1. Strong safety LaRon Landry is confident that he’ll return for the Sept. 11 game vs. the New York Giants; and he’s not concerned about his next contract (he’s a free agent). Click here to read what he had to say earlier Friday.
2. The Redskins signed offensive tackle Sean Locklear to provide veteran depth.
3. We met with the rules officials Friday, going over the changes and points of emphasis this season. Most have been discussed for a while (kickoff changes). But one that will drive fans nuts: hits to the head on a quarterback. This year, they will let incidental contact go, with forceful contact the only kind that will draw a penalty. That can be subjective. “You might get 20 different opinions on what is forceable and what is incidental,” said veteran referee Ron Winter.
4. Tight end Chris Cooley did not practice because of a sore knee. Receiver Malcolm Kelly sat out with an irritated right foot, but coach Mike Shanahan said X-rays were negative. Receiver Brandon Banks missed his third straight day because of a sore knee. Not a good sign for either Kelly or Banks.
“You keep your fingers crossed,” said Shanahan when asked if he was concerned about Banks. “You’re always concerned anytime someone has surgery or you go through an offseason and they’re not able to go.”
As for Cooley, Shanahan said, “We thought he needed rest. Hopefully he can come back just like normal.”
5. Corner DeAngelo Hall and linebacker London Fletcher both were limited as Shanahan wanted to give them a little rest, while also seeing others at their position. Shanahan is good at mixing in backups with starters during practice. He did this last year, probably more so than most coaches I’ve covered.
6. Lorenzo Alexander continues to take snaps at both inside and outside linebacker. With Fletcher resting, Alexander took snaps at his spot – with Perry Riley taking them with the first team alongside Rocky McIntosh. For Alexander, playing outside last year has helped him transition to the inside.
“I feel I’m just running to the ball,” Alexander said. “You’ve got these big ends holding up the tackle and I’m flying to the ball blowing people up. It’s almost like a special teams play where you’re in space, taking good angles and making plays on the ball.”
7. Shanahan on signing G Chris Chester, “We had to project him a little bit because Baltimore is more power oriented. He was a 4.75 [in the 40-yard dash] coming out of college so I loved his speed. I’m very impressed with how he’s practiced.”
Line coach Chris Foerster said the Redskins use more zone blocking than the Ravens. That’s why there’s a belief that he’ll be better with Washington than in Baltimore, where he would have been a reserve this season.
“Our stuff requires them to be more athletic or a little quicker,” Foerster said. “Chris fits the mold for us as far as his foot speed.”
8. Shayne Graham and Graham Gano won’t turn their competition into something negative. They got to know one another well, having trained together this summer. “Coming out here and not getting along is pointless,” Graham said. “Being resentful and spiteful… for one it’s immature and two it’s unprofessional.”
9. Friday’s crowd at practice was the largest of training camp and more like those of the past. While there’s little doubt that the crowds have been much less this summer, it’s not just the Redskins who are attracting fewer fans this summer. Mentioned this the other day, but reporters from Pittsburgh and the New York Giants have mentioned the same thing about their respective teams’ camps.
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