Oh no!

Already a Member?

Username:

Password:

Interested in Joining?

Become a Member Now!

Find out More
No thanks, continue to site

5 Under-Reported Stories of the Preseason


The Redskins have a dominant ground game

If you've been paying attention, you know just how good the Redskins' running game has been this preseason. But it's still not getting the mainstream recognition it deserves. We still hear more about the team's QB problems than its dominant ground game. RB Tim Hightower has been leading the charge. Few players have been better this preseason. In 3 games, he racked up 170 yards on 25 carries -- good for a tasty 6.8 yards-per-carry average. Hightower has been consistently getting into the 2nd-level, and has hit paydirt from 37 and 58 yards out. Not to sell him short, but it's been pretty easy for him. Washington's much-maligned offensive line has been opening some gaping holes. And HC Mike Shanahan's zone-blocking scheme is firing on all cylinders. That's confirmed by the fact that RB Roy Helu is averaging 4.9 yards-per-rush, and RB Evan Royster is sitting at 4.4 per-pop. As a team, the 'Skins have compiled an NFL-best 457 rushing yards through Week 3 of the preseason. Their 5.0 per-rush average ranks 3rd in the league. Pretty impressive for a team that ranked 30th in rushing last season. It may have taken a year, but it looks like Shanahan finally has his system working in DC. He's produced a 1,000-yard rusher in 11 of 16 seasons as a HC. If the preseason is any indication, Hightower could make that 12 of 17.


To see the full article text and gain access to all other DraftSharks Insider features Register Now