The Redskins Blog

Shanahan Stays Patient With Practice Schedule

AP Image

Some of the biggest news coming out of head coach Mike Shanahan’s post-practice media session, is that he will not rush to get his players in pads.

There has been a lot made about the training camp schedule (I’m certainly guilty), and when players can engage in different levels of contact and physicality.  Part of the agreement for ending the lockout was that teams would be limited to three full days without pads, which would expire for the Redskins today.

Even with the off day tomorrow, Shanahan expressed concerns for his players getting injured, and indicated that they wouldn’t be in pads any time soon.   Read more »

Redskins Debut Free Agents At Practice

Even though they were only dressed in sweats and couldn’t participate in any team activities, the Redskins free agent signees were a big hit with the fans today.

The Redskins released the names of all official signings so far, as follows:

Stephen Bowen, DL
Santana Moss, WR
Chris Chester, OL
Kellen Clemens, QB
Barry Cofield, DL
Donte Stallworth, WR
Josh Wilson, CB

Stallworth and Moss were seen chatting on the sidelines during practice:

Read more »

Redskins Cheerleaders Meet and Greet With Fans

Redskins Cheerleaders Emerald (left) and Judy (right) were on hand for the first day of training camp open to the public.

The little guy in the middle, Grayson Ward, was one of the youngest fans on hand for the first day open to the public.  His grandfather, Mike, brought the 8-month old to Redskins Park for his first training camp.  Clearly, Grayson had one of the best seats in the house!

Granted, It’s Granite

The parking lot at Redskins Park was full, so I parked outside with the fans for the first practice open to the public Saturday.

Walking through the lot just outside the gate, I couldn’t help but notice a gigantic granite coffee table:

So, who are these guys? And what are they doing with my next table in the bed of their truck? Read more »

Pass Defense Looks Sharp In Match-ups

AP Image

The highlight of any practice is when the offense lines up against defense for 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 drills.  The fans become really engaged and yelled out their encouragement (or frustration) to the players.  I found myself muffling my own outburst a few times, almost forgetting where I was.  And I may have pretended it was the guy next to me.

As they will throughout camp, the players circulated through different combinations on both sides of the ball.

Recap on offense: Read more »

Landry and Moore Looking Better

Two of the three players currently listed on the Physically Unable to Perform list were out on the field today working on agility drills.  Landry is still recovering from the Achilles injury that ended his season in 2010, while Moore is recovering from offseason knee surgery.  They have not yet been cleared to play, but both are looking agile on footwork drills: Read more »

Darrel Young Is A Truck

Fullback is a position that hasn’t been a concern for Redskins fans since Mike Sellers returned to town in 2004.  The team still has depth behind him in Darrel Young, a one-time linebacker that has made the switch to the offensive side of the ball.

Some things Young does very well.  When he runs, it looks like a runaway train, and I feel sorry for any safeties and cornerbacks that he blocks.  His hands still need time to develop though, which was noted during a running back screen-pass drill: Read more »

Morning Observations

Today marks the final day for the Redskins during which pads are prohibited.  The team started out with mostly light activities, positional drills, stretching, etc.

Quarterbacks John Beck and Ben Chappell practiced scrambling drills while throwing into the nets.  The nets are rigged with a bag that “catches” the balls if they’re fairly accurate.  Beck displayed good speed and agility, and put a lot of zip on his accurate passes.

One reader of the blog remarked that Ben Chappell is the next Peyton Manning, and he may well be.  He has similar mobility (not great), but the accuracy is still coming: Read more »

Free At Last

AP Image

Last year, did you know that there are actually other Redskins on the roster besides Donovan McNabb and Albert Haynesworth?

I often had to check twice to make sure.

In all seriousness, the Redskins finally got the opportunity to cut the cord on two of the biggest distractions in team history, and they did so.  Better than that, they got value in return for both players, which was more than many football experts were predicting.

Head Coach Mike Shanahan said he made dealing Haynesworth a priority before camp bagan.  ”I think after being with someone for a year, you figure out where they fit in your scheme, or they don’t fit.  We would have released him if we hadn’t traded him.”

So basically the Redskins picked up draft picks for free.  And better yet, they’re finally free of the McNabb, Haynesworth saga.

Let me be very careful to not present these two players as cut from the same stone, because they are not.  Haynesworth was brought in on a historically large contract and never reached his potential.  Questionable work ethic and insubordination, followed by offseason legal troubles made Haynesworth expendable regardless of his abilities.

McNabb was a far more sympathetic character, one who just didn’t fit the system in Washington.  He was a consummate professional: good to the fans, good to the media, and never let his frustrations come out in public.  Even as his results deteriorated, he stayed steady.  That’s commendable for anyone, and it likely earned him future opportunities in this league.

There are several reasons why everyone should like these trades: Read more »

Three Defenders Start Camp On P.U.P.

AP Image

In layman’s terms, the Physically Unable to Perform list is like a temporary Injured Reserve, or the disabled list in baseball.

Players on this list are able to go through meetings and do drills off to the side of practice, but may not actually practice with their teammates.  As soon as they’re cleared by the medical staff, they can be taken off the list and everything is Hunky Dory.

Putting a player on the P.U.P. is a coach’s decision, and the Redskins start camp with three players on the list: safeties LaRon Landry, Kareem Moore, and linebacker Robert Henson. Read more »