The Redskins play their second preseason game, hosting Cleveland at 8 p.m. ET tonight on "Monday Night Football." That means Jon Gruden will call a game coached by his brother for the first time. The forecast calls for clouds and highs in the low 80s so by game time it’ll be in the 70s. Now you know.
A couple things to set up the day:
This will be as hyped a preseason game as you can imagine. I never thought Shawn Lauvao's first game against his old team would be that discussed. Add in Johnny Manziel ... and Kyle Shanahan’s return ... and Robert Griffin III and it could be a fun night for a preseason game. Until you remember that it is, indeed, just an exhibition contest. By the way, former Redskins quarterback Rex Grossman returns as does Morocco Brown, who was third in command here but second in Cleveland, and receivers coach Mike McDaniel.
One thing I remember about Kyle Shanahan that others have touched on: His passion for playcalling and being an offensive coordinator. Like him or not, that part is real. I asked him one time about a typical week for a coordinator and he spoke for nearly six minutes before I asked another question. He provided me terrific insight into what goes into game-planning, and who was responsible for what. Jason Reid had it right in his column for the Washington Post Sunday when he said of Shanahan and Griffin, “people within the organization paint the picture of two gifted, headstrong individuals clashing over the best way to do things." I've heard that a few times myself.
As a heads up for the rest of the day: I’ll have my updated projected 53-man roster at 8 a.m.; what to watch for tonight around noon, a Jarvis Jenkins piece in the afternoon. There also will be a quick observation post that will go live immediately after the game ends followed by any news and then Ten Observations. Maybe another piece or two interspersed, but those are the highlights.