Stealth play-calling

There’s no pressure in a preseason finale, so coach Jay Gruden and offensive coordinator Sean McVay could choose to reveal something from deep in the playbook. It wouldn’t be a trick play — those are saved for games that count — but rather a few emergency passes, which would be tailored to specific personnel in the event that injuries require the team to play backup receivers and quarterbacks. Gruden isn’t one to just run the ball 40 times, even in games that don’t count. He could try some decoy plays like former Redskins coach Norv Turner did, calling dummy plays the team doesn’t intend on using but that opponents would have to waste time scouting.

The Sudfeld show

Third-string quarterback Nate Sudfeld gets the entire game to prove he’s worth keeping on the roster. The Redskins don’t want to put Sudfeld on the practice squad for fear he won’t clear waivers. The 6-foot-6 rookie from Indiana isn’t nearly ready to start, but he has shown flashes of talent during the preseason, most notably a game-winning 18-yard touchdown pass against the Jets. He has tremendously improved his mechanics and decision-making since offseason camps and may one day start somewhere in the NFL. The closest Redskins comparison is Sage Rosenfels, a 6-foot-4 passer Washington chose in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL draft.

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Kickoff strategy

Unlike teammates on other units, most special teamers are still playing in the fourth preseason game. Maybe it’s time for Gruden to see how kickoff coverage has improved rather than telling Dustin Hopkins to simply boom the ball through the back of the end zone. Instead of letting opponents start on their own 25-yard line, perhaps the Redskins could alter field position by trying to cover a returnable kick. Gruden has been too conservative over the preseason, but who can blame him after the team surrendered a 101-yard touchdown return to Atlanta? This is the last free opportunity to work on kickoff coverage. Gruden should take advantage.

Big Mack

There was a time when Mack Brown seemed in contention to be the second-string running back, but he logged little time in the first two preseason games. Then, injuries in the backfield helped Brown receive 11 carries against Buffalo, and the 24-year-old rusher out of Florida took advantage with 43 yards. During two stints on the practice squad as an undrafted rookie last season, Brown claimed to be among the fastest players on the team. Now a banged-up backfield opens up one last shot for him to prove himself as a potential fourth running back. A productive day in Tampa Bay might alter Brown’s fortunes, but he’s likely headed back to the practice squad.