METAIRIE Maxx Crosby Jersey , La. (AP) — has become increasingly known for two moves this season: his spin and his shimmy.The spin, executed with a nimble quickness not entirely typical of 305-pound linemen, has helped Rankins disrupt quarterbacks the way the Saints hoped he would when they made him their first-round draft choice in 2016. Rankins shoulder-shaking shimmy is his trademark celebration after a sack, of which he’s had a career-high eight this season.Moreover, his considerable improvement is seen as one of the reasons the Saints have already clinched the No. 1 playoff seed in the NFC with one regular season game left on Sunday.“It’s been significant,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. “He’s a guy that you can just see his impact plays go up. The confidence level he’s playing with now (is apparent) and he’s having fun playing. When you watch him, I think he’s in real good shape. And I think overall, he’s a great example of a guy who’s improved not necessarily just from year one to year two, but later in the process and he’s a fantastic worker.”Rankins isn’t bashful about highlighting what he thinks separates him from others at his position — namely, a quickness and all-around athleticism that he traces back to his days as a high school running back and basketball player, before he was transformed into a defensive tackle during college at Louisville.“I move about as well as anybody at my position,” Rankins said.Few in the NFL seem inclined to argue.Rankins sealed New Orleans most recent triumph — a 31-28 victory over Pittsburgh — by dropping back off the line of scrimmage when he anticipated a quick passing play over the middle, wrangled receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster after the catch and punched the ball loose as he pulled the receiver down on top of him. Linebacker Demario Davis recovered, ending the Steelers’ threat in the final minute.“You can tell” Rankins played running back when he was younger, Davis said. “He doesn’t move like a defensive lineman. He’s just like a skill player playing defensive lineman with a big frame.”Davis, who joined the Saints this season, said playing behind Rankins for the first time gave him an appreciation of the lineman’s relentless hustle.“It’s not just plays where he can be stopping the run or in the backfield and get a sack Hakeem Butler Jersey ,” Davis said. “He’s trying to make plays on every play, whether it’s a reverse or a screen, a pass down the field, he’s just running to the ball.”Rankins missed nearly half of his rookie season because of a fibula fracture during training camp. He was healthy last season and had a solid campaign as a full-time starter. He had an interception and forced fumble, but didn’t get to quarterbacks as often as he would have liked, finishing with two sacks.Rankins said he “went back to the drawing board” last offseason, trying to build on moves that had worked for him — and get quicker.“Last year, I don’t think I used enough power. This year I’ve done a great job of using my power to kind of set up everything else about the way I rush, about the way I play,” Rankins said. “If I can get guys thinking power, getting ready to brace for that impact, and I can get around them with spins and different things like that, it just plays right into my hand.“I’ve always prided myself on being athletic and being able to be light on my feet and being able to do things that most people my size can’t do,” Rankins continued, adding that he still plays pick-up basketball as part of his offseason training. “It’s something that comes natural but also something you’ve got to work on.”The Panthers, who visit New Orleans on Sunday, had to contend with Rankins just two weeks ago and sounded impressed by the challenge he presented during a 12-9 Saints win that was largely a defensive struggle.“He’s a high-effort guy; he’s got great energy Chris Lindstrom Jersey ,” Carolina guard Greg Van Roten said. “He’s really dynamic off the ball. He’s quick. He’s not a guy that you know what you’re getting every time. He mixes it up. So you need to make sure you don’t get too comfortable because he’ll flash and make a play on you if you don’t take him seriously every play.” BALTIMORE (AP) — Robert Griffin III spent the final preseason game watching from the sideline.Now it’s time to wait.Ravens rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson ran for a touchdown, Griffin III didn’t play and Baltimore beat the Washington Redskins 30-20 Thursday night to complete its third consecutive unbeaten preseason.Jackson played the first half and led Baltimore (5-0) on three scoring drives. The 2016 Heisman Trophy winner and first-round draft pick is sure to make the team, but coach John Harbaugh has not yet revealed whether he will keep Griffin, who’s currently No. 2 on the depth chart behind starter Joe Flacco.“It’ll be tough. It just depends on the rest of the math,” Harbaugh said afterward. “There’s no doubt you want Robert Griffin on your team.”Griffin, who broke into the league with Washington in 2012, went 27 for 41 during the preseason and showed no rust after sitting out last year. In Harbaugh’s eyes, Griffin had nothing left to prove.“We felt like Lamar needed to start,” Harbaugh said. “Robert really didn’t need to play. He’s played a lot so far. He’s a veteran.”The question is, do the Ravens want him behind Flacco or can they take a chance on the rookie?“He makes our quarterback room stronger and he makes you better,” Harbaugh said of Griffin. “He’s been a starter. He’s certainly a backup in this league, without question. It’s not even close. I’d like to have him on the team. We’ll just have to see how the math works out.”Neither team used its starters on offense or defense, accepted standard procedure in a preseason finale.Kevin Hogan played the entire game at quarterback for the Redskins (1-3), going 22 for 38 for 272 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions in his bid to unseat Colt McCoy as the backup to Alex Smith.His first interception was returned 23 yards for a touchdown by Kai Nacua to make it 27-7.“Hogan did some good things,” coach Jay Gruden said. “He threw the ball in the heat of some pressure and made some nice throws. We’ll evaluate it, but I think he did good.”Jackson went 9 for 15 for 109 yards and ran for his team-leading third score of the preseason. The former Louisville star looked far more poised than in his previous outings, but he failed to convert a third down and was sacked once.“We only scored 13 points and had two field goals. That really wasn’t what I wanted http://www.atlantafalconsteamonline.com/kaleb-mcgary-jersey ,” Jackson said. “We’ll be better next time.”Fourth-stringer Josh Woodrum played the second half for the Ravens.Looking back on his fifth preseason with Washington, Gruden was pleased with what got accomplished.“Overall, I think we got looks at everybody that needed to get looked at,” he said. “I think everybody had a fair shot. I think everybody had opportunities to make this football team, to show us what they can do.”Starting for the first time with Baltimore, Jackson opened the game with an impressive 82-yard drive, utilizing both his arm and legs. Jackson completed all four of his pass attempts, including an 8-yarder on a fourth-and-1, and fooled the Redskins defense with a 1-yard bootleg that he ended with a nifty side-roll into the end zone.Hogan got the Redskins even with an 87-yard march that lasted more than seven minutes and concluded with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Brian Quick .Baltimore added two field goals before halftime — the first following a 45-yard pass from Jackson to rookie tight end Mark Andrews, the second after a fumble by Washington’s Samaje Perine.Perine led the Redskins with 603 yards rushing last year, but now he’s fighting for a spot on the roster.INJURIESRedskins: C Casey Dunn underwent concussion protocol.Ravens: CB Stanley Jean-Baptiste hurt his right forearm on the final play of the first quarter, and Harbaugh suspects it’s broken. The fifth-year player was expected to get increased playing time while starter Jimmy Smith opens with a four-game suspension. … Ravens guard Randin Crecelius left with a back injury.NATIONAL ANTHEMAll the Redskins players stood at attention on the sideline for the national anthem, as they did in Washington’s previous three preseason games.Every Ravens player stood on the sideline as well.UP NEXTThe Redskins open the regular season on Sept. 9 at Arizona of the NFC West. Washington beat the Cardinals 20-15 last December.Baltimore hosts Buffalo in the season opener on Sept. 9. Two years ago, the Ravens beat the Bills 13-7 in Baltimore.