The Washington Redskins hit the road for the third time in four weeks on Sunday, as the team travels to Florida to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 4. Kickoff from Raymond James Stadium is set for 4:25 p.m. ET.
The Redskins are in the midst of one of the team’s most prolific offensive stretches in recent franchise history. The team has scored 99 points in the last three games, the team’s best three-game scoring output since the final three games of the 2005 season, when the team scored 101 points. Even the defense is contributing to the offense, scoring defensive touchdowns in consecutive games for the first time since accomplishing the feat twice in 1994.
The game will feature a matchup of the NFL’s two active ironmen. Dating back to 1998, Redskins linebacker London Fletcher and Buccaneers defensive back Ronde Barber have each appeared in 227 consecutive games, tied for the most among active players in the NFL.
Players prepped for excellence is a weekly game preview listing two players from the Redskins’ offense and defense that are destined for a strong performance in the team’s upcoming match-up.
Brandon Meriweather is prepped for excellence - Meriweather will suit up and play his first regular season game as a Washington Redskin today. The 2012 Free Agent pickup will bring a need physicality to the back-end.
He’s not the greatest safety – coverage wise, but in off-season workouts and training camp, Meriweather was the team’s best defensive playmaker. In the first three games of the season, the Bucs receivers have caught 41 passes out of 79 targets. That includes running backs, full backs, and tight ends. Some of that is an indictment on QB Josh Freeman, but the team has had issues consistently catching the football.
Having a physical presence like Meriweather roaming the field will be a well missed and needed addition to the Redskins’ secondary.
Fred Davis is prepped for excellence - It’s taken a while for the Redskins to get Fred Davis into groove of things. But last week the tight end had 7 catches for 90 yards and outside of Pierre Garcon, it looks like Robert Griffin III has found his security blanket.
The Buccaneers are not great at covering tight ends and Fred Davis could be in for a huge day. When the Redskins go in their 3 wide set with 1 tight end, Fred Davis will be able to have success in-between the numbers.
Sav Rocca is prepped for excellence - No, Rocca obviously isn’t an offensive or defensive player, but field position will be huge in this game. The Bucs rank last in the league in punt returns (4.3 average per return).
When Rocca sets up for punts – hopefully for the Redskins, it’s not often – giving the Buccaneers poor field position limits what they like to do on offense.
Kory Lichtensteiger and Chris Chester are prepped for excellence - Lichtensteiger and Chester have to the duty of attempting not to make Bucs’ 3 technique Gerald McCoy look like Warren Sapp today. McCoy switches sides, but primarily plays that 3- tech spot now – the outside shoulder of an offensive guard.
If the Redskins can limit Gerald McCoy, it will keep pressure out the face of rookie QB Robert Griffin III.
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