Browns vs. Redskins: 5 questions with Riggo’s Rag

We caught up with Jacob Camenker of Riggo’s Rag to learn more about the Washington Redskins before the Cleveland Browns head to Landover this Sunday.

Well, it sure has been a busy Friday.

The Cleveland Browns reportedly decided to part ways with Josh Gordon today, just one day after he announced he was entering a rehab facility, putting his NFL return on hold indefinitely.

He was set to return for the Week 5 game against the New England Patriots, but was still going to be out for Sunday’s game against the Washington Redskins, so the preparation will not be changed.

This game was supposed to be Robert Griffin III‘s return to his former hometown, but a Week 1 injury will have him in a sling instead of getting any revenge on his former team. It will be up to Cody Kessler to do that.

To learn more about the Redskins before Sunday’s game, we caught up with Jacob Camenker of Riggo’s Rag to gain some insight as the Browns look to pick up a win for the first time this season.

1. Was this game one that was circled on the schedule during the preseason because of the potential RG3-Cousins clash?

JC: This was definitely a game that many thought would be an important battle. It was supposed to be Robert Griffin III’s return to Washington and his chance to get revenge on the franchise that eschewed him in favor of another guy. Instead, he ended up getting hurt and is now on injured reserve.

I think it would have been really fun for the Redskins if they had gotten a chance to play RG3. The team knows his weaknesses, so they would have gotten to game plan against the athletic quarterback and really make his day difficult. Unfortunately, that will not happen. The team will at least get a chance to see what they can do against rookie quarterback Cody Kessler.

2. Who is one player on offense who can have a big day against the Browns’ defense?

JC: I think that Matt Jones is primed for a solid day on Sunday. The Browns do not have the best run defense, aside from Danny Shelton, so the team should be able to exploit this as a weakness. The Redskins want to run a balanced offensive attack, and the main way to do that will be to get the ground game rolling.

I would not be surprised to see Jones break the 100 yard mark for the first time this season on Sunday. He looked strong against the New York Giants, and their run defense is formidable. Cleveland’s will have a tough time stopping the second year back, and that will open things up for Kirk Cousins and the passing game. This could be crucial to helping the team emerge victorious.

3. Will Josh Norman be taking on Terrelle Pryor throughout Sunday’s game?

JC: As long as Joe Barry is the defensive coordinator for the Redskins, nothing is written in stone. However, with Bashaud Breeland expected to be out, I would imagine that Josh Norman will be covering Terrelle Pryor on a majority of the snaps. Kendall Fuller and Quinton Dunbar are likely going to see a good chunk of action, so the Redskins will not want to put the young players on the opponent’s best receiver.

With that said, Barry is liable to change his mind at any time. He kept Norman off of the opposing No. 1 guys for most of the first two weeks. That yielded disastrous results. Hopefully he has learned his lesson and will put Norman on Pryor for most of the time. If he does not, the other young corners on the team may struggle to contain the 6-6 playmaker, and that could cause issues for the Redskins defense.

It makes sense for the team to put Norman on Pryor, but it may not happen. If they do not do it, then the defense could have some major issues.

4. Is Kirk Cousins the team’s QB of the future, or is his time in Washington going to take a similar path to that of RG3?

JC: Cousins is on the franchise tender this year, so there is no guarantee that he will be the franchise quarterback in Washington. That said, I do not think that his situation is comparable to RG3’s. RG3 was a highly touted, No. 2 overall pick who was supposed to be the savior. He started very well but then collapsed as he dealt with injuries and a lack of work ethic. That is what led him to leave Washington and join the Browns.

Related Story: Week 5 college QB tracker

Cousins seems to be more of a natural leader who is a solid quarterback. Last year, he emerged from pretty much nowhere to lead the team to the postseason, all while displaying tremendous accuracy. He definitely has the skill set to be a strong starter, but he struggled to start the season.

Cousins made numerous poor throws in the first two games of the season before rebounding last week against the Giants. He was able to utilize his terrific accuracy and really pick apart the defense. Most importantly, he limited his mistakes. When Cousins does not turn the ball over, then he can be an elite game manager.

At the end of the day, it is still unclear whether or not Cousins is the future of the franchise for Washington. If he can continue to shake off the slow start he had to the season, then he may solidify his case to be the long-term starter for the team.

5. What is your prediction for the game?

JC: I think that a key to this game will be how the Cleveland running game performs. If they can really carry the offense, then the Browns will have a chance to beat the Redskins. If not, then the Skins will emerge victorious.

Next: Report: Browns moving on from Gordon

I also think Cousins’ play will be important to deciding the winner. He should play well against the Browns, but if he does not then the team could be in trouble.

I have the Redskins coming out on top in this one. I think that the game will be close, but then the team will be able to pull away at the end and secure a 31-16 victory.