Afternoon Practice - The QB Trashcan Challenge Is A Bit Of A Letdown
This afternoon's practice is the first one of 2009 training camp that's felt routine. The guys came out, did their position drills, did their full group work, and wrapped up. It seemed like an efficient, clockwork practice. (Not that it was quick or easy. At an hour and 45 minutes in muggy, post-rain heat, guys were clearly getting tired even just in shells.)
Out of practice this afternoon: Lorenzo Alexander, Alfred Fincher, Santana Moss, Rueben Riley, Carlos Rogers, J.D. Skolnitsky, Devin Thomas, and Eddie Williams. Again, I get the feeling that most of these guys are being handled cautiously, and would be available if they were fully needed.
Cornelius Griffin, Albert Haynesworth, and Malcolm Kelly did their now-traditional light second-practice work, and even Randy Thomas and Mike Williams were able to get a little light work in.
My vote for best practice performance of the day -- and his best performance thus far in training camp: Antwaan Randle El. He's been something of ... not a forgotten man, as such, but an afterthought at the wide receiver position. We've been spending a lot of time monitoring how Kelly and Thomas are doing and wondering who's going to emerge at the fifth receiver position, all while pretty much ignoring Randle El's camp.
This afternoon he made a few nice catches -- getting ahead of DeAngelo Hall and a safety to pull in a perfect pass on one -- and just generally looked like a guy determined to show that he could still compete. Also, a guy electing to pull his shorts up very, very high. "You're as goofy as those shorts," Devin Thomas told him, as Randle El whooped it up after a catch.
Biggest letdown of the day? The quarterbacks and their trashcan competition.
And, frankly, it was not exactly inspiring to watch. Fun for the participants, for sure, but not great spectacle. And unfortunately -- or fortunately, depending on your point of view -- my videos are so jumpy as to be literally unwatchable, but here's roughly how it went down: Jason Campbell earned one point, Colt Brennan earned no points, and Todd Collins and Chase Daniel tied in the opening round with two points apiece and moved to a three-throw playoff.
Daniel threw first and earned one point. Then, it was Collins's turn.
"You know, I survived," Collins told me afterward, basically meaning that he missed his first two playoff throws. "And then on my last throw: swish."
The odd thing about Collins winning is that I didn't even think he had been involved yesterday. "I wasn't," he confirmed. "I didn't know they were doin' it. So I got wind of it and I said, I gotta be part of that competition. I am the bowling champion, after all."
Chase Daniel walked by. "I don't know how you beat me," he said. "That was a heckuva throw, though, to win it."
So, I asked Collins, where does this rank in your list of athletic achievements?
"Secondary to my bowling victory," he said, "but it's right up there."
Out of practice this afternoon: Lorenzo Alexander, Alfred Fincher, Santana Moss, Rueben Riley, Carlos Rogers, J.D. Skolnitsky, Devin Thomas, and Eddie Williams. Again, I get the feeling that most of these guys are being handled cautiously, and would be available if they were fully needed.
Cornelius Griffin, Albert Haynesworth, and Malcolm Kelly did their now-traditional light second-practice work, and even Randy Thomas and Mike Williams were able to get a little light work in.
My vote for best practice performance of the day -- and his best performance thus far in training camp: Antwaan Randle El. He's been something of ... not a forgotten man, as such, but an afterthought at the wide receiver position. We've been spending a lot of time monitoring how Kelly and Thomas are doing and wondering who's going to emerge at the fifth receiver position, all while pretty much ignoring Randle El's camp.
This afternoon he made a few nice catches -- getting ahead of DeAngelo Hall and a safety to pull in a perfect pass on one -- and just generally looked like a guy determined to show that he could still compete. Also, a guy electing to pull his shorts up very, very high. "You're as goofy as those shorts," Devin Thomas told him, as Randle El whooped it up after a catch.
Biggest letdown of the day? The quarterbacks and their trashcan competition.
The trashcan was moved to the opposite corner of the endzone from yesterday, and all four quarterbacks participated. One point was awarded for hitting the outside of the trashcan, two points for getting the ball into the trashcan. Each participant got five throws.
And, frankly, it was not exactly inspiring to watch. Fun for the participants, for sure, but not great spectacle. And unfortunately -- or fortunately, depending on your point of view -- my videos are so jumpy as to be literally unwatchable, but here's roughly how it went down: Jason Campbell earned one point, Colt Brennan earned no points, and Todd Collins and Chase Daniel tied in the opening round with two points apiece and moved to a three-throw playoff.
Daniel threw first and earned one point. Then, it was Collins's turn.
"You know, I survived," Collins told me afterward, basically meaning that he missed his first two playoff throws. "And then on my last throw: swish."
The odd thing about Collins winning is that I didn't even think he had been involved yesterday. "I wasn't," he confirmed. "I didn't know they were doin' it. So I got wind of it and I said, I gotta be part of that competition. I am the bowling champion, after all."
Chase Daniel walked by. "I don't know how you beat me," he said. "That was a heckuva throw, though, to win it."
So, I asked Collins, where does this rank in your list of athletic achievements?
"Secondary to my bowling victory," he said, "but it's right up there."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-06-2009 @ 11:53PM
cmcochran0 said...
Dump Collins. Keep the Colt Cult happy by making him the back-up and then Chase will be around to develop. It's time for Collins to hold another starter's clipboard.
Reply
8-07-2009 @ 12:02AM
cmcochran0 said...
Let's let Collins move on. Give Colt the chance to show he can be the back-up and keep Chase around to develop. Keeping a career back-up on the roster and possibly giving away or wasting young talent seems to be the typical Skins move. We've seen where typical Skins decisions have taken our team.
Reply
8-07-2009 @ 5:10AM
rexjr2001 said...
I hate to be negative and I do understand football very well. It's just that. We have 4 quarterbacks right? God knows the money value between them all. What is their combined salary? That would be interesting to know. Only to prove my point. Their job is to put a football into the right place at the right time. Under pressure. Now we have 4 "professionals," that can't hit a trash can. Like, seriously, with no pressure, can't hit a trashcan at the back of the end zone. Now, I hate to put down professional athletes. Especially Redskins. I am diehard, Semi-diehard since Snyder took office. But, anyway. A professional quarterback, worth millions of dollars. Can't hit a trashcan in 5 attempts. Can we please draft someone, that can hit a trash can with no pressure, in the corner of the end zone. Really, you pay someone millions of dollars to throw a football and they can't hit a trash can in the corner of the end zone. Do we see a patern here mister Snyder. NIce O-line. Bet they would trip over the trash can and miss their block Ha ha.
From one who was die-hard but is sorta becoming whatever.
Yeah big contracts sell tickets and mearchandise, we know.
Love the Skins, just tired of the management
Reply
8-07-2009 @ 1:03PM
Shawnpelote said...
Redskins 6250
We need to be more interested in the development of the 4 QBs. i know you are upset or disturbed about their inability to hit a trashcan. But it will be more disturbing if they cant hit Malcolm or Devin in the corner of the endzone.
8-07-2009 @ 10:27AM
ben said...
dude, what the hell are you talking about?
they don't have to throw a ball in a trashcan when the games start. accuracy is something i am NOT worried about with our QBs. being able to stay on their feet b/c of the o-line, that's the real concern.
Reply
8-07-2009 @ 10:37AM
neil said...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVG6FFWykH4
just cause you can hit a trash can doesnt mean you can play QB in the NFL
Reply
8-07-2009 @ 2:07PM
pbmingie said...
Yeah, look at Chris Simms. Can do all the fancy stuff in the Fantasy files, but is NOT a champion QB.
8-07-2009 @ 10:45AM
Andrew said...
They had a combined liked 76% completion % in college so accuracy usually isn't their problem.
Reply
8-07-2009 @ 11:43AM
richrob81 said...
Rexjr, the only guys who are making any real money are Campbell and Collins. Brennan got a 6th round contract, and Daniels is a rookie FA. I think that Campbell and Collins's combined number this year will be less than $10 mil.
Reply
8-07-2009 @ 3:44PM
HBraschel said...
I don't think they would really have a problem hitting the trash can at the back of the end zone, but that's not really the object. They're trying to throw a sort of simulated fade and get it inside the trash can. It's a totally different trajectory and makes it much more difficult to actually hit the target. They had no problem hitting the nets the other day because they were throwing darts. No need for concern.
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