Hall making a big early impact with the Redskins
By: John Keim
Examiner Staff Writer
December 5, 2008
ASHBURN —
Cornerback already has two interceptions in D.C.
The noise, or lack of it, stuck with Greg Blache, watching one of his newest starters catch the ball. In three games with the Redskins, DeAngelo Hall already has intercepted two passes. More importantly — and unlike his teammates — he hasn’t dropped any.
Blache, the Redskins defensive coordinator, said it comes back to what he heard while Hall caught passes during practice.
Nothing.
“You watch guys and you can hear them catch the ball,” he said. “With DeAngelo, you don’t hear it, he just sucks it in like a little vacuum. His eye-hand coordination is exceptional. He steals it like a cobra. He strikes and it’s there.”
The Redskins need to create more turnovers to help finish strong. Hall has five interceptions this season, having picked off three in eight games with Oakland.
“I’ve always had good hands,” said Hall, who even played some receiver at Virginia Tech. “I played a lot of baseball growing up too so that’s had a little bit to do with it. I’m just good at finding the ball — or the ball finds me.”
He has dropped a few this season, including at least one in a loss to Baltimore. That game, however, could help him Sunday. He covered receiver Derrick Mason often and is familiar with what he, and the offense, wants to do.
But Hall represents a player who can provide big plays for a team that needs more of them.
“He’s a great athlete and he has a sense for the ball,” Blache said. “He’s a very, very productive player. He has unusual talent.”
With Shawn Springs still nursing a sore calf, and likely playing less even when healthy, Hall’s role will increase. Most likely, it’s a precursor to next season, if Hall re-signs as expected.
“We’ve become very comfortable with him and he’s a premier shutdown corner,” Blache said. “You’ll see more and more of him as we go through the next few weeks. We’ll start to feature him and give him an opportunity to lead us back there."
