This is a big week. Week 3 of preseason is widely considered the “dress rehersal” of the regular season and the Redskins certainly have a lot to work on. Here are some things to watch for:

Josh Norman:

Josh Norman was smoked last year by the Bengals all-pro WR AJ Green to the tune of 121 yards on 9 receptions. Yet, Norman did jump two of his routes dropping two easy interceptions in that game. I don’t expect the Bengals to pick on Norman like he did last year but it will certainly be Normans biggest test of the preseason.

DJ Swearinger:

Keep an eye out for #36.  Tyler Eifert went for 102 yards and a TD on 9 receptions and Dalton went for 27/42 for 284 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT last year. If Swearinger is as good as advertised, he will have his biggest test today against these two.

Run Pro:

The redskins running game has been poor this preseason.  However, the Bengals finished 21st against the run last year and have lost a few pieces along that front. I wrote last week about the missed assignments the redskins had.  All I would like to see this week is the line giving Robert Kelley a chance to make plays. So far, he’s been hit in the backfield more often than not. If the Redskins can get a hat on a hat, there should be some lanes to run through. Also, I wouldn’t be surprised if Perine got a few carries on the first team.

Gruden’s Play Calling:

This may be wishful thinking, but let’s see the Redskins open up the playbook a bit. The offense has struggled and it may be by design. Gruden has kept it very vanilla. There have been lots of hopeless runs and screens to Ryan Grant. So far, the biggest plays have all come from the same ‘wheel’ route up the sideline by either a running back or a tight end. Would it be too much to ask for a backside post or a fly route? Let’s see Pryor go up after one like we’ve seen in practice. I wouldn’t be surprised if Gruden dials it up on the first drive just to give the fans some hope. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if he ran the ball three times and punted either.

Josh Doctson:

Following the play calling, let’s see a little more of #18. The Redskins could be very well be hiding him from other teams in the same way they’re hiding their creative plays. Every report out of camp is how impressive/ athletic he is. He is still nursing a hamstring and I’m sure Gruden wants to keep him healthy, but he desperately still needs game action. If the Redskins make it in the red zone, look for a few shots to #18.

Who will start at OLB?

So far, Preston Smith continues to be the starter on the depth chart. Smith looked good last week, pushing the pocket and getting a sack. He will get plenty of playing time this week since rookie Ryan Anderson is nursing a shoulder stinger and Trent Murphy is now out for the season. Junior Galette has a prime opportunity this week to unseat him but he is still nursing a hamstring injury.  If Galette is a go, look for #58 to rotate in with Smith early and often. If not, Chris Carter may end up playing the whole game.

The New Starting ILBs:

It was made apparent this week that Zack Brown and Mason Foster will be starting this week at inside linebacker leaving the captain Tom Compton as a sub in. Brown has been as good as advertised and is a lock for the starting job week 1. Foster, not so much. I will agree that Foster has played better than Compton but Compton is a vocal leader who calls the plays and audibles. That job is now Foster’s. It will be interesting to see how Foster reacts to the Bengals audibles. Also, don’t count out Martrell Spaight. He made some plays last week against the second unit and may be the best run stuffing MLB on the team.