Here's five takeaways from Redskins offensive coordinator Sean McVay's Oct. 16, 2015, press conference at Redskins Park in Loudoun County, Va.
1. Playing without Trent Williams and Kory Lichtensteiger will be "a great challenge," but the Redskins have a few younger offensive linemen that have the chance to show what they're capable of.
Redskins head coach Jay Gruden announced on Friday that Williams (concussion protocol) and Lichtensteiger (neck/shoulder/finger) will not play this weekend.
In their absence, first-year tackle Ty Nsekhe and fourth-year guard/center Josh LeRibeus will take their spots.
"It's been a great week of preparation," McVay said on Friday. "Coach [Bill] Callahan does an excellent job getting those guys ready to go and putting them through all the looks that we expect to see. We know [Jets] Coach [Todd] Bowles and his staff does an excellent job presenting a variety of looks with excellent players and personnel. So, it's going to be a big day for a lot of guys getting an opportunity to step up and fill in for some big time veterans that are core players for us."
That means of the team's five starting offensive lineman – Nsekhe, Spencer Long, LeRibeus, Brandon Scherff and Morgan Moses – Moses will have the most starting experience.
He has just six starts under his belt entering MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
As for Scherff, even though he started his Redskins career playing tackle during the offseason and the first half of training camp, he'll continue to stick at guard.
"I think you want to try to keep as much continuity as you can as possible," McVay said. "Brandon I think has done a nice job settling in at that right guard spot and he and Morg [Morgan Moses] are continuing to develop a rapport together."
READ MORE: #WASvsNYJ Injury Report: Trent Williams Out
2. Despite never starting a game at center in the NFL, McVay believes LeRibeus will be up for whatever he's faced with.
It's been an up and down career for the 2012 third-round pick, as he was clutch late in the Redskins' playoff push during his rookie season. But he also never appeared in a game during the 2013 season as he dealt with a conditioning issue.
Check out these photos of the Redskins' offense preparing for their Week 6 match up against the New York Jets Friday, Oct. 16, 2015, at Redskins Park in Loudoun County, Va.
After getting just one start at guard last season, the SMU product was transitioned to playing mostly center during the offseason.
"Anytime you're able get more experience, you gain that confidence," McVay said. "I think he does feel comfortable communicating the calls and different things that need to go on at the line of scrimmage with what he's responsible for. We've put a lot on those centers' shoulders and Kory [Lichtensteiger] has done an excellent job holding up the standard that we set that for that position at center and we're expecting Josh to fill in and do a nice job on Sunday."
One way Callahan is keeping LeRibeus sharp is by quizzing him "throughout the course of the week."
"He's always challenging his guys, always quizzing them in the meeting rooms, making sure he's putting them in situations on the practice field," McVay said of Callahan. "You guys see there's not a single wasted minute on the practice field during special teams periods as well. So, he's really been grinding on Josh hard this week and I think he's done a nice job with the looks that we presented."
READ MORE: LeRibeus, Nsekhe On Standby For Game
3. DeSean Jackson is a "special talent," and having him back could really open up and offense that will have such a young group up front.
Jackson is questionable for Sunday's game, meaning he there's a chance he could make his first appearance since suffering a hamstring injury in the season opener.
For an offense that has been moving the ball in slow chunks, Jackson could create a different layer to the gameplan: one that's speedy and lethal down the field.
"It's unfortunate that he hasn't been able to play because I think he's done a nice job with his underneath and intermediate routes, too, when he's been able to practice and where you kind of have seen a little bit more route versatility with him," McVay said. "He's a guy that definitely changes the way teams defend you because of his ability to get down the field, and we'll be excited if we're able to have him go. And we've got some plans in place for that, and if not, we'll be ready to adjust accordingly."
Jackson's presence alone "has defensive guys pay a little bit more attention because of the things he's been able to do over the course of his career with regards to those big plays."
4. Even if Matt Jones, listed as questionable for Sunday's game, is limited in the amount of work he does, the Redskins want to find a better balance at the running back position.
The Redskins certainly aren't lacking in talent at the running back position, but they do want to find out what works best amongst Jones, Alfred Morris and Chris Thompson.
Jones has proven to be a tough between the tackles ball carrier while Thompson has thrived early in the third-down back role.
Morris, meanwhile, is off to the slowest start of his career, having yet to score a touchdown on the season.
McVay said it's going to be important to "find what their role is with how they fit based on what we're doing within that game plan."
"We feel like Alfred and Matt are both very good runners on first and second down," McVay said. "Obviously, the dynamic that Chris presents out of the backfield as a pass-catching back and some of the things he can do in those obvious passing situations, third downs, he's been a very valuable asset. But if Matt's able to go, we'll be excited to have him. If not, then we're confident in Alfred's ability to carry the load like he's shown he can do over the course of his career."
5. Simply put, Darrelle Revis changes game plans.
When you've been to six Pro Bowls in your first eight seasons, you can make a claim that you're among the best players in the NFL.
Darrelle Revis is just that; and he's already off to another strong start this season, nabbing two interceptions in the Jets' first four games.
Whether Jackson is able to go or not, Revis is a "special player" that must be accounted for with each and every snap.
"You can see why he gets the notoriety that he does," McVay said. "He's excellent in off-man. He can play. He can come up on the line of scrimmage. He's played with some guys in the slot this year. You can see, depending upon how they look at your personnel, he may travel with certain guys and may not. I think he's as good as there is in the league."
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