The Washington Redskins on Thursday night closed out their 2014 slate of preseason games with a 24-10 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.
The Redskins – who finished the preseason with a 3-1 record – used the game as a final audition for the team's second and third stringers hoping to make the team's final 53-man roster.
Accordingly, it was three rookies – wide receiver Ryan Grant and running backs Lache Seastrunk and Silas Redd – who made the most out of their opportunities on offense Thursday evening in Tampa.
For a full recap, let's take a look back at the action as it happened.
No. 1: Ryan Grant Ends Strong Preseason With Exclamation Point
When the Redskins took Grant in the fifth round (142nd overall) in this year's NFL Draft, the Tulane product said his best attribute was his hands.
He wasn't lying.
Grant has impressed the Redskins' coaching staff and veteran players with his approach from Day 1, and that theme continued Thursday night, when he snagged his second touchdown reception of the preseason.
Coming off an impressive strip sack fumble recovery from outside linebacker Gabe Miller, the Redskins faced a 2nd and Goal from the Buccaneers' 2-yard line. Quarterback Colt McCoy, lined up under center, took the snap, and after a quick three-step drop, fired a fade pass Grant's way in the end zone.
Grant bested Buccaneers cornerback Kip Edwards on the play, jumping up to catch the ball at its highest point and keeping both feet in bounds for the touchdown. Grant led all Redskins receivers this preseason with 14 catches and 165 receiving yards, and his two receiving touchdowns tied fellow receiver Nick Williams for team-high honors.
No. 2: Lache Seastrunk To The House!
Lache Seastrunk certainly has the speed and shiftiness to be a playmaker in the NFL, but he wanted the chance to showcase his pass-catching abilities, too.
He got just that opportunity Thursday vs. the Buccaneers, when he took his first reception as a pro 80 yards to paydirt.
The play almost never would've happened if it wasn't for McCoy being able to buy a little time with theTampa Bay defensive front barreling down on him.
Up 10-3 about midway through the third quarter, the Redskins faced a 2nd and 10 from their 20-yard line. McCoy – lined up in shotgun formation with Seastrunk to his right – took the snap, and a screen play quickly developed.
But Seastrunk was not able to get to his spot at the line of scrimmage as quickly as he would've hoped, as he got bumped by several Tampa Bay players in his way. But McCoy eluded the rush and found Seastrunk at the 18-yard line, who made a nice catch on a low pass, zoomed past four Buccaneers defenders down the sideline and was gone. Eighty yards to the house.
No. 3: Silas Redd Gets In On The Action
After going undrafted this year, running back Silas Redd has played like a man with something to prove since he was signed by the Redskins May 14.
In four preseason games, Redd displayed some nice moves with his feet and ended up being the team's leading rusher with 34 attempts for 157 yards (a 4.6 yards-per-carry average).
But until late into the fourth quarter of Thursday's Redskins preseason finale, Redd – who had 19 rushing touchdowns in his college career at Penn State and USC – was yet to score a touchdown.
That changed at the 4:14 mark, however, when Redd punched it in from one yard out, which, after the extra point, gave the Redskins the 24-10 lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Redd is one of four running backs – Seastrunk, Chris Thompson and Evan Royster the others – who are vying for only one or two spots on the team's final roster. He certainly helped his case on Thursday.
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