Here are the top takeaways from Thursday night’s preseason game between the Detroit Lions and the Washington Redskins, including the top 5 graded players for each team:
Redskins
–First-round pick Brandon Scherff (-3.0 grade) started at right guard for the second week in a row and struggled with Lions defensive tackle Tyrunn Walker. The former Saint beat Scherff for a sack and worked through and around Scherff for disruption in the running game as well.
–Rookie running back Matt Jones impressed on his eight carries last night, breaking a tackle to pick up a 24-yard gain through the heart of the Lions defense. He capped that drive with a one-yard touchdown run.
— Pressured on six of his eight dropbacks, Robert Griffin III’s three incompletions came about by way of a dropped pass, a batted pass and being hit as he threw. His supporting cast ensured that aside from ball security (two fumbles — the primary reasons behind his -3.8 grade), there was little or nothing to draw from his performance.
Top 5 graded players:
Shawn Lauvao (+2.0)
Ty Nsekhe (+2.0)
Jason Hatcher (+1.9)
Josh LeRibeus (+1.7)
Robert Thomas (+1.6)
Lions
–The Lions walked away with a defeat, but will be pleased with the work of their first-team offense. Matthew Stafford (+1.6) led the way, completing all three of his intermediate targets for 43 yards.
–The biggest concern for the first-team offense right now is the interior off the offensive line. All three starters earning a negative grade this week, after Travis Swanson and Larry Warford earned negative grades in their preseason opener as well.
–Ezekiel Ansah (+1.5) only played eight snaps, but he left his mark on the Washington offense registering a hit, a hurry and a defensive stop in spite of his limited playing time.
Top 5 graded players:
Kerry Hyder (+3.6)
Travis Lewis (+3.3)
Julian Stanford (+1.9)
Matthew Stafford (+1.6)
Ezekiel Ansah (+1.5)