Redskins Thumbs Up andThumbs Down
Each year for the last 5 years, we do a Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down after each game. We will do it for pre-season as well. We pick the two players most deserving for each because of something they did or some special play ability. This is not the Player of the Game, this is a recognition for play making or effort. This one is different. Instead of us doing it, our Forum Moderator and Member ISF provides you his Thumbs up and Thumbs down for pre-season week one. WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, HERE YOU GO . . .
Yes, granted it was the first preseason game of the year and there is only so much you can take from it, but what a start for the new regime. There were many more candidates for the ups and downs, so here is my take:
Thumbs Up:
Trent Williams. I have to say I was really impressed with TW. He was aggressive on pass blocking and most of Portis' yards came when running to the left side behind him and Dockery. I can't remember him getting beat once on pass blocking and showed great, great footwork. It's easy to see why they chose him over Okung for the zone scheme. 
Ryan Torain. Ran with purpose and showed great acceleration after making the cut. Good hands out of the backfield and generally finished off his runs in a positive manner. And he held on to the ball, something it appears his main competition in Keiland Williams will have to work on. 
Honorable Mention: Graham Gano. Every single one of his KO's were either at the goal line or in the endzone. That's a big time leg considering he had to KO 7 times last night. Great strength and endurance.
Thumbs Down:
I am going to take some heat for this, but I will say Rex Grossman. He had 3 passes that should have been intercepted with better quality corners and 2 of them were certain pick 6 if they caught them. If that ball to Davis was a yard more to the inside, that was a 99 yarder the other way. The 3 step hitch to the right side was a flat drop by the CB, another pick 6. This is the danger with Grossman, very high risk, high reward and last night he was lucky. He will have to exercise better judgment if he should have to play in the regular season.
Coverage Units: OK, these squads last night were generally a hodge podge unit and it's hard to tell how many will actually be there week 1, but we gave up too many yards on both punt and KO returns. The KO coverage was even more alarming considering all the KO's by Gano were at the goal line or in the endzone! Danny Smith will have his work cut out for him in the remaining 3 weeks to put together a cohesive unit for the opener.
