Preseason Game 5: Redskins (3-1) vs. Jaguars (2-1)

vs.

The last preaseason game is here, a Thursday 7pm ET game at Redskins Stadium against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and with this game a bunch of last chances. Last chance for the first team offense to play like men. Last chance for at least 22 players to make an impression, to show they are worthy of a job in the NFL. Last chance for the team to get a live fire idea if their game plan will work. The regular season looms, one week from tonight.

Traditionally starters play no more than one series in the last preseason game and that drive is usually the most vanilla plays in the book, designed not to reveal anything to the rest of the league or get anybody hurt. Not this time. After the Carolina preseason debacle last week the team is pissed at itself, some of the first team players have asked to play and coach Jim Zorn has acquiesced, the starting offense will play until coach Zorn sees something to be happy about or hell freezes over. The starting defense? Nah they won't play, they know they stunk it up and defensive coordinator Greg Blache wants that bad taste to linger as long as possible, for the defense to get mad and take that into the regular season next week.

Curly R aside: me, I'm ok with this, yes it is a risk for the team, there will be frowny faces all over town if Jason Campbell and London Fletcher sustain season ending injuries to be sure. That said, these guys are football players and football players play football. If the Redskins are going to have any success this season the team needs to get some gauge, is the early success the team had in this preseason against the Colts and Bills how the team will play against regular season competition? Or do the Redskins look more like the team that struggled in the Jets game and were simply annihilated, like kids to men by the Panthers (op. cit.)? Let them out there and let's make this really the season opener.

Meanwhile back on earth there are decisions to be made during and after this game. The roster needs to trim down at least 22 players from 75 to 53 by 30 August. Expect the cuts to start hitting your computer screen tomorrow morning. If you have been following training camp as closely as I have then you will be saying goodbye to some players that you have come to know.

Pay attention and let's talk about how this game goes. I'll be here and over at Hogs Haven. After tonight the next game counts.


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This is a gameday open thread.