1. I have to imagine this Albert Haynesworth drama is starting to kill Jim Haslett. For starters, he’s a tough Western Pennsylvania guy; they believe in working a certain way. And he’s a former linebacker who survived on that toughness. Now he’s having to deal with this saga? He’s not going to say anything because Mike Shanahan controls this team and nothing gets out without his approval. But Haslett did say enough’s enough.
2. Here’s the other thing; his defense works when Haynesworth is in the game. A lot of what they want to do with the linebackers is predicated on having a stud like Haynesworth up front. Vonnie Holliday is a good backup, but he’s a backup at this stage. He was crunched by a double team the other night while working with the starters in the nickel package. And some of the pressure Brian Orakpo is applying gets lost because there hasn’t always been someone else to clean up if he forces the QB up in the pocket. Or there’s no one to force a QB into Orakpo. Haynesworth can do this; Haslett knows it.
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3. But it’s also clear that after the other night Shanahan has not made the progress with Haynesworth that he thought. Haynesworth is what he is; he might do as he’s told, but he’s not going to fall completely in line. Never has; never will. But he is motivated by certain things: scholarships, draft, contracts. And every time he’s motivated he dominates. Consider this: if Haynesworth gets cut after the season, do you think he’d get big money coming off two subpar years with questions about his behavior and work ethic? He knows that too. If he really wants out, he’ll play well, get cut (or traded) and then get a bigger deal. Of course, if he plays that well, why would the Redskins get rid of him?
4. Shanahan seems to be in regular-season mode already. One thing I’d heard from Denver reporters is how tough he was to deal with because he liked to control things. We saw snippets of that in training camp – but he had days where he was much more engaging than anticipated. But the closer the season gets the more we see it in full-force. Not saying it’s good or bad; it’s just the way it is. Yes, very different from Jim Zorn. But having a guy like Zorn meant having the circus in town and that’s not fun either; at least not for entire seasons. Shanahan will be more tight-lipped than any previous coach I’ve covered, going back to Norv Turner. He’s like Joe Gibbs on a Friday. Again, just the way it is. And if he wins, he’ll be celebrated for it and that’s all that matters.
5. The locker room is definitely tired of the Haynesworth saga. I don’t think players care whether or not he gets along with Shahanan, but they’re just fatigued by the back and forth. Really, it doesn’t impact them unless Haynesworth isn’t giving the effort players expect, or producing the way they know he can. It’s that simple. But I do wonder what will happen if the regular season comes and Haynesworth isn’t with the starters. They know he can help them and if this happens, then I wonder if they’ll get upset with Shanahan for not giving them the best chance to win. That’s why I’m guessing he’ll be on the field a lot vs. Dallas. If he’s healthy, that is.
6. Malcolm Kelly did not practice; getting hard to see him being able to play vs. the New York Jets. If he makes the team, it could say more about the position than anything else. But would you rather have Kelly or Roydell Williams or Bobby Wade? That could be the choice.
7. Kareem Moore underwent arthroscopic knee surgery and will miss four to six weeks. He’s always dealt with some sort of ailment and his durability was a concern. Reed Doughty and Chris Horton do not have his range; they’ll need the corners to do a better job when passing off receivers of slowing them down, buying them another half-second to come over to make a play.
8. Linebacker Chris Draft did not look like he had a lot left this summer. Just looked slow and they have better, and younger, options.
9. Nick Sundberg has snapped well since the Redskins signed James Dearth. Sundberg has had two good games. With practices now closed, we won’t know how he’s doing there. But it’s no longer a foregone conclusion that Dearth will win the job.
10. Doesn’t sound like Donovan McNabb’s ankle injury is too bad, but it kept him out of practice Monday. It would be a minor setback if he doesn’t play Friday. With him being new to the offense, and with this being a game where the starters typically play three quarters, it would be good for McNabb to play. He’s clearly still working on his timing, and his trust, of the receivers.
