1. The Redskins worked in full pads for the first time in training camp, though there wasn’t a whole lot of difference between what they did today and what they did wearing shells. They still only wear shorts so it’s not all-out hitting.
2. The Redskins liked Chris Chester because he can run, which is obvious after watching him in practice. Chester gets outside quick and can reach linebackers, a must in the stretch zone scheme. He also did a nice job in one pass protection against a blitz. Because of his quick feet, he was able to bump linebacker Perry Riley blitzing to his left and then reach back to throw off stride linebacker Robert Jackson linebacker blitzing to his right.
3. However, the knock on Chester in Baltimore was his strength and he’s routinely lost one-on-one battles by getting shoved back. He has a tough time anchoring against bigger linemen. Joe Joseph got into Chester’s chest and could control him (Joseph didn’t do this enough; he got cut later in the day). Also, I am curious to see how Chester does on the stretch runs and if he’s able to keep the linemen from penetrating. Their job is to keep them running along the line of scrimmage – at the worst. Saturday, Chester tried to do this with Barry Cofield, but the nose tackle got through eventually. Still, want to see more of this aspect because it’s rather large in this offense.
4. One point to make on rookie Leonard Hankerson. Though he’s not going to be as quick as the little guys coming in and out of breaks, he doesn’t always need to be. That’s not to say he’s slow out of breaks, but it is to say that he uses his body well and because of how he extends his arms, he creates separation that a smaller guy can’t. But Hankerson needs to start holding onto more passes.
5. Hard to get a good read on Sean Locklear during his first work with the Redskins. Did see him bump Adam Carriker a bit on one stretch run, but it didn’t really serve as much of an obstacle as Carriker quickly recovered and got through. Gotta give Locklear a few days to get his timing down.
6. Artis Hicks had a better day in the one-on-one work, working this time against Kedric Golston. The latter tended to get too upright when he rushed and Hicks was able to anchor pretty fast. Funny thing is, Hicks typically stays too high. But in an 11-on-11 play, Jarvis Jenkins – you knew he was coming – got into Hicks’ pads and knocked him up off his feet. Rex Grossman still got the pass off, but Jenkins collapsed the pocket.
7. Tim Hightower fumbled again today, his third of the week. That was a problem in Arizona; it’s a problem here. Need to start paying attention to why this keeps happening; hard to tell without seeing it on film. Hightower does a good job in the drills, but what he lacks is speed off the edge. He does make decisive cuts, which helps, but he might not run away from guys.
8. Roy Helu showed good patience on one run, staying behind his line, then cutting right to the hole and squeezing through. Used his size (he’s listed at 5-foot-11) to his advantage. Also saw Evan Royster show some patience on a run, waiting for the hole and then going.
9. A few days ago Markus White got Trent Williams twice in a row during one-on-one work. Um, those days are done. Friday Williams stopped him with ease and he did so again today. Williams lets White make the first move against him and White really doesn’t have many NFL type moves yet.
10. Actually, big Mo Hurt used this same strategy against White and it worked.
11. Sometimes I wonder if Erik Cook at 6-foot-6 is too tall to play center. In the one-on-one’s he consistently allows decent players to get under his pads and win. Anthony Bryant beat him again Saturday. Bryant is three inches shorter. My disclaimer: The drills are set up for pass rushers. Still, they can be telling and there’s a reason they do them.
12. Chris Neild beat newly-signed Donovan Raiola on consecutive rushes. He was too low for the 6-foot-2 Raiola.
13. I give props when it’s deserved and Kory Lichtensteiger did a good job with his footwork in a battle with Stephen Bowen. ‘Steiger was also patient on a stunt vs. White inside; picked him up easily. Ah, but White powered into ‘Steiger on the next rush and moved him a few yards back.
14. Back to Jenkins. Now, keep in mind he’s doing this against a guy who is likely headed to the practice squad in Hurt. But on a stunt with White, Jenkins showed how he understands his role. He got into Hurt’s body, preventing him from reacting when White came around – and broke free.
15. The Redskins look like they want to do run even more runs off the edge this year than they did last year. Maybe I just forgot how much they ran outside, but it seems like with this line they’re going to have to highlight their ability to move. So more bootlegs and more stretch zones. Coach Mike Shanahan told the team in a meeting that he has the right linemen to run this system well. We’ll see.
16. Fred Davis made another diving catch. Dog bites man.
17. Jabar Gaffney has the same ability Santana Moss has, to slow himself down as he’s going up so he can make a play. Did this Saturday when he jumped for a Rex Grossman pass near the sidelines. Gaffney tipped the ball with one hand, allowing himself to control it with the other.
18. OK, here’s how you last 14 seasons and still play at a high level. Listen to London Fletcher before the snap in a down-and-distance drill. “Don’t give them nothing! Let’s finish D!” And he meant it.
19. One early observation and I’m not sure it’s completely accurate, but it seems as if the inside linebackers are able to run more freely to the ball in practice. The D-line might not be the NFL’s best, but if they can at least be effective, then this should continue.
20. Saw DeAngelo Hall get burned on his instincts today. He was in a zone with Hankerson on his side. Kellen Clemens pumped inside and Hall bit big-time. He quickly turned and threw to a wide open Hankerson, with separation created by the pump fake.
