Last Saturday’s debacle at Carolina convinced Washington Redskins coach Jim Zorn not to rest his offensive starters in Thursday night’s preseason finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Maybe he should have.
A week after the starters were shut out by the Panthers on seven possessions, they produced 14 yards on their three series against the Jaguars in a 24-3 loss. Eight of the 11 regulars were in; only tackle Jon Jansen (foot), receiver Antwaan Randle El (hand) and running back Clinton Portis were absent.
Jaguars middle linebacker Mike Peterson intercepted Jason Campbell’s first pass after cornerback Rashean Mathis popped the ball away from Redskins rookie receiver Devin Thomas.
“I wanted to get ’em out in one series, but we didn’t sustain [drives],” Zorn said. “It was a matter of not having happen what happened the week before - a guy in Jason’s face the first four [passes]. I think we accomplished that. If there was any redeeming qualities about putting that first group out here it was that.”
Pro Bowl tight end Chris Cooley cost the Redskins a first down on their second series, dropping a pass when Jaguars safety Reggie Nelson hit him. Campbell threw low on the first play of the third series, and Thomas ran short of the marker on third down.
“We’re not rolling into it offensively,” Zorn said.
Left tackle Chris Samuels said he won’t panic over the preseason struggles with “everybody taking turns” making mistakes.
“What we need to do is find a way to get into a rhythm,” Campbell said.
Fourth-round pick Justin Tryon seemed out of rhythm all night. Jaguars receiver Reggie Williams and tight end Greg Estandia beat the cornerback for touchdowns in the red zone. In between, receiver Matt Jones whipped Tryon for 30 yards on consecutive plays. Tryon could be among the few draft picks the Redskins cut.
While Tryon struggled, Alfred Fincher made his case to be the sixth linebacker. He made five of his game-high eight tackles in the first quarter in his competition with the inexperienced David Holloway and Danny Verdun-Wheeler and rookie free agent Curtis Gatewood.
“I probably played the best I could play,” Fincher said.
In the most critical loser-goes-home battle, incumbent punter Derrick Frost boomed the ball 50 and 61 yards (32.0 net) before a 26-yarder, while sixth-rounder Durant Brooks’ kicks traveled 42, 36 and 36 yards (37.0 net).
“It’s tough to have three years of service to this team come down to three punts,” Frost said. “The last one I was really unhappy with, but without that punt I think I made a pretty strong case. I’m real happy with the way I played. I had two 60-plus yarders, which I’d never done before. I think that shows I’m hitting the ball better.”
Brooks said he’s glad the competition is finished.
“They’re going to make the decision,” said Brooks, a sixth-round draft pick. “I hope they make the right one.”
Zorn said that decision will be the hardest to make during Friday’s final 22 cuts.
Marcus Mason, who came in as the NFL’s top rusher this preseason, carried 17 times for 64 yards in his fight to convince Zorn to keep a fourth running back. Justin Hamilton, hoping to stick as a fifth safety, sacked Todd Bouman and forced a fumble to end the first series of the third quarter, which concluded with Jacksonville leading 17-3.
Notes - Pierson Prioleau, a Redskins backup safety from 2005 to 2007 before joining former assistant head coach/defense Gregg Williams with the Jaguars in April, finished the first half by sacking Brennan. … Jaguars defensive end Derrick Harvey debuted a day after becoming the last first-rounder to sign.
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