One of the most notable elements of preparation that falls by the wayside in the preseason is the actual game-planning for the respective opponent each week. Teams put more emphasis on evaluating their own talent, getting players up to speed on the system they’re running and honing varied situational scenarios that could occur in a game.
Even in the third preseason game, when the starters get their extended playing time in their final tuneup for the regular season, components such as developing a rhythm throughout the practice week or enduring long drives are more prominent.
The Washington Redskins began shifting their attention for their Monday Night Football matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers toward the end of the preseason and those preparations will begin in earnest on Wednesday when the team resumes practice at Redskins Park.
“We’ve already gone over the mission statements and all the goals and all that stuff before but now that we’ve gotten to our 53-man roster, we are focusing on Pittsburgh right now and this is a one-game-at-a-time season right now,” coach Jay Gruden said Monday in his press conference at Redskins Park.
“We have to really put all of our work and all of our effort into getting better and getting ready for Pittsburgh. They are a very challenging team. They’ve been very good for a very long time and that is what it’s all about.”
Indeed, the Steelers have been dominant for quite some time. They haven’t had a losing season since 2003 when they went 6-10. Since coach Mike Tomlin succeeded Bill Cowher in 2007, the Steelers have been to the playoffs in six of the last nine seasons, won a Super Bowl in 2008 and made it to another in 2010.
The Steelers will be without running back Le’Veon Bell, who is suspended for the first three games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Still, the Steelers’ offense will be a challenge with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wide receiver Antonio Brown, who caught 136 passes for 1,834 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.
Washington’s communication on defense will have to be crisp against Pittsburgh’s no-huddle offense. The Steelers used it to great success against the New Orleans Saints in the third preseason game, especially the first two drives, in which Roethlisberger directed the offense to consecutive touchdowns.
“Well, I think a lot of teams have some form or version of no-huddle in their toolbox and Pittsburgh’s no different,” Gruden said. “We just have got to continue to work on our communication. They can do it out of a lot of different personnel groupings. We’re not sure which one they’re going to feature, but they can get you a lot of different ways. They’d use three tight ends last year, one back; they’ve used three receivers, one tight end. They can do it a lot of different ways.
“We have to definitely make sure that we get lined up and get our communication out there. Get the calls in, and [inside linebacker Will] Compton has got to make sure that he relays it … otherwise, they’ll get lined up fast and they’ll put a hurting on you. I feel good about the way we worked in training camp and OTAs. We worked a lot of no-huddle situations, so communication shouldn’t be an issue.”
Redskins name team captains
The Redskins announced their team captains for the 2016 season, as voted by the players. Quarterback Kirk Cousins and left tackle Trent Williams lead the offense, safety DeAngelo Hall and inside linebacker Will Compton the defense, and tight end Niles Paul for special teams.
Williams, entering his seventh season with the Redskins, is a valuable leader on the team and has been a captain since he was voted co-captain in 2011, his second season, along with former wide receiver Santana Moss. It’s hardly a surprise Cousins is a captain after his breakout season in 2015 when he was named the starting quarterback. Always praised for his influential leadership skills, Cousins was a three-year captain at Michigan State, becoming only the second to do so in school history.
Hall, entering his 13th season, has served as a captain in the past and returns to the role after former free safety Dashon Goldson held the position last season. Compton joins Hall after earning the starting “mike” inside linebacker midseason. Compton began as an undrafted free agent and practice squad player in 2013 and has since grown to become a dependable voice on the Redskins defense.
Paul is entering his sixth season with the Redskins and returns after missing the 2015 season with a broken left ankle. The versatile tight end is also a standout on special teams.
• Anthony Gulizia can be reached at agulizia@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.