Three Things to Watch in Redskins-Colts Preseason Game

Preseason football games generally mean very little. The goal is to spare your superstars from injury while evaluating new talent in a simulated game where the score is kept for no apparent reason. Wins and losses are irrelevant, and fans are treated to third and fourth quarters filled with sloppy football played by guys who have little or no chance to make the team's final roster … unless of course, one of the teams in question is the Washington Redskins.

With a 10-22 record during the past two seasons, many new projected starters on offense and defense, and a coaching staff in its second year of installing new schemes, normally meaningless preseason snaps count, providing fans with regular season drama and storylines. Fans and sports writers have been doing their best to discern the team's strengths during practices at in Ashburn. Tonight's game against the Indianapolis Colts is particularly intriguing, and here are three storylines to watch.

The Beginning of the John Beck Era?

The Redskins brewing quarterback battle borders on the surreal. Journeyman interception machine Rex Grossman played well last week against the Steelers (19 of 26, 207 yards, one touchdown, zero interceptions), but for at least one night, he will hand the starting quarterback job over to the largely unknown and unheralded John Beck.

Entering his fifth NFL season, Beck has proven his abilities as an NFL quarterback to his mom and Redskins coaches Mike and Kyle Shanahan. After a stellar college career at BYU, Beck started five games as a rookie on a terrible Miami Dolphins team, losing them all. Since then, Beck has not played a snap of meaningful regular season football. He has languished on depth charts behind quarterback pariahs such as Cleo Lemon, Josh McCown, and Troy Smith. The team that drafted him in the second round released him and he spent an unremarkable year with the Baltimore Ravens, yet somehow became the apple of the Shanahans’ eyes. They traded to bring him to Washington and offered the then third-string quarterback a contract extension.

Tonight's preseason game is the most important of Beck's career. Will he reward the confidence of the Shanahans, or add Rex Grossman to the list of unimpressive NFL quarterbacks he's been unable to usurp?

A vastly improved defense 

The Redskins transition into Jim Haslett's 3-4 defense was an unmitigated disaster last season. Players more accustomed to the team's previous 4-3 scheme often appeared out of position and even confused as the team plummeted to the bottom of the NFL's defensive rankings.

To the Redskins’ credit, significant personnel changes were made during the offseason, especially along the defensive line, and the impacts were evident during last week's game against the Steelers. Free agent additions Barry Cofield, Stephen Bowen, and rookie Jarvis Jenkins made their presence felt in the Steelers backfield, and largely controlled the line of scrimmage. Rookie linebacker Ryan Kerrigan flashed the athleticism that helped him claim the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year last season. Although newly signed cornerback Josh Wilson had his ups and downs last week, his playmaking ability should prove to be a welcome change from the now departed Carlos Rogers, who took his hands of stone to San Francisco.

With OJ Atogwe set to return from injury tonight and LaRon Landry on course to return to the field later this preseason, the Redskins defense might prove to be one of the biggest surprises in the NFL this year.

Walking wounded

While the Redskins have not suffered any catastrophic injuries during the preseason, several players are dealing with lingering, and potentially serious, health concerns that continue to limit their playing time. Impact players Chris Cooley (knee), LaRon Landry (achilles), OJ Atogwe (hamstring) and Brandon Banks (knee) have all missed significant practice and playing time so far.

Banks was the only player of the four to see action against the Steelers last week, racking up a 58-yard kickoff return and a 19-yard punt return. However, Banks' knee reportedly flared up after the game and he is not expected to play this week. In fact, Atogwe is the only one of this group expected to see game action against the Colts. Watch tonight as tight end Fred Davis, safety Reed Doughty and return specialist Terrence Austin try to show coaches they are capable replacements while the anticipated starters continue to heal.

Game time:  7:00 p.m. EST, Lucas Oil Stadium