The door is open for Davis
By: John Keim
Examiner Staff Writer
November 3, 2009
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| Second-year tight end Fred Davis will see more playing time with Pro Bowler Chris Cooley sidelined after ankle surgery. (Getty Images) |
TE will get more looks with Cooley sidelined
ASHBURN - Fred Davis had plans for the bye week: a trip to Southern California, another flight to Oregon to see his alma mater play. The plane ticket was booked. The game ticket was waiting.
Davis never made it. Instead, he stayed in rainy Northern Virginia, heading to the practice field for three days for an extra two and a half hours of practice.
With Chris Cooley sidelined after ankle surgery, Davis knows what this means for him. A lot more work. A lot more opportunities to look good -- or bad.
Redskins notes
» Former Seattle coach Mike Holmgren was asked by Chicago radio station ESPN 1000 what he thought of the Redskins stripping Jim Zorn of play-calling duties.
"I thought it was very unfair to put him in the position. The position they put Jim in, it shouldn't happen," Holmgren told hosts Tom Waddle and Marc Silverman. "You can be upset with me as a play-caller or how the team's going, (then) fire me. But don't do that. Don't pull the rug out from under me, tie my hands, make me look foolish ... take away what I came there for to do in the first place. Don't do that."
He later added: "That bothered me a lot. Jim Zorn is one of the nice people. I'm a nice guy, but I'm not that nice. Jim Zorn is really a nice man. What they did, I did not like it at all."
» Stephon Heyer (left knee) is expected to start at left tackle vs. Atlanta on Sunday, though he exited the practice field gingerly Monday.
"He's still gimping a little bit," Zorn said. "It's about pain tolerance and it will get better as the week goes along. I fully expect Stephon to be the guy."
Just in case, the Redskins likely will give newly-signed left tackle Levi Jones more reps in practice.
Meanwhile, linebacker H.B. Blades and cornerback Byron Westbrook both will likely sit out Sunday after undergoing surgery Oct. 20. Both had meniscus repaired in their knees.
Zorn said both have a chance to play in the following game vs. Denver.
The Redskins also signed FB Eddie Williams to the active roster. He had been on the practice squad all season.
"It's like a totally new season for me," he said. "I have a big opportunity. Everyone wants to see what I can do. Now I have the opportunity; I like it. I like when it's like this. I like competing and I like the challenge."
Davis didn't stick around to work on his pass-catching skills. The Redskins drafted him to help with their passing game, but most of his work has come as a blocker. He caught seven passes vs. Philadelphia after Cooley was hurt. But he only had eight receptions in the first six games -- and only three catches as a rookie.
And blocking has not come naturally. That's why he stuck around with tight ends coach Scott Wachenheim during the bye week. He focused on Davis' footwork and hand placement.
"I'm strong enough to block somebody," Davis said. "I'm not a weak guy. It's not a matter of how strong a guy is. If the guy gets under your pads, he's going to win.
"People say, 'He can't block.' But I got thrown in there and I wasn't a good blocker, but I know I can be. Sometimes your role changes and I'm ready to adjust. There are very few great blocking tight ends in the league. You just have to get the job done. That's what I'm trying to do now. The pass catching is natural. I'm not worried about that."
The extra work showed more of the transformation Davis said he has made since joining the Redskins as a second-round draft choice.
"He has come a long way, he really has, especially from a year ago," Redskins center Casey Rabach said. "Fred finally learned how the NFL works, how to work in the NFL, and how to prepare in the NFL. It is his time to shine now. He's got the chance now. Hopefully, the fruits of his labor will show and we are expecting big things from him."
Davis will not draw the double teams Cooley did, so he might have another busy day when the Redskins (2-5) play at Atlanta on Sunday.
If that's the case, then skipping his alma mater USC's loss at Oregon will look even smarter.
"The thing I appreciated is that he was going to leave and he chose to stay here and work," Redskins coach Jim Zorn said. "I think we'll see it on the field."
