RG3 Act II: Redskins QB Robert Griffin III was poised in the pocket vs. Buffalo and made accurate, quick throws. He was not under duress on any dropbacks (though he had some pressure on a bootleg). It would be helpful to see how Griffin handles throwing under duress, something that every QB must master. Also, Chicago’s cover 2 will force him to be patient.
On the hot seat: WR Brandon Banks. He struggled in the opener vs. Buffalo, catching just two of nine passes thrown his way. His size was clearly an issue, with a defender breaking up one pass just by crashing into him. And Banks did not create the necessary space to overcome his lack of size. He needs to start making plays.
No leg up: Neither Graham Gano nor Neil Rackers attempted a field goal in the preseason opener and they’ve been about equal in training camp. Rackers is older, but the hangtime on his one kickoff vs. Buffalo was better than Gano’s.
Line play: The offense needs to create better creases in the stretch zone run game. That’s not just on the line, but also the tight ends (Fred Davis in particular). While everyone is worried about Robert Griffin III being protected, it’s equally important to open holes on the ground. They failed to do so last week.
Increased duty: Rookie RB Alfred Morris will get plenty more time this week, thanks to a solid showing in the preseason opener and an injury to RB Roy Helu. Morris had modest numbers -- 54 yards, 15 carries -- but at times his ability to squeeze out short gains was impressive because of the quick penetration up front. Morris is a sixth-round pick who will have a tough time earning a roster spot as a fourth RB. It could be that the Redskins try to sneak him onto the practice squad, but a strong showing will make that difficult.
TE Competition: Second-year Niles Paul, converting from WR, dropped two passes a week ago (a case could be made that he should have had a third). But his blocking was solid. Paul started catching more passes before and after practice (something he used to do as a receiver, but had not done as a TE). If he continues to struggle with his hands, it makes Chris Cooley’s case for sticking around stronger.
John Keim covers the Redskins for the Washington Examiner. Follow him on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLWAS or @John_Keim