Washington Redskins Preseason: Week 4 Stock Report

As usual, it's all about the men under center for the Washington Redskins, even during the final week of preseason. To say the week has been kind to one quarterback and unforgiving for the other would be a mild understatement.

Making a change at football's most important position even buys a stock boost for beleaguered head coach Jay Gruden. Sure, the man who finished 4-12 in 2014 has put himself in the firing line, but at least he's been bold enough to make a difficult and necessary call.

Away from the headline-dominating controversy between the coach and his passers, two defensive players caught the eye for different reasons during Washington's third preseason game.

Find out what the stock looks like for five members of the team with the real action inching ever closer.

Stock Up: Jackson Jeffcoat, OLB

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Aside from a certain fourth-round pick from 2012, no player helped themselves more in Baltimore last week than Jackson Jeffcoat. The former undrafted rush end helped himself to a sack and an interception against the Ravens.

Now Jeffcoat is tied with fellow undrafted player Houston Bates for the team lead in sacks this preseason with three. Jeffcoat showing off a flair for the big play is certainly well-timed.

Since Junior Galette was lost for the season with a torn Achilles, there's been an obvious spot going begging in Washington's outside linebacker rotation. Filling it with a player boasting a knack for rushing the passer would be great work by the team on the eve of the new season.

Fortunately for Jeffcoat, this isn't the first time he's displayed a penchant for impact plays. During limited action during the latter stages of the 2014 season, he registered a sack and an interception.

Not content with simply surprising a few people as a walk-on last season, he's spent this offseason exploring ways to get better. Among them, Jeffcoat has practiced "Brazilian jiu-jitsu" to improve his "explosiveness," according to ESPN.com's John Keim.

Martial arts can be a great teaching tool for pass-rushers, particularly when it comes to refining range of movement and hands technique. Taking every edge he can get speaks volumes about Jeffcoat's commitment to succeed.

He won't be a starter even with Galette on the shelf. Rookie second-rounder Preston Smith seems to have the inside track there.

But Jeffcoat has certainly played himself into a prominent spot in the rotation. He should get plenty of situational work this season.

Stock Down: Dashon Goldson, FS

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Dashon Goldson's stock naturally takes a dip after he was guilty of several missed tackles early on against the Ravens. The veteran free safety was the main culprit in what was a unit-wide problem when the starters were on the field in Baltimore.

During the game, Mike Jones of the Washington Post noted how Goldson's footwork wasn't exactly the best. Meanwhile, 106.7 The Fan's Grant Paulsen detailed how Goldson's problems weren't just limited to tackling. He described how bad positioning led to surrendering a big completion in the passing game.

Hopefully, this was a just an off night at the office for Goldson. The Redskins had better hope so because they need this veteran to shore up what has been a problem position for years.

Skeptics will argue Goldson's career has been on a downward trajectory the last few years. He certainly struggled mightily during his final season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2014. Perhaps the memories of that difficult campaign are still hindering his confidence.

Either way, Goldson needs to shape up before the regular season begins. He might not be the bona fide matchup safety he was back when he was going to Pro Bowls for the San Francisco 49ers, but Goldson needs to at least be smart and steady during his first year with the Burgundy and Gold.

Stock Up: Kirk Cousins, QB

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If ever the phrase "be careful what you wish for" applied to any player, it's Kirk Cousins. No. 8 now has the starting quarterback job after Gruden decided to sit Griffin down.

In terms of what it means for Washington's offense, it's potentially fantastic news. For the much-maligned line, it will mean not having to block for an eternity on every pass play. The front five will also be aided by a quarterback who will adjust protection based on pre-snap looks from the defense.

Paulsen noted how Cousins did exactly that on one play against the Ravens, helping facilitate a long completion to rookie running back Matt Jones. The newly crowned starter also used footwork and pocket presence to avoid pressure, per Keim.

Both of those things added up to an altogether easier night for the O-line in Week 3 than the horror show against the Detroit Lions when Griffin was under center the previous week, according to Paulsen.

As he grew into the game, Cousins and his passing game began clicking the way they should. Michael Phillips of the Richmond Times-Dispatch detailed No. 8's hot streak to finish the half in Baltimore.

All of these things, the sharper mechanics and improved efficiency, can mean Cousins' ascension is great news for Washington's skill players. The Redskins boast one of the more talented groups in the NFL, courtesy of wide receivers DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, Andre Roberts and tight end Jordan Reed.

Now there's a quarterback who will actually get them the ball more often.

Of course, the caveat with Cousins is always how often he'll put the ball in the hands of the opposition. Interceptions have been a problem, and it's beyond stating the obvious to say his grip on the No. 1 spot will loosen pretty fast if that problem persists.

But given Washington's apparent intent to keep the ball on the ground more than they did in 2014, the best passer on the roster will be be in an offense that complements him, rather than adding pressure.

For the moment, at least, things have never looked better for Cousins.

Stock Down: Robert Griffin III, QB

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Things had to come to this eventually. He simply had to go. There was just too much negativity, both on the field and behind the microphone, for the Redskins to indulge Robert Griffin III any longer.

This offense was going to remain stuck in neutral, at best, with Griffin at the helm. He has simply never improved—and in some cases even learned to begin with—the fundamental aspects of his job.

The core things like a reading a defense, both on the pressure and coverage levels, continue to elude Griffin. With a less-than-fully mobile RG3 under center, Washington has no choice but to run a watered-down version of the offense coaches really want.

Why should any team make that concession?

Let's face it, the Redskins have made enough allowances for No. 10 already. He's wasted all of them. None more so than this offseason.

When new general manager Scot McCloughan took an offensive lineman with a top-five draft pick, it was a pretty clear message he wanted to make the quarterback's life easier. In theory anyway.

The same motivation was behind the decision to appoint veteran assistant Matt Cavanaugh as quarterbacks coach. But instead of working closely with Cavanaugh and focusing on those lessons, Griffin simply said he thinks he's "the best quarterback in the league."

Never mind the context, Griffin wasn't talking about the things he should be talking about, like what he's doing to get better. Or maybe the perspective he's gained after two rough years.

Now he's been sat down for the season and the conversation shifts onto whether the Redskins should keep RG3 on the roster at all. They shouldn't.

B/R analyst Mike Freeman states the Cleveland Browns, along with Washington's NFC East rivals the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles, would be interested if No. 10 is cut.

As NFL Media's Albert Breer pointed out, Griffin's contract makes him "tough" to trade. Breer also noted how the option Washington picked up earlier this offseason would follow Griffin to his new home if he signs elsewhere after being waived by the Redskins.

That seems like the best thing for both team and player. The case is only strengthened by CSNMidAtlantic.com's Rich Tandler stating cutting Griffin won't negatively impact the team's cap situation.

Perhaps more important, keeping Griffin around is sure to have a negative impact on the team. If he's constantly in front of the camera cutting a forlorn figure on the bench during game days, he again becomes the story.

Every good play from Cousins and every bad play will pivot to the looming spectre of Griffin. A fresh start is best all round.

Stock Up: Jay Gruden, Head Coach

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

It's a rare week when the younger Gruden has actually earned and merited some praise. Not everybody is going to agree with his decision to change quarterbacks so close to the start of the real action. But agreement or otherwise kind of misses the point.

Why Gruden should be commended is because he's made a big call. Right or wrong, he's pledged his allegiance one way and is ready to stand or fall by it. Coaches thrive or fail on these types of calls alone.

To some, Gruden has taken too big a risk. Tandler, writing for CSNMidAtlantic.com, believes Gruden has signaled his failure to do what he was hired to do, along with putting his future in the hands of a quarterback with butter fingers:

"

Gruden was hired to 'fix' Griffin, to turn him into a pocket passer, the kind of quarterback who can have a long, successful NFL career. Now, after one year plus one offseason Gruden is throwing in the towel, admitting either that he can’t fix Griffin’s problems or that he can’t do it soon enough to make him an effective quarterback this season.

...

Cousins had a chance to grab the starting job last year but it disappeared under a pile of turnovers. Gruden believes that Cousins has done what is needed to protect the ball better.

"

Put in that context, Gruden certainly has pushed all his chips to the middle of the table on a weak-looking hand. He'd better be awfully good at bluffing.

Of course, that's only one view. The other is that Gruden has wisely chosen to install the quarterback capable of running the offense he likes to call, the same offense that presumably brought Gruden to Washington's attention in the first place.

Now he's done the one thing that really gives him the team he wants. Over to you, Jay. Don't expect clemency if things go wrong again, though.

Overall, the entire picture looks rosier for Washington. The decision to move Griffin out of the lineup carries that much weight.

It means that a team which still has a few creases to iron out defensively at least has a better chance of fielding a potent offense this season.