If you grew up playing football at all, or any sport for that matter, then you know what a practice player is. For those who don’t know, a practice player is someone who stands out when the reps don’t matter, doing everything they can to show out and show off, making life hard on the opposing side when everything is relatively scripted.
Well, after Day 3 of training camp, it appears that there are a number of practice players on the defense in Washington, only they are assuredly going to be just as dominant once the reps start mattering in the regular season.
It was another stellar day for the defense in Washington, with them routinely dominating the first-team offense —though it was admittedly not filled out with starters at every spot — and forcing quarterbacks Dwayne Haskins and Kyle Allen into a pretty tough day. Here are some of the main reports from media members who were watching:
Tough day for the “first” O. I put it in quotes because a third aren’t starters. But still. Not the best day.
— John Keim (@john_keim) August 20, 2020
The pass rush has gotten to quarterbacks today. Plays have had to stop for both Haskins and Allen because of it, and each time, DBs coach Chris Harris can be heard in the background saying “Not today! Not today!”
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) August 20, 2020
Dwayne Haskins on a designed run, didn’t get too far, Shaun Dion Hamilton broke the play down and was in the back field before anything could get started. Final play for the ones, Landon Collins comes on a blitz *bumps* Haskins for the sack.
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) August 20, 2020
This raises an interesting question in Washington, though, as to what happens when you put an average-to-below-average offense up against one of the best defenses in the league routinely in practice? Is that productive for the offense since they will be facing some of the better players that they’ll see all season? Or is it actually detrimental, because their plays are constantly being foiled, and there is little chance to progress and get better?
It is a dilemma that Washington will have to figure out pretty soon, because it’s clear that there is some major separation between the two units, and the defense is looking unstoppable in practice so far.
