should go when we’re throwing it, then the receivers or tight ends being able to make plays, linemen protecting when we’re able to run the football efficiently. It’s the backs reading out and everybody getting their combinations. It’s a players game and I think they’ve done an excellent job executing the plays that we’ve been running.”

** The Redskins’ patchwork secondary has held it together to this point and will need to do it again on Sunday. Rodgers doesn’t have the playmakers that he usually does, but wide receivers James Jones and Randall Cobb are still effective. One of Rodgers’ strengths is extending plays, so it will take plenty of effort from the Redskins’ defensive backs to run with the Packers’ receivers. Free safety Dashon Goldson is still banged up with rib and shoulder injuries, but expects to play through it. How he holds up is another question, along with the effectiveness of newly-signed cornerback Cary Williams. Their success will largely be tied to the production of the Redskins’ defensive front.

“I’m not going to say it’s going to come down to us, but we like to put it on our shoulders for the simple fact that we’re playing against a good quarterback that might throw the ball 40-50 times a game,” Goldson said. “With that being said, we know we’re going to have to stick with wide receivers for a long time, especially if he gets out the pocket or he extends plays. So as long as we’re on the same page with our front seven, man, doing a good job of keeping him contained, I think we like our chances.”