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VIA WASHINGTON POST:

BALTIMORE, Aug. 13 — With the focus again on their struggling offensive line, the Washington Washington Football Team began the preseason Thursday night against the Baltimore Ravens hoping for positive signs from the unit.

The injuries and pass-protection problems of training camp could continue to stir concern, but the first-team offensive line appeared to perform effectively during its brief appearance in a 23-0 loss to the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.

A crowd of 70,723 watched as the offensive line, which played without right guard Randy Thomas, who has been slowed because of knee soreness, helped the Washington Football Team’s offensive starters gain three first downs in two first-quarter series. Second-year guard Chad Rinehart filled in for Thomas, and quarterback Jason Campbell was not sacked during his outing.

“I was pleased with the pass protection,” Coach Jim Zorn said. “But we need to finish drives.”

In fact, the only significant pressure Campbell received occurred when the Ravens overloaded the left side on a third-down play and tight end Chris Cooley was beaten by linebacker Antwan Barnes, who took down Campbell as he released the ball.

Campbell also had to step up in the pocket to avoid pressure on some plays, and the starters produced only 45 net yards and no points.

In their internal offseason assessment of what went wrong in the 2-6 second-half collapse last season, the Washington Football Team determined the offensive line was the team’s weakest link. Considering the offensive line hasn’t had the practice reps coaches would have preferred at this point because of injuries — and that Campbell is coming off a season in which only three quarterbacks were sacked more — the Washington Football Team were satisfied with their opening test on a night many key veterans sat out.

As their performance against the Ravens attests, the offensive line, and many of the other position groups, still need a lot of work.

Read more here.